0:00:28 > 0:00:32Don't let anybody say anything else - this is a stupid hobby!
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Hello and a very warm welcome to The Adventure Show.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37This month we've headed south to Jedburgh
0:00:37 > 0:00:39for the Three Peaks Ultra Marathon.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42This is the fourth time this event has been held
0:00:42 > 0:00:46and with 250 hardy souls signed up, this should be an absolute cracker.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50It's great being out in places like this.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52If you go slow enough, like I do, you can
0:00:52 > 0:00:53see all the views as well. It's brilliant!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Yay! Thank you!
0:00:56 > 0:01:01The race is a hefty 38 miles long - that's one and a half marathons.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05And to make it even more demanding, there's 2,800 feet of ascent
0:01:05 > 0:01:08over three extinct volcanoes.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Totally awesome! Amazing!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14I can't even believe that I'm doing this.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Third hill! We're going home
0:01:17 > 0:01:19and it's stopped raining - yay!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Pacing's going to be really difficult. Cos you've
0:01:22 > 0:01:25got a flattish bit and then suddenly there are three big pointy hills.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28There's a bit of technical stuff on the hills but not too much
0:01:28 > 0:01:31but the rain this morning will have made it quite slippy as well so erm
0:01:31 > 0:01:36I'll probably stand at the top of the hill and go, "Ooh, I'm going to die!"
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Also in this month's Adventure Show, we're off to an event that's
0:01:39 > 0:01:43already transforming the adventure scene in Scotland.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Competitors came from around the world for the inaugural
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Glencoe Skyline Hill Race - and what a race it is.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Up Curved Ridge and Buachaille Etive Mor, then the return
0:01:54 > 0:01:58on the other side of the Glen on the infamous Aonach Eagach ridge.
0:01:58 > 0:01:59How you doing?
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Pretty good! Enjoying myself!
0:02:02 > 0:02:06We're here not just to watch the 150 runners taking part in this
0:02:06 > 0:02:08gruelling challenge
0:02:08 > 0:02:12but to see it through the eyes of psychologist Lucy Rattrie.
0:02:12 > 0:02:13And stay with us
0:02:13 > 0:02:16because she'll explain that it's not a choice of competing all out
0:02:16 > 0:02:20or enjoying the event - you can have your cake and eat it.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Enjoy it and you can do even better is her message.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27If you're having moments of doubt and moments where, you know,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30you think "I really need to keep going - I don't know if I can do this,"
0:02:30 > 0:02:32sports performance psychology encourages you to
0:02:32 > 0:02:35just accept those thoughts and commit to getting through it.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38We're talking, you know, fun and performance.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43But first to the Three Peaks Ultra Marathon.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47It's just after 9am and I'm making my way up through the Eildon hills.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50These three peaks make up this ultra marathon and their steep
0:02:50 > 0:02:53slopes are a distinctive feature of this landscape.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56But the competitors not only have to run up and down them,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59they also need to take on the 15 miles to and from the start.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Most people say when they've done one they wouldn't do one again
0:03:03 > 0:03:05but then a couple of weeks later they're going,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07"Oh, do you know what, I might!"
0:03:07 > 0:03:09I think they're a little bit addictive.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Happy days! Loving it!
0:03:11 > 0:03:13In terms of time, what are you hoping for?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- Eight hours, less than eight hours. - Right.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18I've got dinner booked at half seven in Edinburgh, so...
0:03:18 > 0:03:19You better be back!
0:03:19 > 0:03:22I've got to get...I've got to be back for that, yeah.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Now this is the sort of route that I would normally do over a long
0:03:24 > 0:03:28weekend with perhaps a B&B or two thrown in for good measure
0:03:28 > 0:03:32but the fastest runners here will do it in around five hours
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and that, frankly, is just staggering.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37All downhill to the end now. Hey-hey!
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I just keep smiling, that's all I do - I just keep smiling.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Yeah, I'd love to do an action shot for you.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44We'll speed it up!
0:03:44 > 0:03:48It all starts here in Jedburgh in the shadow of this
0:03:48 > 0:03:50magnificent 12th-century abbey.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54First up, the competitors head out cross-country on tracks,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57paths and lanes until they reach the village of Maxton.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01From there, they follow the route of the River Tweed through St Boswells.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Now 17 miles in, the ascent up the triple peaks
0:04:04 > 0:04:06of the Eildons starts in earnest.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09But they will be rewarded with one of the best views
0:04:09 > 0:04:12in the Scottish Borders if conditions clear up.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Then it's down the other side through the village of Bowden before
0:04:16 > 0:04:20rejoining their original route for the long, long journey home.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Conditions are extremely tough today.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29It's raining very heavily indeed and the wind on the tops will be brutal.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34OK, and countdown, five, four, three, two, one!
0:04:34 > 0:04:37CHEERING AND KLAXON
0:04:37 > 0:04:42So there we have the Three Peaks Ultra Marathon 2015,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45250 people out running in this event,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48all looking very chirpy, cheery at this point but they have
0:04:48 > 0:04:5338 miles ahead of them and 38 tough miles it is, too.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57The first 16 or so, fairly flat, just to get the legs nice
0:04:57 > 0:05:01and warm and then onto the Eildon Hills - that's the three peaks of
0:05:01 > 0:05:05the name of the event and that's when it starts to get pretty painful.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Back onto reasonably flat terrain after that
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and then back towards Jedburgh for the finish
0:05:11 > 0:05:15and two horrible miles on the road will feel like misery.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19The weather's going to be the thing this year.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Last year was a beautiful day, hardly a breath of wind,
0:05:22 > 0:05:27but today with being windy, it's going to be a bit challenging.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30I've been eating loads of carrot cake, chocolate, crisps,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32probably all the stuff that you shouldn't eat.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The thing I've been told is just it's an eating competition
0:05:35 > 0:05:38with a wee bit of running in it so that seems like a good,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41a good day out to me.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Donald and I came down in the summer and we recced part of the route,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48we ran over the Eildons and it was stunning.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52And I think at this time of year, with the changes in the trees,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54it'll just be stunning.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56I'm just a bit worried about the weather because it
0:05:56 > 0:06:00looks like it's going to be very windy and wet, so a bit challenging.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Just a couple of miles along the course, the field is already
0:06:03 > 0:06:07opening up and Ken Sutor, from the Cheshire Hash House Harriers,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09is one of the front runners.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11This is the first time Ken's competed here
0:06:11 > 0:06:16and psychology is a key part of his preparation for these events.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18You might say well how,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22how do you know what pace to go off at and that's actually a very
0:06:22 > 0:06:26difficult question to answer and I think you engage into your mind
0:06:26 > 0:06:31that it's roughly that length of time, that distance, and you just
0:06:31 > 0:06:37kind of go off according to that and you do it subconsciously, I think.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40There's a degree of being affected by, you know, what the
0:06:40 > 0:06:44people around you are doing, but clearly if someone's going, what for
0:06:44 > 0:06:50you is an unsustainable pace then you're not going to stick with them.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53The Jedburgh Three Peaks is an ultra marathon.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's held the day before the clocks go back
0:06:56 > 0:06:59when the autumn colours are at their best.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04In the four years it's been running, it's become a showcase for the Borders.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Race organisers are Noanie Heffron and Angela Barron
0:07:07 > 0:07:11and they took on this role almost by accident.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13It was a local person who set the route which is lovely
0:07:13 > 0:07:16and some of the organisers got in touch with
0:07:16 > 0:07:19the Scottish Ultra Marathon Series and they put a call out on Facebook.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Noanie and myself both said we can help thinking we were coming down,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25we'd be coming down to marshal and actually we ended up becoming Race
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Directors and we've become so fond of it that we've just kept doing it.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31It's one of those things if somebody doesn't do it, it doesn't get done
0:07:31 > 0:07:36and the race wouldn't have continued so, yeah, completely...
