West Highland Way Race
58 watchers
Jan 2021
11:08am, 13 Jan 2021
37,049 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
That's my feeling M1nty, is it just seems so unfair and wasn't his time. I'm hoping his family though, through their faith, are able to say that it was God's will and that gives them some comfort or meaning for them. Gus, yip I saw that bit but that just means that a valve or artery required support, not what the underlying condition was. Stents are what they do for folk with collapsed or clogged arteries, I think, but as M1nty described so well, John was a paragon of virtue in his diet and lifestyle. But I guess heart defects come in many forms. Looked out a couple of pics that he kindly sent me from races. And in terms of the West Highland Way race, he was just everywhere - the training, the podcasts, the inspiration evenings, start line, finish line, Lundavra bonfire on the Lairig Mor, or in the race itself. And at the presentation ceremony. I actually can't remember if I got mine from him, Ian or Sean in 2015. I had a great chat with him after one of the training runs - can't remember if it was in By the Way or in the pub at Oak Tree, but grilling him on training and what to focus on. Downhill repeats were one of his recommendations that I took on board and I credit him that I was still able to run the downhills by the time I got to the fire road and the finish into Fort Bill. Rest in peace John. And thank you for all your wonderful support. |
Jan 2021
11:10am, 13 Jan 2021
84 posts
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at the end of the day
Happy G, your point about his age and his incredible fitness had me wondering as well, speaking as a 64 year old i think we tend to take these things for granted, this tragic news has shocked me having known him for around 16 years..
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Jan 2021
9:47pm, 17 Jan 2021
11,852 posts
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mrs shanksi
It's been a hard day, I've been moved reading all the tributes to John online. Your post M1nty was so eloquent, and Ian's too. We had a run to the castle with Lachlan and were chatting about John. It's hard to believe he's gone. Two days time is the first anniversary of my Mum's death so I think I'm more emotional than usual. Just feels so sad, people going before their time and he couldn't even have a normal funeral. Thinking of you all x
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Jan 2021
10:42pm, 17 Jan 2021
630 posts
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M1nty
It has been so very hard to comprehend, hasn't it, Mrs S? And the suddenness too. I haven't been able to read much or open up really until today, and it was only Katrina and the family's request that those who knew him run, jog or walk for an hour his afternoon and post this onto John's FB page that made me want to put something on. There are those friends who were closer and spent more time with him. I can only imagine what Ian B is going through, but I still felt John was like a father-figure to me, certainly in the world of ultra running. I always sensed he was looking out for - and looking after - me, as I'm sure he was for many of us. |
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Jan 2021
8:42am, 18 Jan 2021
37,129 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I did a walk, instead of a run, at 3-4pm yesterday for my #milesforJohn. It seemed fitting as my wife asked me if I wanted to walk the dog with her to spend time with my loved one, as John was so dedicated to his family. Must be so tough for his family and close friends.
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Jan 2021
9:32am, 18 Jan 2021
978 posts
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Dave_K
We walked as well. As M1nty says, it's hard to comprehend. |
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Jan 2021
12:17pm, 18 Jan 2021
37,131 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Really sorry you are feeling sad about your Mum's death mrs s. Anniversaries are hard. In some ways it's lovely to read all the unfailingly positive things about John and his life, but also highlights how tragic his untimely death is. Duchess wrote a particularly lovely tribute, I felt. |
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Jan 2021
12:28pm, 18 Jan 2021
11,854 posts
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mrs shanksi
Thanks G. Yes everyone had kind words to say, I hope it's a comfort to his family and close friends.
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Mar 2021
2:43pm, 30 Mar 2021
12,147 posts
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mrs shanksi
2021 Race Cancellation Iam very sorry to let you know that we have decided to cancel this year’s Altra West Highland Way Race. After a great deal of discussion, we have reached the conclusion that we believe there are too many significant concerns around the organisation of this year’s race to allow it to go ahead. We appreciate that we may have been able to make adjustments to our normal format that might allow a race of sorts to take place, but feel this would not give competitors a ‘proper’ West Highland Way Race experience of the normal high quality. It would also leave us exposed to some significant risks, particularly in terms of competitor, support crew and race crew health and safety issues. Unfortunately, at the moment there remain too many unknown variables associated with organising an event of this complexity. By way of example we may not be able to access all of the premises that we require, nor can we guarantee at this stage that a race licence will be granted, which also provides race insurance, and we have no assurance that competitors and crew will be able to travel to the start, or through the various local authority areas. We are likely to have to enforce social distancing, which will make it very difficult for crews to operate and will present difficulties at the start. We could set competitors off in waves, but that would be another factor that diminished from the normal race experience. We would not be able to hold a prizegiving, or after-race party. So while we recognise that we could try and address each of the issues, we believe that the overall race quality and experience would not be of a satisfactory standard, and that we would be too exposed to one of many factors not working out. As this is the second successive year we have had to cancel, we are not going to carry forward any entries to a future race. Instead we will pay a full refund, less the booking fee, to all entrants, and open entries as normal in November 2021 for the 2022 race. Further details on the 2022 race entry process, including qualification criteria, will be provided in due course. We are unable to make a refund to the credit / debit card originally used, as the original payment was over 6 months ago, and instead will make a payment directly to each entrant’s nominated bank account. Please provide your bank details by logging in to your SI Entries account and following the instructions below: Click Edit Your Entry and carefully enter your account details. Once you have entered the details you must click NEXT, tick the disclaimers again and SAVE ENTRY. I would ask you to enter your bank account details by no later than the end of Sunday 18th April 2021. All refunds will be batched together so it may take a further three weeks for your refund to be processed. I know how disappointed everyone will be at this decision, and can assure you that the disappointment is shared by all of the race committee. We are planning to organise a virtual event around the normal race weekend, and are also looking at organising an alternative ultra-marathon event on part of the West Highland Way trail later in the year and again. More details on both of these will follow. Best wishes Ian Beattie Race Director |
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Mar 2021
2:45pm, 30 Mar 2021
12,148 posts
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mrs shanksi
Sad news, but expected. Virtual race again this year. So who's going to enter for 2022? It'll be 7 years since I ran it so I'm going for it! I bet it'll be very difficult to get a place with the number of entries expected. |
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