TURNING 50 AND TAKING ON THE CAPE WRATH ULTRA®

WHAT MADE YOU ENTER THE CAPE WRATH ULTRA®?

Choosing to sign up came from my running organically getting stronger. I’ve only been running for five years so it is still very much a developing story. The end of April 2024 was my 50th birthday. I’d decided in 2023 to run a few events this year to celebrate and challenge my running and life, and when Cape Wrath Ultra popped up it seemed like an appropriately big challenge. The final and most influential part was watching Paul ‘The Random Runner’ on YouTube. He completed the adventure in 2022 and it looked awesome. I dropped a comment on the video chat and got a few pieces of advice from Paul and the next thing I was booked and, on my path, to Fort William!

The boat journey to the start line ©No Limits Photography

HOW DID YOU PREPARE?

As I’d already signed up for Mud Crew’s Arc of Attrition, a one-hundred miler along the Cornish coast in January, preparation for Cape Wrath was largely preparation for the Arc, at least until after I’d successfully completed that. After ten days of recovery post Arc the most significant change I made to my training was to shorten my midweek runs slightly and tie two or three long days together at the end of the week and into the weekend. I was running 100+ miles a week with most of that over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, trail and with what hills I could find. Southern Hampshire is not exactly known for hills. I also do yoga twice a day seven days a week, sports climb two or three days a week, a few hours at a time, I spend hours on my balance and wobble boards for core strength and do weight work along with my yoga. It’s fair to say physical preparation for Cape Wrath is a lifestyle thing more than individual activities.

Finish line in Glenfinnan ©No Limits Photography

HOW DID YOU FEEL IN THE LEAD-UP?

I’m not sure I was especially nervous about the event; I went through the usual pre-event paranoia but that was nothing new and more of a mental annoyance. I did question my training; I’ve never done an eight day ultra before and the distance and numbers of days was certainly daunting. I believe that if you are going to stand on the start line it’s probably a good idea to believe you can get it done, not that it always turns out that way, but it’s a good start.

The weather was the other unknown. Anyone who has investigated Cape Wrath has seen the 2022 videos. It is enough to put fear into the most experienced of runners. The heat on days two and three certainly had me wondering if I was really in the same country as 2022 – glorious sun and cloudless skies bring their own challenges.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR HIGHLIGHTS

All of it – seriously, the whole thing. From the snake (Adder I believe) on the trail on day one, deer running along the loch edge on day two, ice cold cola on day three,  running my socks off on day four, recovering from a terrible day five (I thought my adventure was over) more cola and pipe music on day seven and a lighthouse on day eight. Running above the clouds, along the beach and through waterfalls. Most importantly, awesome inspirational people you get to run with every day. It’s an awesome adventure of a lifetime.

WHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES?

Mental recovery after day five. It was hard. I felt awful for the last ten miles and was a horrible mess when I got into camp. It took all my strength to eat some food and get my admin ready for day six. I was a shivery mess. That said, it got done, I slept, managed to get some food down for breakfast and day six was a much better day. The adventure really does show you what you can do and how quickly misery turns to joy. Also, midges love me, little monsters – I do not miss them.

TOUGHEST MOMENTS?

Slip sliding/climbing down scary steep rock-strewn hillsides when you’ve gone off course. Twice in eight days I found myself doing things that in normal running would seem bonkers. A hundred feet on the horizontal is just normal – a hundred feet sliding down a rocky hill on your own feels a lot different. I lived, and it was fine. I am going to learn to route read better. Also, the heat/dehydration on days two and three. I have never drunk so much water and still been dehydrated. Take plenty of electrolytes – you’ll need them.

Experience the spectacular Scottish Highlands ©No Limits Photography

What did you learn?

I learnt I can do things I never thought I could, I navigated miles across pathless bogs that cover your thighs. I’m only 5’ 5” so it’s easily done. I learnt that feeling like you might be about to die as you finish the day doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get up and try again tomorrow. I learnt that sitting in a cold river with a hot coffee on a sunny day after you’ve run 40+ miles and not showered for days can be the most joyous thing. 

I also learnt I really do need to go on a navigation course if I’m going to do more of this pathless thing.

FINAL REFLECTIONS

I might actually be OK at this ultra thing. When you don’t know many (I know one) people who do this extreme/ridiculous version of running it can be difficult to know if you are actually any good at it. Yes, after all the bravado I still have imposter syndrome, or at least I did. I think Cape Wrath and the Arc earlier in the year were just what I needed to solidify my own belief in my running. This was the adventure I needed. I feel grateful for being able to take it up and beyond happy that I got the preparation right and was able to have an amazing time. I love a one liner or phrase 'Believe & Achieve,’ ‘Run the mile you are in,’ ‘Build the plan, trust the plan, execute the plan’ and they are all true. So, what’s next …

advice to others?

If you are seriously thinking about entering, then do it. 
Watch all the videos and read all the blogs.
Write a training plan based upon what you saw/heard/read.
Burn your first plan.
Write a second plan with 50% more hills, more bogs, more miles, and general hardness.
and then when you are mid-adventure, and it gets tough, remember you chose to do this.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER IN 2025

Stuart Webster