Tell us about the day! How was the weather, did you run with other Cairngorm Runners? What did you think of the route? How did your run go? What was your time? Was it a milestone? What was the most challenging part of the event? Anything else you can think of?

First off it’s not 50miles, I’ve no idea why they sell it as a 50miler. It’s actually 47miles or 75km, still it’s a bloody long way. The race starts in Forres and finishes in Cullen following the moray coastal trail. It’s a beautiful coastal run passing through Findhorn, Lossiemouth, Spey bay & Buckie.

I’d been training hard all winter regularly averaging 70km a week, usually with a long run at the weekend of 40+km. I even ended up running from Carrbridge to Inverness or vice versa and coming back by train. Having trained in the cold, wet and rain, Race day dawned with clear skies and a forecast of 20degrees. The race is limited to 200 but turns out that only 83 are entered, I’d at least be in the top 100! It’s weird starting an ultra, as everyone starts off at a snails pace, it doesn’t feel like a race. I relax into it, the sun is shining it’s warm already. I’m through Findhorn in just over an hour and hit the first feed station at 20km.

It’s then on through Burghead, Hopeman and onto Lossiemouth. The approach to Lossiemouth is along the beach, the tide was out and the sand was firm. It’s now hot. Karen meets me at the feed station, I’ve hardly eaten anything because of the heat, I manage a sausage roll, a bag of crisps a gel and a callipo iced lolly. Then head of along Lossie east beach where the sand is not firm. I suddenly feel very nauseous and very hot. Finally the sand ends but turns to shingle, this is horrendous and definitely the lowest point of the run. I arrive at Garmouth which is another feed station, this is the 50km mark and feels a significant milestone, I get more food into me and some electrolyte. I’m feeling better now and head off past Spey bay towards Buckie. At this stage i feel like a robot, everything is happening automatically the legs just keep turning over. It’s almost like an out of body experience.

Then I can see Cullen, I run past Bow fiddle rock and down towards Cullen beach, navigating the sun bathers and sandcastles. I arrive at the finish just as they’re doing the prizes. I’ve no idea where I’ve come but glad its over. It’s taken me 8hrs 48mins. It turns out that i’m 14th overall and 3rd in my age group, and through some technicality I’m promoted to 2nd as the 1st in my age group is second overall. 

Would you recommend this event to others in the club and why?
It’s a stunning route along some of Scotland’s most beautiful coastline, for that reason it should be on everyone’s list. It’s brilliantly organised it feels small and intimate and because of that you may even get a prize.