Day six on the 2024 Cape Wrath Ultra® – Another change in the field as runners take on the longest day

Day 6. The longest day. Long stretches of runnable track along the river were punctuated by rougher more pathless sections. It was also the day that participants had some of the toughest river crossings to contend with.

While earlier on in the race runners may have welcomed this opportunity to stretch their legs and get a bit of speed up, they now have 5 long, tough days in their legs, and getting them ticking over has been a challenge. It is the Scottish Highlands after all though, so it never stays flat for long, and the runners did have one final climb to tackle before dropping down into the overnight camp at Inchnadamph.

After two shorter days, runners needed all their determination and resilience to get them through today. By day 6, it is no longer about fitness or strength – it is now purely a mental game. Runners today had to dig deep to find the motivation to just keep plodding on.

“Only those who risk going too far find out where their limits are!”

There was some trepidation on the start line this morning and the start line nerves were back. Many runners were looking forward to putting this day behind them, so they can get that one step closer to their dream destination – the Cape Wrath Lighthouse.

We spoke to a couple of the runners on their way out of camp.

Nicole Farmer, who is currently on the Explorer Course had some wise words of wisdom as she prepared for the day ahead, “Only those who risk going too far find out where their limits are!” She has been having a fantastic time on the Explorer course, and commented that if it weren’t for this option she wouldn’t have been taking part.

Jon Hanks was in high spirits as he headed out onto course today. He has come all the way from South Africa to compete. He said, “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a long day. If one can get through today I think we’re probably through. Day 3 has quite a high attrition rate, and I think if I can get through day 6, which is an if, then I think one can start relaxing a bit. Another long day on Day 7 and then we’re there. I can’t wait. It’s been fun.”

Philippa Cockman is back for more after taking part in the 2022 event, famously known as ‘the rainy year’. She is moving well on the Explorer course.

She said, “So far, so good! I’m enjoying the camp actually without too much rain. The weather’s been better than 2022. All the campsites were flooded with mud so it’s been really nice to just enjoy the camp life.”

Oykel Bridge marked the halfway point

Oykel Bridge was the second checkpoint of the day. Many runners were breezing through here as the runnable miles ticked over. At 37km, they were still only halfway through their day at this point. We ran along with a few of them as they came through the checkpoint. 

Bridget Glaister, who is currently in second place, was moving well and had a smile on her face as ever when we caught up with her.

She said, “I’m toddling on. It’s really pretty. I’m enjoying it more than I thought. It’s nice being on your own, listening to the birds and taking it in.”

We asked her what her highlight was. She said, “I was dreading the Beinn Eighe day, but I have to say that is Scotland at its best. I think that whole mountain and the difficulties and just giving way to such a beautiful day. And everyone’s messages on the ultra mail is so heartwarming!”

She was feeling optimistic about the race ahead. “Tomorrow’s my last ultra, so it’s a big deal! And then just 15 miles to the end. It’s all about getting to that beach. I think I’ll be just amazed by the beauty and elated.”

Ian Young was also looking good today. He said, “I feel a lot better than I was yesterday. I’ve been able to fuel better. I think fuelling was my biggest problem yesterday, but I’m doing fantastic.”

We asked him what was keeping him motivated. He said, “That finish line. I can see it now, whereas at the start it was such a long way away. It’s now so much closer.”

“I’m not saying tomorrow is going to be a breeze because anything could happen, but I think tomorrow feels so much easier knowing that it’s our last big day.”

Gabriella Russell was moving well when we saw her. She said, “It feels good so far though it’s only halfway. It’s been nice to run a bit. It’s been quite different to the other days – much more rolling hills, but I feel like I’m getting into a bit of a groove with it. I don’t want to get ahead of myself though.”

We asked her what was keeping her going. She said, “Just wanting to finish. I think if I don’t finish this time I’ll have to come back and do the whole thing again, which would be fun as well but I don’t want to have to!”

Stephen Cousins, from the popular Film My Run YouTube channel is running this having volunteered last year. We spoke to him about what it is that draws him to a challenge such as this.