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I'm still amazed anybody put me in charge of anything, to be honest.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43I wouldn't put me in charge of anything.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44For me, as well,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I didn't have any experience of doing an ultra. I had literally
0:07:47 > 0:07:50done my first marathon, which was a road marathon in Edinburgh in the
0:07:50 > 0:07:53May, and had enthusiastically signed up for a marathon in November.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56But it means that on the recce, that was the first time
0:07:56 > 0:07:59I went through ultra distance so I've become quite emotionally
0:07:59 > 0:08:01attached to it, because it's the first place I went ultra as well.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03CHEERING
0:08:03 > 0:08:07I've got my road shoes, cos it had been a little bit slippy but pretty good so far.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Did it last year, yep, this is my 11th ultra, I think,
0:08:10 > 0:08:11so I should manage OK.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Keep it slow, steady, nice and even and er, see how I get on.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Ooh!
0:08:17 > 0:08:22What we've got is, you know, proper narrow trails and tree roots
0:08:22 > 0:08:26and leaves and rivers to fall in - don't say that!
0:08:26 > 0:08:29It's a lot less manicured than a lot of other races.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33This route is not that well-used at all.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Ten miles underfoot and the competitors get to the
0:08:36 > 0:08:39village of Maxton and the first of the food stops.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42A brief moment to reflect on the events so far
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and this year's conditions.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Wet! Yeah, a wee bitty moist but apart from that, all good.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51What's your tactics for today, guys?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- Finish!- Keep running, keep working!
0:08:54 > 0:08:56CROWD CHEERING
0:08:56 > 0:08:57It's been fun.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It's...we've done...we're local, we live in Jedburgh
0:09:00 > 0:09:04so we've done a lot of the trails already and been lost and got dirty.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08We've trained in all the nice summer weather and then today erm,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11yeah, we've got this, it's a bit of a nightmare.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Oh, it's not a nightmare, is it - it's fun!
0:09:13 > 0:09:18It's lovely, beautiful. First time down here, can't complain - so lovely.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- This way?- Oh, no, that way, yeah!
0:09:21 > 0:09:23I just see ultra marathons as running with a picnic
0:09:23 > 0:09:26so I like eating my picnics along the way.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29My plan is just hopefully to finish before...er, just finish.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Hopefully, they won't time you at any of the checkpoints,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35so just keep going one foot in front of the other.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Seven miles further on and today all eyes are on Lee Kemp from Surrey.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42He only took up ultra running three years ago
0:09:42 > 0:09:46and came first in the 2013 British Ultra Trail Championships
0:09:46 > 0:09:49held on part of the West Highland Way.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Not only that but he set a new course record.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Lee took an early lead in this race but
0:09:56 > 0:09:58heading through the woods near the River Tweed,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02he took a wrong turn and has dropped back down the field.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03The path sort of went to the left
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and there was a little bridge to the right and there was no sign
0:10:06 > 0:10:08so I sort of went up and round up to the main road,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11couldn't see any signage, came back and thought, well, there's no signs
0:10:11 > 0:10:13on the bridge - I'll go back. Maybe I'll go across the main road.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Went back again and then turned back around and there's a wave of us
0:10:16 > 0:10:19all coming up and we're shouting, "No, we're going the wrong way!"
0:10:19 > 0:10:23But, yeah, there's ten or 15 of us that took a wrong turn, unfortunately.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26That mistake means that approaching the first of the
0:10:26 > 0:10:31Eildon Hills, Ken Sutor has taken the lead but close behind him and
0:10:31 > 0:10:36challenging hard is Ian Symington from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Ian knows he's up against strong competition
0:10:39 > 0:10:42but has a well-rehearsed strategy in place.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I have a look and see who's in it and then
0:10:45 > 0:10:47I have a couple of friends who are in this as well and I know
0:10:47 > 0:10:50one will be ahead of me and another one might start off more steady
0:10:50 > 0:10:53and so just, just try and not get carried away and don't try and run
0:10:53 > 0:10:58with the leaders at a pace that I probably...isn't sustainable for me.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01And then, as you progress in the race, just try to pick it up
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and just try and get as much out of yourself as you can.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Out in the lead for the women is Lorna McMillan.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Lorna grew up near here at Traquair
0:11:09 > 0:11:12so is well used to running in this terrain.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15And she especially likes these longer races.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17The good thing about ultras
0:11:17 > 0:11:19is you get to run a bit slower than in the 10K.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23A 10K is hard and fast and it's actually pretty horrible.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26And when I started doing marathons, it just seemed a lot more
0:11:26 > 0:11:29relaxed and you know, you could have a bit of a blether with folk
0:11:29 > 0:11:32round about and certainly in ultra marathons, that's what you do.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36And especially if you're...like the first half of the race, you know,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38when people are all running together, you end up
0:11:38 > 0:11:41being in your little groups and you chat to folk that you've not
0:11:41 > 0:11:43spoken to before and you've not met before.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45I think with an ultra marathon, you need to run at a pace
0:11:45 > 0:11:48that you can talk at, you know that, folk say that if you're,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51if you can't speak, then you're probably running a bit too fast.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Lovely course!
0:11:54 > 0:11:55Any hard bits, or...?
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Er...yes, all of it!
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- This the pub? Is it, which way? - The path round to the left.- No, the pub. I'm looking for the pub!
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Oh, you're looking for the pub. You'll get it down in Bowden.
0:12:06 > 0:12:07Woohoo!
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Right now, the leaders are just about to
0:12:09 > 0:12:11start their ascent of the Eildon Hills behind me
0:12:11 > 0:12:14and regular viewers of The Adventure Show will know we like to
0:12:14 > 0:12:17really get a taste, a sample if you will, of all the events we cover.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20No, I haven't volunteered myself,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Deziree Wilson is on the case.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35After 17 miles on fairly gentle,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38straightforward terrain, the runners arrive
0:12:38 > 0:12:42here at the Rhymer's Stone and this is where the route really changes
0:12:42 > 0:12:46character as it heads up towards the steep slopes of the Eildon Hills.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00The Three Peaks Ultra Marathon is named after these three hills.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03The first stands at 404m,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07and I can tell you, it's a pretty steep, unremitting climb.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17From up here, you can get a real sense of where we are, with the
0:13:17 > 0:13:21town of Melrose to the north and the Cheviot Hills out there to the east.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25And just behind me is the site of an old Roman fort which was
0:13:25 > 0:13:28called Trimontium, which as you might guess, means three hills.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42And there's more interesting history associated with this first summit,
0:13:42 > 0:13:47which was the site of an ancient Bronze Age fort around 1,000 BC.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Apparently over 6,000 people inhabited this fort at one time.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54They must've been a fit bunch!
0:13:57 > 0:14:00From here, you can see that the hard work isn't over yet.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Just ahead of me is the highest of the three Eildon Peaks,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08which stands at 422m. Better get on with it, then.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16The course really starts to feel a bit more technical after
0:14:16 > 0:14:19the first summit, where you really have to think pretty
0:14:19 > 0:14:22carefully about where you're placing your feet.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26It would be really easy with tired legs to misjudge a step
0:14:26 > 0:14:27and go over your ankle.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44And this is the top - not high by Scottish standards
0:14:44 > 0:14:47but very definitely the biggest hill around here for miles.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55Just here is a memorial to Sir Walter Scott, who wrote the ballad
0:14:55 > 0:14:59of Thomas the Rhymer about these hills, where Thomas meets the Queen
0:14:59 > 0:15:04of Elfland on the slopes of Eildon and is shown three roads to take and
0:15:04 > 0:15:08when he chooses the road to Elfland, he's not seen again for seven years.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Better check the route markers off carefully here, then!
0:15:21 > 0:15:23And this really feels like about the most technical
0:15:23 > 0:15:26part of the course that we've come across yet.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31We're just kind of moving on broken scree - it's quite difficult to build up
0:15:31 > 0:15:37any kind of speed without losing your balance and your footing.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Imagine running down here full pelt...
0:15:42 > 0:15:46..in wet conditions would not be easy.
0:15:48 > 0:15:55The scree on here as well is on a fairly, even muddy surface so
0:15:55 > 0:15:59it kind of feels like it's designed to be even more slippery than usual.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Almost there but there's a steep little
0:16:11 > 0:16:15sting in the tail before I reach my third and final summit.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30The last top!
