Running To Extremes

Timothy Downie

It's one o'clock in the morning and I'm running down Milngavie High Street. It's the 21st of June, the longest day of the year and I'm not a late night reveller, I'm actually running in the company of 126 other like minded people (although some would say insane) all wearing head torches and all hoping to run the 95 miles to Fort William in under 35 hours. My goal this year is to join the band of runners who can claim to have run the full distance in under 24 hours.

The darkness quickly swallows us up as we head out of the town like a conga line of fireflies. We make our way up the path through Mugdock wood and past Craigallian loch towards Carbeth. The moon is nearly full and the sky is clear. It may be June but the air is cooling fast and a low mist hangs hauntingly over the lake. I want to stop for a moment to enjoy the breathtaking beauty that surrounds me but the urge to keep moving ever closer to Fort William is just too strong. I concentrate on watching my footing as a bad stumble early in the race could cost me my time goal or even the chance of finishing at all. ... (continues)