There we were, lined up at the start, just as we had for the previous 30 hours, but this time when the whistle blew, Vic reached out and pulled me back. I was so confused and wanted to urge her to get going; the timer had started, after all. But she said that she wasn’t going to continue and that I must go on and take the win. Just like that, it hit me. After a big hug, I was off on my victory lap to secure the win at the Golspie Backyard Ultra.

Rewind 33 hours, and I was wolfing down my go-to breakfast—porridge topped with banana, cinnamon, and sugar talking through some final strategies with my partner and chief crew, Michael. It was a beautiful morning, and we had been blessed with a glorious sunrise over the sea, viewed from our camper, a perfect location for today’s (or this weekend’s!) event.

After breakfast, the next priority was getting the shelter all kitted out with essential food, kit, and a reclining chair before the race briefing at 9:30 AM. I was quite keen to get a spot as close to the starting corral for my shelter and was given quite a prime location just about 20 meters from the start line. Perfect! Bananas, crisps, and sandwiches all laid out ready for ease, spare clothes and multiple head torches all on hand ready for when needed.

Being in the North of Scotland in November, we were fully prepared for a cold weekend and had a blanket and DryRobe to put on between laps. Although the Saturday morning was a bit chilly, the temperatures were actually very mild and stayed that way throughout the weekend. Another sign of good things to come! That was everything as prepped as it could be; the only thing left was to pop on the race number, 28, and listen to the race briefing. Big smile on my face, it’s almost go time.

And then it began, the first of many 3-minute whistle warnings…2-minute whistle…1 minute…go! We were off, a collective and excitable bunch of runners on their way to try and reach distances never before reached, all the while taking in the glorious views!

The route starts along a fairly straight stretch along the seafront, which narrows down quite a bit, meaning we all bunch together and do a funny shuffle that we really should have just walked. Then we get to the first hill, nothing too terrifying, but a decent climb before you get to another long straight stretch which widens out quite nicely. As you reach the end of this stretch, you head down and around the spectacular Dunrobin Castle, something out of a fairytale!

You then head along another straight road, and it is tempting to run this, but be mindful of the gradual gradient! Don’t burn yourself out yet; take a nice fast walk and get excited for what’s to come, a lovely downhill stretch through the woods before you come to the undulating rollarcoaster through the trees, and look at the views! Passing the viewpoint out to the sea, I thought to myself, the sunrise here is going to be spectacular, another piece of positive reinforcement that I’ll still be running the next morning.

After the stretch through the woodland rollercoaster, you head back down to the shore and along a very long stretch with the sea on your right, enjoy the views but mind your step as there’s a few rocks and holes to navigate! You reach a gate and then you’re back at the start, where all the spectators are there to cheer you on, because you’ve still got a mile to go. But the cheers and smiles give you such a boost, which is much needed as you are about to take on “sweary hill,” now very much aware why it is called that. A short but very steep climb back up to the castle, a real quad burner, one I’d learn to love, and the route then takes you back the way you came, along and down the first hill and back along the shore where the cheers you hear now are for you finishing your lap. One down, many more to come!

I averaged my loops between 48-50 minutes, which gave me ample time between the loops to go to the loo, grab a snack, and get my feet up and rest. Early on, it feels a bit silly sitting down and having a rest; you’ve only run 4.167 miles after all. But the rest you get now pays dividends later on.

The first few loops are about getting a feel for the course, finding your timing markers, and where you will run and where you will walk. It is good to have at least a halfway marker to know you are still on pace to get around the course in time, especially through the night where pace tends to slow slightly, and of course, as you tire later on. Not only is the first few loops a good opportunity to find your feet, it is also the perfect time to chat to other runners, and at Golspie, I found that almost everyone I spoke to had run it the year previous, the inaugural event. Reflecting on the weekend, I can see why! And at the time of writing, just a week later, I am very glad to say the event for 2025 has sold out! That is just a testament to the amazing race organisation from Nikki and Ian, and of course, all the wonderful volunteers.

It’s all about the prep

I had practiced my fueling and hydration strategy after my not so successful backyard ultra at Rasselbock in March. It was my first experience running all through the night and early morning, and I found myself struggling to stomach any of my usual food options, which ended up being my demise; a banana and a bag of crisps over 30 miles was only going to lead to depletion. I was really frustrated with the outcome but also immensely proud of what I had achieved, 19 yards, just short of 80 miles, a huge distance PB for me. And determined to get to practice on fueling through the night hours at my next opportunity—the West Highland Way Race! Utilising Tailwind as liquid nutrition to help keep the calories up, as well as the odd banana and packet of crisps, I managed to complete the 97 miles in 27 hours. This was the fire I needed to know I would be capable of 27 yards (hours) at Golspie!