0:16:30 > 0:16:32I can't feel too smug, because I still need to make it back to
0:16:32 > 0:16:36where I started from this morning but at least all the ascent
0:16:36 > 0:16:40is done now and it's downhill all the way home.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Thanks, Deziree, for showing us not just the route
0:16:43 > 0:16:47but also why the Borders are such an atmospheric place.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Next we're heading north to the high mountains of Glencoe for a new
0:16:50 > 0:16:54and dramatic addition to the Scottish adventure scene.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06The Glencoe Skyline is an entirely new event based on the growing
0:17:06 > 0:17:08sport of sky running
0:17:08 > 0:17:12but we're here to see this event through the eyes of Lucy Rattrie.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15She's a psychologist who believes that it's not
0:17:15 > 0:17:19a choice between either enjoying an event or being completely
0:17:19 > 0:17:21focused on achieving a personal best.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25She says you can both maximise performance
0:17:25 > 0:17:28and get more fun at the same time.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31And Lucy speaks from experience - she's a keen triathlete
0:17:31 > 0:17:34and endurance enthusiast.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37For my job, I'm a chartered psychologist
0:17:37 > 0:17:40and I absolutely love doing endurance sports events.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45Over the years, the most fun part has been all about the challenge
0:17:45 > 0:17:46and pushing myself
0:17:46 > 0:17:50but I've found it's just become too much about the numbers.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Getting personal bests, comparing myself to other people
0:17:53 > 0:17:56and always trying to go faster -
0:17:56 > 0:18:00it seems as if the fun's gone out of it.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03But I want to see if I can use psychology to put the fun
0:18:03 > 0:18:05back into performance.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Ah, awesome!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Lucy's come to the Glencoe Skyline to put that theory to the test.
0:18:11 > 0:18:17This is an extreme endurance event with over 4,000m of climbing.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21First it's up Curved Ridge, onto Buachaille Etive Mor
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and along the southern skyline.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Then there's the descent into the glen before climbing back up
0:18:26 > 0:18:29and along the Aonach Eagach ridge.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32The competitors today are going across a range of mountains
0:18:32 > 0:18:36that most people would walk in probably two to three days.
0:18:36 > 0:18:43We're looking at 53km with almost 4,300m of ascent
0:18:43 > 0:18:49over some grade three scrambling and they will not be roped in.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51The rocks are a bit wet today, it's a bit slippy
0:18:51 > 0:18:54but everybody's psyched up.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Amongst the competitors is experienced fell runner Dave Sykes.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01He's been competing in events like this for 12 years
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and has volunteered to see
0:19:03 > 0:19:06if Lucy's approach will make a difference to his day.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10So good morning, Dave. It's race day - how are you feeling?
0:19:10 > 0:19:16A little apprehensive up until sort of getting into my rituals.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Er, and it rained really heavily during the night and it,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21it was pretty loud at times in the camper van
0:19:21 > 0:19:24but it doesn't look too bad a day. It's not too bad.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27What are you looking forward to the most about today?
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Just trying to enjoy it, I think
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and then finishing - in that order, probably.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37As the competitors wait nervously on the start line, Dave has a new
0:19:37 > 0:19:39set of techniques to test out.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43CHEERING
0:19:43 > 0:19:47He's going to be trying something called the MAC Technique.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Anne McDonald is a sports psychologist who's a firm
0:19:50 > 0:19:52believer in its benefits.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57So there's three pillar stones - mindfulness, which is essentially
0:19:57 > 0:20:02trying to help the athletes be in the present moment and be able to
0:20:02 > 0:20:06be aware of their thoughts without necessarily trying to change them
0:20:06 > 0:20:10but being able to observe them and recognise that they're there.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15The second part is acceptance, so this is where the athlete then,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19once they've identified their thoughts, they're OK with them.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21They don't try and battle them,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23there's no psychological struggle where they lose energy trying
0:20:23 > 0:20:26to change whatever they're thinking or feeling.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31So if they are internally very anxious and perhaps they're
0:20:31 > 0:20:36getting sweat, it's OK - it's part of the experience that they're living.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43The third part of the MAC model is commitment and the really important
0:20:43 > 0:20:47aspect here is that the athlete considers what their values are -
0:20:47 > 0:20:50what do they associate with their sport,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53what are the reasons they're out that day doing their sport
0:20:53 > 0:20:55and if they're able to make this association, regardless
0:20:55 > 0:20:59of what they're experiencing internally and regardless
0:20:59 > 0:21:02of what they're experiencing externally, they stay focused
0:21:02 > 0:21:06because they have a deep-rooted sense of why they're there.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09And that's also very much linked to the enjoyment of the day,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13which can really help, actually, an athlete perform to the best of their
0:21:13 > 0:21:18abilities, if they're enjoying the here and the now of their event.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21So, how do these work in practice?
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Yesterday, Dave met Lucy.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25They produced a profile about him
0:21:25 > 0:21:30and now she's devising some key strategies designed to help him.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32They're based on the MAC approach.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35We'll start with the mindfulness aspect.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38So what we want to do here is to maybe choose say one
0:21:38 > 0:21:44strategy that will help you tomorrow really stay
0:21:44 > 0:21:46connected to the present moment.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50And that strategy is called a body scan technique
0:21:50 > 0:21:51so you start at the top of your head
0:21:51 > 0:21:56and focus on relaxing the muscles in your forehead, concentrate on
0:21:56 > 0:22:00imaging the fibres behind the eyes relaxing, then the jaw and
0:22:00 > 0:22:03work down your body concentrating on each muscle group or ligaments.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06How do you feel about using that as a strategy?
0:22:06 > 0:22:07I think it'll be quite good.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10We actually asked one of our children to do that
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- because she has difficulty going off to sleep.- Mm-hm.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16So we've asked her to do something very similar
0:22:16 > 0:22:20so I'd quite enjoy doing that for that reason, anyway.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23The next part is really about dealing with your thoughts
0:22:23 > 0:22:26because if you're thinking it's going to take nine or ten hours,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28that's a lot of time to be thinking
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and if you're having any negative thoughts that, focusing on those
0:22:32 > 0:22:36can actually be a waste of energy - certainly a waste of mental energy.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Quite often if I lose concentration
0:22:38 > 0:22:41and start thinking about something else then,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45er, say I'm running with somebody, I just find myself drifting back
0:22:45 > 0:22:48and er, you know, then you have to work quite hard to get back.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51What I'd like you to try and remember is
0:22:51 > 0:22:54if you do start drifting off and having thoughts that aren't great,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57we want you to just accept those thoughts
0:22:57 > 0:22:59and one way to do that is to try and use the word "and".
0:22:59 > 0:23:04So for example "the heavens have opened and that's OK".
0:23:04 > 0:23:06"My body is aching and that's normal."
0:23:06 > 0:23:11You know - it's reframing it so you've got the "and that's OK,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14"and that's acceptable, and that's normal, and I can work with it
0:23:14 > 0:23:19"and that's why I'm here and this is part of the enjoyment."
0:23:19 > 0:23:20Hello!
0:23:20 > 0:23:23So give me some examples of thoughts tomorrow that might
0:23:23 > 0:23:25come into your head that you could really use this for?
0:23:25 > 0:23:29I would say "It's raining and that's the same for everyone."
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Well, yeah - perfect! Yeah.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Erm, "I'm quite hungry and thirsty, but...
0:23:36 > 0:23:40"and I have a rucksack full of food, so I can have something to eat."
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Phew! Close-up of fear.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46The other things that came up through
0:23:46 > 0:23:51the profile was the camaraderie of the sport, the social element.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Er, well, I very much enjoy that aspect of it.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56That's brilliant!
