I haven't run a step since the West Highland Way Race but will hopefully start next week.
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Triple Hirple
I haven't run a step since the West Highland Way Race but will hopefully start next week.
Pine Marten in Gouache
James Gurney (of the highly recommended gurney journey blog) has just released a dvd on painting in gouache ( opaque watercolour) I was inspired to buy some gouache paints which arrived yesterday. The pine marten painting is my first attempt with this medium .I had thought of gouache as a sort of 'cheats' watercolour because you can correct mistakes and add highlights rather than having to leave the white of the paper.However I found it more difficult to use than I expected. I wasn't even sure how much paint to squeeze out of the tubes and wasted quite a lot . My watercolour technique is to apply washes of paint allowing the pigments to mix on the paper rather than mixing the finally colour on a palette.This doesn't work with gouache because colours cover and obscure underlying layers rather than mixing or allowing them to glow through .However on the plus side you can start painting broadly then add in more and more detail. I don't think I will ever be tempted to give up my normal watercolours but I can see that gouache would be useful for some subjects expecially those with a lot of detail.
Monday, 22 June 2015
West Highland Way Race 2015
So it is all over for another year; the West Highland Way race done and dusted. For us it is the best, most important and most enjoyable race in the calendar.
I took a few days off last week to organise my kit - loads of food which I knew I probably would not be able to eat (you never know what you will fancy during a race), lots of spare clothes that I knew I would probably not wear( but you never know what the weather will do ). Also medical kit, gas stove midge nets and repellents - the list was endless.
On Friday afternoon we drove to Milngavie, stopping off for our traditional fish and chips at the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum.
Race registration is a great time for meeting up with various friends from around the country (some of whom we only see at the whw race)
I was slightly nervous about the race because after my back problems and other health issues I hadn't done enough training and I wasn't very fit.
At 1 am precisely we set off from Milngavie a mere 95 miles and 14,760 feet of climbing between us and Fort William!
The first part of the route is for me the least appealing but in the dark it went by swiftly. It is a good time to chat because everyone is relaxed and running comfortably. I ran for a while with a guy from Cumbria who had done the Bob Graham round and the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc(UTMB). I can remember his running shoes but my memory of his face and that of the other runners at this stage blur into one beneath the glare of their headtorches. After Drymen it started to get light but with the drizzle and fog it took some time before we could switch our torches off. The conditions were perfect for running though- the rain was never heavy enough to need waterproofs and quite refreshing.
At Balmaha I met my trusty support crew who really were on top form, mug of tea and food at the ready.
The Loch Lomond section is one of my favourites- I just love the verdant, luxuriant forest the twisted lichen draped trees , the wild garlic, the bluebells and may blossom. Round every corner there is a view that cries out photograph me , paint me.In my imagination this is what the woods Tolkien's Middle Earth would look like. All the while there is the ever present and seemingly endless Loch Lomond that separates this wonderland from the main A82 road and its noise, traffic and crowds of tourists.
For once Inversnaid wasn't completely midge infested- one of the intrepid checkpoint volunteers had even dared to lift the veil of his midge hat!I downed some cold coffee and some custard and carried on. I felt that I was going quite well and began to dream of doing a decent time.
About a mile before Beinglas I felt a stabbing pain in my right hamstring which worsened with every step, it felt as if I'd pulled or torn a muscle and I thought my race was over. However the slow climb out of Beinglas was a chance to walk and rest . The pain continued but slowly abated over the next 20 miles or so.
From here on my lack of fitness began to show and my pace started to drop. At Tyndrum I found myself thinking how fine it would be if I was just doing The Highland Fling Race and stopping there instead of carrying on for another 42 miles! I went through just as the relay race was starting and envied the fit young athletes sprinting past me.
Still I started to pick up after Bridge of Orchy being buoyed up by Murdo, Pete, Bob and others providing jelly babies and music on top of the hill. I ran a lot of the climb on to Rannoch Moor( probably a mistake) and overtook several people before the ski centre . By now I was enjoying myself again .There were several other runners around me running at similar speeds.It was nice to say hello and wish each other well. Throughout the race there was a great atmosphere amongst the runners , supporters, marshalls and walkers on the trail . Without exception everyone was cheerful and friendly.
