Auchterarder Running Festival 2024 - The double dare
I visited this event last year with the girls to go & support my pal Mike who was running the double dare. It was also an opportunity to meet John Cassidy and Steven Watt of the young hearts run free (YHRF) podcast in person & thank them for getting me through my long runs on the Edinburgh marathon training long runs. The weather was beautiful, the girls had a great time & the vibe from the community was wholesome. The event also attracted a couple of runners who are outstanding at ultra distances, who will talk to anyone & answer questions you may have. In my eyes it's akin to meeting the Scottish ultra trail version of Kipchoge but way cooler and more relaxed with less fuss! I knew that day as soon as entries opened for 2024 it was getting booked. That's what happened & I'm fairly sure it was my 1st booked event of 2024.
The double dare if you don't know, is 10km on Saturday & a half marathon on the Sunday. 19.3 miles over the weekend. It's a challenge.
With the devil being my main focus of the year, honestly, I hadn't gave this weekend much thought. I just wanted to survive the devil then see how the rest of the year would pan out. Post devil I was slightly nervous about the event as the half marathon would be my longest distance after it. With it being in an event it adds an element of pressure & I don't want to look rubbish. However, it was always in the plan this was a social weekend & to just go enjoy it. Soak up the vibes from the previous year.
On top of the double dare is the kids race on the Saturday. I asked both girls if they wanted to take part & enthusiastically said yes! I don't want to force them into my hobby & they have never done anything under pressure. I was delighted they wanted to be a part of the weekend though! I felt really lucky I was getting a family day on the Saturday & a social day on the Sunday. Even if people think it's mad running 13 miles to be social rather than just going for a coffee!
The weekend before, my eldest & I contracted a horrendous stomach bug/head cold to the stage I had to call into work sick for the 1st time in 4 years. A message to Nic as to why my training wasn't happening & worry I'd make the event at all. I loved the medals & t shirts so really wanted to take part. Nic replied 'be sensible this week, see how you feel. If you can do one it's a bonus but don't kill yourself to do both'. It was great advice & I spent the week leading up to it resting.
Friday night I was a bit too chilled I think. Nothing was organised for my run & my eldest had even prepared a flat lay for her run the next morning.
I was happy to be so chilled out though because the devil nerves I don't think I could psychologically or physiologically cope with that before every event. It wouldn't be worth it. Some middle ground of being prepared but this chilled would be spot on in the future!
We got everything together & headed up. The weather was to be good. A bit overcast in the morning but it wasn't to rain according to the weather. The 1st person I met up there was Kate. It was good to see a familiar face & the nerves eased off. I headed down to the start line & got a massive hug from John Cassidy! Steven Watt was also there & they were matching in Precision fuel shirt & shorts. Or as I like to call them, precision pyjamas!
I headed up to register before the kids race kicked off at 09:45 but it was delayed slightly. The organisers handled this amazingly & was assured I could watch the girls run their race. The 10km wouldn't start until everyone who intended to take part who was there had their number. No dramas.
Then, walking over the field towards the start line was the one of the people I had been looking forward to seeing the most. Angi!
I met Angi briefly last year at the event after following her through Instagram. She is a fabulous runner herself holding 3 out of 6 marathon major stars. She's also been one of my biggest supporters this year from designing my bespoke JMWU t shirt to daily encouraging messages. Her profile on Instagram is one of my favourites & I can't help but smile when I think of her. She's awesome. Anyway I digress......
The kids race had something the adults one didn't. They had a mascot in the form of a bear. This should happen at adult races too. It adds an element of fun & the hug of high 5 you get from it gives you that wee boost for the upcoming run!
It was brilliant to see so many kids on the start line wanting to get involved & the girls had a great time. John & I couldn't be prouder & for their efforts they got a brilliant medal & a bag of sweets for taking part.
Once the kids run was done I went to collect my number then head to the start line. I met Helen on the way who kindly wanted to run with me for the 10km. She had also just recently completed an ultra so same as myself, wanted to go easy on the Saturday ensuring we had enough in us for the Sunday. We made our way to the back so there was less pressure & just enjoyed the run.
