After a failed attempt at the 2024 Highland Fling, I decided to enter the race in November given that the 2025 race would take place in September.
I then entered a number of races in preparation for it. The Ardgartan Loop 21-mile race in February, the John Muir Way 50km ultra in March, 20 Along the Forth in March, Edinburgh to North Berwick 20-miler in May and the Edinburgh marathon at the end of May. A holiday to Mexico in June then set me back about 3 months. After Mexico I concentrated on getting on the WHW and getting some trail runs in.
The training had gone well and I felt as ready as I could be for the race. Unfortunately my father passed away a few weeks before the race and it was a tough few weeks. All the same it put the toughness of the race into perspective.
I registered on the Friday and then went to bed early doors and managed to fall asleep sometime after 1 in the morning. Not ideal, but these things happen. I arrived at the start to a great sense of excitement and anticipation. Had a chat with Masha and Gavin Hinde from Garscube and at the start line bumped into Dave Graham who I met on the train back from the Edinburgh marathon.
About a mile in to the race I took off my buff and managed to dislodge my head torch and ear bud. Found the head torch as it was on, but had to give up on the ear bud and move on.
The darkness disappeared within an hour, but all the headtorches made for a great sight. I felt my best chance of not getting timed out was to have a go at the delightful first 14 miles or so to conic hill. I did this and relished a break of sorts on the walk-up conic hill. I had been dreading the downward section down to Balmaha as I had last year. I didn’t fly down it by any means, but was bit quicker than last year and well ahead of schedule.
Last year I timed out at the Beinglas check point at 41 miles so had this in mind all day. The section from Inversnaid to Beinglas is not that long, but is very technical and brutal. This year it was still brutal, but being lighter and fitter helped and I was half an hour faster on that section than last year. I was worried a bit when the marshall said I looked a bit pale (I had been diagnosed with low b12 earlier in the week) as I arrived at Beinglas. Thought I was going to be medically disqualified. Told him I was OK and headed off.
I arrived at the next check point at Bogle farm in around the same time I took to get to Beinglas last year. I was pleased that I wasn’t going to be timed out, but was feeling knackered now. A mixture of walking and running for the next few miles. I then crossed over the road into a farm and my favourite tarmac and managed to run the rest of the way.
The red carpet was a welcome sight and I was delighted to make it and see my wife Elizabeth at the end of it. I also noticed Kev Craig from Bella Harriers cheering me on. We have ran a lot of races together this year and he had a great Fling to complete the triple crown this year. I also managed to see Dave Graham come up the red carpet. A guy who only started running last year has now completed a marathon and a few ultras including the Fling. Tremendous.
It is a tough run, but a great experience and very well organised. After a shower went for some lentil soup and haggis with Masha then we headed home. We bumped into former Harrier, Caroline Jones on the way to the car which was nice.
It has been a great season for me and I was pleased to cap it off with a Fling. Ding ding!
PS – a dog walker who had completed the fling before and was still a member of the fling Facebook group found my ear bud. Thank you, Lynda Macdonald, for returning it.
