My tenth outing for this event, last time was in 2019.

This year I was taking part with my friend Corc, he & I had met on a Rat Race event last year.

Corc was coming over from the US to take part in this challenge. There were also a group of Dutch friends from the same Rat Race event I’d met Corc coming over, we saw them at registration, I always find myself smiling when they are around, they are so full of positivity and life.

The event can be tackled in one day or two days and consists of;

Run – 7 miles 

Road cycle – 44 miles 

Off-road cycle – 20 miles 

Road cycle – 14 miles 

Mountain trek/run – 14 miles 

Kayak to the finish – 1 mile

We were taking on the one-day version.

Rat Race notes on their web site

“The one-day challenge is a mammoth undertaking. Especially if the prevailing wind tries to blow you back to the start line. Bike selection and your nutrition plan are very important to give you the best chance of completion. Our cut-offs are fixed, and you will be taking on a very challenging mountain run after a draining coast to coast cycle ride. Successful finishing times on the one-day challenge range from 8 hours in calm conditions to 14 hours in heavy weather. “

Well on Saturday, the wind was forecasted to blow you back to the start..big style!

I headed into the event slightly undercooked to be honest, this was for various reasons but I knew it wasn’t an ideal build up.

The route takes you from Nairn, to Cawdor Castle and then down the east side of Loch Ness to Fort Augustus and then the great glen way to Fort William, joining the WHW for 10miles then climbing over the hills towards Ballachulish.

We gathered at 5.45am at the start line, no sign of daylight, but enough light to recognise friends & wish each other well. 

JP was there with his friend Craig, both looking ready to get going.

At 6.15am we had the short countdown from Adventure Leader Rob, and we were off. Not quite sunrise yet.

The running route heads East through the coastal path then south as it follows towards the River Nairn towards Cawdor. It’s a varied terrain and you need to keep an eye out for roots, rocks and other hazards.

Around 4km in, it narrows and you’re in Indian file for most of the way until you arrive at Cawdor.

Into transition and I changed to get a long sleeve cycle top & gillet on. Cycling shoes, cycling helmet on, and a quick top up of nutrition.

Corc & I headed out together and followed the undulating road to Fort Augustus, we could feel the wind picking up.

We kept it steady, stopping at the first pit stop for some more fluids.

The cycle route has a big climb on General Wades Road before you get to Fort Augustus the rain came in at that point of highest exposure…

It felt very exposed along the top as the road undulated and twisted around the Lochrans.

I recalled doing this route in blue skies and wonderful conditions, this wasn’t one of those days. It got grimmer as we picked up speed on the descent.

We were through Fort Augustus before I realised I hadn’t pointed out the Neptunes Staircase of 5 cascading canal locks to Corc, it’s only one of the main attractions of the town!

I looked at my watch and we were around an hour behind my planned progress.

Along the canal towpath towards Invergarry.

We came to a 2nd pitstop, where I saw JP and Craig. 

Along we went along the old railway line then into the forestry tracks. 

These undulating tracks, many with pretty steep gradients, were taking its toll. Corc was looking stronger and was waiting for me at the top of the climbs.

I told him to crack on ahead to give him the best chance of finishing.

I then settled into a steady rhythm as I headed towards Fort William, there were glimpses of sunshine through the forest canopy, it was almost pleasant..

Out of the forest and the route follows The Great Glen Way past Loch Lochy towards Banavie then Fort William and the transition off the bike.

A game of shinty was being played at the clubhouse we were transitioning in. 

Julie was there with cans of coke and other supplies, she said Corc was still here and JP and Craig were a few minutes away, John’s son Fin was at transition waiting, it’s always great to see him, he has good chat 😀.

I changed out of the cycling gear and got ready for the trek.

Corc and I agreed he should just crack on, the mission comes first after all!

I left with JP and Craig but they had longer legs than me and stretched away, it would be a few hours till I saw at least one of them again.

The route takes you along the west highland way, I just kept plodding on, running sections mostly to keep the morale high.

At around halfway I knew there would be a marshall, she told me to manage my effort to go up and over the mountain range ahead.

By this time I was looking at the time as it started to get closer to 7pm, it would be close, I still had the climb to get up and over.

Finally I got to the point where you turn off the WHW to wade through a river to then start the climb on the path up to the saddle. “4 miles to go” said the marshal.

The sun was going down as false summits came and went until I saw another marshal beside the cairn ahead.

“3km to go, downhill all the way, enjoy” he said.

I stopped, turned and said “eh..I’ve done this before. This isn’t an enjoyable downhill..” “nah, it’s honking” he agreed.

I ended up making up on time here, as I could see others taking longer. One guy ended up thigh deep in a bog hole.

I spotted Craig ahead, we then carried on downwards together. He’d told JP to go on as John is a really good descender.

Finally we hit the road as darkness started to fall. 

We knew we’d missed the kayak stage, but we’d got to the coast.

Onwards we walked for the last km towards the waiting bus to take us to the finish. 

When I got to the bus I could see Rob from Rat Race then realised he was standing beside Corc. 

It was great to see him but I’d honestly thought he’d have made the kayak, he said the descent had been a bigger challenge than he’d expected.

JP had passed him and had made it on the last crossing.

Onto the bus, the last one on was my work mate Stu and his friend, it was great to see them. First thing he said was about the headwind on the bike..

Around 9pm and we crossed the finish line. Julie, JP & Fin were there and cheered us in.

This is an event that deserves to be respected. The weather has such an impact on the day, the time and effort needed. 

The very first year I did it in 2011 I said to Julie afterwards “I am NEVER doing this again!” But entered it the following year…

After 2012 I then said “I mean it, do not let me enter this again, remind me of this moment!” and then entered again, again and again.

Julie and I took part in the 2 day in 2016 & 2017, then back to the one day for me in 2018 & 2019

Why? Because we love a challenge, it is an epic course, stunning when the sun shines, atmospheric when it doesn’t, and, to be fair, it’s very well organised by Rat Race……come to think of it, entries for 2027 are open after all…