The training I endured on the lead-up to Golspie backyard ultra was somewhat unconventional, and a method I have learned works well for me. After trialling multiple training plans online, through apps, and even a coach, I have learned that the best plan is my own.

Some highlights of the training for Golspie included a 12-yard simulation at my local country park, where I have the perfect 4.167-mile distance. I did this solo, setting up my food station in the campervan, and made sure I set out every hour on the hour to replicate the Backyard style. I also pushed the pace a bit to complete the loops a bit quicker than my previous backyard attempts. I found that I could still very comfortably run a 47-48 minute loop, and this gave me so much more valuable rest and recovery time between the loops.

Another significant and perhaps lunacy training was 7 marathons in 7 days. The key to this was also to adopt a run/walk strategy throughout each run, as walking is an essential strategy for Backyards, and one you need to get used to doing! I planned this to be completed 3 weeks before Golspie, so that any fatigue and niggles that were endured would have plenty of time to recover beforehand. It turned out to be the perfect piece of the puzzle, and gave me the confidence going into Golspie.

But you can’t plan for everything…

Michael, ever the unsung hero of my races, had a new role this time: spider-slayer. As we set up our shelter, a flurry of spiders seemed to think it was the perfect time for a meet and greet. Armed with nothing but baby wipes and a look of grim determination, Michael set about evicting our unwelcome guests. ‘This was definitely not on the job description,’ he
joked, flicking yet another spider away, as he ensured my race base was as bug-free as possible.

From daylight into the stars

The laps were flying by, and before we knew it, we were plunged into the darkness, darkness that would last 14 hours, the joys of the Scottish winter! But I was very prepared for this, and actually, very much looking forward to it. I find the darkness quite peaceful, and what a place to spend 14 hours under that astonishing starry sky! It was essential to have a trusty headtorch, and for me, that was the Fenix – an absolute beast of a headtorch! I got a fair few comments of having the brightest headtorch on route! The battery life is brilliant, but one I knew would still need charging at some point through the night, so I always carried a spare (a less fancy Amazon one!), ready to fill the gap while Mr. Fenix was
charging.

I was surprised at how energised I felt through the night, but still intentionally did a few quicker laps to get some extra time lying back resting with my eyes shut. Although I didn’t feel I was sleeping, my crew chief said I was snoring! It was magic how fresh I felt after those instances, and actually found myself doing more of that resting during the next day. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it felt like I had fresh legs, everything hurt, don’t let the smile deceive you! But the effort definitely felt easier after those rests. The loops kept flying in, but noticeably the group of us at each start line was dropping as the night hours continued.

A secret to securing a strong mindset for each loop is starting out strong, tricking your body into thinking you’re still moving well. Golspie as the perfect route for this, with a good 5- minute flat stretch where you can run to the base of the first hill. I found myself at the front of the pack early in the morning and chuckled away to myself thinking how this experience will never happen in any other race. Being a fairly average-paced runner, I would never be at the front, so I enjoyed every second and it gave me that extra boost knowing my body was still moving well.

I surpassed 19 yards at 5 am and was delighted knowing how strong I felt passing my PB, and having the other runners celebrate me heading out on yard 20 was a great boost. We were also only a couple of hours away from sunrise, and then only a few hours away from us reaching the 24-hour (100-mile) mark!

Embracing the Pain Cave

As far as low points, I’m very glad I didn’t suffer many, and that’s quite typical of my events. I do think that’s down to my positive energy and mindset, and whilst I am struggling or hurting, I can often get myself out of the negative spiral. It came a bit sooner than I expected at Golspie though, and was just after loop 12, the 50-mile mark. Looking back, I’m not quite sure what caused it or why, but I do know that I acknowledged it and didn’t dwell on it. A backyard loop is no more than an hour, and the break between loops can be all you need to turn things around. The advice I can give is to not give yourself a hard time for those negative thoughts, accept them, and just focus on the next checkpoint, and in a backyard, that’s the end of the loop. Give you something to look forward to; a hot drink, a micro sleep, a change of socks.

