Messers Waterman, Hooper and Hamilton tested a new form of ultra preparation with varying degrees of success. 10 pints and an hours kip will not suit everyone, do not accept race advice from any of these individuals. To do so may cause you permanent injury or at least a very sore head in the morning.
The day started well as Teams Hamilton & McVey were transported to the start in an orderly manner. Directions delivered in nearly military fashion by DQ. Much to the annoyance of the lead driver.
Arrival at the muster point to be met with a distinct lack of people. Registration was a relaxed affair with names being ticked off on a folded bit of paper from the lassies pocket. Soon enough the area was filled with familiar WHW family members. Numbers duly distributed and a short walk to the loch for a motivational speech from a "wummin wi chains roon her neck"
They're off.... 21 runners followed thereafter by 40 odd walkers.
Most folk opted for a self supported 44 mile trot. But in time honoured fashion Mark Hamilton opted for a substantial team to pander to his every whim. Said support was dispatched and with local knowledge took the short drive to Muirkirk to source tea and chocolate. A quick stop off to have the first look at Team Hamilton saw all runners through safely and close together. Couple of Londoners were looking slightly worse for wear but chirppy enough. First meeting with the ever present RAYNET and then off to the next stop. Water, sports drink oranges and chocolate were on offer at the next checkpoint, the wonkey bridge.
The lovely (ahem) village of Sorn was the first real feeding station for messers Hamilton, Waterman and Hooper, to be referred to hence forth as Hawdit Dawdit and Bawjaws. Scoff was scoffed and off over the bridge to Catrine.
Catrine swiftly bypassed, and on to Failford for a spot of lunch for the support crew. A nice portion of fish n chips for Dino and a shady bowl of wallpaper paste (soup) for LL. Just a cup of tea for Mr MacDonald. Disaster was averted as Chris our new RAYNET BFF was ordered to give us a shout as out runners approached. Bawjaws stopped for a mo stuffed his face and skipped off up the hill. Followed sometime later by Hawdit and Dawdit who followed the face sutffing lead but couldnt quite manage a skip, more of a hobble. Enthused by words of support akin to "get your sorry a**e up that b****y hill ya pair a numpties" they seemed fairly happy. Support were feeling a little sleepy following lunch, but as they are a hardcore pair manged to stave off any thoughts of a wee nap.
By now Bawjaws was giving it laldy and as requested was getting the job done to facilitate a speedy start to the evenings festivities. So much so that he reached the checkpoint at Annbank a fraction before said support. No worries as our RAYNET friends were on hand to offer necessary pandering if required. By this stage the gap between Bawjaws and Hawdit and Dawdit and widened and support were forced to make a decision between attending to Bawjaws at the finish or our Londoners. A conflab between LL & Dino and the decision was taken and we headed back to Annbank to meet our runners. DQ would need to cope without adulation for the moment.
Unfortunately route markers and accurate mileage was not a feature of this run and when Hawdit was advised that there was somewhere between 10 and 14 miles of running still outstanding LL nearly got her head knocked off!! So, only our airborne chap remaining and eventually a call was patched through to ascertain if an emerg evac was required. A tired but cheery chappy said he was fine to continue and obtain water from our RAYNET contact.
And off to the finish we sped.
Bawjaws by this stage was foaming at the mouth in anticipation of a bottle of ale. LL engaged her teeth and the bottle top was swiftly removed. One happy runner.
Some time later in strolled Hawdit, followd soon after by Dawdit. It has to be said that although delayed Bawjaws did receive a hearty reception from the whole team as he accompanied our final runner on the last stretch of the way.
All in all a good days work. Lots of laughs, and some good prep work done for WHW 2009. Dario will be pleased.
Cut to 9.30pm in the Bank in Prestwick a band of merry WHWers dissect the days proceedings and enjoy a congratulatory sniffter or 3.
A fantastic weekend, very little sleep and a whole load of new friends.
Thanks for the memories troops.
LLx
1 comment:
I just want to say that there was no-one in Annbank. And I don't just mean no Raynet. I mean no-one. I thought Nuclear War had been declared and no-one had bothered to tell us, "The Freaks"!
Can I also remind you Mrs. MacLean that had we actually been a driving test, you would have failed. I think I let you off lightly.
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