David Calder
“But you’re old and fat” …was my daughter’s reaction when I told her about the Cape Wrath Ultra® …. “how can you possibly run 400km in 8 days?”.
Now that’s a damn good question! How can a 56-year-old “pie eater” possibly run 400km in 8 days?
Well, I (sort of) did it before.
In 1987, a friend and I ran from Mallaig to Cape Wrath, covering 220 miles over 9 days, taking in a few Munros along the way, roughly following the route of what would become the Cape Wrath Trail. At the time it almost broke me …. and that was 30 years ago!
This is a very young David, running along the ridge between Conival and Ben More Assynt, with Ben More Assynt in the background. This was day 7 of our run from Mallaig to Cape Wrath in 1987. By sheer coincidence, we followed a similar route to the Cape Wrath Trail.
Since then, I’ve continued to run, but not seriously. I’ve completed a few half marathons, but I’m more of a hill walker than a runner.
However, last year I hiked the Cape Wrath trail, and was reminded of how wild and beautiful Scotland is …. and then I randomly came across a You Tube video about the Cape Wrath Ultra®!
Highlights from David’s Cape Wrath Trail backpacking trip last year
I don’t know if I’m re-living “past glories” or suffering a midlife crisis (or both!), but the video inspired me to lose weight and drag myself out of bed at 6am, 5 days a week to run through the depths of a cold and snowy Scottish winter.
When entries opened for the 2022 Cape Wrath Ultra®, I was in the hills, about 10 days into a coast-to-coast backpacking trip across Scotland. When I got home, I was on a high, after a great trip, and mentioned the race to my wife.
She persuaded me that experience would triumph over youth, that years (and years) of walking and climbing in the Scottish hills was more important than extreme fitness and, at 56, I knew how to suffer more effectively than when I was 21!
So, with spousal permission secured, I entered, and my journey to the start line began.
Two weeks after the coast-to-coast walk I completed my first trail marathon. It was a bit long (45km), with a lot of climbing (2,450m), but I did it. I was slow, but I wasn’t last.
I now have a training plan (of sorts) based on 3 runs during the week, with a strength session after the shortest run. At the weekend I plan to increase back-to-back long runs gradually over time until the prospect of averaging 50kms a day, for 8 days is merely terrifying, rather than impossible.
I’ve entered the SILVA Great Lakeland 3Day™ event in August, and the Highland Ultra in October! I’ve even bought a new pair of running shoes!
Looks like I might be a runner now!
But getting back to my daughter’s question …. the real answer is I have no idea if I can run 400km in 8 days. But that’s the point – the only way to find out is to try.
So, next May at the start line, I’ll be the old fat bloke who looks like he’s stumbled into the race by mistake. I’ll be the guy at the back chasing the cut offs, finishing late, and suffering hard.
However, with a bit of luck, and a following wind, I’ll also be the old fat bloke at the lighthouse in 8 day’s time!
See you in May!
My daughter and I at the Trail Pursuits Trail Marathon in the Lakes at the end of May this year.