The WHW Race Pod shares the stories, struggles and spirit of the West Highland Way Race, Scotland’s iconic 95-mile ultramarathon from Milngavie to Fort William. Hosted by three-time race winner Paul Giblin, the podcast goes beyond results and splits. We talk to runners, volunteers, race organisers and crew members about what really happens before, during and after the race. Expect honest conversations, reflections and powerful moments from one of the most respected endurance events in the UK. Whether you're a past runner, a future participant or simply drawn to the mountains and the meaning behind long-distance running, this podcast is for you.
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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.
Listening to Your Own Race: Rebecca Hormann on Winning the West Highland Way
Episode 2
Friday, December 19, 2025 • Duration 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:
Rebecca’s journey into ultra running and endurance sport
Winning the West Highland Way Race in 2025
Running without expectation and staying present in long races
Memorable moments and hardest sections of the trail
The importance of crew, community, and calm decision making
How the race changed how Rebecca views herself as a runner
Advice for those standing on the WHW start line for the first time
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.
The Pull to Return: Gus Irvine on Winning the WHW and Looking Ahead to 2026
Episode 3
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 • Duration 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:
Winning the 2025 West Highland Way Race
Gus’s relationship with the WHW and how it has evolved
Running with composure and restraint
Managing pressure and expectation during long races
The moments that mattered most during the race
What stayed with Gus after the finish
Why the West Highland Way still feels unfinished
Looking ahead to a return in 2026
About the podcast
The WHW Race Pod is the official podcast of the West Highland Way Race.
Why the West Highland Way Is Different - Episode 4
Episode 4
Thursday, January 15, 2026 • Duration 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:
Why the West Highland Way doesn’t need spectacle to be meaningful
How the route slowly reveals how you’re really doing
The kind of runners the race tends to attract, and why so many return
Why times and placings only ever tell a small part of the story
What remains long after Fort William
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 Story
If 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:
Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:
WhatsApp: +44 7418 609498
Or message on Instagram:
What Are You Really Training For? - Episode 5
Episode 5
Thursday, January 29, 2026 • Duration 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:
The moment when training goes quiet and belief starts to wobble
Why belief can’t be faked, and why this phase of training matters
How doubt and discomfort are not problems to solve, but part of the work
What athletes often think they’re training for, and what they’re actually preparing for
Why character, not just fitness, decides the later stages of long races
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 Story
If 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:
Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:
WhatsApp:
Written Into the Trail: Lucy Colquhoun and the Record That Endures
Episode 6
Thursday, February 12, 2026 • Duration 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:
How she was “strong-armed” into entering the race after running the Highland Fling
The simplicity of her preparation, and the discipline behind it
Realising halfway through the race that she was leading
The moment the course record became a possibility
Bonking at Cramond Cottage and bouncing back
The emotional complexity of still holding a record so many years later
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 ThemesListen If
Sixteen Weeks: Decide or Drift
Episode 7
Thursday, February 26, 2026 • Duration 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:
Why sixteen weeks is a dangerous but powerful phase
The difference between imperfection and drift
What strong preparation actually looks like in the data
How four-week training blocks should layer and absorb
Aerobic density and why steady matters more than sharp
Climbing economy and durability specific to WHW
Long run progression without dramatic spikes
Back-to-back fatigue exposure
Fuel rehearsal before it becomes urgent
Why discomfort should be practised, not avoided
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
Structure versus drift
Training blocks and progression
Listen IfGet in Touch - Share Your StoryRace LinksAbout the HostAbout the WHW Race Pod
The Hidden Skill of the West Highland Way: Enduring the Ordinary
Episode 8
Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 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:
Why the “big moments” are only a small part of the race
What it really feels like during the long, uneventful stretches
How your mind starts to drift when there’s nothing to react to
The trap of overthinking when everything is actually going well
What I’ve seen while crewing at the race, especially as the field spreads out
Why training needs to include boredom, not just intensity
How to stay steady when nothing is pulling you forward
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:
Training for the West Highland Way Race
Struggling with long, uneventful runs
Finding your mind drifting during training or racing
Looking to improve your consistency over long distances
🎙️ About the Host
This podcast is hosted by Paul, a three-time winner of the West Highland Way Race and former course record holder.
🔗 WHW Race Pod
When Training Hasn’t Gone to Plan
Episode 9
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 • Duration 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:
Why the “perfect training block” is largely a myth
The common trap of trying to cram fitness late in the build
A personal story from student life that reframes how to use limited time effectively
How to shift from “catching up” to “making the most of what you have”
What actually matters in the final 6–8 weeks before race day
Building a simple, effective plan
Structuring your weeks around consistency rather than intensity
The role of the long run and why it should feel controlled, not exhausting
Using back-to-back runs to build durability without overreaching
Why easy running needs to stay genuinely easy
Practising fuelling so it becomes automatic on race day
Learning sustainable pacing through feel, not guesswork
Why recovery, sleep, and nutrition are part of the training process
Managing life alongside training
Handling periods of increased life stress, including moving house close to race day
Understanding total load, not just training load
Protecting sleep and creating intentional downtime
Reducing decision fatigue by planning ahead
Adjusting training without losing rhythm
Why arriving slightly undertrained but fresh is often better than overtrained and exhausted
Reframing where you are
Letting go of the idea that training needed to be perfect
Race Links
Crewing the West Highland Way Race (or any long ultra)
Episode 10
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 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:
Why runners should properly brief their crews before race day
Going through realistic race plans and timings together
Setting clear expectations and communicating honestly
How crews should handle difficult emotional moments during the race
Why adaptability matters more than the perfect plan
The importance of staying calm when things change unexpectedly
Organisation, logistics and avoiding unnecessary chaos
Looking after yourself as a crew member during a very long day
Treating volunteers, crews and fellow runners with respect
Why perspective matters during ultras
Embracing the unique atmosphere and community of the WHW bubble
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.
Discover shows related to WHW Race POD, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
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.
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.
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.
The 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.
Simplicity versus modern complexity in training
Grassroots ultrarunning in Scotland in the 2000s
Running to feel rather than to pace
Identity beyond performance
Comparison as “the thief of joy”
The changing culture of the sport
Pride without ego
You’re lining up for WHW this year
You’re curious about the history of the race
You’re navigating your own relationship with performance and identity
You’ve ever wondered what it feels like to hold a long-standing course record
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 Story
If 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:
Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:
WhatsApp: +447418609498
Or message on Instagram:
@pyllon
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send.
The 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.
Aerobic density and sustained effort
Climbing strength and composure
Fatigue exposure and durability
Nutrition rehearsal
Discomfort as skill
Identity, readiness, and quiet belief
You’re sixteen weeks out from WHW
You feel slightly unsettled about your preparation
Your training looks consistent but lacks edge
You want clarity on how to structure the next four months
You’re serious about arriving in Milngavie ready
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
If 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:
Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:
WhatsApp: +447418609498
Or message on Instagram:
@pyllon
Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send.
The 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.
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.
If 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.
Recognising the experience and resilience you already have
Learning to respond, adapt, and move forward without overreacting
A practical reflection to try
Take time to write down:
Key experiences that show your resilience
Moments where you’ve handled difficulty well
Strengths you can rely on during the race
Often, the evidence you need is already there.
Key message
You 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 host
The 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.
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.
