Robert Bond
Robert's page
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Story
Hi again,
We managed to complete our Traverse of Scotland in 98 hours and 18 minutes, just under the 100 hours as planned. Being dependant on the small ferry and mini-bus to get us to the remote start at Cape Wrath meant that our 10.00 a.m. Saturday start was delayed by about 45 minutes but despite that we managed to reach the border just north of Berwick-upon-Tweed soon after 1.00 p.m. on Wednesday, just under an hour ahead of our scheduled finish time.
There was some stunning scenery over the Cape Wrath Trail, the first 200 miles from Cape Wrath to Fort William, as we passed through some of the most remote areas in the UK. Often there was no path on the ground to follow and we were very fortunate that the weather was reasonably dry, making it fairly easy to ford the rivers which crossed our route. The two days on the most difficult section of our Traverse went without too many problems.
Monday early evening saw us onto the West Highland Way, where often there were signposts to guide the way; helpful unless you follow them from south to north instead of north to south, as one of our groups managed in the dark – they did not realise until they completed their section and recognised the previous change-over point. Luckily this was an area with mobile coverage so we were able to recover. Most of my running along the West Highland Way was during the night so I missed the stark beauty of Rannoch Moor.
The section along the canals from Glasgow through Edinburgh, passing by the Falkirk Wheel, seemed as though it would be straight forward but trying to locate canal changeover points in busy cities and their suburbs presents its own difficulties, especially in the Tuesday evening rush-hour. Along here running seemed the easier option.
Tuesday night, while other teams pressed-on, I managed my longest sleep of the trip; from about 2.30 a.m. to 5.45 a.m. in my tent on a car park overlooking the North Sea. Then up and off to start the last session along the Coastal Path in which I had 3 runs culminating with nearly everybody completing the last leg to the wire fence marking the Scotland/England border.
It was an intense few days and there were 15 of us plus Hollie the Collie. Over the 4 days I ran just over 50 miles, most people ran 50-ish miles, some ran a lot more, some ran a lot less and 2 people ran close to 100 miles. One of these was Hollie’s owner and Hollie ran everywhere with him so I suspect that Hollie did many more than 100 miles.
It’s difficult to relate memories of a trip to North West Scotland without a mention of midges. While running they were no problem but once stationary they attacked everybody. Advice from locals ranged from industrial strength DEET to Avon Skin So Soft, but was always supplemented with “but nothing really works” – it’s true ..... you just have to keep running!
Many thanks for supporting the charity, currently we expect to raise between £5000 and £6000.
Hi,
On Friday 25 June I and fellow runners from Rolls-Royce Harriers and Congleton Harriers are heading north to attempt a continuous relay run, known to us as the Traverse of Scotland. This entails a drive up to Durness near the start point at Cape Wrath on the north-west corner of mainland Scotland. On Saturday morning a small boat ferry and a 12-mile mini-bus trip gets us to the remote start point at Cape Wrath lighthouse. Then we track the 200 mile long Cape Wrath Trail to Fort William. From there we join the more popular West Highland Way towards Glasgow, link Glasgow and Edinburgh by canal towpath and then join the John Muir Trail around the north east coast to the English border north of Berwick-upon Tweed. We intend to run this 450 mile route as a continuous relay, day and night, in under 100 hours starting at around 10.00 am Saturday 26 June and for safety reasons will be running at least 2 people at a time. When this schedule was devised we had 19 runners and 4 support members but the weeks have taken their toll and we are down to 13 runners with 2 support but the remaining team is heading north to give it a go! A few years ago we completed the Pennine Way and last year a circuit of Cornwall consisting of 300 miles relay running around the coastal path, kayaking across the estuaries, and 56 miles cycling across country to close the loop, in a total 75½ hours. This was held to raise money for charities including Cancer Research UK, Lymphoma Association and Huntington’s Disease Association and we raised over £6500. These events were inspired by a fellow member of Rolls-Royce Harriers who eventually died as a result of malignant mesothelioma and we continue them in his memory. This year we will be running to raise money for Cancer Research UK and I have decided that rather than normal sponsorship, I would ask as many people as possible if they would care to donate £1. If you prefer not to then that’s no problem. After the event Barbara is coming to collect me and we are going to spend a few days with our daughter, Emma and her family near Dundee. I think they have already started to dig a deep hole in their garden with a view to burying my running kit! When we return after our family visit I will let you know how we fared.