Milngavie Trail Race 2026
The Milngavie Trail race is an 8.5 mile loop that incorporates the start of the West Highland Way and sections of Mugdock Country Park. Organised by the local scout group, the event is popular in the trail running scene and once again sold out this year. The prospect of a good bake sale at the end always helps!
David Thomson and Stephen Hanley headed through to represent Glenpark. David had ran the race in 2024, and was looking to improve on his first showing. Stephen, judging by the previous results and names was targeting breaking an hour for the route.
The race starts just prior to the beginning of the West Highland Way and follows it for a mile before climbing steeply away and up to Mugdock Country Park. The climbs are steep and technical, but flatten out around 3 miles and follow trails until reaching Carbeth and rejoining the WHW and heading back to Milngavie. Another detour around 6 miles take runners into the woods onto technical trails, before returning on familiar ground to the finish. The conditions were wet and boggy underfoot in many places, with poor weather in the buildup, making for a proper trail race challenge.
David found it hard going. He is fitter now than two years ago, and did indeed beat his previous time by a minute. A great result, but the underfoot conditions certainly made it much harder work than expected. David was much quicker on the up hill this time around, but the ‘easier’ second half of the race did not materialise! David was 32nd overall in 64.29.
Stephen was similar, ran well up the hills and was well ahead of target. Running fairly solo for the second half, it was tough mental battle and the technical section near the end almost took its toll. However, there was enough in the tanks for a sprint through the town centre to the finish and squeeze under the hour mark and finish 13th overall in 59.52.
David and Stephen were joined by Newton Road Runner and school friend David Murray for the run, and the trio are training towards the Dunoon Ultra Relay in August.
Thanks to Stephen Hanley for the report!