I can honestly say my support crew were incredible . On the descent to Kinlochleven I was slightly nauseous but thirsty. I was fantasising about a cool beer, but then realised that what I desired more than anything else was a cold tango . Helen who by then was running with me texted her sister to buy some at the shop . Ten minutes later I had a yearning for some chicken but I thought it unfair to mention this and necessitate another visit to the supermarket. When we arrived at Kinlochleven there was a bottle of ice cold tango waiting for me and some chicken that my wonderful support crew had purchased just in case I fancied it! Both went down down a treat.
Ten years ago when I first ran the West highland Way Race I had a terrible time on the Lairig Mor . Warm humid weather and running shoes with a semi waterproof lining turned the soles of my feet to mush . The rocky terrain was agony to run over and I walked most of the way.Since then I have grown to love rather than fear The Lairig Mor. This time I was far more comfortable. The rain had stopped and sun shone through breaks in the cloud. I was overcome by a wave of emotion .Weary and sore I may have been but I was so so happy to be running the West Highland Way Race being supported by my lovely wife.Can life get better than that?
The last section from Lundavra to Fort William was tough, I was very slow and felt faint, the euphoria I experienced in the middle of Lairig Mor had evaporated .The miles seemed to crawl by .I was overtaken by several runners but had no regrets because I was physically unable to go any faster.
The forest track seemed long as always ( the disadvantage of living in the area is that you know exactly how far it is to the end ) as did the road. Then I saw the 30mph signs of Fort William and knew at last it was almost over. Round the corner and into the Leisure centre and it was .
It was by far my slowest WHWrace at 22.12.01 but faster than my prediction of 24 hours. As always it was a great adventure with its highs and lows and emotional moments.
The cut off for the end of the race is midday on Sunday when the presentation starts. Every finisher is individually presented with much a coveted engraved crystal goblet. The winner for the 3rd time in a row was Paul Giblin an outstanding athlete who deserves to be more famous. He broke his own course record taking only 14 hours 14 minutes and 44 seconds to finish. Compare this to the winning time 10 years ago of 18 hours 57 minutes. In how many other races is the winning time slashed by over 4 hours in the space of 10 years ! Jamie Aarons was the first lady finishng in 19.28.23.
After the presentation we had a rest then went to the pub for a celebration with all our West Highland Way pals. The beer flowed , the craic was good, and we stayed until closing time. All in all it was a fantastic weekend . Ian Beattie and his team have once again made this iconic race a great success .Roll on next year!
I took a few days off last week to organise my kit - loads of food which I knew I probably would not be able to eat (you never know what you will fancy during a race), lots of spare clothes that I knew I would probably not wear( but you never know what the weather will do ). Also medical kit, gas stove midge nets and repellents - the list was endless.
On Friday afternoon we drove to Milngavie, stopping off for our traditional fish and chips at the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum.
Race registration is a great time for meeting up with various friends from around the country (some of whom we only see at the whw race)
I was slightly nervous about the race because after my back problems and other health issues I hadn't done enough training and I wasn't very fit.
At 1 am precisely we set off from Milngavie a mere 95 miles and 14,760 feet of climbing between us and Fort William!
The first part of the route is for me the least appealing but in the dark it went by swiftly. It is a good time to chat because everyone is relaxed and running comfortably. I ran for a while with a guy from Cumbria who had done the Bob Graham round and the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc(UTMB). I can remember his running shoes but my memory of his face and that of the other runners at this stage blur into one beneath the glare of their headtorches. After Drymen it started to get light but with the drizzle and fog it took some time before we could switch our torches off. The conditions were perfect for running though- the rain was never heavy enough to need waterproofs and quite refreshing.
At Balmaha I met my trusty support crew who really were on top form, mug of tea and food at the ready.
The Loch Lomond section is one of my favourites- I just love the verdant, luxuriant forest the twisted lichen draped trees , the wild garlic, the bluebells and may blossom. Round every corner there is a view that cries out photograph me , paint me.In my imagination this is what the woods Tolkien's Middle Earth would look like. All the while there is the ever present and seemingly endless Loch Lomond that separates this wonderland from the main A82 road and its noise, traffic and crowds of tourists.
For once Inversnaid wasn't completely midge infested- one of the intrepid checkpoint volunteers had even dared to lift the veil of his midge hat!I downed some cold coffee and some custard and carried on. I felt that I was going quite well and began to dream of doing a decent time.
