The West Highland Way Race 2025
On the lead up to this race, Stevie had asked me before the ballot had been drawn, if he was to be chosen to run the race, would I be able to crew for him? He barely got to the end of the sentence before I agreed and agreed to do the entire weekend. Having been at the start line last year, I had massive FOMO at the thought of having to go home and watch the race from afar. Back in 2024 I had decided that I wanted a front row seat for 2025. I was more than delighted when Stevie had asked me to crew him. People had suggested last year on my completion of the Devil to put my name into the ballot. However, had I been chosen, I knew myself that mentally and physically I would not have been prepared for this race. Was the most sensible decision given that I had a huge change within my career with moving jobs and roles. This was my primary focus secondary with university and studying. That point in time I was struggling to train for even anything, let alone a 97 mile ultra marathon.
Over the coming months, Stevie had added to the crew, a WhatsApp group was created and logistics were planned meticulously from three months prior to the event. We had a crew meeting of the logistics of what was going to be happening, who was covering what part of the course for the support runs and who was getting who where throughout the course in the car within the crew for the support legs. A carefully planned military-like operation. Sadly 2 weeks prior to the event we lost one of our support crew due to injury but fortunately there were 7 more of us. If I was to give any advice to anyone contemplating running this race, I would definitely have a strong team of support to plan for anyone being injured or anyone having life events happen that they cannot attend the race on the day. Race rules state that you must have a bare minimum of two support crew. It was advised to us from someone more experienced to have more than one support runner with Stevie. The logic behind this was if Stevie's head went down in the latter stages, the support runners would have supported themselves and they would be supporting each other as well as Stevie for keeping the spirits high. In the end Stevie only had one support runner at one stage from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy, which was 6 miles. This worked out perfectly and Stevie always had a support crew of two or more on the rest of the stages where support runners were allowed. Before we knew it, race day had arrived.
On Friday during the day I had taken the day off work as I knew what a huge weekend it was going to be supporting crewing Stevie. What I hadn't done, and probably should've, was have more rest on Friday. Instead, on Friday morning I was running about going to several shops to get food for the weekend for us all. I was also making sure I had enough food for myself, clothes, toiletries and running kit to help me support run Stevie on the leg from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe. Before the race had started, I was aware of how much Stevie had smashed this training block. While I was happy for Stevie and fully confident that he was well prepared for this race, I was anxious about support running him. The reason being I didn't want to slow him down. He had told me he wasn't going for a specific time and the main goal was to finish the race, but at the same time I wanted to ensure that my running and endurance abilities were enough to help support him for the 11 miles that I had agreed to cover with him. Stevie and others had told me not to worry. At that point he would have been 60 miles in and not going very fast at all. Find out later in this blog how that went!
Friday night, Stevie and Karen pick me up at 22:00. The race starts at 01:00 Saturday morning. Registration opens at 21:00 Friday night. The plan was to be at registration for between 22:30 and 23:00 so that Stevie could get a rest in the car before the race briefing at 12:40. It's been said in the past from great runners that it's best not to waste your energy socialising on the start line because you're going to need all of that energy before you run the race. We head into registration and straight away I already see Sandra (one of the volunteers, social media for the race & Ian Beattie the race director’s wife) who I've been conversing with on Instagram, Mike my fellow co-host on the Run Till You're Done podcast and last year's West Highland Way race winner Jarlath McKenna is volunteering. I ask Sandra to introduce us while Stevie gets registered, which she kindly does. I wasn't quite sure what to say as I will admit, I was a little starstruck. Jarlath was really kind in talking to me and we just made small talk about the race.
Once registration was completed, we took photos in front of the West Highland Way Race banner and then made our way back down to the car. Stevie made his way back to the car while I'd done a bit of mingling at the start line. It was really good to bump into a lot of familiar faces and get a catch up on what their plans were for the weekend. Time passed really quickly and before we knew it, the race brief was starting. Once the briefing was over, Stevie quickly went to the toilet just before the race started and then he lined up for the start line. We gave him a hug, wished him luck and set him off on his way. Karen and I made our way up to Milngavie Main St where you could get a good view of the runners leaving the start line. Once the runners had left, it was time for everyone to get into their cars and either go home or go to their allocated checkpoints where they were meeting their runners as support crew, our volunteers.
Karen and I planned to head up to Balmaha, but on the way up there we went to one of the main roads that was right next to the Carbeth. We got a glimpse of the first runners coming through with their head torches shining brightly with the leaders only just after half an hour of leaving Milngavie. We managed to see Stevie then made our way up to Balmaha.
