『WHW Race POD』のカバーアート

WHW Race POD

WHW Race POD

著者： Paul Giblin
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概要

 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.Copyright 2026 Paul Giblin ランニング・ジョギング 社会科学 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • The Hidden Skill of the West Highland Way: Enduring the Ordinary

    The Hidden Skill of the West Highland Way: Enduring the Ordinary
    2026/03/26
    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:

    1. Why the “big moments” are only a small part of the race
    2. What it really feels like during the long, uneventful stretches
    3. How your mind starts to drift when there’s nothing to react to
    4. The trap of overthinking when everything is actually going well
    5. What I’ve seen while crewing at the race, especially as the field spreads out
    6. Why training needs to include boredom, not just intensity
    7. 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:
    1. Training for the West Highland Way Race
    2. Struggling with long, uneventful runs
    3. Finding your mind drifting during training or racing
    4. 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.

    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 Pod

    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.
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    20 分
  • Sixteen Weeks: Decide or Drift

    Sixteen Weeks: Decide or Drift
    2026/02/26
    Show NotesIn 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 phaseThe difference between imperfection and driftWhat strong preparation actually looks like in the dataHow four-week training blocks should layer and absorbAerobic density and why steady matters more than sharpClimbing economy and durability specific to WHWLong run progression without dramatic spikesBack-to-back fatigue exposureFuel rehearsal before it becomes urgentWhy discomfort should be practised, not avoidedI 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 ThemesStructure versus driftTraining blocks and progressionAerobic density and sustained effortClimbing strength and composureFatigue exposure and durabilityNutrition rehearsalDiscomfort as skillIdentity, readiness, and quiet beliefListen IfYou’re sixteen weeks out from WHWYou feel slightly unsettled about your preparationYour training looks consistent but lacks edgeYou want clarity on how to structure the next four monthsYou’re serious about arriving in Milngavie readyIf 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.PaulGet 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:Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:WhatsApp: +447418609498Or message on Instagram:@pyllonSome of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send.Race LinksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/Instagram @whw_raceAbout 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 https://pyllonultra.comInstagram @pyllon @pyllonultraYouTube https://youtube.com/pyllonSubstack https://pyllon.substack.comAbout 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.
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    18 分
  • Written Into the Trail: Lucy Colquhoun and the Record That Endures

    Written Into the Trail: Lucy Colquhoun and the Record That Endures
    2026/02/12
    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:

    1. How she was “strong-armed” into entering the race after running the Highland Fling
    2. The simplicity of her preparation, and the discipline behind it
    3. Realising halfway through the race that she was leading
    4. The moment the course record became a possibility
    5. Bonking at Cramond Cottage and bouncing back
    6. 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 Themes
    1. Simplicity versus modern complexity in training
    2. Grassroots ultrarunning in Scotland in the 2000s
    3. Running to feel rather than to pace
    4. Identity beyond performance
    5. Comparison as “the thief of joy”
    6. The changing culture of the sport
    7. Pride without ego

    Listen If
    1. You’re lining up for WHW this year
    2. You’re curious about the history of the race
    3. You’re navigating your own relationship with performance and identity
    4. 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
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    59 分
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