0:23:56 > 0:23:59At numerous times during the race you are with other people, to some
0:23:59 > 0:24:02extent you're racing against them, but you're also racing with them.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And often it's somebody that you don't know, so there's,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07you know, the novel side of things.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09If you're going round for eight or nine hours with somebody
0:24:09 > 0:24:13who you don't know, you probably do get to know them by the end of it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17So, taking on board Lucy's advice, Dave, in green and black,
0:24:17 > 0:24:18has made a good start.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21We'll be back later in the programme to see how
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Lucy's strategies are working out in practice.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Right now it's back to the Jedburgh Three Peaks Ultramarathon where,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32up on the hills, it's wild and windy.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Welcome back to the Borders, where I've made my way to the
0:24:44 > 0:24:47summit of the second of the Eildon Hills.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50And it won't be long before the fastest runners arrive here, too,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52which will be a great relief, I'm sure.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Not only is this the highest point of the race,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56it's almost at the halfway point, too.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01And this looks like 219, Ken Sutor. Well done, Ken!
0:25:01 > 0:25:04How you doing? Fantastic!
0:25:04 > 0:25:05Thank you.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08You've got a great lead there. Well done!
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Ken's an experienced long distance runner
0:25:11 > 0:25:14who regularly finishes in the top ten.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The big mileage is no barrier to him.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20What gets you up to the longer distances is just doing it more.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25You know, you start to enjoy it to the point that you spend more hours
0:25:25 > 0:25:29a week doing it and it's also just discovering where your talents lie.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33So sometimes it might be just entering something which
0:25:33 > 0:25:35feels a bit unlikely and just going for it
0:25:35 > 0:25:39because there's obviously a degree of physiology.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42There's a degree of, you know, having, having good health,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45er, having the time to put into it.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49So there's a variety of things that have to come together. It's not,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52it's not just about whether physically you can do it,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56there's a lot of other stuff that has to come right.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01- You look like you're really enjoying yourself?- Yeah, I am!- Good.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04You should always feel incredibly happy
0:26:04 > 0:26:07because you are privileged, there's no question.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Just a minute later, the next competitor to this high point
0:26:12 > 0:26:14is Ian Symington.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Well done! Fantastic! Good effort!
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Great stuff, well done!
0:26:19 > 0:26:22He's been called the "Ironman" of Yorkshire's Calder Valley
0:26:22 > 0:26:25and he's after a top place.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26I'm a very competitive person.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's just not, not panicking, you know,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30you've got a long way to go
0:26:30 > 0:26:32and if you're struggling on the hills just,
0:26:32 > 0:26:36just sit in and just, you know, keep focused and, and just don't stop.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Just relentless forward progress just keep going, keep going,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and, you know, that's probably the key thing about an ultra, is you
0:26:42 > 0:26:46can have a bad spot where you think "This is rubbish, I'm going slow."
0:26:46 > 0:26:47And then, you know, five/ten miles later
0:26:47 > 0:26:49you've had a bit of food, you've relaxed,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52you can just pick it right up and you can be fine again.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55So, you know, if it's a five/six mile race, you know, that doesn't
0:26:55 > 0:26:58really happen but on an ultra, you can come back.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00This is a race that attracts competitors
0:27:00 > 0:27:02from south of the border.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05People like Lee Kemp, who's next to this summit.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07He's a member of the British Ultra Trail team
0:27:07 > 0:27:09and competes internationally.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Well done! Fantastic, great stuff!
0:27:12 > 0:27:17His mistake earlier in the course means he's currently in third place
0:27:17 > 0:27:20but he's less than 30 seconds behind Ian,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22so this race is still wide open.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25And he's now really putting on the pressure.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28For me, I find the flatter sections quite tough because you're trying to
0:27:28 > 0:27:32keep a decent cadence, you're trying to keep a fast pace. So when we,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36we got the three hills, it sort of broke, it changes, it changes
0:27:36 > 0:27:40your stride patterns, it helped sort of relieve your legs a little bit.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42But, yeah, um, I mean a lot of the,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45the paths along the river are similar to the ones back at home, so...
0:27:45 > 0:27:48And with all the leaves and the beautiful colours round, you know,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51it's just inspiring being out there, so it sort of keeps you going.
0:27:51 > 0:27:52But, yeah, it is tough
0:27:52 > 0:27:55because it is, you know, it's potentially a very fast race.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59And like I said, trying to keep that cadence high can be quite difficult.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Whilst the leaders are now over the final summit,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04the majority of runners are starting up the Eildon Hills.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06But that doesn't matter.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Like many ultramarathons, this event prides itself on its friendliness.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- Taxi!- Hardest bit done!
0:28:14 > 0:28:16- Yeah!- Thank you!
0:28:16 > 0:28:17Hello!
0:28:17 > 0:28:23I, I used to run marathons and started in a few of the ultras.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25And it's such a friendly atmosphere all the time,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27it's more like a big long picnic,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30you're going along chatting to people and admiring the scenery,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34and it's so much better than running on the roads doing a marathon.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Oh, take one more step you think you'll die, but you never do.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40At least you can't go any higher.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Great run that!
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Top of the world!
0:28:44 > 0:28:48I've actually discovered, at my grand age, that I have got
0:28:48 > 0:28:53this incredible endurance and I can go well over 30 miles, which is,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57was quite a surprise to me at my age and I'm absolutely delighted
0:28:57 > 0:29:02about it and at the end of it I feel it's a real achievement.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06It's much more of an achievement than it is to run a 5K or a 10K
0:29:06 > 0:29:08and be at the back of the field.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11To be at the back of the field of an ultra is, for me,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14is really quite an achievement.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16It's the prettiest race in the country.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18I'm actually the race sweeper, so I run at the back,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21make sure everybody's safe and bring them back in at the end
0:29:21 > 0:29:24of the day, in the dark probably, and it's good fun.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27It's a moderately short distance - it's not too hard,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31not too far, the countryside's nice, a wee bit of climbing, a wee
0:29:31 > 0:29:35bit of mud, a wee bit of road and a wee bit of weather, as we see today.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Beautiful, fantastic view! Gorgeous!
0:29:38 > 0:29:41The route is actually absolutely stunning
0:29:41 > 0:29:44and at this time of year, with the autumn colours, it's beautiful.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Coming down to recce the route over summer, it's different
0:29:47 > 0:29:49colours, but it's still...
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Every season it's quite stunning and with the
0:29:51 > 0:29:56three peaks as well, the views that you get - it's absolutely gorgeous.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59And it's become a little bit more competitive at the pointy end,
0:29:59 > 0:30:00as well, because we had
0:30:00 > 0:30:03a new course record last year from Matt Williamson,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- so there's people maybe coming to try and beat the course record.- Well done, guys.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08I don't know if it's the same everywhere
0:30:08 > 0:30:10else as it is in Scotland, but the people that turn up
0:30:10 > 0:30:13and run these races, for the most part, we all know each other,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16we help out at each other's races, we run each other's races.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Well done!
0:30:18 > 0:30:20It's not the race, it's the whole event,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23it's usually a whole weekend if it's a long enough race.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Well done! Great stuff!
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Running it is almost secondary really - it's just being part of it.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32Three, two, one, smile! Yeah!
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Oh, fabulous, yeah.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38At this point, the highest part of the race,
0:30:38 > 0:30:39folks will have run
0:30:39 > 0:30:42almost a full marathon, so this last steep hill up to the
0:30:42 > 0:30:44second summit is going to feel pretty brutal.
0:30:44 > 0:30:49- "The Borders," I thought, "there cannae be any hills in the Borders, is there?"- What's that?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51There's nae hills in the Borders, is there?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- SHE LAUGHS - Have you been duped?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57- Are you enjoying the race? - About halfway, I reckon, eh?
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- Yeah, this is pretty much halfway. - Aye, aye.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- How's it going so far?- Good, yeah, just paced it, you know,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05so hopefully keep it going from here in, see how it goes.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Cheers!
0:31:07 > 0:31:09The weather conditions have improved slightly.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14It's certainly still windy and cold, but it's dried up quite a bit.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18So the conditions are reasonably good for running today.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Oh, I'm overdressed the day!
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Would you say I'm nearly over the hill?
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Lorna McMillan is still in the lead for the women.