To show how unprepared I was for this, it wasn't only until the week leading up I didn't know this was a road event & what the elevation would be like. I signed up on the basis of good vibes & the fact there weren't thousands at this. Strathclyde parkrun had more attendees than this 10km which is perfect for me. Busy events just add to my already phenomenal stress levels.
The run itself was brilliant. Because I had Helen to chat to, not having music on wasn't a problem. I don't have bone conducting headphones which were the only ones allowed for the weekend. This became clear why this was a rule for safety as we were running along country roads with tractors & cars so you needed your wits about you. That being said the amount of volunteers out on the course was phenomenal. At no point during both events did I feel like I was going to get lost or feel unsafe. They told us to keep to the left to keep us safe & even the traffic was very respectful of the runners taking caution as they drove past us all. The support & encouragement they gave was fantastic too.
Angi's family Jason & Jenson were on the media team taking photos along the course both days which was great. The pictures were uploaded on the Facebook page really quickly too. Credit to them for some of the ones I'm sharing like the ones above & below.
It was really warm & someone had their hose out! This was lovely! As I keep mentioning, fantastic community vibe.
Almost at the top of the hill & a big sign of encouragement -
Back down the hill & along the path in the final km. I spotted Angi's son as he took our picture.
Then explained to him who I was & asked him for a selfie. Thankfully he was very cool & obliged to his mum's crazy running pal stopping for a selfie mid race!
Then to Steven Watt for these ones too.
My pal Katie gave me my finisher medal & a big hug. Angi got a video of us finishing & that cool moment of John's announcement. It's one of my favourite finishes & an honour to get to run 10km with Helen. I can't wait for us to run together again soon, the chat never dries up & when there is a moment of quiet it's comfortable. That's the best running buddy.
Post run there was an array of cakes, banana's & water in the goody tent. So much to choose from but Angi's dad's tablet was number one in my opinion! Leaving the tent I spotted Lynsey who I really look up to since entering this mad ultra trail running world. Lynsey was my 1st episode on YHRF I tuned in to & not only is a fantastic trail runner, she's fast on the roads too. She's also a mum & really relatable in juggling family life along with training. Was great to get a chat with her at the end & a lovely surprise to see her as I wasn't aware she was taking part in the 10km. She won her age category that day then subsequently went on to win 1st female at a 10 miler the next day. Told you she was awesome!
Day one completed & home to a bath & chill. I felt a bit run down after the run & wondered how I was going to get on doing double the distance the next day. The thought of having Helen, Kate, Katie, Angi & Lynn there was what kept me positive.
Day two & I had got a much better sleep with going to bed early & waking up early. Intrusive thoughts entered & I considered going up to support but not run. I felt flat & just tired in spite of a good sleep. On Instagram I had received a message from Alan at team Alexis Rose saying good luck. I told him I was a bit flat & sent me a fantastic message 'running is a privilege many don't get to do'. This was my mantra today. I also sent my pal Rachel a message telling her to keep going as she was running Glenmore 24 & wasn't due to finish until midday. She messaged back saying she was coming 3rd female. That was the can of fuel poured on my fire & I got dressed & headed back up to Auchterarder with the biggest smile knowing my pal was smashing it in Glenmore.
Lynn was the 1st face I saw that morning & it was good to get a chat. She is smashing her training block for Glasgow to Edinburgh & as well as doing the double dare, ran a 10km training run in between. Really inspiring! The only picture I got with Lynn was at the end so it's going here!
Number collected & back to the car to get my stuff ready & shoes changed. Alphafly's were my choice of the day as if I was going to be slow I didn't want to be exceptionally slow & at least have a bit of fun. They never disappoint as they're so bouncy!
