Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:28 am Post subject: WEST HIGHLAND WAY - THE RACE HAS BEGUN
West Highland Way
23rd June 2007
Mike Mason is making this his fourth outing in as many years for this race.
Essentially the object is simple, you start at Milngavie Railway Station (7miles north of Glasgow) at 1am on 23rd June & run/jog/walk to Fort William Leisure Centre by noon on the 24th June, 35 hours to cover 153km (95 miles) including 4499m (14760ft) of ascent (OS software).
Along the way you pass through checkpoints within time limits. In order to participate you must have your own motorised backup, consisting of at least two people, one of which must be capable of covering the last two sections with you (or find you) if assistance is required or during the hours of darkness.
Jez Bragg(15:44:50) & Kate Jenkins (17:37:4 hold the course records
You can track Mikes' progress here, but also on hi ssub-web site here
Quality running Mike.
Keep it up mate.
Again, I'm cheering you on from Basildon under a fantastic electrical storm.
Drop anything metal you may be holding!
My hat, nay my t-shirt and trousers, are off to you Mr Mason (don't tell The Wife). Above and beyond the Call of Duty - True Grit (and probably many other John Wayne movies).
A single malt has your name on it next social .
Cheers,
John. _________________ Gordon: Go on then, run!
Dennis: Isn't there some kind of like... special technique?
Gordon: Well... yeah... you put one leg in front of the other over and over again really really fast.
And more to the point, where's Godfrey's tin -
(I believe he has a few loose screws he wants to keep)
At leat Mike is now in the same league as our Club Skipper;
Not the running fast, or having a personality stakes (obviously)
but the
getting lost in the woods stakes.
How many more miles did you run Mike (and you still came 62nd) ??
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject: LOST!!!!
Race Starts 1.00 am.
5 miles later Mike and Running Partner ( John of ex Para fame) are lost (really well and truly lost) and in desperation Mike wakes up a cross eyed farmer from his deep slumber well after 2.00am.
It went something like this with John standing a little back and feeling just a little uncomfortable " I'm terribly sorry but we are in a Race and we are lost could you tell us where the West Highland Way is please ".
One can clearly see why the Scots love the English.
Quote:
Mike mason & Jon Steele mini breaks ltd
Mike Mason and I are starting up a tour company based on short diversions from the WHW, usualy around the 6 mile mark, anyone wanting to join one of our fantastic night jaunts please email cock-upsareus@WHW.com, please be warned though, you could end up in hospital.
Email: jdesteele@aol.co.uk
ps Jon did end up in Hospital (another story to be told, quite serious at the time but with a good and very funny ending ... watch this post)
Last edited by Ernie on Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:22 am; edited 2 times in total
one thing is for sure if someone had woken me up at 2 in the morning to ask for directions, they certainly wouldnt have got the correct ones! Just lucky MM has a good likeness to Mr angelina jolie lol.
Oh well another WHW over. At least my left knee held up ---better then my navigational skills. Will lose at least the cherished 2 big toe nails (only recently grown back).
Just want to thank Ernie for his support on the race. He was brilliant. Whenever we appeared at checkpoints the Whisperlight stove was whipped out and food prepared.
I think at times lack of sleep and having to attend 2 of us ( I ran with a guy who had lost his support crew) got him down a bit. I mean what do you think of someone when I asked if I could have a marmite roll says - NO! Whilst he is taping up Jon's foot and stirring soup at same time. And I will treasure the request for a cheese roll and the sight of 2 rolls, butter, cheese spread and a knife being dumped in front of me.
Ernie even cooked spuds and walked miles down a track to meet us en route.
We spent 12 hours in the car on way back - -2 hours in M25 carpark - and I don't think we stopped laughing once. From getting lost, waking a cross-eyed farmer up at 02.10, Jon Steele going to hospital and being put on IV drip, Jon Steele taking IV drip out and walking 150 yards across road from hospital to prize ceremony in socks, to the double bed that Ernie got the hotel to switch our twins to..............PRICELESS!!!!!
I am now looking forward to Mont Blanc Ultra in August.....where in the great traditions of this truly 'Caring club - my arse' I can jab a few French guys in the nads with my poles.....oh joy....oh bliss!!
Thanks again Ernie and thanks again to the Benfleet Club for making us the onerous, miserable gits we remain today!
Rgds
Mike _________________ 'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.
_________________ 'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.
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