The River Ayr Way Ultra

Post date: Oct 5, 2017 7:12:04 PM

By Ralphy Hill

After doing the Glen Scotia marathon, the Kintyre Way ultra and numerous, half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks this year, I decided I still had

another ultra in my legs before the season finishes. The River Ayr Way looked appetizing at 41 miles.

On the morning of the race, I got picked up at Kilmarnock at 7.30 andtaken to Glen Buck dam, the birthplace of Liverpool legend, Bill

Shankly. The race commenced at 9am and was relatively enjoyable for the first 10 miles. We were climbing over huge steps, bridges, knee length

grass, mud and water. After 20 miles I was enjoying the run, the Craic was good with the two boys I was running with and the miles began to fly

in as we neared Ayr. Onto the road for a small section and the legs began to feel it. The forest section was next, we followed it along the

riverbank and up a hill that was liquid mud, pure energy sapping, the legs were burning but after a kind lady gave me some gels I kicked into

gear and headed to the finish along the Ayr cycle route. The finish line was one lap of Dam Park running track which came quite surprisingly out

of the blue, yahoo finished in 7 hours 14mins and 43 miles on the garmin. Pint time loomed. Had a great year running, hope many more

ultra's to come. Happy running!