Explore every episode of the podcast WHW Race POD
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A New Chapter for the Way (WHW Race Pod) | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:48:32 | |
In this first episode of the newly revived WHW Race Pod, host Paul Giblin sits down with new race director Adrian Stott to reflect on the next chapter of the West Highland Way Race. They discuss the response to this year’s ballot, race preparation, and the emotional weight of stepping into the role after Ian Beattie’s long and respected tenure. Adrian shares personal stories from the trail, moments of unexpected kindness, and why keeping the race grounded in community still matters most. Together, they honour the traditions of the WHW, including the final goblet ceremony, the history of the trail itself, and the legacy of John Kynaston whose voice also features in this episode. If you’ve ever run the WHW, dreamed about it, or simply felt its pull, this is where the journey begins again. For race info, visit westhighlandwayrace.org Follow @whw_race on Instagram Host: Paul Giblin Founder of Pyllon and three-time WHW Race winner youtube.com/pyllon Instagram: @pyllon | |||
| Listening to Your Own Race: Rebecca Hormann on Winning the West Highland Way | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:49:24 | |
In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul sits down with Rebecca Hormann, the 2025 female winner of the West Highland Way Race. Rebecca ran from Milngavie to Fort William in 19:02:14, finishing first woman and sixth overall. But this conversation is not about splits or results. It is about how the race felt, how she approached it, and what stayed with her long after the finish line. Rebecca reflects on her journey into ultra running, beginning during the COVID years in Northern Ireland, and how curiosity gradually turned into commitment. She talks about a remarkable run of races this year, including her win at the Witiker Backyard Ultra, and how those experiences shaped her mindset heading into the West Highland Way. Together, Paul and Rebecca explore the inner moments of the race. The early doubts. The quiet sections of trail. The pressure that arrived later than expected. The importance of staying in her own race and listening to herself when it mattered most. They also talk about memorable sections of the West Highland Way, the role of crew and community, and why this race, despite not playing to all her strengths, left a lasting mark. This is a reflective conversation about patience, confidence, and learning not to write yourself off too early. In this episode, we talk about:
About the podcast The WHW Race Pod is the official podcast of the West Highland Way Race. Hosted by Paul, the podcast explores the lived experience of the race through conversations with runners, organisers, and people connected to the trail. This is not a race recap show. It is a place for reflection, memory, and storytelling from one of the most iconic long distance trails in Scotland. Race links West Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the host Paul is an ultrarunner, coach, and creator. He is a three time winner of the West Highland Way Race and former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon, a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube Substack | |||
| The Pull to Return: Gus Irvine on Winning the WHW and Looking Ahead to 2026 | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:44:31 | |
Episode description In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul sits down with Gus Irvine, winner of the 2025 West Highland Way Race. Gus ran a controlled, composed race from Milngavie to Fort William, taking the win through patience, preparation, and trust in his process. But this conversation is not about how he won. It is about how the race sits with him now. Paul and Gus have spoken before, but this episode looks at what has shifted since the finish line. They explore Gus’s relationship with the West Highland Way, how familiarity changes the experience of the trail, and why winning did not bring closure, but instead sparked a desire to return. Gus reflects on the demands the race placed on him this time, the moments that tested his composure, and what it means to run with the trail rather than against it. He also talks openly about expectation, restraint, and the quiet satisfaction that settled slowly in the weeks after the race. The conversation closes by looking ahead to 2026, and why some races continue to call us back, even when we think we already know them. This is a thoughtful episode about return, responsibility, and the deepening relationship between runner and trail. In this episode, we talk about:
About the podcast The WHW Race Pod is the official podcast of the West Highland Way Race. Hosted by Paul Giblin, the podcast explores the lived experience of the race through conversations with runners, organisers, and people connected to the trail. This is not a race recap show. It is a place for reflection, memory, and storytelling from one of the most iconic long distance trails in Scotland. Race links West Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the host Paul is an ultrarunner, coach, and filmmaker. He is a three time winner of the West Highland Way Race and former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon, a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website https://pyllonultra.com @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube https://youtube.com/pyllon Substack | |||
| Why the West Highland Way Is Different - Episode 4 | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:11:33 | |
In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul explores what makes the West Highland Way Race different from so many other ultramarathons. This isn’t a breakdown of splits, cut-offs, or results. It’s a reflection on the quieter qualities of the race - the ones that don’t always show up on a start line or a screen. Paul shares his own journey into the race, from first hearing about it at a time when life felt stuck, through to racing it in his first year of ultrarunning. Along the way, he reflects on the atmosphere of the Milngavie start, the weight of the race’s history, the deceptive nature of the route, and what really happens to runners as the hours – and nights – pass. This episode explores:
Paul also reflects on the legacy of John Kynaston and the original WHW podcast, and why continuing to tell the deeper stories of the race still matters. If you’re training for the West Highland Way, thinking about it for the future, or simply curious about what makes certain races stay with us, this episode is an invitation to look beyond noise and numbers, and reconnect with what really matters. Get in Touch - Share Your StoryIf there’s a story you’d like to share, something you’d love to hear covered on the podcast, or an experience from the West Highland Way that still stays with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch. You can:
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send. Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the HostPaul is an ultrarunner, coach, and filmmaker. He is a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and a former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon - a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube Substack About the WHW Race PodThe WHW Race Pod explores the stories, experiences, and quieter moments that shape the West Highland Way Race. Beyond results and records, it’s a space for reflection, connection, and the human side of running one of the world’s most iconic ultras. | |||
| What Are You Really Training For? - Episode 5 | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:07:35 | |
The WHW Audio Companion – Week 1 In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul introduces the WHW Audio Companion - a short, reflective series designed to support runners through the training months leading into the West Highland Way Race. This isn’t a training plan or a list of sessions. It’s guided thinking. Paul explores the deeper question that sits underneath every long build: what are you really training for, beyond the race name, the distance, or the finish time? Drawing on his own experiences training for the West Highland Way and Western States, as well as years of coaching athletes preparing for long-distance races, Paul reflects on:
This episode sets the foundation for the Audio Companion series and offers a clear focus for the next period of training: not just building fitness, but shaping the person you’ll need to be on race day. If you’re training for the West Highland Way, another long race, or simply trying to stay connected to your “why” during a demanding block, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and realign. Get in Touch – Share Your StoryIf you’ve got a story you’d like to share, something you’d love to hear explored on the podcast, or an experience from the West Highland Way that still stays with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch. You can:
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send. Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the HostPaul is an ultrarunner, coach, and filmmaker. He is a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and a former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon – a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube Substack About the WHW Race PodThe WHW Race Pod explores the stories, experiences, and quieter moments that shape the West Highland Way Race. Beyond results and records, it’s a space for reflection, connection, and the human side of running one of the world’s most iconic ultras. | |||
| Written Into the Trail: Lucy Colquhoun and the Record That Endures | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:58:51 | |
Show Notes In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, I sit down with Lucy Colquhoun, who still holds the women’s course record at the West Highland Way Race, set in 2007 in a time of 17:16:20. Nearly two decades later, that performance still stands. But this conversation goes far beyond splits and statistics. Lucy reflects on who she was when she lined up in Milngavie in 2007: an enthusiastic amateur who had only started running in her thirties, discovering endurance almost by accident. We explore what training looked like in a different era, before social media, before nutrition plans and performance data were everywhere, when hill running was still deeply grassroots. She shares:
Lucy also opens up about something deeper: identity. What happens when racing is no longer central to your life? What does it mean to step away from competition? How do you hold pride without becoming defined by one performance? We also touch on her incredible victory at CCC in Chamonix the following year, and the psychology of validation, comparison, and purpose in endurance sport. This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about legacy, humility, and the private reasons we run. If you’re preparing for the West Highland Way Race this year, this episode is a reminder that the experience itself is what endures. Records may stand or fall. But what you learn about yourself out there stays with you. Key Themes
Listen If
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone preparing for the race, and consider leaving a review. It helps more people discover the stories behind the trail. I’ll be back soon. Paul Get in Touch – Share Your StoryIf you’ve got a story you’d like to share, something you’d love to hear explored on the podcast, or an experience from the West Highland Way that still stays with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch. You can:
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send. Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the HostPaul is an ultrarunner, coach, and filmmaker. He is a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and a former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon – a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube Substack About the WHW Race PodThe WHW Race Pod explores the stories, experiences, and quieter moments that shape the West Highland Way Race. Beyond results and records, it’s a space for reflection, connection, and the human side of running one of the world’s most iconic ultras. | |||
| Sixteen Weeks: Decide or Drift | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:18:24 | |
Show Notes In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, I’m speaking directly to those of you who are about sixteen weeks out from the West Highland Way Race. This is a deceptively important point in the build. It’s where people either decide… or they drift. Drift doesn’t look dramatic. It doesn’t look like quitting. It looks like training that’s “fine.” Weeks that tick over. Long runs that feel comfortable. Sessions that become optional. And you don’t notice drift in one week. You notice it in eight, and you feel it at 65 miles. In this episode, I break down:
I also speak personally about why this race matters to me, and why I care so much about how you use this phase. The West Highland Way is not designed to be comfortable. Difficulty is built into the course. The runners who thrive here are not the ones who hope it goes well. They’re the ones who expect the hard moments - because they’ve rehearsed them. Sixteen weeks is enough time to change your trajectory. But only if you decide now. Key Themes
Listen If
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone preparing for the race, and consider leaving a review. It helps more people discover the stories behind the trail. I’ll be back soon. Paul Get in Touch - Share Your StoryIf you’ve got a story you’d like to share, something you’d love to hear explored on the podcast, or an experience from the West Highland Way that still stays with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch. You can:
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send. Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race About the HostPaul is an ultrarunner, coach, and creator. He is a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and a former course record holder. Paul is the founder of Pyllon – a coaching collective and creative project built around endurance, curiosity, and the long view. You can find more of Paul’s work here: Website @pyllon @pyllonultra YouTube Substack About the WHW Race PodThe WHW Race Pod explores the stories, experiences, and quieter moments that shape the West Highland Way Race. Beyond results and records, it’s a space for reflection, connection, and the human side of running one of the world’s most iconic ultras. | |||
| The Hidden Skill of the West Highland Way: Enduring the Ordinary | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:19:53 | |
SHOW NOTES Most people imagine the West Highland Way Race as something dramatic. The climbs. The tough sections. The big moments where everything is on the line. And those moments are part of it.But they’re not the race. In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked skills in ultrarunning - the ability to handle the long, quiet, repetitive stretches where nothing much is happening. Because that’s where most of the West Highland Way actually takes place. From the steady miles along Loch Lomond, to the mental shift after Balmaha when the day opens up and the reality of the race sets in, this is the side of the event that often catches runners out. We talk about:
This is the unglamorous side of the West Highland Way. The unseen miles but necessary miles. The ones that don’t make the highlight reel. But they’re often the ones that decide your race. 🎧 Listen if you’re:
🎙️ About the Host This podcast is hosted by Paul, a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and former course record holder. Having spent years racing, training on, and crewing at the event, Paul brings a deeper perspective on what it really takes to perform well on the course. The WHW Race Pod is about more than results and race day highlights. It’s about understanding the experience of the race itself and preparing for the parts that don’t always get talked about. 🔗 WHW Race PodIf you enjoyed the episode, share it with someone else preparing for the race. And if you’re lining up at Milngavie this year, this is the part of the race worth preparing for. | |||
| When Training Hasn’t Gone to Plan | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:28:30 | |
With the West Highland Way Race now just a couple of months away, many runners find themselves in a familiar place. Training hasn’t quite gone how they hoped. Missed sessions. Disrupted consistency. Life getting in the way. And with that often comes a quiet pressure to catch up. To do more, and to fix things quickly. In this episode, Paul explores why that instinct can lead you further away from where you want to be… and how to approach this final phase of training with clarity, control, and purpose. In this episode:
Building a simple, effective plan
Managing life alongside training
Reframing where you are
A practical reflection to try Take time to write down:
Often, the evidence you need is already there. Key messageYou can’t recreate missed training. But you can make smart decisions now. Consistency, control, and clarity in this final phase will take you further than trying to force what’s already gone. About the hostThe WHW Race Pod is hosted by Paul, a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race, with deep experience of the race and a strong connection to its community. Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/ @whw_race Stay connectedYou can follow along and stay connected here: Substack: https://pyllon.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyllon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pyllon Website: https://pyllonultra.com | |||
| Crewing the West Highland Way Race (or any long ultra) | 19 May 2026 | 00:19:38 | |
WHW Race Pod In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul talks about one of the most important and often overlooked parts of the West Highland Way Race experience: crewing. The WHW is one of the few races where having a crew is mandatory, and the relationship between runner and crew can genuinely shape the outcome of the race. A calm, organised and adaptable crew can help carry a runner through the hardest moments. Poor communication and poor preparation can quickly unravel things. Drawing from years of racing, crewing, coaching and being around the event, Paul shares practical advice for both runners and crews ahead of race day. Topics include:
This episode is aimed at anyone involved in the West Highland Way Race this year, whether you’re running, crewing or supporting. But much of the conversation will apply to any long ultramarathon. If you know someone preparing to crew an ultra, feel free to send this episode to them. Hosted by Paul Giblin. WHW Race: https://westhighlandwayrace.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whwracepod https://www.instagram.com/westhighlandwayrace Pyllon: https://www.instagram.com/pyllon If you enjoy the podcast, please consider sharing it with another runner or leaving a rating or review. It genuinely helps more people discover the show. | |||