WHW Race POD

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 mythThe common trap of trying to cram fitness late in the buildA personal story from student life that reframes how to use limited time effectivelyHow to shift from “catching up” to “making the most of what you have”What actually matters in the final 6–8 weeks before race dayBuilding a simple, effective planStructuring your weeks around consistency rather than intensityThe role of the long run and why it should feel controlled, not exhaustingUsing back-to-back runs to build durability without overreachingWhy easy running needs to stay genuinely easyPractising fuelling so it becomes automatic on race dayLearning sustainable pacing through feel, not guessworkWhy recovery, sleep, and nutrition are part of the training processManaging life alongside trainingHandling periods of increased life stress, including moving house close to race dayUnderstanding total load, not just training loadProtecting sleep and creating intentional downtimeReducing decision fatigue by planning aheadAdjusting training without losing rhythmWhy arriving slightly undertrained but fresh is often better than overtrained and exhaustedReframing where you areLetting go of the idea that training needed to be perfectRecognising the experience and resilience you already haveLearning to respond, adapt, and move forward without overreactingA practical reflection to tryTake time to write down:Key experiences that show your resilienceMoments where you’ve handled difficulty wellStrengths you can rely on during the raceOften, 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 Racehttps://westhighlandwayrace.org/Instagram@whw_raceStay connectedYou can follow along and stay connected here:Substack: https://pyllon.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyllonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pyllonWebsite: https://pyllonultra.com

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.

The WHW Audio Companion – Week 1In 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 wobbleWhy belief can’t be faked, and why this phase of training mattersHow doubt and discomfort are not problems to solve, but part of the workWhat athletes often think they’re training for, and what they’re actually preparing forWhy character, not just fitness, decides the later stages of long racesThis 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:Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to: WhatsApp: +44 7418 609498Or message on Instagram: @whw_raceSome of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send.Race LinksWest Highland Way Racehttps://westhighlandwayrace.org/Instagram@whw_raceAbout 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:Websitehttps://pyllonultra.comInstagram@pyllon@pyllonultraYouTubehttps://youtube.com/pyllonSubstackhttps://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.

Episode descriptionIn 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 RaceGus’s relationship with the WHW and how it has evolvedRunning with composure and restraintManaging pressure and expectation during long racesThe moments that mattered most during the raceWhat stayed with Gus after the finishWhy the West Highland Way still feels unfinishedLooking ahead to a return in 2026About the podcastThe 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 linksWest Highland Way Race https://westhighlandwayrace.org/Instagram @whw_raceAbout the hostPaul 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.comInstagram @pyllon @pyllonultraYouTube https://youtube.com/pyllonSubstack https://pyllon.substack.com

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.orgFollow @whw_race on InstagramHost: Paul GiblinFounder of Pyllon and three-time WHW Race winnerpyllon.substack.comyoutube.com/pyllonInstagram: @pyllon