It was a good day.
For the first time since Cornwall, I had a foot without tape on and for the first time in a week I didn't need any pain-killers.
We headed out of Milngavie Premier Inn, glad to leave the place behind. Last night's evening meal had been a bit of a disaster. Having been told to be seated for dinner at 7:30pm sharp, the team voted with their feet at 8:45pm with about 3/4 of the starters delivered and a handful of mains - it was clear we needed Dominos to salvage things. As always the crew were brilliant in responding to one of the poorest culinary experiences I can recall.
1/2 mile out of the accommodation we arrived at the start of the West Highland Way. After the obligatory group photo, I put some tunes on and got in the zone. Felt like I was running as well as I have been since Exmoor. Sarah joined me and the first 18k to pitstop 1 passed quickly.
The pitstop offered an interesting intersect between the Run Brit bubble and the real world. The Drymen camping barn was the venue for this pitstop, and shortly after 9am, WHW hikers having their breakfast before commencing their second day, were joined by Sarah & me. The crew received us with the efficiency of a formula 1 pitstop team: coffee, cake, soft flasks refilled and out again in a few minutes. With looks of disbelief from the campers that we'd already done their "yesterday" and we'd been on the road 25 days.
The next section was over Conic Hill, which offered the usual fabulous views before a descent to Balmaha and our lunch stop.
A short and easy afternoon followed as we mainly walked to Rowardennan. An obligatory stop at the Rowardennan Hotel was needed, to kill some time before we could check-in at the Youth Hostel.
A really good day and great to be back on the WHW. The next couple of days are much more demanding but these are the sort of days we all signed up for.
Over 700 miles on the scoreboard now and just 9 running days to go...
Comments
Post a Comment