Charlotte Hurst
CROSSING THE FINISH LINE STRONGER.
TYPE ONE DIABETIC AND THIRD FEMALE ON THE 2024 CAPE WRATH ULTRA®
In the Summer of 2023 I discovered the unexpected joys of running in the Welsh Mountains. Reconnecting with an old friend, and now my other half (wink wink), Giles had completed the Dragons Back Race in 2022 and convinced me to sign upto the Cape Wrath Ultra® in 2024.
At the time I had heard lots about the Dragon Back Race but very little about Cape Wrath Ultra and the seed and excitement was instantly planted.
Enjoying the journey through the Falls of Glomach ©No Limits Photography
I had completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), a multiday, multistage self-supported ultra across the Sahara Desert in April of 2023 so the Cape Wrath Ultra looked like the perfect follow on as far as challenges go. But I knew it would be tougher than the MDS, with longer distances to cover, more climbing and much more technical and challenging terrain. Add to that a bit of self-navigation and there was a lot to get nervous about.
My slightly extra challenge is that I’m a type 1 diabetic. This means I have to consider how I’m going to manage my diabetes over the 8 days of running the Cape Wrath Ultra and also how I’m going to fit my medication and backup supplies into my luggage.
I entered the Cape Wrath Ultra and liaised with the amazing team at Ourea Events. They very kindly allowed me an extra medical kit bag which solved most of my problems. I touched base with Nat, the Chief Medical Officer, and she was incredibly reassuring, and we ironed out the finer details. Phew. My mind was put at ease, and a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Then disaster struck. I sustained a hip stress fracture after completing the Chester Marathon in October after just signing up for the Cape Wrath Ultra which was basically an accumulation of over training, under nutrition (or the wrong type of nutrition) and a catalogue of other symptoms which I didn’t see (I can go far more in-depth with this another time). In summary, it is so important we listen to our bodies, and this was my wake-up call. I took on a new coach, Marcus Scotney (who holds the record for the Cape Wrath Ultra amongst other incredible athletic feats) and an amazing nutritionist who works with female athletes, Renee McGregor.
It was a long and slow 3 months of recovery, but I started going for hikes around December and with the help of Marcus put together a plan for the lead-up to the Cape Wrath Ultra. All I had to do was follow it. It was a tricky preparation full of self-doubt, but Giles and I knocked out the training, spent most weekends up in the Welsh Mountains, come rain or shine (which, lets face it was mostly rain over the winter of 2023/2024) and I was constantly being reassured by Marcus and following Renee’s strict macro goals, basically trying to stuff myself full of protein and carbs.
Waiting for the ferry to the start line! ©No Limits Photography
So when I stood on the start line of day 1 of Cape Wrath Ultra, I was full again of self-doubt, and nerves and I had absolutely no idea if my hip (and the rest of my body) would stand up to over 250 miles in 8 days. But I was excited. The weather was incredible and as Shane said in the race briefing, the unknown is part of the adventure. That stuck with me, and I decided that the only thing to do was to embrace it.
I never thought of the Cape Wrath Ultra route at any point as a whole. With Marcus and countless conversations with Giles, we broke it down into the individual days and then the segments in between checkpoints. I never felt daunted as such, but the long days did worry me.
And suddenly, after all the months and miles of training and preparations, we were underway. Day 1 was a ‘jog’ to the start line, and it was great to get underway and settle the nerves a little bit.
Camp One, Glenfinnan, Scotland ©No Limits Photography
I really looked forward to getting into camp each afternoon/evening. There was a lovely atmosphere as the runners were welcomed in and the entire crew went out of their way to make sure we knew where everything was, that we were fed and watered, and that we could communicate with loved ones back home. Ultra Mail is a huge bonus and really helps to boost morale when things are looking bleak.
Here is where I must highlight Nat and her medical crew. I felt so looked after. I checked in with them when I retrieved my medical kit back each afternoon/evening and then when I dropped it off each morning. I did also get a stupid blister on day 1 which needed some medical management each morning, so I quickly got to know everyone on the team on a first name basis. It is from the bottom of my heart that I thank everyone but the medical team went above and beyond, and that was on top of the absolutely incredible work they did to squash, manage and isolate the norovirus that also hit camp.
Relaxing at camp after a day adventuring through Scotland! ©No Limits Photography
As far as the route goes, well it is breathtaking. It felt like an absolute privilege to be experiencing the sights we saw, but also in the incredible weather that we were blessed with. We were extremely lucky, and I know it would have been a totally different challenge if the weather had turned.
My biggest challenge occurred on day 3 where I suffered with tummy problems. I was careful to remain well hydrated throughout and I was also of course careful with my blood sugars and diabetes management. But when I arrived in camp after completing a very slow day 3 and couldn’t keep any food down, I knew I was in bother. The norovirus had yet to strike camp but when I checked in with the medics, they gave me an anti-sickness tablet which worked wonders and a few hours later I was starving hungry. Phew. But for a couple of hours, I was wondering how I was going to get enough calories and liquid in so that I could continue on day 4. Another shout out to the medical team.
I really enjoyed days 4 and 5 and although I pushed the pace and kept relentlessly moving, the shorter distances felt like a bit of a let up and somewhat recovery type days. Day 4 was very challenging terrain at times (and my navigation not 100%) and a lot of climbing and day 5 was a marathon stage but I seemed to cover the ground a lot easier.
For me, it was days 7 and 8 was when the scenery and views went up another notch. I was blown away by the wilderness, the landscape and where we were heading – finally to the Cape Wrath Lighthouse.
My shins were very sore after day 7 and a trip to the physio to patch me together to make it to the end was well worth it. Arriving at the Cape Wrath Lighthouse was a very surreal experience. Finally, it was over, the mission completed, all the hard work suddenly worth it, and securing a spot on the podium in 3rd place made finishing taste that little bit sweeter. Giles finished a bit before me and did incredibly well to finish 9th. He waited for me at the finish line and the emotions bubbled over. A lot of tears, laughing, hugging and cheering all those crossing the line was a really fantastic experience and one that will stay with me for a long time – along with the can of coke and sandwiches.
These multiday multistage races are a pilgrimage of self-discovery. I think everyone learns something about themselves. Personally, I learnt a huge amount. Firstly, about my diabetes and my body. I am always trying to keep my mind open and reflect about what I could have done to make things a little bit better or run a bit more smoothly. The diabetes technology that has made giant leaps forward in the last few years lends itself to this and makes all of this that little bit easier. I love proving that diabetes doesn’t need to stop us from doing anything and we can achieve our dreams. I always surprise myself at my tenacity and grit and the ability to just keep going when the chips are down. I am lucky that I had no major mishaps during the event but a lot of that is prevented by good training and meticulous planning.
My reflections on completing are still a bit of a whirlwind. The community whilst on the Cape Wrath Ultra® was what I loved the most. My fellow runners as well as the crew. This built up through the week and at the end we were all hugging, crying and cheering each other on. There is no other environment that I can think of that brings people together like this. This is what will stay with me the longest – oh and the incredible scenery and weather that Scotland has to offer.
The stunning Sandwood Bay ©No Limits Photography
If you are sitting on the fence as to whether to sign up, then do it! You won’t regret it. But if you do decide to commit then my advice would be to get a coach who understands the challenge and get as much time as you can in the mountains in the pathless bogs. Nothing can prepare you better for this gruelling challenge.
Thank you so much to Marcus – I wouldn’t have achieved this without him; Giles for convincing me to sign up and a huge, huge thank you to the event team. I am a changed person from the nervous one standing on the start line on day 1.