1 00:00:23,940 --> 00:00:30,940 OK, welcome back and today I am joined by the new Scottish 2 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:39,860 Backyard ultra champion Thomas Ugong, who I'll let him explain 3 00:00:40,220 --> 00:00:43,940 how he ended up in Scotland and all that good stuff. 4 00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:48,740 But we'll start off with, how did you get into running? 5 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,160 Good afternoon, Mike. I got into running when I first 6 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,080 moved into Orkney. I needed something to do. 7 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,480 And I got inspired by one of my lecturer at the time, who was an 8 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,360 ultra runner as well. And yeah, I got started like 9 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,080 that because I needed something to do. 10 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,720 I was a student, had no money, no car, and I just needed to 11 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,280 spend some energy. So yeah. 12 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,720 You're a student, and we all know that running is the 13 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:24,000 cheapest thing when you buy 10 pairs of trainers a year. 14 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:30,480 Yeah, no, I started running. I had an old pair of, you know, 15 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:36,000 those five finger fibrum shoes and I decided to run the Hoy 16 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,080 half Marathon, Hoyson Island off the mainland of Ockney. 17 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,120 And the first ever run I went with those shoes to train for 18 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,360 the high Marth and I injured my calf for like 3 weeks after it. 19 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,520 But yeah, that was that was good fun. 20 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,840 Do you I? I've run in Vibrams as well. 21 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:01,240 I can't think. I used to run in metal trail 22 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,480 gloves as well. They're Oh yeah similar 0 23 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,360 cushioning but they don't have the toes. 24 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,400 I ran 53 miles in them. All right, OK. 25 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,560 I I I find that they are a tool. I wouldn't necessarily say 26 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,840 running them all the time, but I find them a good tool. 27 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,880 How's what's your opinion on them other than getting injured? 28 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:29,280 Well, I mean, I've since then I've never really run in them 29 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:30,360 again. I think I still have their 30 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,920 shoes, but I just found them no great to run in like kind of 31 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:37,400 steeper downhill. So that kind of put me off of 32 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:42,800 it, but I still run in zero drop and kind of slightly 33 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,200 minimalistic. Well, not I'm not a big fan of 34 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:52,680 like super big cushioned shoes. So yeah, still kind of yeah, I'm 35 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:56,360 not in like perfectly minimalistic shoes either, but I 36 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,000 like the zero drop. I think it makes sense to run 37 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,000 with like a more natural food position really. 38 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,120 What? What kind of shoes is it you're 39 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:11,000 normally running in there? Mostly those innovates whatever 40 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,880 they're called Trail Flight 270, yeah, so. 41 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:21,000 Yeah, I'm ultras is normally Gordon for their zero drop as 42 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,960 well. Yeah, I've had a few pairs of 43 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:24,040 ultras as well. They're good. 44 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,440 I had a pair at the at the Backyard Ultra. 45 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,480 Good, good to hear. I forgot to actually look to see 46 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:32,680 what you were wearing at the weekend. 47 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,720 Yeah. But anyway, getting back to what 48 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:40,560 we're supposed to be talking about. 49 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,040 What? What was your first race that 50 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,800 you did? So yeah, my first race was the 51 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:52,440 the Hoy half marathon, which was yeah, I did like an hour 51 I 52 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,600 think or something like that. The my first long distance race, 53 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,600 or like not necessarily long distance, but long hours race, 54 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,960 was the Ring of Steel in Kenlock leaving. 55 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:13,560 But it's only 29 kilometers and it's got 2 1/2 thousand meters 56 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,120 of elevation. So I still took a fair bit of 57 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:21,480 time to do that and that got me qualified to do the Highland 58 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:26,160 Flank, which was my first ultra. OK, and I'm I'm going to 59 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,160 interrupt the running talk. How did you end up in Orkney? 60 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,000 I ended up in Orkney as AI came to Orkney as an exchange student 61 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:42,200 from my French university. I I selected the course and 62 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,520 amongst multiple choices I had it. 63 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,160 And then I got accepted by the course. 64 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,560 And then one of my pals said, but do you know where Orkney is? 65 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,760 And I said, well no, it's in Scotland, it'll be fine. 66 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,720 And he said maybe you should look it up. 67 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,680 And so it was a bit, a bit unexpected, surely, I say. 68 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,320 But I mean, it's been 10 years. It'll be 10 years next month. 69 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,160 I've been in Orkney. So I guess it worked out fine 70 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:14,160 for me. And you, you met a girl stuck 71 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,800 with Orkney and the rest is history. 72 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,240 Exactly it. Yeah, I've now a girlfriend, a 73 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,040 house and a cat and yeah, that's me stuck, I think. 74 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,040 But it's so good. I mean, my partner, she's 75 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,240 accepted to come and crew from me at the race. 76 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,120 So you know, I can't explain. That's commitment for you, but. 77 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:42,760 Absolutely. So you said that you did the 78 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,360 skyline right then the skyline? The ring of steel. 79 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,160 Yeah, Ring of Steel. I don't know if they call that a 80 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,440 Skyline race, but yeah, it's one one of the Salomon races at the 81 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,720 Yeah the Festival. Let's call it. 82 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,240 Yeah, that's it. Yeah, I did the, I did the 83 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,200 Glencoe skyline, OK, two, two years ago as well. 84 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:08,880 That was that was hard. I've done it as a run, never as 85 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,240 part of the race. Yeah, it's, it's interesting to 86 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:18,920 like, try and run down steep rocky descents when like the 87 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,640 tallest hell we've got on the Orkney mainland is 200 meters 88 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,880 tall and just got farm tracks on it. 89 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:33,120 Yeah, I guess being up in Orkney, you're used to wind as 90 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:38,320 one thing that I, I, I'm 50 meters from the coast and wind 91 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,800 is a, a massive thing here. So I'm sure Orkney is quite the 92 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,440 same. Yeah, the wind and the brutal 93 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,840 wind, like all year round, really. 