Running for More Than Miles: Making Every Step Count for Charity

I’m now just a few days away from my third ultra marathon this year, the 57-mile (93 km) ‘G2E’ Ultra Challenge from Glasgow to Edinburgh. It’s been a journey, to say the least! My first two ultras, ‘The Fling’ and the ‘Hairy Challenge,’ didn’t exactly go to plan. In my first, I hit the wall hard, falling with crazy leg cramp spasms 20 miles from the finish. The second was derailed by an injury that sidelined my training for five crucial weeks. Not exactly textbook ultra-running – though, come to think of it, I’ve never actually read a textbook (or any book) on ultra marathons. Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong!

Fuelled by a Cause

What truly kept me going in both those races, even when my body wanted to quit, was knowing I was raising money for incredible causes: The Resolution Foundation focuses on improving the living standards of those on low-to-middle incomes. Edinburgh Cash For Kids and supports children affected by poverty, abuse, and neglect in Edinburgh and the Lothians. During the tough times in races, I try to remember why I am pushing myself. I wanted to do them justice, to push myself to the absolute best of my ability.

Race Day: A Tale of Patience, and Puke

Race day arrived. At 5 AM, I jogged a couple of kilometers from my B&B to the start line and collected my GPS tracker. At 6 AM, we set off to the rousing skirl of bagpipes, a sea of headtorches bobbing in the pre-dawn light. The energy was palpable, but I kept repeating my mantra: “Be patient. This race isn’t won in the first 42k.”

After settling into a comfortable pace, I found myself running alongside a lovely PT from Edinburgh – who, it turns out, works at my wife’s gym! Our pacing strategies diverged, and I soon found myself logging several hours with Devon Yanko, the American Lululemon ambassador athlete. What an inspiring and fascinating character! You truly meet some incredible people in the ultra-running world.

My race unfolded perfectly until the 60k mark, with 33k still to go. I felt fantastic. The salt tablets were doing their job, keeping cramps at bay. I was fuelling and hydrating well, running comfortably within myself. I’d even done a 41k training run along the same canal just weeks prior, so I knew this part of the route intimately. My legs felt as fresh as they had at the start of that training run, and now I “only” had 33k left. I was feeling far better than I’d dared to hope. “Don’t be daft,” I told myself, “just keep this steady pace. 33k is still a long way.”

The Unexpected Turn

I decided to have my last sandwich, knowing I needed to fuel for the final 2.5 hours of running. I was almost finished eating when my stomach began to rumble… and then everything came up. The salt tablets had clearly been working overtime to keep me hydrated, as I was sick for a full minute. I must have lost 1.5 liters of fluid and everything I hadn’t already digested.

Oddly, I felt better immediately afterward – lighter, even. The 4:45/km pace felt easy again for about 3 or 4 kilometers! But then, it was as if an energy-sapping ray hit me. I was completely drained, with 18k still to go to the next food station. I only had two gels left, no solid food, and absolutely no energy. My pace crashed rapidly. It became a matter of rationing gels and just pushing through to that next aid station, 11k from the finish line.

When I finally reached that aid station, I devoured everything I could to try and get some energy back into my system. After a few more kilometers, my pace miraculously returned, and I actually finished fairly strongly.

Reflecting on the Finish Line

I crossed the finish line in 8th place out of 460 starters, definitely one of the highlights of the day! After three ultras this year, I think I might be “cured” of them for a while. There are simply too many variables to control. I put in the training, but the result – the time I had set myself – didn’t quite reflect that effort. I’m not disappointed with the performance, but I am annoyed that a sudden stomach issue prevented me from truly giving my best. I felt so good, and then it just got derailed. I’ll take a week to reflect and recover.

Heart and soul

I’ve poured my heart and effort into these runs, and now I’m asking for your support to help make life a little bit easier for many children and families in Edinburgh, the Lothians and across the UK. To donate, please visit my page on the Radio Forth Cash For Kids website. Any amount, big or small, is greatly appreciated. My company, Appin Sports, will match fund all donations up to £10,000. Thank you for making every step count!