0:31:26 > 0:31:27Earlier in 2015,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31she took third place in the 96-mile West Highland Way race
0:31:31 > 0:31:36and she also won bronze in the Scottish Ultra Trail Championships.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39When you're running such long distances, to keep it interesting
0:31:39 > 0:31:42you quite like a bit of variation, so a bit of up or
0:31:42 > 0:31:45a bit of down, sometimes with the ups you get to get a bit of a walk in,
0:31:45 > 0:31:48which is quite nice and obviously the downs you get a bit of a rest.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- Ah! What a great race!- Doing well! - Thank you!
0:31:51 > 0:31:54I've kind of changed tack today.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56My boyfriend, who's also running,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59said that he was going to go out quite hard from the start and that's
0:31:59 > 0:32:02not something that I normally do but we were kind of having a bit
0:32:02 > 0:32:05of a...a competition between the two of us today and I thought well,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08you know, I'll just see whether I can go out hard from the start.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11It is a faster course because it's a bit flatter and it's a bit shorter
0:32:11 > 0:32:16than I normally do, so I wondered whether it would be sustainable.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Caroline McKay is currently in second place for the women.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24She's only two minutes behind Lorna, so is very much in contention.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28She's got a great race pedigree - second in the Highland Fling,
0:32:28 > 0:32:30winner of the Devil of the Highlands,
0:32:30 > 0:32:32and she's completed the full
0:32:32 > 0:32:36Ultra Trail Mont Blanc in a very impressive time.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39You start out with a different mind-set
0:32:39 > 0:32:41depending on the distance that you're running.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43A massive part of the attraction is just
0:32:43 > 0:32:44racing on trails as opposed to roads.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I find road racing really monotonous now.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49And just racing in beautiful parts of the country.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51And the community's just so special,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54like, the ultrarunning community - I've made some of my best friends
0:32:54 > 0:32:56through it, so it's just such a positive thing.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59And even people that you don't know in a race, you end up just
0:32:59 > 0:33:01chatting - and it's just a lot of fun.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Third to this summit, just a minute behind Caroline,
0:33:04 > 0:33:05is Elaine Omand from Dundee.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Only one more hill to go!
0:33:08 > 0:33:10Her first ultra race was in 2013 -
0:33:10 > 0:33:13where she took the top spot for the women
0:33:13 > 0:33:18and came in sixth overall. So she's in with a real chance today.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20It's definitely a tough mental challenge.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Erm, I think you just have to remind yourself that you can do it.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24I tend to think of it -
0:33:24 > 0:33:26because there's a checkpoint every ten miles here - it's a
0:33:26 > 0:33:28ten-mile run at a time,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30and you get to a marathon and then it's just an extra ten miles
0:33:30 > 0:33:32after a marathon, which is nothing. And you just
0:33:32 > 0:33:36have to keep telling yourself - "You know you can do it, it'll be fine."
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Make the most of the scenery as well, try and look around.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It's beautiful out there, so going up the hill...
0:33:41 > 0:33:43You have to slow down and walk on the hill anyway,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46so I was looking around and making the most of it.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48That's a view shared by everyone here today.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51The view is absolutely fantastic and even
0:33:51 > 0:33:55getting here - the trails along the Tweed, absolutely brilliant!
0:33:55 > 0:33:58I actually come from Glasgow originally and moving down here...
0:33:58 > 0:34:01On your doorstep you walk out and you can just start running.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04It's just so different, it's beautiful, really is.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06It's a sense of euphoria and then you look round
0:34:06 > 0:34:09and you just see, and if it's a good day and you see all
0:34:09 > 0:34:11the scenery round about you, and you see Peniel Heugh
0:34:11 > 0:34:14over in the distance. It's a great feeling, it really is.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19I constantly think about form, how I'm running - because when you,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22when the body starts to get tired you can get kind of sloppy,
0:34:22 > 0:34:24so the hips will drop and things like that,
0:34:24 > 0:34:25so I'm constantly thinking
0:34:25 > 0:34:29about form and I'm constantly thinking about time as well.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32You know, if there's someone in front of me I want to...
0:34:32 > 0:34:33I want to catch...
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I mean, today I had the first lady...just in front of me,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39and my usual thing in a race is to end up coming in just behind the
0:34:39 > 0:34:42first lady, so for once I wanted to come in in front of the first lady.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Feeling good!
0:34:44 > 0:34:46'Competition's always with yourself.'
0:34:46 > 0:34:48He lies.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51But of course, you get to know people who do these things -
0:34:51 > 0:34:54it's the same people that tend to turn up at all the Scottish ultras.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58So it's not really competition, but it's just a... Quite nice
0:34:58 > 0:35:00if you came in behind them in one race
0:35:00 > 0:35:02and you're a little bit ahead in another race, that you've
0:35:02 > 0:35:05maybe improved so, yeah, it's just, it's just kind of good fun.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07So that's the top men
0:35:07 > 0:35:10and women through this high point on the Eildons.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13As you can see, there's still plenty more people making their way up
0:35:13 > 0:35:15and over these summits.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17We'll be back to see how they get on, shortly.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30Now it's back to the Glencoe Skyline, where psychologist
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Lucy Rattrie is anxiously waiting to see
0:35:32 > 0:35:37if the techniques she's been working on with Dave Sykes are helping him.
0:35:38 > 0:35:39So we're over five hours
0:35:39 > 0:35:41into the race, no sign of Dave yet,
0:35:41 > 0:35:43but I'm sure he'll be along any minute
0:35:43 > 0:35:47and hopefully those strategies have really worked.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Dave's trying out three key techniques that should
0:35:50 > 0:35:54increase both his performance and enjoyment of this demanding race.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57The first requires mindfulness,
0:35:57 > 0:36:01in this case achieved by mentally scanning your whole body.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05Secondly, there's ensuring a positive outlook using the
0:36:05 > 0:36:09"and" word to help accept negative thoughts.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Finally, there's commitment.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14In Dave's case, this means concentrating on the sense
0:36:14 > 0:36:17of companionship that's one of the reasons
0:36:17 > 0:36:20he takes part in these events.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Lucy meets up with Dave at the halfway point.
0:36:23 > 0:36:24So how are you feeling?
0:36:24 > 0:36:27- HE SIGHS - Pretty good, considering.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33Er, I have had some adversity and I have...tried to use what
0:36:33 > 0:36:37you've told me and it's working thus far and er, yeah,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40we've done the worst of it, I think, another big climb to come.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43So, what strategies are you going to use going forward?
0:36:43 > 0:36:47I'm-I'm using "and" quite a lot, which is working.
0:36:47 > 0:36:54And I have used my mindfulness... on occasion, just to take my
0:36:54 > 0:36:57mind away from where I am. And those are the two I've really had to use.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Obviously the companionship, I've used that to great effect
0:37:00 > 0:37:03from going over Bidean and I stuck together with a lad
0:37:03 > 0:37:05that I don't know,
0:37:05 > 0:37:07but we're having a nice time, so I'm going to continue.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09Right, thank you for your support.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Well, I'm not sure I'd be quite so enthusiastic with
0:37:12 > 0:37:16the Aonach Eagach looming ahead of me. But Dave's been embracing
0:37:16 > 0:37:19these new techniques and is having a fantastic race.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23The MAC approach offers a different way of thinking
0:37:23 > 0:37:25about sports performance.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Traditionally, sports psychologists tend to use
0:37:28 > 0:37:31a cognitive behavioural approach, and what I mean by that is...
0:37:31 > 0:37:34They look at the thoughts and the emotions that the athlete is
0:37:34 > 0:37:38experiencing... And to try and identify if there's some unhelpful
0:37:38 > 0:37:42thoughts in there and then they try and change those.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46So, for example, turning negative self-talk into positive self-talk,
0:37:46 > 0:37:50so that it has a positive impact on the behaviour of the athlete -
0:37:50 > 0:37:53and this has been used for many, many years.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55The MAC approach is very different
0:37:55 > 0:37:58because it's an acceptance-based approach.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01What they want is to be in the zone,
0:38:01 > 0:38:03what we call in a state of flow.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06And if they're able to accept all the thoughts
0:38:06 > 0:38:11and the emotions and the physical sensations that are happening
0:38:11 > 0:38:13and not be distracted by them,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17then they can remain in that state of flow.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19You enjoying yourself?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Yeah, just all the other bits. Wow!