94 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,920 That's just what we do here. That's like. 95 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,360 So every time I go anywhere now, I'm like, oh, this is nice and 96 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,880 warm when my parents keep. Oh, sorry. 97 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:01,240 No, keep. Keep going. 98 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,160 When my parents came up for the race, they they messaged and 99 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,880 said oh it's only 19°, it's really cold because they were 100 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,320 just coming up from France. And I said it's 19°, it's really 101 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,000 hot because I was coming down from Ockney. 102 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,480 It's been 13° all year so far. So that was great. 103 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,480 Funny. Yeah, that's pretty much the 104 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,400 same as where I am. I'm just north of Aberdeen, so 105 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,200 it's, Oh yeah, similar conditions. 106 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:32,400 So we're a Hardy bunch. I did a race in March and it was 107 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,080 4° and I told the race director that anybody's of North, the 108 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,920 Hadrian's Walls got an advantage here because we're used to such 109 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,480 cold temperatures. Everybody else is used to like 110 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,360 10° warmer than us. So that's true. 111 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,200 It was an advantage of. Yeah, absolutely. 112 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:54,960 So getting back to your running, have you got any stand out races 113 00:07:54,960 --> 00:08:01,920 that you've done? I think, well, I mean the I did 114 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:07,440 the the Jaguar de Fu, which is 100 mile with nearly 10,000 115 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,680 years of elevation across the Iranian island, which is an 116 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:17,120 island in the Indian Ocean near and near Mauritius, near 117 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,960 Madagascar. So that was that was my second 118 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,360 hundred mile race. And that was yeah, that was 119 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,080 amazing. Such a beautiful trip 120 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,280 altogether. Yeah, but that was also brutal. 121 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,320 Without the French accent. Is that diagonal defu? 122 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,520 Is that the same? Yeah, on Reunion Island. 123 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,880 Just just some. I'm matching up the the same 124 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,040 race. Yeah, that's, that's the one. 125 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:45,600 Yeah. Yeah. 126 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,760 So that was good. And then last year I did the 127 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,960 race across Scotland, which I suppose is also a pretty big 128 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,960 achievement. And then, yeah, that was also 129 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,880 interesting in terms of weather conditions, I suppose. 130 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,720 What would they like there? It was really wet. 131 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,560 It was it was really, really wet. 132 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:14,920 The first night was like a 27 odd mile section through long 133 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,040 grass fields and bogs and I think that destroyed the race 134 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,400 for most people that dropped out. 135 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,160 It's basically people that survived that night, survived 136 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:28,560 the rest of the race really. How do you think you survived 137 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:30,560 it? What did you do different? 138 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:38,640 I just, I think, well, I think I've got a product that works 139 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,520 quite well on my feet. I use this squirrel knot, but 140 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:47,240 they're happy to think and seems to be working pretty well for my 141 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,600 feet anyway so. If it works for you, stick with 142 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:51,720 it. Absolutely. 143 00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:01,560 And this weekend, another obviously stand out race was the 144 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:02,040 Yeah I. Suppose yeah. 145 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:09,600 The backyard ultra at Blair Athol, but you've you've done 146 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,600 previous, your previous best was 27 I believe. 147 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,120 Yeah, that's right. And have you done any other 148 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:18,880 ones? Yes, you did. 149 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,640 You did Gosby last year because I was there as well. 150 00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:26,600 I'm not not even sure how much did you do Gosby? 151 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,920 I did 25 from Gosby. So yeah, I did 27 hours in in 152 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:35,120 Orkney two years ago and that was my first, first backyard. 153 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,520 I got the assessed to you and Harrison that you had in the 154 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:42,640 podcast before, OK. Yeah. 155 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:50,440 And yeah, that was that was quite hard because it was just 156 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,080 like a lovely day, but it was really, really windy too. 157 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,440 And so that made it interesting. And then last year in Cosby, 158 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,720 yeah, I did 25 hours. That was kind of like to see if 159 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,960 my legs had recovered from the race across Scotland. 160 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,840 So I guess they went, they were, they were fine. 161 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:16,360 So you got looked after by Sarah and I can't even remember the 162 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,520 other person's name that runs the twats. 163 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:21,320 Oh yeah, that was Erica, I think. 164 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:26,120 Erica Yeah, that's the one up in Orkney and they do the backyard 165 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,960 up there. And then Ian won that race, but 166 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:31,920 he looked after you and gossipy as well. 167 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,880 Yeah, absolutely. So that was that was good. 168 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:39,400 Small circle. Small world there, Scotland. 169 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:48,320 So and then this year you've obviously came back to the the 170 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,240 Highlander. Had you changed anything from 171 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:57,920 what you were doing at the other two races and other two 172 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:03,520 backyards? Yeah, I mean, so the, OK 173 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,760 Backyard Ultra was my first and I was interested by Backyard 174 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,560 Ultra because I thought, oh, it's an interesting concept 175 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:11,160 just, you know, explore the main games. 176 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:18,760 And like, I feel like it's yeah, it's maybe even more emphasis 177 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:23,320 into like your mental strength than like a normal ultra. 