I can’t quite remember when my next low point was. It may have been around 25 hours. I was just starting to realise how tired my body was feeling. I started to let myself think too far ahead about how much further there may be left to go to be the last one standing. I never listen to music or podcasts during my runs, but always have it as an option for when I may need a boost. I decided this was a good time to do that. After 20 minutes of listening to Metallica, Lizzo, and other belters on my “Pain Cave” playlist, I decided it was time to pull out my wild card. I used a voice note to myself that I recorded on the Friday. I was so full of beans and wanted to remind myself of how prepared and able I am to keep pushing. I knew that the low point and doubts were to be expected but not to be focused on. I needed my past self to remind my present self of what was the reality. And after listening to myself for 5 minutes, that was it, my mindset switched back to the belief. I was here, one of only 10 people out of 100 still left and I still felt strong (relatively…).

Reaching 100 miles

The most wonderful thing about the Sunday morning was seeing your fellow runners who had dropped out through the night emerge from their tents and campers to cheer you all on. And some of the runners who were local, came back on the Sunday at varying times and you’d see them pop up along the route to cheer you on. 10 am arrived and no one dropped out after the 100 mile/24-hour mark. Quite a remarkable thing in Backyards, typically this is a major milestone for people, and many decide their race is over after this. Not at Golspie. Everyone pushed on to complete yard 25. But at the start of 26, there was suddenly only 7 of us left.

History in the making

The sun was heating up, and I contemplated taking off my leggings and changing into a T- shirt, but I also joked that it’ll soon be time to put them on again. An interesting reinforcing tactic that I would still be running come sunset! It was also around this time that Vic said to me that if we could keep pushing, we had the potential to be the first UK backyard ultra to have a female winner and female assist, and that’s was something for us both to hold on to! There was also a lot of chat between us all about keeping going to break 30 and to have a potential of being asked to represent Scotland in the 4 nations championship in the Summer. One of the guys said that they’d never be running a backyard ultra again. I laughed because I knew that wouldn’t be the case, leave it a few days and you’ll be dying to give one a shot again.

And then there was one

3 of us head out on yard 29, Martin “The Flash” Gordon was putting on an extraordinary show, for several hours he was adamant that yard was his last, yet he kept on showing up at the start line. But this time, it turned out 29 was indeed his last, leaving Vic and I to get that female assist and female win guaranteed! A little fist bump as we left the start, and agreed to run this lap together. The buzz we both had is something I’ll never be able to put in words. And so we just chatted and joked the whole way round, I let Vic lead the way on the last stretch, grateful to have feet to focus on, as I started to feel a bit of tiredness overcome me, perhaps the adrenaline was waning, but I knew a wee rest at the end of this yard would kick start things again. The whoop and cheers we got as we came in to finish that yard was amazing! I just couldn’t stop smiling!

We re-emerged at the start line, ready to head off to yard 31 and that’s when it happened. The whistle blew, but Vic reached out and pulled me back. I was so confused, and wanted to get her to get going, the timer had started after all. I couldn’t understand why she would choose this moment to stop. ‘My target was 27 yards, it’s your turn to win this,’ she beamed, her voice laced with determination. I had only met Vic once before at Rasselbock Backyard Ultra, but her reputation and the challenge she had set for herself—running a backyard ultra every month—had already marked her as an inspiring figure in my mind. Her unexpected decision to stop filled me with a mix of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose. After a heartfelt hug, I took off, carrying not just my aspirations but a fragment of hers as well. The sun was
beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the course. I savoured every step, taking in the beauty of the moment.

Crossing the finish line for the last time, I was all smiles—exhausted but elated. In true ultra- runner fashion, I promptly dashed to the loo to be sick, but even that couldn’t dampen my joy.

I was presented with the most beautiful hand-crafted clock (thanks to the Kraft Shed in Brora) with Dunrobin Castle etched in as well as my slate “Last One Standing,” 31 Yards, 129.16 miles!

What was my setup?

Michael and I got a camper van in March, and it has been one of the most perfect additions to the ultra marathon adventures. For backyard ultras, it’s a perfect setup for Michael to get space to sleep, and so we parked it away from the corral and all the hubbub. So for my setup, we had an inflatable shelter and inside had a table for all the snacks, and a reclining deck chair. Every lap I’d sit in the chair wrapped in my dry robe and when I wanted to sleep; the light would go out and Michael would stand outside and wake me up at the 3-minute warning.

Take care of your crew!

