Celtman - Saturday 28th June 2014 - Race Report - The Support Crew perspective.

A while ago my good friend Donald Smith had the great idea of taking on one of the hardest Iron Distance triathlons on the planet by entering Celtman.  This event takes place in the northern wilds of the Highlands of Scotland and promises a tortuous swim of 3.8K, a bike of 202K and a run of 42.2K off road and over Mountains and passes.

Sounds like a bit of craic doesn’t it?

The event is self-supported for the most part, meaning that competitors must have a support crew of at least one person and preferably two.

This is where I came in to the equation.

Donald asked me and another friend, Paul to act as Crew for him. After some negotiations and jiggery pokery I was able to organise the time and make the trip with him to Shieldaig and Torridon for the meanest event I am likely to see.

Given the remoteness of the location we had to set out on Thursday evening for a ferry to Scotland to allow us enough time to drive up part of the way and stay overnight in Arrochar, then complete the rest of the Journey northwards on Friday and

Get up to Torridon in time for the 4PM race briefing.

The stopover in Arrochar was welcome and the hotel was lovely with a gorgeous view over the Loch.  Rather stupidly we lost track of time in the Bar and missed the last chance to order food, so with less than ideal nutritional preparation for Donald and the trials to come, we tucked in to several packets of crisps and nuts each as dinner, washed own with a few cold pints.  Lovely but not a nutritional strategy anyone would recommend.

The trip north took us along the shore of Loch Lomond and it was absolutely beautiful.  I now know what all the fuss is about.

It’s only on a trip like this do you realise the size of Scotland.  It is pretty vast and once you get reasonably well up north it becomes rugged and empty.

Going through Glencoe on the way towards Fort William was breath-taking and I thought that scenery like this just couldn’t be beaten.  It also gave me a bit of an insight n to what was awaiting Donald for the Mountain run, and me also, as I would be running the first part of the Marathon with him over the Coulin Pass.  It even sounds daunting!

After a couple of hours and reaching Fort William we grabbed a coffee and scone and stretched the legs for a bit.  Unbelievable after this stop we still had about another 120 miles of travel north to reach Torridon.  I don’t know about Tipperary but it’s a really bloody long way to Torridon.

The view of the back of Ben Nevis as we left Fort William was spectacular and the scenery just seemed to improve with every bend in the road.

We also saw one of the best road signs ever which warned us to be careful of “Feral Goats.”

“We’re not in Kansas now Toto.”  That was pretty damn clear to us.

As it turns out, the only Feral Goats were the three of us crammed in to the Renault Scenic, along with a bike, bags and the usual plethora of equipment needed for an Iron Distance triathlon.  There wasn’t a lot of unutilised space in the car.

One of the things I hadn’t expected was the degree of remoteness in Northern Scotland.  I’m used to remote and rural Ireland with our time spent in Donegal but this was a different thing altogether.

There were no houses for miles on end, we literally drove for over 120 miles without a single traffic light and pretty quickly the roads became single-track with passing places every few hundred yards.

It genuinely is the back of beyond but with such breath-taking scenery, the likes of which I’ve never seen before.

Eventually we made it to Torridon about 3.30PM after setting out at about 10.30AM.

The Race briefing was a chance to see some of the other competitors and crews and have the 45 minute briefing.

The guys who organise this event are fantastic at what they do.  I know from experience that running a race is hard work and can be highly stressful but to do it in such a remote location must be a logistical nightmare.

The briefing laid out the rules and covered the course.  The Swim was to be cut to 3000M from 3800M as the water temperature was a less than balmy 11 Degrees C.

That will put a chill in anyone’s bones.

The other fantastic news was that the competitors needed to be at registration and Bike racking at 3AM!!!  Yep 3AM.

As our accommodation was about 45 minutes away from the start, which would mean a 1.30AM wake up for us.  I can still barely believe that we did it but we had to.

Not wanting to replicate our mistake of missing dinner on the night before, we called in to Shieldaig on the way to the hostel in Applecross and had dinner in the local pub.  This was an experience in its own right with a few other competitors around and a couple of locals who were well on their way with a few pints head start on us.

No beer for Donald though, partly as he was driving but more so as he had a bit of a busy day ahead of him.
Paul was only too pleased to sample the local brews and had a lovely pint of something unpronounceable in Gaelic!  It seemed to go down well in any language.

After a massive portion of Fish and Chips that looked more like a Bag of Spuds and a Whale we hit the road for Applecross.

All preconceptions of a twisty mountain road and stunning scenery were about to be blown out of the water as we went up over Bealach Na Ba, which is the highest road pass in the UK and it’s single track hairpin bends and massive elevation gain up to 2000ft make it a truly awesome experience.

The view from the top across to the Isle of Skye as the sun was setting was simply out of this world.  Literally like nothing I have ever seen before and judging by the remarks others have left on Trip Advisor, I’d say I’m not alone.  Check out some of the comments.

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g551815-d4106283-Reviews-Bealach_na_Ba_Road-Applecross_Ross_and_Cromarty_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html

The descent off the pass was just as exciting and stunning as the ascent and I was thinking how it would be to do it on a bike.  The answer is that it would be bloody difficult.  I think it would be a complete leg buster but an awesome sense of achievement.