178 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,280 So that's why I was, that's what got me into it, I suppose. 179 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,960 But yeah, for the for the Highlander this year, I really 180 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:37,120 kind of, I was like just went in with the goal to qualify for the 181 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,720 for the GB team for the satellite event in October. 182 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,480 So that I took the decision after I ran the Golsby one, I 183 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,880 thought, right, I'll go for it this year because the numbers to 184 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,720 qualify were still kind of accessible in terms of how many 185 00:12:55,720 --> 00:13:00,000 loops you needed to do. So I got in touch with, I got 186 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:05,200 involved with a coach, Paul Wilson from Summit Ultra because 187 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,000 he had experience from Backyard Ultra. 188 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,680 So I thought, right, let's see, see if we can get me into it. 189 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,880 And Paul? Paul was on the team last time 190 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:22,640 round, I think yes, after winning in oh, he got the assist 191 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:24,360 to. Now you're testing me here, 192 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,520 assistants here in Perry at Cowshed. 193 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,440 Is that right? And he won at did he win at 194 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,720 Lionsgate? Two years, I don't know, but 195 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:39,720 something like that, yeah. So yeah, we, we, we started 196 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:45,400 working together in I think it basically in January really. 197 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:51,640 And I had signed up for the cow shed in April and the back and 198 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,040 the Islander as my backup race if I didn't manage to qualify at 199 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,640 the cow shed. And then it turns out the cow 200 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,040 cow shed got cancelled because of flooding, so the Highlander 201 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:08,520 become became my my main race. So what? 202 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:15,720 What kind of training do you do without divulging Paul's 203 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,560 secrets? It's obviously he's your coach, 204 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:25,000 but compared to what you would normally do for a standard 205 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,360 ultra, as you were, But how? How's it differ? 206 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:34,760 I think the weekly training was, I mean the training when I 207 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,400 started training before was similar structure to what I used 208 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:42,840 to do, which was to like focus sessions during the week and an 209 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,120 easier run during the week and then two longer runs at the 210 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,160 weekend. I guess the biggest difference 211 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:57,400 is Paul got me to do a very much backyard specific long runs at 212 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,240 the weekend. So I did a lot of loops from 213 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:07,680 like around my, my, my, my area. Really my created like a a loop 214 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,640 that was similar stats to what was the Islander and just did 215 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,840 some repeats on that during the weekend, practising food and 216 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,240 stuff like that. And then the Blair Athol estate 217 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,080 went and changed the Highlander course. 218 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,920 But I mean, I don't know if the the cost was actually that much 219 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:33,240 different compared to to the year before. 220 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:39,200 I don't know. I think about probably between 221 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,280 half and 2/3 were the same as before the the main hill was the 222 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:47,120 same but last course you started on a tarmac hill. 223 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,200 This time you went through 2 fields, the second one being 224 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,720 long grass. So although you're, you're 225 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,480 missing out a hill, it was on tarmac. 226 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,720 You're adding a field which is flat, but it's long grass. 227 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:06,840 So yeah, I I I've I did the the Loop 3 * I with the race this 228 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,320 year and I would have said it is compatible. 229 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,160 OK. Other people said that it was 230 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:18,640 totally different, but I think Grant Jean said it was easier 231 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,320 this year than it was last year. But. 232 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,680 I yeah, some people prefer this year, some people preferred last 233 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,400 year, I think. Yeah, I think it's just personal 234 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:27,920 preference. There wasn't much in it. 235 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,400 Yeah, but no, yeah. So going back to the coaching, I 236 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:37,800 think the biggest difference was just doing loops at the weekends 237 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:42,600 and practicing a bit more like feeding and yeah, just running 238 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,720 that back at ultra pace really. OK. 239 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,600 And and what is Backyard Ultra pace? 240 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:55,560 For me, I'm, I'm part of the slow, slow gang, not, not like 241 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,080 you. You're you're one of the fast, 242 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,800 fast looper. I'm I'm a slow, slow looper. 243 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,320 So I was aiming for like 50 odd minutes per loop 51. 244 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:10,160 So just taking it really easy and yeah, the pace, yeah. 245 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:16,440 I'm usually 44 or five or six minutes, so compared to you, but 246 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,880 compared to some people at the weekend, they were doing some 247 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,119 40s. Yeah, that's crazy. 248 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,960 But again, personal preference that does not work for me, so 249 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,800 it's whatever works. Absolutely, yeah. 250 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:35,160 And then I did like the first few loops on the island there I 251 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,640 was running. I thought I was like running too 252 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,600 slow, even from what I trained. So I put on their belt more pace 253 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,920 and then I suppose then it balances out. 254 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,920 Once you get tired, you just. Yeah, even. 255 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:52,760 Naturally slow down so. Yeah, but 51 minutes seems to 256 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:54,960 work for me anyway, so yeah. Good. 257 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,480 As long as you've got enough time to do what you need to do 258 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,200 when you get back, yeah. I had my perfect crew, so I 259 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,720 can't complain there. They took care of me so. 260 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,640 Yeah, I was just always to ask who? 261 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:12,080 Who was your crew? My crew was my partner who came 262 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,640 with me from Oakley and my parents came up from France as 263 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,280 well, so I was quite lucky to have three crew with me. 264 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:22,080 They managed to get a bit of sleep and stuff, so yeah. 265 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,680 And your coach, he. Was yeah, my coach surprised me 266 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:31,800 and turned up on the at the end of the 100 mile loop and he he 267 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,880 said yeah, it was good for to see him appear. 