About a mile before Beinglas I felt a stabbing pain in my right hamstring which worsened with every step, it felt as if I'd pulled or torn a muscle and I thought my race was over. However the slow climb out of Beinglas was a chance to walk and rest . The pain continued but slowly abated over the next 20 miles or so.
From here on my lack of fitness began to show and my pace started to drop. At Tyndrum I found myself thinking how fine it would be if I was just doing The Highland Fling Race and stopping there instead of carrying on for another 42 miles! I went through just as the relay race was starting and envied the fit young athletes sprinting past me.
Still I started to pick up after Bridge of Orchy being buoyed up by Murdo, Pete, Bob and others providing jelly babies and music on top of the hill. I ran a lot of the climb on to Rannoch Moor( probably a mistake) and overtook several people before the ski centre . By now I was enjoying myself again .There were several other runners around me running at similar speeds.It was nice to say hello and wish each other well. Throughout the race there was a great atmosphere amongst the runners , supporters, marshalls and walkers on the trail . Without exception everyone was cheerful and friendly.
I can honestly say my support crew were incredible . On the descent to Kinlochleven I was slightly nauseous but thirsty. I was fantasising about a cool beer, but then realised that what I desired more than anything else was a cold tango . Helen who by then was running with me texted her sister to buy some at the shop . Ten minutes later I had a yearning for some chicken but I thought it unfair to mention this and necessitate another visit to the supermarket. When we arrived at Kinlochleven there was a bottle of ice cold tango waiting for me and some chicken that my wonderful support crew had purchased just in case I fancied it! Both went down down a treat.
Ten years ago when I first ran the West highland Way Race I had a terrible time on the Lairig Mor . Warm humid weather and running shoes with a semi waterproof lining turned the soles of my feet to mush . The rocky terrain was agony to run over and I walked most of the way.Since then I have grown to love rather than fear The Lairig Mor. This time I was far more comfortable. The rain had stopped and sun shone through breaks in the cloud. I was overcome by a wave of emotion .Weary and sore I may have been but I was so so happy to be running the West Highland Way Race being supported by my lovely wife.Can life get better than that?
The last section from Lundavra to Fort William was tough, I was very slow and felt faint, the euphoria I experienced in the middle of Lairig Mor had evaporated .The miles seemed to crawl by .I was overtaken by several runners but had no regrets because I was physically unable to go any faster.
The forest track seemed long as always ( the disadvantage of living in the area is that you know exactly how far it is to the end ) as did the road. Then I saw the 30mph signs of Fort William and knew at last it was almost over. Round the corner and into the Leisure centre and it was .
It was by far my slowest WHWrace at 22.12.01 but faster than my prediction of 24 hours. As always it was a great adventure with its highs and lows and emotional moments.
The cut off for the end of the race is midday on Sunday when the presentation starts. Every finisher is individually presented with much a coveted engraved crystal goblet. The winner for the 3rd time in a row was Paul Giblin an outstanding athlete who deserves to be more famous. He broke his own course record taking only 14 hours 14 minutes and 44 seconds to finish. Compare this to the winning time 10 years ago of 18 hours 57 minutes. In how many other races is the winning time slashed by over 4 hours in the space of 10 years ! Jamie Aarons was the first lady finishng in 19.28.23.
After the presentation we had a rest then went to the pub for a celebration with all our West Highland Way pals. The beer flowed , the craic was good, and we stayed until closing time. All in all it was a fantastic weekend . Ian Beattie and his team have once again made this iconic race a great success .Roll on next year!
 |
| A recent picture of Loch Sunart |
Thursday, 18 June 2015
June Pictures
I haven't posted any pictures for a while as I've been very busy at work, but here are some recent sketches.When it is not raining this is a great time of year to paint outdoors. The countryside is green and bursting with life but there is still snow on the higher tops.The days are also very long. Normally the midges are bad by now but the cold spring has delayed their multiplication.
I try to have something to draw or paint with me at all times, ideally moleskine watercolour sketchbook and paints + a couple of pens and pencils, but at the very least a small notebook and pen that fits in my trouser pocket. My notebook is a mismash of quick sketches , to do lists , clients details and quotes and poems that I like. My favourite type is the small moleskine notebook, they are expensive but have a lot of thin pages which will take pen , pencil and light washes of watercolour.For some reason the drawing sketchbooks have thicker paper that has a coating which frustratingly rejects watercolour paint.
