Neil Flockhart, son of Capital’s MD Tom Flockhart has won the Scotland Coast to Coast 102 mile race just weeks after capturing first place in Scotland’s Tough Mudder Event.
Coast to Coast
Scotland’s Coast to Coast race is a true measure of grit and perseverance. After months of strenuous training and pushing through the inevitable “wall” that athletes experience during endurance training, the youngest Flockhart experienced triumph (twice).
Tough Mudder
The first test was the Tough Mudder, a 12 mile obstacle course designed by Special Forces. The event tests “all around strength, stamina, determination, and camaraderie.” Flockhart didn’t experience the Tough Mudder on his own; “to get through mud, fire, ice-water, and 10,000 volts of electricity you’ll need teammates to pick you up when morale is low. To get over 12 foot walls and through underground mud tunnels, you’ll need teammates to give you a boost and a push.” For years during his motocross career Flockhart competed against John Soutar (from Aberdeen) and sharing a passion for fitness the duo began training together every weekend.
“We entered this race individually but always stuck together to keep each other going! It was amazing to win this event being its first time held in Scotland. In winning this we also qualified for the World’s Toughest Mudder, a 24 hour version of the Dumfries event held in New York in mid-November.”
While most participants rest for weeks after an event like the Tough Mudder, Flockhart and Soutar continued on training. The Scotland Coast to Coast race was just 2 months away, and again their eyes were set on the win.
World’s Toughest Mudder
Flockhart and Soutar ran, cycled and kayaked their way to the finish line in a very impressive time of 8:58:20. The course is a “journey across one of the best known mountain landscapes in the World… Quite simply, it is a stunning journey set against the backdrop of the very best that Scotland has to offer.” The Coast to Coast race began in Nairn and was set up in two stages, the first stage ended in Fort Augustus and the second stage ended in Isles of Glencoe and Ballachulish.
“We entered as individuals this year but were awarded a joint win! Things are looking good for World’s Toughest Mudder!”
Flockhart takes his training quite seriously; three days a week he does circuit training sessions with Steven Williams (from Bonnyrigg), the other two weekdays he trains on his own, usually running and cycling. Every weekend he and Soutar meet up for another training session.
The first push Flockhart received to compete in adventure and obstacle races was from Williams back in 2009. “My friend Steven Williams convinced us to enter the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest; a 10k run with obstacles around the centre of Edinburgh. That first year we finished about 34th and 35th place. We were happy with that but knew we could do better! As soon as you enter one of these races you get sent tons of information on all the other races that are on and things just snowballed from there.
Other races
In 2010 we rode the Pedal Scotland, a Glasgow to Edinburgh cycle, then followed that up with the Men’s Health race in Edinburgh again. This time finishing 15th an 16th! In 2011 we raced the Mighty Deer Stalker 10 mile run in March. It’s a really tough race, running up and down the mountain bike trails in Innerleithen. John was 25th, I was 30th. We finished 2011 racing the Coast to Coast. We entered this race as a team and finished 20th.
So after all these events, it begs the question “what’s next?” Flockhart’s long term goal is to get into competitive cycling.
Are you inspired to participate in the Tough Mudder or Coast to Coast races next year? Visit their websites to learn more.
Posted in Special Interest