He said, “You’re finding more and more about who you are the more you do. You’re also filling a void within yourself. You get to middle age and get this sense of ‘Have I achieved everything in life? Am I the person I wished I was when I was younger?”

“I think it is about wanting to explore myself by exploring the world. It sounds very silly, but I’d like to make my wife and kids proud. I’m not solving world peace, but I do feel like I want to make them proud of me in some way. Maybe this is my way of saying ‘Follow in your dad’s footsteps’. Push yourself and try doing things you didn’t think you could do.”

“An event like this I did not know if I could finish, and Tuesday I didn’t think I could finish. Then my wife gave me a good telling off. This race has been on my bucket list for ten years, so I’ll be very very proud and pleased if I get there.” 

The men’s field has seen another switch up while Elsa Morgan holds strong

Today previous frontrunner Ludwig Antilli slowed down significantly having sustained an injury, making movement much slower for him. He still had a smile on his face as he came into the finish this evening, but it was clear he was not on top form anymore, after setting a blistering pace on previous days. In spite of his injury though, he still kept going, and former winner David Parrish went out to cheer him into the finish, as he was last in on the day. It was an absolutely stunning display of mental resilience.

Danny Smith is the new frontrunner, and had a very strong day. He was flying round the course on the runnable sections. He has now stepped into first place. We caught him just as he crossed the finish line for the day.

 “I’m high as a kite!” he joked upon crossing the finish line.

“I just got in the zone along the rivers. It was stunning scenery and when you came over through the gap to see the Loch and saw Suilven. That last bit was absolutely incredible.”

For him this has been the best bit so far. “That descent – that feeling you’ve got a good day behind you and descending in was magic!”

He has travelled over from Norway to compete in the race. He has been quite literally flying the flag for Norway this week, with a Norwegian flag tucked into his running rucksack. The very most northern parts of Scotland don’t feel dissimilar to the landscape of Norway, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that he is doing so well tackling this difficult course.

With Ludwig now moving much more slowly, Henry Gurney has moved into second place. He has been going well, and is only forty minutes behind Danny Smith. With two more days to go, this gap is certainly possible to close, and if today’s switch up in the field is proof of anything, it’s that in a race of this length, things can change very quickly in just a minute. 

Adam Watkin has now moved up into third place and has been strong all week.

Meanwhile in the women’s field, Elsa Morgan is proving unstoppable and is going from strength to strength. She is now an hour ahead of Bridget Glaister. However, she had not expected to be competitive.

She said, “It’s my first multi-day and the first time I’ve camped since D of E at school when it rained so much it put me off for life. I just thought – I like Scotland, so why not? It’s a tough course! We’ve had all mixture of weathers!”

Bridget Glaister is still going well in second place and is over 3 hours ahead of Charlotte Hurst, who is also going well in third place.

The end is almost within reach

Inchnadamph is another stunning location for an overnight camp. Nestled at the head of Loch Assynt, it is surrounded by distinctive rock formations that rise steeply out of the ground and seem almost otherworldly. The landscape of Assynt is an ancient one, and civilization seems such a very long way away.  

It has been another tough day, and we are expecting finishers to still be trickling into the finish line tonight until late into the evening. Emotions were high on the finish line, with many tears and hugs between participants who just a few days ago were complete strangers, but have now forged lifelong friendships.

By now, the lighthouse really does feel within grasp, but there is still another tough day to get through before the easier final run in. Day seven really is the crux of the route – make it past Day 7, and you are as good as there!

Results

Overall

Men

1. Danny Smith (39:18:51)

2. Henry Gurney (39:58:03)

3. Adam Watkins (42:06:51)

Women

1. Elsa Morgan (44:56:02)

2. Bridget Glaister (45:56:40)

3. Charlotte Hurst (49:11:00)

On Day 6

Men

1. Danny Smithl (07:23:48)

2. Henry Gurney (07:55:01)

3. Adam Watkin (08:40:58)

Women

1. Elsa Morgan (09:10:45)

2. Bridget Glaister (09:28:52)

3. Charlotte Hurst (10:11:10)

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