Sitting in the hotel after the Anglo Celtic Plate 100k
Redwick I got chatting to Adrian Stott. Adrian is fantastic guy and works
tirelessly for the good of Scottish Ultra running. Not only this, but he is
heavily involved in the GB ultra running scene too. As with any race, once you
cross the finish line the chat inevitably moves to “what next?” . After a
pretty brief chat I had pretty much made my race plans for 2013. Adrian told me
that the 2013 Highland Fling was the qualifying race for the International Ultra Running Association
(IAU) World ultra trail race championships.
To run at this you need to be selected
to run for the GB athletics team. Being picked to run for Scotland in 2011 and
2012 was a great honour and privilege, It was something I had been aiming for
for a number of years, but being picked for the GB team was something I have
given little consideration to. I say little because if I said none I would be
lying. After coming second to Brian Cole ( A GB ultra runner) at the high Peaks
40 in 2008 with little specific ultra training the thought had been lingering
in the back of my head. Knowing little about the selection process I didn’t
want to be unrealistic with my goals but with I bit of encouragement from Adrian
my dream was set in motion. I knew that cruising to be picked for the team
wasn’t an option but so long as there was an outside chance that I could be
picked I was 100% focused on that dream. From that moment on all my running and
racing plans were focused on initially preparing for the Fling and ultimately
on qualifying for the World Championships. All thoughts of other races were put
on hold. All my eggs were in one basket.
In March I raced the Howarth Hobble and after being with the
leaders finished a disappointing 5th due to a navigational error.
Come the 29th April the pressure was on. My training had gone well
and I felt strong, I needed to come in the top two to be automatically
selected. On the day my race went to plan, I was hoping for under7h30 and
finished in 7h21.rd.
I tried to be happy with my race but
ultimately couldn’t’ help be disappointed that I hadn’t finished in the top two
and had felt my dream falling down around me. Cue Adrian. I had ran past Adrian
during the race on my way into Balmaha and as I passed he could see I was on a
mission. He said “ you really want that GB vest don’t you Matt”. I don’t think
I answered him out loud, but in my head I was screaming “ tooooooo right!!!!”.
Adrian was at the finish line and after congratulating me on my run he said not
to be dishearten and that I still had a chance to be selected. My dream was
still alive!!!!! He recommended I contact the selectors to state my interest
and give them a bit more info on my recent performances. This I did with every
finger and toe crossed. I had an agonising wait to hear my fate, but still
refused to plan anything else and focus us my training entirely on the slim chance
that I would be selected.
Twenty five minutes faster than I had ran in 2011, but despite
that I only finished in 3
I was on holiday sitting at the edge of an outdoor pool on a
grey day in Evian in France when I got the email. I had been picked to
represent Great Britain. I was ecstatic!!!!!
Now I’d l like to tell you a nice fairy-tale about how
perfect the next few months were, but sadly life often just isn’t that straight
forward. The start of 2013 came with the stark reality that each month that
passed would likely be the last I would spend with my Dad. After a many years
of ill health his health was rapidly going downhill. It was hard to come to terms with and there
was every possibility that might move back to Belfast to help my Mum care for
my Dad. Being in Scotland was hard and at times I felt selfish coming home and
then disappearing off running, knowing how precious our time together was, but
my dad was a proud man and wanted us all to go on as normal.
As the race loomed closer I did at times seriously consider
pulling out to allow me to have some more free time, but my Dad knew how
important running at the world Championship was to me and would have been
desperately sad to think I had had to give up on my dream because of him. It
was a very hard decision but I decided the best thing to do was to see him as
often as I could but focus on making him proud of my achievements.
Despite the mental distraction, physically I was feeling
good and as July grew close I became more confident that I would overcome the
next big hurdle. I.e. getting to the start line in shape and injury free.
A week or so before the race we received our official team
kit. It felt surreal receiving huge amounts of kit branded up in the union
jack, something I was more used to seeing on athletes on TV than in mirror. I
felt like a kid in a candy shop.
The race was in Llanrwst in Wales and as we gathered in
Llandudno a few days before the race the reality of how disaster can strike at
the last minute was emphasised when one of our team( Lee Kemp; a top guy who
had won the Fling) had to pull out of the race
because of an ankle injury he sustained the week before the race. I felt
so gutted for him, being there but not being able to race. As the team walked
through the streets of Llandudno in full GB kit we attracted some attention and
I felt so excited and honoured to be part of the GB team.
The race consisted of 5 laps of an 11k course through forest
trails. Our team did phenomenally with Ricky Lightfoot being crowned World Champion
and the men’s team winning gold. The girls came in 2nd. I finished
22nd overall and 4th out of the 5 GB men.
It was a phenomenal experience and while I missed out on
being one of the counting runners for the team prize I was delighted to have
had a solid run and experience I would never forget. My dream was to I) get
picked to run for the GB team 2) get to the start line 3) finishing knowing I
had given it 100%. At the finish line my dream had come true. Standing on the
podium after the race to the national anthem receiving our medals was the high
point of my running career and life so far!
In August 2012 my dream was set in motion, in 2013 my dream
was realised. I knew it was going to be a gamble pinning my hopes on GB team
selection, but it is important to have dreams. It is even more important to be
determined and dedicated to making your dreams come true. Dreams are worth
gambling for!
As soon as I could managed after the race I called home to speak
to my Mum and Dad. I found out my Dad had been taken into hospital as they had
been packing the car (oxygen canisters and all) to come to Wales as a surprise
to see me run. Leaving the house was an effort for my Dad at that stage and the
thought that he was preparing to travel all the way to Wales to see me run
brought tears to my eyes. They followed my progress on the computer from his
bedside instead.
Three days later my Dad passed away. One of the happiest
days of my life was followed by the saddest day of my life.
Although my Dad was never a runner, I know that I have
inherited his traits of determination, hard work and stoicism which is a huge
part of how I have become the ultra runner that I am now. I owe that and a huge
amount more to my Dad, A man I always respected and sorely miss.
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