268 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:41,440 I'd I'd never met him before because he's based in England 269 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,320 and obviously I'm in Orkney, so we'd never met in person before. 270 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,240 So that was good. That was good for him to turn up 271 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,120 a. Good morale boosters. 272 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,800 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just and keeping me focused and 273 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,280 keeping me on to my on to my objective. 274 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:03,000 So yeah, that was. What's been the feedback from 275 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,200 the crew? Are they happy with your 276 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,600 performance? What did they say you should 277 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,880 change? We've not had the proper debrief 278 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,600 yet. I think we need to change the 279 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,920 tent because the tent we had was really leaky when it was raining 280 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,000 a lot. So they were not, they were not 281 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,040 pleased with that. Yeah. 282 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,080 So that's one thing we need to change for sure. 283 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:28,760 But I think the rest of it was fine. 284 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,640 I had, we had loads of food and stuff. 285 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,480 Yeah, I don't know. I think one thing that could 286 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:44,440 help them maybe is to have like a bit more ideas on what food to 287 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,080 prepare for me that I like to eat and stuff. 288 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,120 But that'll also come with experience. 289 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,800 Yeah, I guess you know what I like in the race. 290 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,600 Doing the race, doing the crew for you, that gets you, gets 291 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,400 them the experience, not just you. 292 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,040 It's like you can improve, but that's how they improve by 293 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,640 experience, yeah. Absolutely, yeah. 294 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,640 They're crude for me, all three of them at the race across 295 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,320 Scotland last year. So they're getting, they're 296 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,920 getting pretty good now really. No, no criticism from me. 297 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:19,560 I'm not sure that you can criticize them, you're just 298 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,240 grateful for them looking after you. 299 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,240 Absolutely. My mum kept off the kept 300 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,200 offering to change my socks but I said no I'll, I'll keep doing 301 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,040 that myself. You're you're old enough to do 302 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:32,520 that yourself now. Yeah, that's it. 303 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,520 So it it's been. OK. 304 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:47,760 It's it's Thursday today and the race finished early hours Monday 305 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:48,800 morning. Yeah. 306 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:55,760 So have you slept since then? Because, well, I'm sure you've 307 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,080 slept, but are you in a proper sleep cycle again? 308 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:04,920 Yeah, I've I've slept, I've slept very, quite poorly after 309 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:10,880 the I've just after the race. Like, you know, we and then we 310 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,920 celebratory drink after the race was finished and then I went 311 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,520 into the van and I think I was awake. 312 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,520 Well, yeah, I went to bed at about 2:00 in the morning. 313 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:26,680 I think I was awake by 7 because just I had terrible night sweats 314 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,560 and then my legs were just so sore. 315 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,440 I just couldn't get comfortable in the van. 316 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:36,080 So that was me and Karen, my partner, She was sleeping next 317 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,240 to me and I was like, come on, do something. 318 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,520 No, I let her sleep because I thought, yeah, that's fair. 319 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:50,240 Yeah. And then Tuesday night we Monday 320 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:54,560 night we camped in leg. We did a better tourism because 321 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,080 we had to wait till the next evening to get on the boat back 322 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,720 to Ockney. So slept better that night, but 323 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:06,320 still not very late in the morning because yeah, again, my 324 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,000 legs were still a bit uncomfortable. 325 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,760 But yeah, I'm sure I'll get to some proper sleep soon. 326 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:22,440 So talking about logistics was a WIC to I'm not even sure what 327 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,120 the name of the term. Is it WIC where you get the the 328 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:28,920 ferry over? No, I get the ferry in in Turzo 329 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:30,720 and scrap. That's the one, no? 330 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:35,280 That's what I was thinking of. I'm just rubbish with geography. 331 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,080 Yeah. So yeah, the the ferry in 332 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,520 Thursday and then it was like, well, it's about four and a half 333 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,280 hour drive to be Arathos. So we did that on on Thursday 334 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,720 and Friday last week. So yeah, in Ogney it's always a 335 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:55,880 a day or two of travelling before you can get to any races. 336 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,760 So you have to treat any race like a big race. 337 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,960 You have to make the most of the time away from the island. 338 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,960 Yes. So you, you took the van down. 339 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,200 So you obviously had enough stuff with you, you had your 340 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,320 tent. So I, I can't imagine going down 341 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,520 like doing a, a race abroad and having to take all your kit for 342 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:22,000 your plan for three or four days, but on a plane because all 343 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,040 you can take is. Yeah. 344 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:31,920 You're kit and that's it. Yeah, well, yeah, no, that that 345 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:35,720 was a laugh get we took away with us for the for the race 346 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,640 especially because having three crew with you is great, but you 347 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:45,800 also need a lot more stuff to like for the crew because you 348 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,160 know, you you need them to be comfortable as well. 349 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,760 So you need more like chairs and, you know, make sure that 350 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,480 they have like enough food for them and stuff like that. 351 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,080 So yeah, it's it's it's easier to have a more crew, but it's 352 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:06,000 also more logistics for sure. But yeah, for the travelling 353 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,400 abroad thing, I remember when I went to this race at the Iranian 354 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:15,520 island, I basically like took my cabin luggage to. 355 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,760 I put all my race stuff in it because I was like, if my my 356 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,960 whole luggage don't arrive, at least I'll have my cabin luggage 357 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,440 with me. So I don't care if my normal 358 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:31,000 stuff don't arrive, I just want my my running stuff with me. 359 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:33,600 As long as you've got your trainers and a pair of shorts 360 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,000 then you can and and a credit card. 361 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:42,280 Yeah. So you've rough sleeping. 