0:38:23 > 0:38:26It's such a cool race.
0:38:26 > 0:38:27Brilliant!
0:38:27 > 0:38:30You don't feel like you're tired, because it's so nice.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33How do you think using the MAC approach
0:38:33 > 0:38:37affects an athlete's enjoyment?
0:38:37 > 0:38:39We train them to be in the moment.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42We train them to appreciate everything,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45through all the senses - what they're doing
0:38:45 > 0:38:48and therefore they're remembering the reason for being there
0:38:48 > 0:38:52that day, they're remembering why they're doing what they're doing.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56This is far more effective than, than other approaches which,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00which try and enhance a certain psychological skill.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Starting to hurt yet?
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Ah! Yeah, some time ago...
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Oh, man, it's been some race.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Today, Dave's put the MAC approach to the ultimate test,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18because in the first part of the race he took a nasty tumble.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22I had a fall really quite early on... I hurt,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24I hurt my hands - both hands.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29I hurt my thigh, I hurt both knees, it really took the wind
0:39:29 > 0:39:33out of my sails and I got up and I started running again
0:39:33 > 0:39:36and I thought...
0:39:36 > 0:39:40"I've had a fall and I'm still enjoying this.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44"I've had a fall and I can keep going.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48"I've had a fall and the pain's gone already."
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Now it's nearly all over.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54Dave had an ambition to complete this race in under ten hours.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57As he approaches the finish line, he's achieved that with
0:39:57 > 0:40:00a time of nine hours, 57 minutes.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01It's a great performance.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04So, Dave, you're at the finish line. Well done!
0:40:04 > 0:40:06- Thank you.- How was it?
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Er, pretty, pretty hard work.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11I have done quite a few hard things and that's up there.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15I can't explain how hard it is just coming up the final
0:40:15 > 0:40:19bit from those trees that you can see down there, just to here.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22That's the, the smallest hill that we've been up, yet it was
0:40:22 > 0:40:26the hardest, because you had to keep running, people were coming
0:40:26 > 0:40:29up trying to overtake you and you just had to keep going.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33And my legs were just really starting to hurt a little,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36just because I was desperate to get under ten hours - which doesn't mean
0:40:36 > 0:40:40anything really, but it just looks quite nice if it's in single digits.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Tell us - how did you use the strategies?
0:40:43 > 0:40:46When it was getting hard, I used my body scanner quite a lot,
0:40:46 > 0:40:51to take my mind off how much it was beginning to hurt.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54And also, I don't know whether you noticed, but I finished with
0:40:54 > 0:40:57a lad and we've run together quite a lot on the way round
0:40:57 > 0:41:01and it's been really useful, we've helped one another.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04He came past me actually on the flatter bit
0:41:04 > 0:41:07and then we worked together on this final little hill
0:41:07 > 0:41:10and that was the camaraderie and companionship.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12Well done, mate.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14No, I found it useful.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17I will use it again - beats singing my usual repertoire of
0:41:17 > 0:41:21James Bond songs or Beatles songs.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24And er, I'm... I'm going to go and have a milkshake
0:41:24 > 0:41:27and then I'm going to go and have a pint.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Isn't it incredible, such an epic extreme event obviously takes
0:41:31 > 0:41:34a huge amount of training and dedication.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38But what we've found today is that using some psychological techniques
0:41:38 > 0:41:41can really, really help you enjoy the day.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45And just for the record, the Glencoe Skyline was
0:41:45 > 0:41:48won by one of Scotland's great athletes, Joe Simmons,
0:41:48 > 0:41:52in a time of seven hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55To be honest, though, I'm not sure ANYTHING would make
0:41:55 > 0:41:58a route like that fun for me.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03And I've got a confession as well - later this year I'll be competing in
0:42:03 > 0:42:07an off-road triathlon that includes running up and down Ben Nevis.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11I'd better start some positive thinking right now.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23Welcome back to the Jedburgh Three Peaks Ultramarathon.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Now the lead racers are well and truly over
0:42:25 > 0:42:27the top of the Eildons we can see behind me, and
0:42:27 > 0:42:29are on the home leg.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33But there are still plenty of racers out there on the hills.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36It's the best bit, honestly...hills.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40And it's a great time away from Austria. I'm from Austria.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45- That was amazing. It was gorgeous! - It's breezy up here, eh?
0:42:45 > 0:42:48It's really interesting to note just how little some of these
0:42:48 > 0:42:50runners are wearing - bare legs, bare arms -
0:42:50 > 0:42:53and if you look at what I'm wearing today, I'm totally togged up.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57I've got two duvet jackets on, thick gloves, hat,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59hood up and I'm still freezing.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03You really need to know that you can carry enough kit to stay warm
0:43:03 > 0:43:06enough if something goes wrong,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09but that isn't going to slow you down over this kind of distance.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12- Well done! - Nae bad.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Last hill and the weather's not as bad as expected, so...
0:43:15 > 0:43:17- CHUCKLING:- See you!
0:43:17 > 0:43:19They said this would be fun.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22- Is it? - Er, no, no quite.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25Down from the hills and heading back through Maxton - Lee Kemp is
0:43:25 > 0:43:27showing why he's the race favourite.
0:43:27 > 0:43:31He's not only overtaken both Ken Sutor and Ian Symington
0:43:31 > 0:43:35but he's also built up a lead of over a minute and a half.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37With all races, I've done some longer ones as well -
0:43:37 > 0:43:40- I break them down into the checkpoints.- 114...
0:43:40 > 0:43:43Most of the time they're sort of six miles/seven miles.
0:43:43 > 0:43:44It's like doing a smaller race then.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47And once you get to those checkpoints - grab some more
0:43:47 > 0:43:49drinks/food, say hi to all the great volunteers
0:43:49 > 0:43:51and marshals who cheer you on, and then back on again,
0:43:51 > 0:43:53another 10K until the next one.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55Do you want this filled or not?
0:43:55 > 0:43:58No, that's good - I'm all good to go. Cheers, thank you.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00I think it's not getting daunted by the distance.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04If you think of each checkpoint as a 10K event, you know you can
0:44:04 > 0:44:07do 10K, and it's just keep, just keep going, you know, stay positive.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10Erm, and I think a big thing for me
0:44:10 > 0:44:13is that I know at some point during an event I am going to feel awful,
0:44:13 > 0:44:17I am going to feel rubbish, but it's not going to last forever.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19So that's Lee's secret for success.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Next to this checkpoint is Ken Sutor.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24He's dropped down to second place
0:44:24 > 0:44:27and is being chased hard by Ian Symington.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30- Cheers.- Well done!- See ya.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33But Ian thinks races like this are about far more than
0:44:33 > 0:44:34just who comes first.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37If you're just starting, you're not going to be able to run it at the
0:44:37 > 0:44:40pace that Lee's running the pace at. But a huge percent of the population
0:44:40 > 0:44:44could walk the course today and it would be tough and it would be
0:44:44 > 0:44:46a massive achievement, but they could do that.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48So if you realise that you can get round it, it's just
0:44:48 > 0:44:50how quickly you get round the course and you focus on that
0:44:50 > 0:44:53and then train, and you just start running, running the easy
0:44:53 > 0:44:56sections and you just build it up and build it up and build it up.
0:44:56 > 0:44:58And if you look at the people today, they're not all looking
0:44:58 > 0:45:01like elite sportsmen. And that's what's quite nice about this,
0:45:01 > 0:45:05is that you can have a whole range of abilities and they've all done
0:45:05 > 0:45:09something really, really worthwhile and it's a really good achievement.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11This is our first and our last... No, it's not our last.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14This'll be an annual thing for us now, I think.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17We do plenty of road running, marathons and everything else,
0:45:17 > 0:45:19but ultra's a bit different,
0:45:19 > 0:45:22you get to chat to people from far and wide.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24We can't believe
0:45:24 > 0:45:27how far some people have come to run this thing today.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29- From Asia, from a hot country. - OK.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31Yeah, so this is my second time here.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33And what draws you to this particular race?