Another runner spotted my devil hoody & asked how I got on at it. He looked really fit & actually like a runner so I modestly replied I finished! I asked him if he done it to which he had. I asked how he got on & he came 2nd at it. It was Marcus Stotney, a name I wasn't familiar with but knew people would know him. You don't run the devil under 6 hours & people don't know you! I think my jaw dropped & it turns out I had recently started following him on Instagram. I asked for a picture as these really fast runners genuinely blow my mind. Also I never know if I'm ever going to see them again so when they win more races & become really well known it's a nice memory to say 'I met them!'.
I then met Helen again who gave me a gift before the run as a congratulations for the devil. This act of kindness was amazing & I wonder how I am so lucky to have these wonderful runners in my life. A couple of photo's with the community before the race started & lots of social interaction eased the nerves enormously.
I went to the start & somehow ended up mid pack. I just went with it & when the 1st km came up as 5:35 on the watch I thought I'd blown it. Turns out I managed to do really well in the 1st 10km then looking at my strava later that night it was mainly down hill. I wasn't caring as it was the fastest 10km I'd ran the whole year, especially from the back of illness, a 10km the day before & not trained on the roads for goodness knows how long!
This time I was running solo with no music & just external sounds to take in. Helen & I both agreed we would run to feel on the Sunday so we could see how we would get on individually. I enjoyed the scenery & the continued support from the volunteers again. It was brilliant to see Michael Philp again at this one & is now becoming a fixture in the events I'm taking part in. He caught the moment I realised it was him behind the lens!
I was saying to the runners how cool it was he was here but I think they were so focused on their run I'm not sure they heard me. The chap I'm next to I ended up running alongside with no chat for about 3km! It was cool though because I felt he was pacing me.
More really nice scenery along the course but I did subsequently end up walking then jogging the latter part of the event.
The fuelling of choice on the day was torq gels & tailwind. This combo is serving me well so far with little tummy issues & the amount of carbs in both are fantastic. I'll be using these with active root occasionally for training runs & hope they serve me well in future events.
At the bottom of one of the hills about 15km in I met Lloyd. He was walking & I started conversation saying it's great to see someone like myself walking at this stage. He wasn't having the best time & had been sick a couple of times. I told him that was my Edinburgh marathon experience & how much it sucked. He contemplated DNFing. I encouraged him to keep going when we were so close to the finish & we got a good chat for the rest of the event.
More pictures from Michael on the way back & it was great to tell Lloyd my interactions with Michael. Not so long after Jason was behind the lens & 2-3 miles from the finish. I thanked him for giving up his time & he also obliged for a selfie! You can tell I'm in this for fun!
The weather was much the same as the day before but not quite as warm. We picked up when the finish line was really close. Just at the housing estate there was a dance group cheering us all on, so glad I had sunglasses on as this made me a bit emotional!
Final push to the finish & it was done. I completed the double dare!
The medals as you saw at the start of the post are very cool! I love how the 3 of them come together to make the design!
I ditched my bag & changed my top at the car. Marcus was eating his lunch at his car & I asked semi jokingly if he won. He had & I was delighted for him! Lots of socialising & pictures at the end.
It was also great to get a catch up with the guys at Sonaterra who's sunglasses I'm wearing. Tom took a couple of pictures on the podium after I had finished just for fun! The glasses are brilliant & I can't wait to get more pairs in different colours to match with outfits in the near future!
My times over the 2 events I was pleased at. Especially when I hadn't trained specifically for these events on road terrain it gave me a confidence boost I have lots of potential if this is the path I want to improve on in the future. For now I'm happy to stick to the trail ultra's & keep trying to increase my distances.
The dates for next year have already been announced for the 13th & 14th September. Unfortunately for me I won't be double daring this as the Fling has been announced for the weekend later. I hope to be up there to show some support at least & maybe the girls would like to do the kids race again.
Even if road running/racing isn't your bag I'd strongly recommend this event. For the feel good vibes, community & cool merch that comes with it what's not to love. It's also cheaper than Edinburgh marathon & in my opinion, way better value for money. Sign up when it goes live, this event tends to sell out!
Thank you to the entire team for giving up their time to volunteer & to Fiona Watt the race director for organising. I'll see you all at the chilli in November!
Fabulous blog about a fantastic weekend!
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