362 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:49,080 What about any injuries? Are you feeling any pain since 363 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,720 the race? No, no, I've, yeah, I've been 364 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:58,560 really, really surprised with how well my body responded to 365 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:02,320 the race. No injuries, no niggles, just 366 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:06,560 just about tiredness, but nothing, you know, nothing out 367 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:12,560 of order, really. I've recovered very well, but 368 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:18,600 probably, yeah, we went to swim in the sea on Tuesday afternoon, 369 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,240 so that helps. A bit of cold water on the legs, 370 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:26,920 that helps with recovery. But yeah, probably get into a 371 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,440 bit of very light jog over the weekend or something like that 372 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,360 and then get back into easy training next week. 373 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,120 I think that's what the coach said so. 374 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,120 He's the boss, you just. Do that's it. 375 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:46,320 Yeah, yeah. So you went from 27 yards and 376 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,320 this time around you managed 37, so that's great. 377 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,960 What's is 47 the next logical step? 378 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,160 Yeah. I mean, yeah, that's for sure. 379 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,320 It's a huge PB. And I went into the, into the 380 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:12,480 Islander with like winning. Winning was a very nice thing 381 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:17,400 because that was my first ever win on the race, you know, so my 382 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,480 first ever trophy. So I was really pleased with 383 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:27,320 that. But yeah, we that was kind of 384 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:32,080 like an added bonus as to my, my main goal was to qualify and I 385 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,040 was ready to do whatever it took to qualify, which was either to 386 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:41,280 run 40 hours to make sure I was high enough on the at large list 387 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:47,440 or, or win. So, so yes, I was ready to go in 388 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:52,520 for a battle. And then then yeah, with 389 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:58,480 Rebecca, who did, media assessed she was already qualified for 390 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:05,280 the Swiss team after 30 hours. So we decided that it made sense 391 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,400 that we didn't tie ourselves up too much at the Islander and 392 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:15,560 save the save the proper fight to the October race so. 393 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,960 Yeah, you'll be racing virtually there. 394 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:23,200 Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, October race, we'll 395 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,560 see what what the next PV is. Hopefully quite a few more than 396 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,920 37. Yeah, well, I'll be there as 397 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,480 well. So we'll both get up my PBS 42. 398 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,320 So you've got to be there at least so. 399 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:40,560 Yeah. And you. 400 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,760 Yeah, working. Together, we are a team. 401 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,120 Yeah, that's that's going to be interesting. 402 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:51,200 I think that's going to be a nice little difference then, 403 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,160 because we will be working as a team. 404 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,560 This, it's not like it's going to be, there's not going to be 405 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,960 anyone that you look from the corner of your eye being like, I 406 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,040 hope you're getting tired now. Everyone will be like to 407 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,320 continue, yeah. You want everyone to continue, 408 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,600 so I'll be I'll be good to cheery atmosphere. 409 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:12,320 I think it'll be interesting. I've been in the Scotland team 410 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:17,840 five Times Now I think and I think a tactic that we don't use 411 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:22,280 is we don't work as a team. We all race individually and I 412 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:28,240 think it's a mistake, so hopefully the UK team will will 413 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:32,920 work together more so that's. Yeah, hopefully they'll be. 414 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:35,720 Yeah, It'll be interesting to see. 415 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,440 I've I've not met any other runners on the team I don't 416 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:44,160 think, so Be welcome. Technically, technicality, it's 417 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,960 only me and you that are in the team at the moment because we've 418 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:51,040 got silver tickets. Although like John Stalker and 419 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:56,520 Matt Blackburn, they've got 8788 yards. 420 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,920 Technically somebody could still knock them out. 421 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,400 So we've we've only got, we're the only ones we guarantee 422 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,320 places at the moment. So we're privileged. 423 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,840 We're safe. But yeah, I know, I think we'll 424 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:13,280 be, we'll be working as a team for that event. 425 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,880 That'll be. I'm very excited for that. 426 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,560 Yeah, for sure. That's all I've been thinking 427 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,520 about for the last six months or so. 428 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,480 That was maybe not six months March. 429 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,640 Yeah, you qualified in March, did you not? 430 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:31,560 Yeah, so leading up to March it was, it wasn't about that race, 431 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,680 it was how do I get into the UK team? 432 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,520 So, and now, now that I'm in it's, it's all you think about. 