Eventually getting to the Hostel and battling our way through a swarm of Midges (this would be a common theme all weekend) we started getting sorted for the next day, all the while, the clock was ticking on and our sleep time was shortening rather rapidly.

Eventually by about 11.30 we were getting to sleep and a short two hours later the alarms went off and we got ready to have a long day.  Donald was very relaxed about the whole thing and both Paul and I felt that we’d have been “touching cloth” at the prospect of what was to come.

The trip back up over Bealach Na Ba was amazing, not just because I was driving this time but because of the amount of Red Deer on the road.  In the space of 10 miles I am sure we had 50 of them run across the road on us. They were huge and would have made quite a dent in the car had we hit one. Although the Venison steaks would have filled the freezer for a while.

Unfortunately a little rabbit didn’t prove to be so lucky as it bounced off the underside of the car on the way up the pass.  At least I did my bit for the local carnivorous wildlife as it would prove to be a tasty breakfast for something.

Shieldaig was the registration area and this is a tiny village.  The morning was beautiful and very still and the water was flat calm which was a real stroke of luck for Donald.  It was a chilly morning and the water was freezing.

The swim start was a few miles away on an opposite shore where competitors swim across the bay and around a couple of islands back in to the jetty at Shieldaig.

Eventually after getting set up and registered Donald made his way to the bus at 4AM which would take the competitors off to the start.  We wished him luck, waved him goodbye and waited for the local bar to open so that we could get breakfast.  Amazingly the local bar and a small café opened this early to make the most of the rich pickings on offer.  This was probably their busiest day of the year.  Milk it while it’s there!

A great bowl of porridge and a coffee set Paul and I up for what was going to be a long day ahead.

Paul in a stroke of genius pre ordered a bacon butty and coffee for around the time Donald would emerge from the water so that he could get a warm coffee and a bit of food before heading off on the mammoth bike leg.

 

The first swimmer came in to view surprisingly quickly and was out of the water in about 45 minutes which was amazing in that cold.

After that a stream of athletes emerged from the water.  Some were in a bad way with the cold causing cramps and dizziness but the amazing volunteers were in the water freezing their own asses off in wetsuits to guide the tired swimmers out to transition.  They were brilliant at this and so encouraging to the guys as the came out.

Donald emerged from the water at around 1Hr 15 and was looking good.  Cold but good.

The Transition area took up a chunk of the main street in Shieldaig and at this point was a flurry of activity with competitors, support crew and some spectators all busily getting the guys ready for the mammoth 125 mile bike leg.

I mentioned that the scenery was amazing and this theme carried through in Transition where a rather fit young lady proceeded to completely strip off to get in to her cycling gear.

I can only assume she was doing her best to increase the temperature and blood flow of the male participants around her, although I suspect that they were so cold that a full on lap dance from Cameron Diaz may have been a wasted effort at this stage, but it was good fun for the support crews.

The Bacon Butty and Coffee went down well and the reasonably leisurely transition time of 15 minutes meant that he was well prepared to hit the road.

As Donald made his way out from T1, Paul and I watched some of the later swimmers coming in and to our amazement one of the last guys was backstroking in.  I later heard that he may have backstroked the whole thing.

When you think about it, why bury your face in the water when you can look up and enjoy the scenery.  Not a bad plan at all!

The bike leg is where the support crew are really meant to offer the greatest degree of assistance as there is no real official support on the way around.

The plan was to meet Donald about 40 miles up the road where Breakfast had been laid on for the support crews.  (it was bloody fantastic by the way)

In fact it was so good that Paul and I missed Donald coming through and spent the next 30 minutes chasing him down so that we could offer him some fresh supplies.

We were panicking a bit as we had just blown the first meeting point and reckoned Donald would be thinking “Some support team they are!”
Eventually we caught him up and stopped to top him up with Drinks, peanuts and gels.

The plan from here on in was to head about 15 miles down the road  each time, let him catch up and re-stock supplies and then head on again.

The plan worked and it also had the added benefit that we could try to find somewhere scenic to stop. 
It was funny to see all the other support crews along the road as well and everyone doing their best to look after their athletes.

Several more stops and top ups and Donald will still looking strong which was quite remarkable as some of the climbs we had driven up and he rode up were massively challenging.  The longest of which must have been a climb of about 7 miles at least.

As time moved on it was becoming apparent to Paul and I that the cut off time for doing the High Mountain run course of 13Hrs was looking more unlikely as Donald really needed to be off the bike by a maximum of 9Hrs in order to even stand a chance of making the T2A cut off of 11Hrs.  We didn’t mention this to him as we didn’t want to apply any more pressure on him and he didn’t mention it either and he was clearly just focussed on getting the job done.

Eventually we made it through to T2 and after about 8H 30mins of cycling he was off the bike and ready to hit the hills for the Marathon.

It was decided that I would run the first leg of the Marathon with him for about 18K from T2 to T2A which would take us up and over the Coulin pass.