The first evening was very relaxed, and Michael was quite content watching the rugby and enjoying a couple of beers whilst I was out running. Got to keep your crew happy! But he was always there for me finishing my yard, with my DryRobe ready. The early morning hours were where I needed to make sure Michael had a decent sleep, so there were two points through the night where he slept through the yard finishing so I was crewing solo for these breaks, and therefore didn’t risk any sleep, and kept the break to be getting something to eat, topping up the water and a welcome sock change!

And take care of yourself!

I’m very glad I don’t suffer much foot trouble in ultras, and only get a blister in one location, my big toe. When it starts to flare up I whack a Compeed on it and it leaves me be for a good while. However, it does get to a point where a step at an odd angle sends shooting pain, and the realisation that the blister has popped. This happened around 7 am, after 21 hours of running, that wasn’t a surprise. Whilst that yard was a bit tougher to get around without pain, the backyard offers a unique advantage. You only have a few miles before you get back to base to sort it out.

Did I actually sleep?

Once. I must have slept for maybe 2 minutes. I didn’t think I was, but Michael said I was snoring! Other than that, it was just eyes closed in deep rest. It’s honestly amazing how rebooted even that can be.

What did I eat?

Bananas! They are an absolute staple in any run, and I’ve become quite known to be a banana pusher! They’re nature’s gift for us runners and what’s not to love about them. They’re packed full of carbs and boost electrolytes and are one of the few things you can stomach when feeling nauseous. For Golspie, I ate around 13! Although I had packed about 20 😉

Dates stuffed with marzipan – a Christmas treat introduced to me by my partner, and now they’re always in my run vest. The marzipan gives you a good boost of carbs as well as protein from the almonds. And the date has to be a Medjool date. Why? They are like pure caramel in flavour. If you’ve not tried one yet, I urge you to! They are so worth the extra
pennies!

Jam sammies – and not just any jam sandwich. The most delicious homemade strawberry jam sandwich made by my good friend’s, Susan, mum. I was so lucky to get a sample jar last year, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next batch and made sure to save plenty for Golspie! Jam of any sort is packed full of sugar, and a sandwich is a great way to get some extra calories in.

Fruit and nut mix – this is something I’ve used since my first marathon and I think it’s the secret weapon of ultras. The nuts are loaded with protein and salt, and plenty of calories too. I find we all focus too much on high carbs, and forget about the fat and protein too. Especially in endurance events spanning more than a day, it makes sense to get all your macros!

Tailwind – now, I’m not a huge fan of ultra-processed foods, but sometimes it’s a necessity. And knowing I struggled to get solid food down when feeling nauseous or through the night, I needed something with calories that can be added to water. And Tailwind seems to work really well at topping things up.

Maple syrup – the secret sauce! I get a couple of reusable baby food pouches and fill them with maple syrup, salt, and lemon juice to make my own “energy gel.” Whilst this all worked for getting me to 31 yards at Golspie, I know I need to work more on getting more calories in, as towards the end, it wasn’t nausea that stopped me eating, it was dry mouth! It’s a hard thing to describe, but if you’ve ran long distances, you’ll know what I mean. You can chew and chew and drink water to dry and wash stuff down, but it just won’t budge down your throat. I think I had a bunch of chewed up nuts in my mouth for about 20 minutes! So I’m going to practice some homemade “baby food” and see how that goes down.

What’s next?

The first week post-race is crucial for recovery, not just physically but mentally too. I swap long runs for leisurely walks with Michael and our two dogs, letting both my muscles and my mind unwind. I specifically made a point of not having anything in the near future after Golspie. Having another event looming can give you an excuse to not push as far in a backyard, fear of injury, and not having enough time to recover, etc. also, it was important for me to have the downtime to fully appreciate and respect my efforts. All that being said, I do have plans for next year, but nothing until the Summer. Whilst I have my fingers crossed for another West Highland Way race, I also have been accepted to run the Race Across Scotland, a 215-mile run from the West to the East! A race I would have thought was at least another couple of years away before I would be at the start line. But it is an adventure I feel I am ready for and gives me that butterfly feeling, so I know it’s the next thing in my journey. And of course, I have got a spot for Golspie Backyard Ultra again next year! How could I not go back? I have a space at Suffolk Backyard Ultra but at this moment in time, I don’t know whether it is something I will do next year. I know I have many more yards in me and I am excited to see how far I can go, and Suffolk is the best place for that with a guaranteed high yardage, but there is no rush for me to get there, and I will just focus on what feels right.