0:45:33 > 0:45:35My friends, my warm Scottish friends.
0:45:35 > 0:45:36Getting there, eh?
0:45:36 > 0:45:39We're lucky that the weather's cleared.
0:45:39 > 0:45:40The view is absolutely fantastic
0:45:40 > 0:45:43and even getting here - the trails along the Tweed.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Absolutely brilliant! Really enjoyed it so far.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49Looking forward to a good beer at the end of it, you know.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51The winds have blown us up here, which is good.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54- It's all downhill from here, is that what they say?- Exactly!
0:45:54 > 0:45:57Now on the home straight, Lorna McMillan is
0:45:57 > 0:45:59still in the lead for the women.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01She's a comparative newcomer to ultramarathons
0:46:01 > 0:46:03and is having a fantastic day.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05I ran my first one in 2012.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07I thoroughly enjoyed it
0:46:07 > 0:46:10and I think for me, I was born and brought up on a farm,
0:46:10 > 0:46:14in the Borders actually, but it's a way to be outside, which is
0:46:14 > 0:46:17something that I've always loved, being surrounded by nature.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20And a day like today, you know, why would you want to be indoors
0:46:20 > 0:46:23when you can be outdoors all day long?
0:46:23 > 0:46:24Oh! Almost there!
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Caroline McKay is five minutes behind Lorna
0:46:27 > 0:46:29and currently in second place.
0:46:29 > 0:46:34She took up running fairly recently, and it's literally changed her life.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37When I look back five years, I've got a completely different
0:46:37 > 0:46:40lifestyle from what I had back then.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43But when it's something you really love, you don't see it as a chore.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46I mean, obviously, not every run you love! It's sometimes hard
0:46:46 > 0:46:49to get up at, whatever, 6am and go to the gym and do hill reps.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52This year, I've done quite a lot of racing, so this is my final
0:46:52 > 0:46:54and actually I can't wait to not have any more races over
0:46:54 > 0:46:56the next couple of months!
0:46:56 > 0:46:58Just a wee jog home now.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Today, many of the competitors are still making their way over
0:47:01 > 0:47:05the Eildons and are looking forward to life after the race.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08- Oh, sorry! - Oh, that's OK.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11You're going... Try to keep it going.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13I need a bit of a push.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17Downhill and home for burgers and chips.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19Not forgetting the beer.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21Yeah, oh, yeah, lots of beer.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25I used to do a lot of orienteering and my eyesight started to go,
0:47:25 > 0:47:27so I started doing ultras.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31I expect when my knees go, I'll have to go to cycling.
0:47:31 > 0:47:32HE CHUCKLES
0:47:32 > 0:47:36No, it's something you can switch off, you know, you just run
0:47:36 > 0:47:39and it's great being out in places like this.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42You go slow enough, like I do - you can
0:47:42 > 0:47:45see all the views as well, it's brilliant.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47Yeah, that's it now, all downhill.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49Best bit!
0:47:49 > 0:47:52All downhill to the end now. Hey-hey!
0:47:52 > 0:47:56I love running because it's my version of a midlife crisis -
0:47:56 > 0:47:59because it's cheaper than having affairs!
0:47:59 > 0:48:01It's better than buying a sports car
0:48:01 > 0:48:03and safer than a motorbike.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05- I've just started this year. - Why?
0:48:05 > 0:48:07Why? Adventure Show.
0:48:07 > 0:48:13The Glencoe Marathon Adventure Show and er... So, Dougie Vipond...
0:48:13 > 0:48:16Oh, dear, what have I started?
0:48:16 > 0:48:19Back here in Jedburgh, it's nearly five hours after
0:48:19 > 0:48:24setting off this morning - the end is in sight for the leaders.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27So here he comes - number 114, Lee Kemp,
0:48:27 > 0:48:30a member of the GB Ultra Trail Team.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34The record on this course was five hours and two minutes
0:48:34 > 0:48:36and it looks to me like he's inside it!
0:48:36 > 0:48:37CHEERING
0:48:37 > 0:48:40Absolutely... Just gently jogging over the line,
0:48:40 > 0:48:42doesn't even bother breaking the tape.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44Look at that!
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Gold medal round the neck and a new record.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48And that is a fantastic performance.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52Looks like he's just been out for stroll in the park of an afternoon,
0:48:52 > 0:48:56but he's done 38 miles and he's done them very quickly indeed!
0:48:56 > 0:49:01What a great run for Lee Kemp. A time of four hours, 56 minutes and
0:49:01 > 0:49:0636 seconds - he's smashed the course record by over five minutes.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Really pleased with that.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10I didn't think I'd get it, you know, after going, going wrong.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Matt Williams is a friend of mine - who had the previous
0:49:13 > 0:49:16course record - so I was hoping I could sort of get close to it
0:49:16 > 0:49:18and then a bit of banter afterwards maybe...
0:49:18 > 0:49:20when I speak to him.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22But, yeah, yeah, really, really pleased with it.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25It was tough, the last few miles - really, really felt it.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28So this is Ian Symington, a fantastic run for him.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31Battling with Ken Sutor for second and third place
0:49:31 > 0:49:35but Ian has really put in the miles towards the end, really dug in deep.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38And he has broken last year's record as well, disappointment for him,
0:49:38 > 0:49:41though, that Lee Kemp is quite a few minutes ahead
0:49:41 > 0:49:43but a very fine run indeed.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46Second place today, you must be pretty pleased with that?
0:49:46 > 0:49:47Really pleased.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50I know Lee... I recognise Lee Kemp's name and I would think he's
0:49:50 > 0:49:53probably a much better runner than I am,
0:49:53 > 0:49:54so, very pleased to come second.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58And I think I got about the best out of myself, so, very pleased with that.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01The amazing thing, as well, you broke the course record from last
0:50:01 > 0:50:03year, just inside, but Lee was just that wee bit faster.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06Yeah, it doesn't count then, it's, er...yep!
0:50:06 > 0:50:07I mean, Lee's obviously ahead of you,
0:50:07 > 0:50:10but not that far ahead of you on a race of this size?
0:50:10 > 0:50:13No, he, he came past me just on the peaks
0:50:13 > 0:50:15and he was going at some rate.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18I sort of stuck with him for maybe half a mile
0:50:18 > 0:50:20and thought, "Oh, it's a bit fast for me,"
0:50:20 > 0:50:22and sort of dropped off and just hoped that
0:50:22 > 0:50:26he'd break a little bit later but he didn't, he was really strong.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31And this is our third place...
0:50:31 > 0:50:34This is Ken Sutor, English runner.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37He was leader of the Lakeland 100 for 70 miles
0:50:37 > 0:50:40last year, before having to drop out through injury.
0:50:40 > 0:50:43Crosses the line, smile, hands in the air...
0:50:43 > 0:50:46Good, good run.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49What a battle he had with Ian Symington as well.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52But erm... That's a great run from this fella,
0:50:52 > 0:50:55he's a real top-drawer athlete - and a good finish.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00So, Ken, third-place finish today and a great finish, yeah?
0:51:00 > 0:51:02Are you happy with that?
0:51:02 > 0:51:03I am actually, yes, yeah.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06I was up against quite a strong field, I think.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09You know, I've had a couple of race wins this season, so...
0:51:09 > 0:51:13one might say, "Well, I could've expected or hoped for more."
0:51:13 > 0:51:17But when you feel you've had a reasonably strong run anyway,
0:51:17 > 0:51:19if you're beaten by two people
0:51:19 > 0:51:22who are better on the day, you know, at the end of it, it's just a hobby.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25So...yeah, you can't really complain!
0:51:25 > 0:51:29So, confirmation of those winning results for the men...
