Day 6: New friendships and a will to get through
The longest day of the Cape Wrath Ultra 2021 was also the wettest and windiest so far. Day six saw the runners completing a course of 72km from Inverbroom to Inchnadamph and some 1400m of ascent.
A long section of tarmac and track was sandwiched between hills and plenty of trackless terrain at the start and the finish.
For many of the 55 participants still in the race, it was a case of getting their head down and being determined to put one foot in front of the other.
Kirsty Oliver (24) summed it up when she said: “I have come this far and I am not stopping now.”
Hills, rivers and tracks on day 6. © No Limits Photography
New Friendships on the trail
Many competitors have formed new friendships, motivating and encouraging each other to keep going on the long days of the race.
Cath Bunn (50) and Selina McCole (51) have naturally fallen into the same pace. Cath said: “We sort of came across each other yesterday and we were doing a similar pace.
“Today we started at a similar time and seem to be doing a similar pace. At one point we were drafting each other along a loch side when there was a howling headwind. It was good to be able to shelter each other!
“Now we are keeping each other going. It’s good have someone to chat to and to share in all the ups and downs.
“We are making sure each other eats at the right times and keeps a pace so that we can make the check-points.”
The ladies are both carrying injuries and niggles. Selina said: “I have sore a quad and knee to add to the shin splints. I think I must have gone too fast on the first couple of days, although I was sure I was in my comfort zone, and that is when the niggles started. Now I am just trying to ignore them and keep going.”
Cath has sore quads and knees. She said: “It’s the descending that is the worst. The final hill yesterday was very painful. I am aiming just to run as much as I can and walk the rest. We know what we need to do to get to each checkpoint in time.”
Today, Cath launched a fundraiser for a cause close to her heart. She said: “Now that I am on day six I felt it was a good time to ask people if they would give to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. My niece has CF.”
The weather was wet and windy. © No Limits Photography
Another two who have been walking and running together are Michael Butler (53) and Ernest Marais (16). Ernest had a wobble earlier in the day. He said: “With 50ks to go today, I, a grown man, 50 years old, sat in a bog and had a wee bit of a cry.
“My foot is excruciatingly sore and I couldn’t get my head around the fact I had another 50ks to go. Next moment I thought, you know, this is why you sign up for things like this. Normal things in life just become much easier compared to this.
"So I lifted my butt out of the bog and continued to wobble along. You chat to people and we all have aches and pains.”
Michael has had some ups and downs, too, but today he said he was feeling good today. He said: “I can’t complain physically although I think it is all starting to catch up on me with general aches and pains.
“Mentally today is better than yesterday but there have been times when it has been harder mentally. It goes through phases within each day and I’m not sure why.
“On day three it changed every five seconds between feeling ecstatic and then the depths of despair. But I am doing okay really.”
Mark Smith (25) and Alasdair Meldrum (37) are also now running together. While Alasdair said things were going well for him today, Mark revealed he had had a “bit of a drama’ as he approached CP2.
He said: “I fell and I went head over heels and I put my arm down and I dislocated my shoulder. I have done it a few times before. I had to put it back in myself. Alasdair had his finger poised over the red button. I am running on adrenaline now but I think it will be painful this evening.”
Later in the day Martynas Valkunas (89) and Jacqueline Toal (7) joined forces to finish. Jacqueline said: “It is better to be together with someone else at times because it keeps you going.”
Sabrina Verjee on day six. © No Limits Photography
Soundbites from other runners
Sabrina Verjee (19), who is third female and sixth overall, said: “My legs are very heavy and they don’t want to do anything. I am just shuffling along. The terrain is a mixed bag with lots of track and lumpy, off-path stuff that I am not so keen on.
“I am amazed I am still moving and it is a lot harder when you are not racing and you are just tootling along and making ends meet and just trying to get to the end.”
Tara Taylor (13) said: “I am okay and I don’t have many sore bits but I find the running downhill hard. I am quite slow. I prefer the tracks where I can run.”
Glenn Christie feels lucky to be injury free and enjoying the race. © No Limits Photography
Glenn Chrisite (71) said: “I feel like it is going well so far. I am lucky that I don’t seem to have too much pain and my legs and feet are holding up ok. I think I am doing better than others in that respect. I am enjoying it all.”
Marco Castelo (81) said: “I am struggling bit and, over the last few days, due to shin splints. The medics have been very helpful. I am doing okay really because we are getting closer to the end and that helps mentally.”
Donna MacDonald (12) said: “It is hard today and the last couple days have been hard. My legs and body feel fine but my feet are sore. It’s the pressure points. The hot spots are painful. I am just plodding it out and aiming to do four miles each hour to get to the checkpoints in time.”
Kirsty Oliver (24) said: “I am just trogging it out. I have a very sore elbow from using my poles. My legs are alright. But I am now being strategic and I have calculated what I need to do to get to the finish line. I am walk-running and just trying to get there. I am not quitting I can tell you.”