I had decided not to run the second leg as it was more Mountainous and I was worried about injuring myself only 4 weeks out from Ironman Zurich.  Also Paul is a far more experienced Mountain and Trail runner than me and would do a better job at looking after him.

I was a bit concerned that my lack of trail and mountain running would slow Donald down, but we set off at a gentle pace (for me as I hadn’t just swam 3K and cycled 125 miles) and walked some of the steeper sections.

At the top of the Coulin pass there was an Aid station.  Possibly one of the most remote aid stations on the planet that day.  The Girl there was so friendly and encouraging and the cake and pretzels on offer were fantastic.  I ate more than I should have.

My objectives was to keep Donald going, stocked with food and drink and generally keep him motivated and spirits up if things got tough.

The reality is that he needs very little of that as he is so motivated and positive anyway, so it made for a really enjoyable run.

Our pace was decent enough given what had preceded and the terrain we were running over.

As we neared T2A Paul was waiting on the Road to meet us and encourage us as T2A was only a mile down the road.

This is where I had to apply a sensible head over the heart as Paul asked if I wanted to carry on and finish off the Marathon with Donald.

I dearly wanted to do it as I was feeling very fresh and strong but I knew I had to be sensible and avoid injury risks and I also wanted Paul to experience running in this stunning environment.

We made it to T2A with about 15 minutes to spare for the overall 13Hr cut off which if missed means you can’t continue and in effect your race is over.  Having missed the 11Hr mark to do the High Course, Donald and Paul set off on the low course.

Low Course is somewhat of a misnomer as it is still very difficult terrain and stil another 15 miles of off road running – so not easy at all.

I headed off in the car to a point where they would come off the trails with about 3 miles to go before the end.
I knew I’d have a long wait so I took the time to get a few photographs and chat to the Mountain Rescue Guys who were manning the junction where the trail became road.

They were a great bunch and one of them had earlier been a Safety Kayaker for the swim.

They just typified the generosity and enthusiasm of all the volunteers on the day.

After a few hours Paul and Donald emerged from the wilds.  The plan had been for me to take over again here from Paul and run the remaining few miles in, however I was getting cold from hanging around and it would have been tough to get going again, and Paul was having such good fun I just wanted him to carry on.

They headed on and I went ahead to the finish line in the car and got the camera ready to capture the moment as Donald crossed the finish line.

The last few miles are back on the road in to Torridon and they covered this ground quicker than I had expected.

I went and waited right behind the finish line so I could get a good photo of Donald crossing the line.

As they came to the line Paul peeled off to the side to allow Donald to cross the line himself.

In doing so, he clipped Donald’s heel, almost sending him to the floor.  It drew a few groans and gasps from the crowd but amazingly after 3K swimming, 202K biking and 42K running, he managed to keep his footing and cross the line after 16H 40mins.
He even had donned a Scottish Saltire hat to stir the Nationalistic juices.

It was an amazing achievement and it’s fantastic to see someone achieve their goal after putting in the hours of training and commitment.

Post-race was a great chance to finally sit down together and have a bowl of soup and a bite to eat with all the other finishers and support crews.  The atmosphere was fantastic and we got talking to a young American couple.  He had finished the High Course and she had been support crew.

It’s at times like this that you realise that the M-Dot Ironman tattoo is a bit lame for someone like him.  He has done Celtman, Norseman and Swissman.  All three absolutely iconic and brutal races.  Ironman races are probably a bit soft for people like him.

It’s great to speak to guys who just push the limits.

Eventually we headed back off to the Hostel and I was driving this time up and over  the Mountain pass and it was a bit of a white knuckle drive as it was getting dark, the roads are narrow and the Red Deer were back out on the road again.

Back at the Hostel and after a couple of celebratory beers we fairly quickly fell asleep after almost 24Hrs on the go with virtually no sleep.

The next morning brought yet more Celtman, this time in the form of the awards ceremony and presentation of the Finishers’ T-Shirts.

The overall winner was a big Swedish dude who claimed one of the best Endurance Sports quotes I have ever heard.  In describing his desire to stay at the front of the race, in a laid back Scandinavian accent he said “It was Hospital or win!”

Absolutely fantastic.  That says it all about why he won and how he managed it in only 11H 40Mins.  Brilliant.

Post ceremony we were back in the car for another long drive and about 6Hrs later we finally made it back to Troon to get the Ferry home.

I’m delighted I made the trip to see one of the iconic Iron distance races on the scene at the moment and also to seem y good friend achieve his goal and become a Celtman.

It’s no mean feat to be a Celtman.

Would I do it?  I’m not sure.

I loved the location but I know that this year we just got lucky with the weather.  I can’t imagine doing that course in the wind and rain and cold.  It would be so difficult.

I did enjoy the low key nature of the event and it’s what makes it unique but equally I love the massive hype and production values you get at an Ironman branded event too.

I think I thrive on the support and encouragement of crowds and that just wasn’t really here, although on a pro-rata basis the support was fantastic.

Anyway back from this event and buzzing about the prospect of Ironman Switzerland coming along in a few weeks for me.  I can’t wait.

Big well done to Donald and thanks to Paul for the great company over a long few days.  The bigger question is what the hell will Donald do next to top this one?