0:51:48 > 0:51:50CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING
0:51:50 > 0:51:52And here comes the first woman over the line -
0:51:52 > 0:51:54Lorna McMillan from Glasgow, originally from Traquair.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58Came second in the West Highland Way race in 2013, placed third at this
0:51:58 > 0:52:02year's West Highland Way race and came fifth at the Highland Fling.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05But this year she's the winner of the...Jedburgh
0:52:05 > 0:52:08Three Peaks Ultramarathon
0:52:08 > 0:52:13and a great performance from Lorna McMillan, the winner 2015.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16Lorna, congratulations, a fantastic performance.
0:52:16 > 0:52:17Thank you very much.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19It's a lot tougher than I expected it to be.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21I was given the impression that it was going to be flat,
0:52:21 > 0:52:24but it's actually quite an undulating course.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26I quite like a hilly race, so I found it a lot tougher
0:52:26 > 0:52:28than I expected.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Some of the long straights are quite kind of...
0:52:30 > 0:52:33You've got to just keep going and dig deep where... When it's an
0:52:33 > 0:52:36uphill or a downhill, you get a wee break now and again but, yeah, so...
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Well, listen, well done! Superb!
0:52:38 > 0:52:40And here's the second woman -
0:52:40 > 0:52:43Caroline McKay, from Edinburgh, pounding up to the line.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47Like Lee Kemp, she took a wrong turn early in the race -
0:52:47 > 0:52:51so she finishes 12 and a half minutes behind Lorna.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53Well, Caroline, congratulations,
0:52:53 > 0:52:56a second-place finish behind Lorna, but you had a tough one today?
0:52:56 > 0:52:57I had a really tough race, actually.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00It started out really strong, felt really good. It's such
0:53:00 > 0:53:03a beautiful trail and I ran this race three years ago.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05So it was a really tough race three years ago
0:53:05 > 0:53:07because it was really muddy,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10so today was not as muddy and I was feeling positive, feeling good.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12But then, I'm not actually sure the mile... I think
0:53:12 > 0:53:15it was probably 13 or 14 miles - we took a wrong turn
0:53:15 > 0:53:17because some signage had been taken down.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19When we realised, we came back
0:53:19 > 0:53:21and then I realised we'd been passed by about three ladies!
0:53:21 > 0:53:25- Right. - So it's really hard because then you get into a really negative mind-set
0:53:25 > 0:53:27and it's hard to dig yourself out of that in a race,
0:53:27 > 0:53:30because it's so much about your mental strength, I think,
0:53:30 > 0:53:33and I was just struggling mentally after that.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35And I could see Lorna bobbing ahead for a while, and I thought
0:53:35 > 0:53:38"I'm not going to catch her, she's running really strong today."
0:53:38 > 0:53:41Taking the final steps to the finish line - Elaine Omand
0:53:41 > 0:53:43came in second last year.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47This time she's in third place, 11 minutes behind Caroline
0:53:47 > 0:53:49but still a tremendous race for her.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52I'm so happy. I'd sort of been injured for most of the year
0:53:52 > 0:53:55so I came into this thinking, "If I can get round and finish it
0:53:55 > 0:53:58"and try and enjoy it, then I'll be happy." Hadn't really expected
0:53:58 > 0:54:01- a place at all, so I'm so glad with that time and position.- Uh-huh.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03And a very impressive time as well.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04Yeah, I'm really happy with that.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07I think I actually beat last year's time, even though
0:54:07 > 0:54:09I felt pretty rubbish at the start of this morning.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Erm, so yeah, really happy.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14So, confirmation of the women's results...
0:54:37 > 0:54:38CROWD CLAPPING AND CHEERING
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Many congratulations to them and indeed to everyone who competed.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Finishing a course like this makes everybody a winner.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46CHEERING
0:54:46 > 0:54:49I don't think I'm at the back - but not far off it.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Ah, so what. I don't mind.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54Exactly, who cares! I don't care!
0:54:54 > 0:54:59I'm not very quick, so the further I go the less it stands out
0:54:59 > 0:55:02because everyone else starts going slowly as well.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04LAUGHTER
0:55:04 > 0:55:06Running just for the camera.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Well, that's almost it for this month's Adventure Show.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13Next time around, we're joining Michael Stewart as he takes
0:55:13 > 0:55:17on a kayak journey that was first done way back in the 1930s.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20This trip's going to be a great physical exertion,
0:55:20 > 0:55:22a great physical challenge...
0:55:22 > 0:55:25but it's an adventure that is going to be fantastic.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29Michael will be recreating a pioneering trip first
0:55:29 > 0:55:32undertaken over 80 years ago by two young
0:55:32 > 0:55:33men from Edinburgh -
0:55:33 > 0:55:36Alastair Dunnett and Seamus Adam.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39They became known as the Canoe Boys,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41and this epic journey from
0:55:41 > 0:55:46Glasgow to the Isle of Skye captured the imagination of the whole nation.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48Michael will be reliving their experience.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51- I'm looking forward to it. - HE CHUCKLES
0:55:51 > 0:55:55I'm saying that now, you know, once you get me at the other end,
0:55:55 > 0:55:58hopefully get me at the other end, then I might've changed my tune.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02Michael is undertaking that journey in a replica canoe from that
0:56:02 > 0:56:05bygone age, but there's one problem.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07Last time Michael was in a kayak, he was just a wee lad -
0:56:07 > 0:56:10so joining him
0:56:10 > 0:56:13is one of our most experienced sea paddlers, Brian Wilson.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16Right, if you keep your weight right in the centre you'll be
0:56:16 > 0:56:19- absolutely fine. - First off - a quick crash course.
0:56:19 > 0:56:20There we go...
0:56:20 > 0:56:22You can have a bit of fun with turning it
0:56:22 > 0:56:24if you just head towards something.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27Oh! I'm going to hit this boat.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29Almost hit that one...
0:56:29 > 0:56:30- I know.- Almost hit this one...
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Haven't hit me yet. I'm trying to get out of your way.
0:56:33 > 0:56:34LAUGHTER
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Michael has had only a short time in the boat and
0:56:37 > 0:56:40these boats are slightly unusual, you know,
0:56:40 > 0:56:44they're very open and very short. But he's handling them well
0:56:44 > 0:56:48so far, it's just we've only been in flat water.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52The original Canoe Boys paddled these waters to discover more
0:56:52 > 0:56:57about their Highland heritage. In doing so they had a great adventure.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01And there's no doubt this WILL be an adventure for Michael.
0:57:01 > 0:57:04After just a few hours on the water, he faces the
0:57:04 > 0:57:07dangerous whirlpools of the Dorus Mor.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09It looks nice and calm and placid,
0:57:09 > 0:57:12but I'm pretty sure as soon as we get out past the headland
0:57:12 > 0:57:14it'll be a different ball game completely.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Fine, it's picking up now - you can see it over there.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22Just in front of us, is the mainstream running west.
0:57:22 > 0:57:24Feel it starting to push you around a wee bit?
0:57:24 > 0:57:28Turn it right round and then go in point first - if you can. Nice and slow.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32- That was good. - Punch into it, Michael, lean forward, give it a bit of welly.
0:57:34 > 0:57:36Keep heading out to sea, this way.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39- Yee-hoo! - Well done!
0:57:39 > 0:57:42As the pair head north - there are good times...
0:57:42 > 0:57:45Ha-ha-ha! I'm going to have some oatmeal brose.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47..and bad.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52The crossing to Eigg is Michael's lowest point.
0:57:52 > 0:57:53I've had enough.
0:57:56 > 0:57:58Temper...
0:57:58 > 0:58:01Temper taking a big swipe into the water...
0:58:01 > 0:58:04Blade didn't catch it...
0:58:04 > 0:58:07It's bounced up... and snapped
0:58:07 > 0:58:09and smacked my chin.
0:58:09 > 0:58:12Not exactly an enjoyable crossing.
0:58:12 > 0:58:15For once, the phrase "Up the creek without a paddle"
0:58:15 > 0:58:17seems absolutely right.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20Hopefully you can join us for that, to see
0:58:20 > 0:58:23if Michael really enjoys that Canoe Boys' journey.
0:58:23 > 0:58:25In the meantime, from all of us here,
0:58:25 > 0:58:28thanks so much for your company. Bye for now.