433 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,720 Yeah, excellent. So you'll have to you'll have to 434 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:47,360 discuss strategies together. Yeah, work as a team. 435 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:49,120 So I'm. Yeah, I think so. 436 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:55,000 I think that'll be the, that'll be the thing that's yeah, my 437 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:58,600 coach was saying that it's things that the Belgian team has 438 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:03,000 done really well in the past is to really work all together as a 439 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,280 team to and that really obviously took them very far. 440 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:09,560 Yeah, some of the other countries actually, they run 441 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,040 together in training, but you've been in Orkney. 442 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:17,000 Me being near Aberdeen and probably the majority of the 443 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,720 team being in the South of England, it's a bit difficult. 444 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,520 It's. Not going to work. 445 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:32,640 So right, getting back to the questions, are you, have you got 446 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,360 any sponsorship? No, I'm not. 447 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,360 I'm not sponsored. No, no, no, not yet. 448 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,360 No, maybe. If if anybody was any company 449 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:47,560 wishes to give something to either of us, then great. 450 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,040 Absolutely. I'm sure they're all listening 451 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:53,600 to this. Yeah, I'd appreciate like I 452 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,040 really like Innovate shoes. So get some prepares, that'd be 453 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:03,240 that'd be lovely. So what kind of you, you said 454 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:08,160 you're innovate shoes, Is there any other bits of kit that you 455 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:13,920 particularly like? Not really no. 456 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:18,240 I tend to go to buy kit that's on no fair. 457 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:23,560 Yeah, that's the same with me. I noticed you're wearing a 458 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,520 running vest, a backpack type thing for the majority of the 459 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:29,600 race, if not all of the race at the weekend. 460 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,000 Yeah, I didn't do the first few loops. 461 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,680 I did yeah, without it because I thought I was going to drink 462 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,280 just at the at the break. So I was drinking in a lot of 463 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:47,440 water and I think I don't, well, I didn't like that strategy for 464 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:49,960 a start, because I think I was drinking a little bit too much. 465 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:54,960 And, and also it's just comes down on you too quick then and 466 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:58,880 you need to stop too often to, to go to the to the side and 467 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:02,000 pee. So yeah, I, I changed my 468 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:06,000 strategy and then got the got the vest on and about water in 469 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,840 it. And towards the end as well, 470 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:13,400 when I was struggling to eat a bit during the the break, I 471 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:17,080 would take a gel or two of me and have them on the on the on 472 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:20,360 the loop to supplement what I was eating at the at the camp. 473 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:23,840 So the rate the the vest is quite quite handy I think. 474 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,480 What? What were you eating at the 475 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:30,000 camp? To start with, I was eating 476 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:35,880 like, sandwiches with like, chocolate spread on it or peanut 477 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:40,280 butter and jam. And then and then, yeah, like 478 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:45,240 bananas and sweeties and stuff. And then as the race went on, I 479 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:48,240 found it, yeah. The thought of sandwiches was 480 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:52,640 not great. So I went into a bit more like 481 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,400 just really sweeties. And I was drinking this mountain 482 00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:01,080 fuel kind of food, liquid food thing. 483 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,280 Yeah. And that that went down really 484 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:04,520 well. So I was quite pleased with 485 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:10,840 that, I believe. That Paul is a mountain fuel 486 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,800 man. Yeah, he got me on two. 487 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:19,920 He got me to pry that because I had tried tailwind a lot of 488 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:24,240 years ago and I was, I was not convinced by it because I think 489 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:29,280 in the normal ultra it's hard to manage the hydration well with 490 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:32,760 the tailwind in it or at the time I struggled with it and 491 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:38,480 then so I got out of it. But yeah, I found the the 492 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,000 mountain shield stuff really good then. 493 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,800 So I'll probably train and experiment a bit more with it 494 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:48,480 now. And you're saying sandwiches and 495 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:52,160 stuff like that, What on a daily basis, what kind of food do you 496 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:56,280 eat? But just a normal. 497 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:05,160 Just a normal diet, mostly vegetarian food, just try and 498 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,480 eat well. But also sometimes I just have 499 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:12,280 like the guilty pleasures of anything really. 500 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:16,719 I just eat quite a lot I think from normal standards, which is 501 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:18,920 the case for most ultra runners I think. 502 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:23,560 Yeah, and someday at the rest of the weekend said to me, how can 503 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,400 you be so skinny if you eat so much? 504 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:27,480 I was like, well, that's because you run so much as well. 505 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,159 I don't, I don't run. I just run so I can eat more. 506 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,679 That's my yeah, that's. You got to have a reason. 507 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:42,880 So that's your your why, right? A question that I always get 508 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,719 asked and I can never answer. What do you think about when 509 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:52,239 you're running? Just a lot of things. 510 00:34:52,320 --> 00:35:01,720 But yeah, I worked with the race across Scotland last year. 511 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,840 I worked with a mental preparation coach, a French guy 512 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:14,040 who also does a lot of backyard ultra and like crazy long 513 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,240 distance stuff. He's called Christian Modui. 514 00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:18,400 I don't know if you know him. No, I don't know his name. 515 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:23,120 He was at the bigs last year, he didn't do so well. 516 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:30,480 I think he had some a little bit physical issues, but yeah, he is 517 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,200 like a mental preparation coach. So we worked a bit on like what 518 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,920 to think about during races. This too. 519 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:41,120 Two ways to approach it, I says, But it depends. 520 00:35:41,240 --> 00:35:45,240 Like some days you try and sometimes, shall I say, I just 521 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:48,480 try and think about like something completely different. 