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Ramsey Record
Last weekend, Jez Bragg was due to attempt the Ramsey Round . Jez Bragg is well known to the West Highland Way race family having held the course record for many years, he is also a very nice, down to earth person.
I was meant to meet him on Saturday morning in the Grey Corries to give him a top up of coca- cola and rice pudding, but the start was brought forward to 3 am on Friday morning so I was unable to help due that unfortunate thing called work.
It was a good call though because the weather on Friday was excellent; sunny and clear whereas on Saturday the tops were shrouded in cloud and it was surprisingly cold.
After work on Friday we went to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel where the round begins and ends.
To matter a Ramsey Round of the 24 mountains must be done in under 24 hours. Jez was hoping to beat the record of 18 hours 23 minutes!
We waited as the minutes ticked away , we knew it was going to be tight. Finally we saw a group of runners sprinting down the road . Jez crossed the line in an amazing18 hours and 12 minutes, breaking the record by 11 minutes. Unless you have climbed and run in these mountains it is difficult to understand how impressive this result is . In addition to the tough climbing there are exposed ridges to negotiate, steep craggy descents and every variation in terrain from snow fields to rock to tussocky grass and bog. Compared to the other major rounds such as the Bob Graham the Ramsey is remote with little road access for support crews.
At the finish there was just a small group of people to applaud Jez's outstanding achievement.Compare this to the hype of someone breaking the record for the marathon or distance cycled in an hour! Breaking the record of a big round involves so much more than superb athletic ability ( though this is obviously essential). Running fast over difficult terrain requires a lot of skill but navigation and route choice are very important too. In addition nutrition and hydration are a delicate balancing act on a long run . Add in uncontrollable variables; the ground conditions - how wet, how much snow (carry an ice axe and crampons or not?), the wind and rain, the visibility, the temperature. It is easy to see why so many Ramsey attempts fail. The secret I suspect is meticulous planning coupled with the flexibility to change plans to suit the conditions. This is exactly what Jez did and it paid off.
Link to Jez Bragg's blog
I was meant to meet him on Saturday morning in the Grey Corries to give him a top up of coca- cola and rice pudding, but the start was brought forward to 3 am on Friday morning so I was unable to help due that unfortunate thing called work.
It was a good call though because the weather on Friday was excellent; sunny and clear whereas on Saturday the tops were shrouded in cloud and it was surprisingly cold.
After work on Friday we went to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel where the round begins and ends.
To matter a Ramsey Round of the 24 mountains must be done in under 24 hours. Jez was hoping to beat the record of 18 hours 23 minutes!
We waited as the minutes ticked away , we knew it was going to be tight. Finally we saw a group of runners sprinting down the road . Jez crossed the line in an amazing18 hours and 12 minutes, breaking the record by 11 minutes. Unless you have climbed and run in these mountains it is difficult to understand how impressive this result is . In addition to the tough climbing there are exposed ridges to negotiate, steep craggy descents and every variation in terrain from snow fields to rock to tussocky grass and bog. Compared to the other major rounds such as the Bob Graham the Ramsey is remote with little road access for support crews.
At the finish there was just a small group of people to applaud Jez's outstanding achievement.Compare this to the hype of someone breaking the record for the marathon or distance cycled in an hour! Breaking the record of a big round involves so much more than superb athletic ability ( though this is obviously essential). Running fast over difficult terrain requires a lot of skill but navigation and route choice are very important too. In addition nutrition and hydration are a delicate balancing act on a long run . Add in uncontrollable variables; the ground conditions - how wet, how much snow (carry an ice axe and crampons or not?), the wind and rain, the visibility, the temperature. It is easy to see why so many Ramsey attempts fail. The secret I suspect is meticulous planning coupled with the flexibility to change plans to suit the conditions. This is exactly what Jez did and it paid off.
Link to Jez Bragg's blog
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Some Recent Sketches
I was very sad to hear of the death today of Charles Kennedy, former leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and M.P. for this area for 32 years until he lost his seat on the 7th May. He won my admiration ( and my vote) for his opposition to the Iraq War.
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