Katie Hall is a keen ultra runner and personal trainer from Scotland. Prior to the recent BAM Glen Ogle 33 ultra she had announced on Facebook that she had lost her running mojo. She was encouraged by friends and runners to give the Glen Ogle a go even though she wasn’t feeling like it.
Here is her race report. Also see Pauline runs 100th ultra at Glen Ogle.
Things could go very wrong…
Katie said: “The Glen Ogle 33 almost went pear-shaped before it had even started. Not only had I lost my running mojo after my last event, Lakes in a Day, but I had an unplanned lie in on race day…”
This is how Katie’s Glen Ogle race day started:
- Drank until 2:30am with a known group of troublemakers…
- Slept through two alarms
- Turned up to registration 10 minutes before it closed in jeans and last night’s makeup
- Tried to eat granola and brush my teeth at the same time
- Arrived at the start one minute before the starter gun with untied shoes and no idea what was in my pack…
- Forgot to apply bodyglide…
Yet despite her best attempts at self-sabotage, Katie reveals she had a really good race.
A big smile from Katie.
Things ended up going very well
She says: “I hadn’t planned to use drop bags anyway and so I simply relied on what was in my rucksack. I didn’t stop at any checkpoints and the only time I paused was for a hug from my partner Beardy at Strathyre and to put on my jacket for the freezing rain about five miles from the finish.
“My watch shows I was stationary for less than a minute for the entire race.”
Beautiful scenery for the Glen Ogle 33.
Katie also enjoyed the scenery. She says: “The route is stunning and one of the prettiest ultras I’ve ever done. It is a shame it’s mostly on tarmac paths and roads and my legs paid the price for the hard terrain but it was still a great race.
“The last few miles were tough and I really had to dig deep, running on empty and getting cold. But in the end I finished in 5:45:40. I was 46th female and 21st in my age category.
“The day was capped perfectly with the legendary BAM ceilidh with much dancing, laughing and love.”
Looks like Katie refound her ultra running mojo.