It was at this stage I was starting to get really tired. It was 02:00 in the morning and I hadn't slept at all on Friday during the day. We got to Balmaha, Karen went to get a coffee and a cake and I wanted to get my head down for a little bit. I was aware of the support run, therefore wanted to be as rested as I could. My other friend Kevin who was running the race had asked me to carry his drop bag up to Balmaha as his breakfast was within a glass Tupperware dish. Obviously he didn't want it to get smashed, therefore wanted to ensure it got to him safely, which it did. Stevie made it to Balmaha not long after 04:40 Was no hanging about as there were too many midges. He had a quick top pop of the tailwind, got what he needed and made his way up to Rowardennan. We also made our way up and at this point I was starting to get really tired. I managed probably about half an hour in the car at Balmaha of snoozing. When we arrived at Rowardennan, I managed to get comfortable within the car and got a decent hour and a half sleep. So much to the point that I almost missed Stevie coming through the checkpoint! We had bought him a roll, sausage and potato scone with tomato sauce at Balmaha which he devoured at Rowardennan. Once he had eaten this he made sure he had everything he needed as the next stretch was Lochside and probably the most technical part of the West Highland Way. He had a really small bit of chafe on his side due to the belt that he was wearing. This was adapted and lubricant was applied to stop anymore chafe. Sadly, one of the runners had to put in a DNF due to tummy issues. This happened to be a friend of Stevie's and we offered to take him up to Tyndrum to get him to meet his support crew. He was very grateful. On the way up to Tyndrum there was a crash on the A82 and a lorry had gone off at the side of the road. The runner that we were giving a lift to, their support crew had witnessed this first hand on the way up there themselves and helped the driver out of the side of the road. They messaged to tell us this, the road had not been shut and thankfully the driver was safe. The support crew was a bit shaken at having witnessed this. Get to Tyndrum in one piece and just as we arrive, the first runner comes through at 08:40. Made sure the runner we were helping got to their support crew and we headed to the Real Food Cafe. We got a coffee, something to eat and I managed to see my friend Ross eating his breakfast before his stint of volunteering at Bridge of Orchy. We also saw Jarlath McKenna again. He and his friend got something to eat as well and came and sat next to us. We had a lovely chat about running and the people who we knew then wished each other luck for future events. I talked a lot and he was very gracious answering my questions where I’m curious that winners can only answer. It amazes me how fast these people are, particularly on the hills and trails, and I'm always willing to learn more. Such a person is sitting next to me or within my vicinity, I like to try and talk to them to take this opportunity to learn. Thankfully, most of these people are very humble.
After the chat, this part of the day was probably my lowest point. I wasn't eating much, definitely not drinking enough, and myself and Karen weren't really sure what to do or where to go while we were waiting for Stevie and the rest of the crew. I was also getting myself really wound up about this run. Was more than anxious that I was going to slow him down and get myself into such a state with not having enough sleep. I should have gone back to the car and rested as much as I could. We sat outside of the cafe cheering the other runners on. Eventually the rest of the crew met us at Tyndrum and gave us a much needed boost. Would be one thing that I'd be unsure of entering this event. It would be the sleep deprivation. Over the last couple of weeks I have volunteered at events that have happened overnight. It turns out, I really enjoy my sleep and not having it enough of it does not agree with me! I’m not sure how I would combat this but for now I am concentrating on what I can do and the events that are coming up for me in the near future. The next point that we could all meet Stevie at was Auchtertyre Farm. Stevie was giving us regular updates and the WhatsApp chats of what he was having at Lochside and Bein Glass Farm. There is a checkpoint at Inversnaid, but no support crews are allowed at this due to the lack of space there and the complications of getting to it. We watched the Tracker and when Stevie was nearing Auchtertyre, Karen, Stuart and Sketch all went down to meet him as Stuart and Sketch were running with Stevie. Myself, Donna and Gemma were meeting them at Bridge of Orchy.
Karen picked up Stuart at Tyndrum, and Sketch ran from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy with Stevie. While we waited at Bridge of Orchy for the rest of the crew, Karen and Donna made sure that I had a roll and cheese and pickle as they knew I hadn't eaten enough. Also making a point of trying to drink plenty of fluids as the weather was really hot. Karen and Stuart met us at Bridge of Orchy, then we had a cup of tea. Stevie messaged us saying he was a mile out, then it was time for us to get ready for the support leg from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe. This is what I was waiting for. Stevie came into the checkpoint and the runners were making sure that we had enough supplies for ourselves, as well as making sure Stevie had enough for him. It was then time for us to help our friend to the next checkpoint. When you leave Bridge of Orchy, you ascend a hill which is fondly known within the race community as Jelly Baby Hill. Is because for a long time a man called Murdo sat at the top of this hill in a tent handing out Jelly babies to the deserving runners. Though then passed on this task to my friend Mike a few years ago, so I was looking forward to seeing him. Also very important to note on this course is that this is the 100km mark, a huge milestone. We met Mike, took our pictures, then made our way back down the hill.
We got to Glencoe and there was a Magnificent bust of sunshine breaking through the clouds shining on the Buchaille Etive Mor. That was my support run done. I was delighted I managed to get Stevie through and I’m fairly certain I didn't let him down. The advice about having more than one support runner paid dividends. There were three of us on that section and what we managed to do was take turns running with Stevie. It changed the conversation for Stevie with the people that he was running with as well as the support runners, as 11 miles itself is not a small distance either. Relative to the event it is a small distance, but to many people this is huge.