522 00:35:49,720 --> 00:35:53,840 Like just be in a different place at different time and be 523 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:58,960 happy and warm. And sometimes you just like, 524 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,920 focus on the rocks in front of you and listen to the birds and 525 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,080 listen to your breathing and try and think about nothing else. 526 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:14,840 But yeah, it's it's difficult. So so when your mum told you 527 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:18,560 that it was only 19° and it was cold, you just told her to think 528 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:20,520 about being warm and that worked. 529 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:25,840 And then when they actually arrived at the camp with us, 530 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,560 they often thought it was it was warm enough, so that was good. 531 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,760 I think you're, I think I remember your mum wearing a 532 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:37,740 jacket most of the time where there's a lot of us were in 533 00:36:37,740 --> 00:36:39,840 T-shirts, so it probably matches up. 534 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:48,440 Yeah, that's about right. Yeah, that's, I mean it's 35° 535 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:50,480 where they live in France at the moment, so. 536 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:58,280 I remember being in Sri Lanka about 20 years ago and we were 537 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,240 there sweating buckets and the locals were wearing ski jackets. 538 00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:04,040 So it's. Just what you're. 539 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,960 Used to. Yeah, that's how we spot 540 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:08,840 tourists in Albany on a sunny day. 541 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,560 Everyone's in shorts. Apart from the tourists. 542 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:12,880 They're still wearing woolly hats. 543 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:17,320 Yeah. So you talked about your 544 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,200 training earlier. Do you do any anything else 545 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:27,200 other than running? Yeah, for like for fun, I do a 546 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:32,240 bit of surfing when when conditions allow, mostly in the 547 00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:35,080 winter because that's when we get waves. 548 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:43,160 But like from a more related running thing, I try and do like 549 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,840 the odd, you know, strength, a little bit of strength training, 550 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:52,720 but it's once or once, once or twice a week maybe depends with 551 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:57,800 work schedule if I can fit in or not, Yeah. 552 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:02,000 Yeah, and a dirty word because I don't do it. 553 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:06,480 But do you stretch? No, you tell. 554 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:07,920 Paul, that you do, but you don't. 555 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:14,760 Yeah, yeah, I tell my I I go really well. 556 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:18,680 I mean not regularly but at least once every before every 557 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:22,440 race I go and see her and know still path and then she says 558 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:27,040 maybe you should stretch. But I only stretch for like when 559 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:30,120 something starts to hurt a little bit and then you stretch 560 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,120 for like 2 weeks and then the pain goes away and then it's 561 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:37,600 like Oh well that's enough. I'm in exactly the same position 562 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:40,440 so. Well, you just forget about 563 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:42,640 stretching when nothing hurts, you know? 564 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:51,720 I just don't remember it. So you're doing backyard ultras 565 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:54,240 at the moment. You've done 3, you've done a 566 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:58,200 handful of other races. Have you got a preferred? 567 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:02,400 Are are you a backyarder now or are you still going to mix it 568 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,880 up? I'm still going to mix it up. 569 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:11,640 I think I'd like, as I said, being in Ogney, I can't do many, 570 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:16,920 many races in a year. So I think, you know, I'll focus 571 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:22,080 on backyard ultra for October, obviously, and then decide after 572 00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:26,960 that if I carry on doing backyards or if I, you know, I 573 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:31,400 probably, I usually choose one main race in a year. 574 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:37,720 So we'll see what that is. It's just so many different 575 00:39:37,720 --> 00:39:39,280 races, you know, so many options. 576 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:41,800 It's it's too much fun. Yeah. 577 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:45,440 And you're, you're concentrating, you're limited 578 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,240 down. Have you got a dream race that 579 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:58,520 you want to limit it down to? Dream race at the moment, no, I 580 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:02,680 guess. Well, yeah, I suppose it's a 581 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:05,120 dream race, but I don't think I'll ever get to it. 582 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:09,680 Would be Hard Rock 100. That would be quite, quite 583 00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:10,840 impressive. Like what? 584 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:14,840 A cool race to do. Yeah, it was on last weekend, 585 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,000 was it or was it the same time as Highlander? 586 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:19,000 Yeah. No, I think it was the weekend. 587 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:24,320 Before OK and impossible again. Yeah, absolutely. 588 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:28,160 So that's why it's a dream. Yeah, I think I applied for it 589 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,960 once maybe 10 years ago and probably should have kept on 590 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:34,640 entering each year. I don't know whether you're do 591 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:36,640 you get a better chance if you enter more than once? 592 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:38,360 I think you do. I don't. 593 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:41,960 I don't know, actually, Yeah. Well, I might have got an invite 594 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,600 now if I kept on trying, but I tried it once and that was it. 595 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:47,680 Yeah. So, yeah, that would be my dream 596 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:52,640 race. I, I, I'm trying to avoid 597 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:55,720 flying. So yeah, that kind of limits 598 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,680 that that also makes it into more of the dream race category. 599 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:06,720 But one race, how far? Yeah, just for just for 600 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:12,000 environmental reasons, Yeah. I agree with that. 601 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:14,160 Good. I don't know how are you getting 602 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,480 to Suffolk? I'll drive. 603 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:19,760 Yeah, it's, I looked up this afternoon actually, it's going 604 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:22,080 to be like a 12 hour drive after the ferry. 605 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:24,680 So it's going to be a bit of a trek. 606 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:31,840 I've been to Suffolk from where I stay and it's pretty much 500 607 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:34,400 miles. So I was saying in the I will 608 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:38,640 drive 500 miles to go and do this race and I will drive 500 609 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:40,760 miles home. Yeah, that's good. 610 00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:46,520 Yeah. So yeah, this, the logistics to 611 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:50,640 go down to Suffolk, it's going to be, it's going to be a good 612 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:52,200 challenge. Interesting. 