We got Stevie's feet sorted out at Glencoe as they were very blistered at the heels. We got him to eat a pot of soba noodles, which wasn't in his original plan. As crew we felt he needed to eat something substantial and proper for this next section, which was going to be huge. We had even phoned his wife Debbie at a previous checkpoint to see if there was anything that we could potentially give him to eat and she was adamant that he would not go off plan. We managed to get him off plan and it paid dividends for him. Also wrapped him up to keep him warm even though the weather was warm, but there was a bit of a wind at Glencoe. Once he was all sorted, it was the turn of Donna to take over from myself, and Gemma ran on with Stevie and Sketch and Donna to Kinlochleven.
.jpg)
Next part of the logistic crew plan, Stuart was going to pick up the team at Kinlochleven, give Stevie anything he wanted and bring Gemma back to where we were staying in Fort William. Karen and I made our way up to where we were staying to make sure everything was OK and also get a very much needed rest from the day's events. It was amazing to get a shower and just getting some more dry comfy clothes. We got a rest and I slept on the couch as I didn't want to get too comfortable and go into a very deep sleep knowing that we would be meeting Stevie and the wee hours of the morning while he finished the race. Gemma and Stuart returned to the house at 01:30 in the morning. Karen had let them in, as it turned out that I had gone into a deeper than desired sleep. I was aware people were coming in and my watch buzzed on my wrist as they were phoning to be let in, but Karen had beat me to the door. I had set an alarm for 3:30 in the morning to make sure that we weren't going to miss anything. When I woke up, someone else was lying on the other couch who I had assumed was Stuart. It was not. Stevie's friend had driven up from his house to Kinlochleven to see him take part in the race and finish. Unaware that he was coming up and he was willing to sleep in his car. This made no sense as there was plenty of room in the house to sleep. Therefore, he slept on the other couch. I did get a fright upon realising it was not Stuart. And who was this random person sleeping on this other couch of the room that I was in? It was like waking up at a random house party from my younger days! Only this time it is runners and crews going through a midlife crisis!
Donna had messaged us not long after 3:30 that they were at Lundavra. This was our cue to get ready and go down to the finish line. The plan was everyone aside from Karen would run the last mile with Stevie. Karen would be recording at the finish line from the other side. What happened while Donna, Sketch and Stevie were out on the hills was a huge bust of thunder, lightning and rain like we hadn't seen before. When we met Stevie it was still raining, but nothing like these guys had experienced during the night. It was unreal what they had gone through. They were understandably soaked when we got to them, but when Stevie saw myself, Stuart and Gemma, he knew the end was insight. We had a good chat with him, and asked him how he was feeling about knowing that he was going to the finish. He couldn't quite believe it.
Getting to the finish line, we hung back so that Stevie could have his moment of glory. Months of training and carefully dieting and making sure he was doing everything right was getting him to this finish line and he was going to enjoy it. I said right before the event, no one deserves that goblet more than Stevie did, and I'm so glad for him he got it.
The marshals at the end were fabulous at ensuring that Stevie was to get out of his wet clothes and warmed up. Once he had had a shower and got dried off, it was time to go see the medics about his feet. While we were good at his foot care at Glencoe, it turns out that you should not put elastoplast over the top of compeed. Compeed apparently keeps the blister too moist for these kind of endurance events. Therefore it is better to use Inadine. It was sore for Stevie getting his feet sorted out, but necessary. Once he was sorted out, it was time for us to go back to the house, get a couple of hours rest before the closing ceremony. We all got a couple of hours of good rest.
We had to be out of the house by 10:00. We went to get breakfast. Wasn't feeling particularly hungry and McDonald's was far too busy anyway. I went to the finish line and saw a few familiar faces and caught up with them. Great to see some of the runners finish as well. One in particular was Mark Doris who was raising money for Sands and you couldn't help but not be emotional at this through seeing his four young children in the Sands T-shirts eagerly awaiting their dad to come through the finish. Finished and got one of the biggest cheers. The final finisher came through after Mark, who got a really big cheer. Then it was time for the ceremony.
The ceremony was fabulous, it was so good to see all the runners who completed the race get their goblets. When Stevie collected his, it was emotional. It was lovely to have Debbie, Stevie's wife watch this moment as well, filled with pride.
Now the event is over, I have Monday and Tuesday off work. I love this bubble the West Highland Way race creates and I don't want it to burst. Having not met a lot of the other crew members before, I now feel truly that I have made friends for life. The support that went into getting Stevie to the finish, we were amazing. This doesn't feel boastful, because we were. We supported each other as well as Stevie and it was a true team effort. I have learnt so much over the weekend from other runners, crews and volunteers. Many have asked me if I am going to do this race. Part of me really, really wants to. I do feel in the future I will. When it comes my time, I will not be taking this decision lightly and I will be looking at Stevie as an inspiration for how to train for it. And the meantime, I will be training for my own events, next one being the Fling. This is not something to take lightly either, and I am going through my own training block for it. This weekend has lit my fire to do better in it than I even wanted to do in the first place. I want to go into this event feeling confident and happy and not scared in a bad way. Initially I just wanted to finish, now I want to go in with a strong mind and confidence I will finish. I know it will not be easy, but I will get to that red carpet, the way Stevie got his goblet.
Comments
Post a Comment