613 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:56,880 Yeah, going to be another two day trip before the race even 614 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:58,400 starts. Yeah. 615 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:04,200 So leading up to the race or the race that you've just done or 616 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:06,720 any race in general, do you get nervous? 617 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,680 I was pretty nervous last year before the race across gold and 618 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:18,640 I think it's different before backyard I I was not too 619 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:23,200 nervous, partly because it's something I worked on of being 620 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:28,040 like in a more positive and well, I suppose more confident 621 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:32,120 mindset about before a race. But I think when you know the 622 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:34,320 length of the challenge and you're like, oh, that's going to 623 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:38,520 be a big challenge, it's easier to get scared when you get into 624 00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:40,480 a backyard. You just don't know how long 625 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:42,880 it's going to last, so you can't really be scared of it. 626 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:47,720 Yeah. And do you set targets for 627 00:42:47,720 --> 00:42:53,440 backyard? Yeah, I, I did set. 628 00:42:56,120 --> 00:43:00,560 No, well, I mean I had one target which was 40 hours for 629 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:07,240 the Highlander. I had set some milestones to try 630 00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:13,400 and like break down a little bit the monotony of of the whole 631 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:17,360 thing. But I actually think like the 632 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:19,840 1st 24 hours were quite long actually. 633 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:26,360 Like I called out the warm up and then very quickly, you know, 634 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:28,400 then people started dropping out. 635 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:35,480 So that keeps it interesting. And I didn't really need the 636 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:37,960 milestones to keep me keep me engaged. 637 00:43:40,040 --> 00:43:46,760 But yeah, I think, I think it helps to to have a little, you 638 00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:49,560 know, take boxes to be like, right, that's done, that's done. 639 00:43:49,720 --> 00:43:54,800 So, so if you didn't have the 40 yards probable safe 640 00:43:55,240 --> 00:43:59,200 qualification, do you think he would have set that 40 yards 641 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:03,440 anyway or would it have been? Would you have set a target? 642 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:08,280 Well, I don't know. I don't know if I would have 643 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:13,560 aimed that high to be honest, because yeah, I just remember 644 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:17,680 when I did the the backyard two years ago in Nogney, I'd said 645 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:22,840 myself I was going to go 36 and I was nowhere near able to do 646 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:27,000 36. So I'm going into this. 647 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,800 I was like 40 yards is going to be quite a lot. 648 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:36,680 But actually once I got into it, the legs felt great all the way 649 00:44:36,680 --> 00:44:39,240 throughout. So that was a good confidence 650 00:44:39,240 --> 00:44:42,280 builder for me. I was worth priced. 651 00:44:42,880 --> 00:44:48,360 Was that you that set the target or was it Paul your coach or, or 652 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:50,960 was it just the qualification that was? 653 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:53,200 That's what needed done for the qualification. 654 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:55,720 So there was no really any other option. 655 00:44:55,720 --> 00:45:00,040 You know, I I signed up for the coach to and I said I want to 656 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:03,640 qualify for the GB team. So that's what needed done. 657 00:45:03,640 --> 00:45:09,640 So that's where we got done. So, yeah, right. 658 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:14,520 To to wrap it up, what's next for Thoma? 659 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:20,920 What's next? Well, yeah. 660 00:45:21,360 --> 00:45:23,120 We we know what's next. Yeah. 661 00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:28,160 The the next will be, I think adapting the training slightly 662 00:45:28,160 --> 00:45:32,280 for the for the surfer event, which I think is going to be a 663 00:45:32,280 --> 00:45:34,640 little bit more flat than what the Highlander was. 664 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:38,800 Yes, I've done the old Suffolk course because they're changing 665 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:41,640 it, but compared to Highlander it is flat. 666 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:45,200 Yeah. So I don't know how do you find 667 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:47,640 that easier or harder or flat, of course. 668 00:45:48,440 --> 00:45:54,320 It's just different. Russell Bock This year I did 42 669 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:58,640 and it was, it wasn't flat, but when you compare it to 670 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:05,000 Highlander, it was flat. And then I did 35 S around about 671 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,000 the same numbers. Yeah. 672 00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:12,440 And then you think about Lionsgate last year, I think it 673 00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:19,120 was 20s, high 20s, I can't remember exact #27 or 29. 674 00:46:19,960 --> 00:46:23,640 And it it was more like what you'd be used to in Orkney. 675 00:46:23,640 --> 00:46:30,760 Wind, coastal, undulating. Yeah, people called it hilly. 676 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:32,400 I didn't think it was that hilly. 677 00:46:32,400 --> 00:46:35,840 It had hills in it, but some bits were rough. 678 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:39,680 I loved it so. But again, that's just totally 679 00:46:39,680 --> 00:46:42,880 different than the other races. So I think you just have to be 680 00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:46,080 prepared for what's coming up. Yeah. 681 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:49,680 So I think that'll be what's next for me is just prepare for 682 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:54,560 prepare for Suffolk and do do more flat road. 683 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:57,200 Well, I don't know if it's Rd., but it's more flat running, 684 00:46:57,760 --> 00:47:01,080 yeah. Well the the old Suffolk course 685 00:47:01,160 --> 00:47:07,120 was mostly on Forest Trails Flat, but they've changed the 686 00:47:07,120 --> 00:47:10,040 course now so I I don't even know what it is. 687 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:12,480 Yeah, well, I'd be surprised by everybody. 688 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:18,080 There, Yeah. So, but anyway, thank you for 689 00:47:18,080 --> 00:47:20,560 your time today. Thank you very much for having 690 00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:23,320 me. Congratulations on being the 691 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:27,320 Scottish Backyard Ultra Champion taking my title away. 692 00:47:29,240 --> 00:47:32,720 Yeah, I'm, I'm happy with that. Did I take your course record 693 00:47:32,720 --> 00:47:37,400 too? No, it was Andrew Jackson the 694 00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:40,720 year before me, so I didn't have the course record he had. 695 00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:43,120 I think it was 39. His course record was. 696 00:47:43,720 --> 00:47:46,320 Oh well. But something, yeah, something 697 00:47:46,320 --> 00:47:48,760 for next year. Technically you've got the 698 00:47:48,760 --> 00:47:50,560 course record because it's on a different course. 699 00:47:50,760 --> 00:47:52,720 So all right, OK. You can have that one. 700 00:47:55,800 --> 00:47:58,040 Thanks very much for having me. It's been really good and 701 00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:00,800 looking forward to seeing you in October then. 702 00:48:01,240 --> 00:48:03,680 Yeah. And so thank you and thank 703 00:48:03,680 --> 00:48:05,360 everybody for listening. Goodbye. 704 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:06,800 Goodbye everybody.