The west highland way is arguably Scotlands most famous long distance way, starting in Milngavie it travels through spectacular scenery and arrives in Fort William 96 miles later. Most people will walk it over 5/7 days and either camp or stay in the many B&Bs along the route.
On 22nd June 1985 Duncan Watson and Bobby Shields challenged each other to race the route. They set off from Milngavie train station car park and headed out onto the trail. After playing cat and mouse with each other they realised that after 60 miles that it would be much easier to run together, they both arrived at Fort William a mere 17 hours 48 later. The race was born. The race has changed in someways over the years and has grown to its current size of a field of around 230 on the start line.
On 21st June 2024 4 harriers stood on the same start line in Milngavie car park ready to face the same route as Bobby and Duncan. Kyle Wilson, Greig Turner, Kirsty Ormand and William Taylor had been lucky enough to get through the ballot and had trained hard over the winter months.
The race has a 35 hour cut off and all the harriers were comfortably within this time.
The anticipation and uncertainty creates an electrifying atmosphere at the start line, all 4 harriers met up for a team photo before settling down to get their game faces on. 0100 and the race is started by a loud horn, a quick run down the high street and then off into the dark as a see of heard torches snakes its way towards Carbeth. Each runner is required to have a motorised crew meet them at certain points and it was down to some other Glenparkers to make sure their runners were fed, watered and counselled with some tough love.
First into Balmaha as expected was Kyle who we always knew would be at the sharp end of the race, he was on top form and in and out of the check point without too much fuss. As day broke Kirsty, William and Greig made it to their first check point. A quick check in with crew and some “advice” dished out they were all on their way again up the Lochside.
Kyle had started to feel some issues with a recurring injury and felt that he struggled up the Lochside with even a wee negative thought creeping in that he wouldn’t complete the race, however he pushed on.
William and Kirsty had paired up along the Lochside and ran a lengthy section together, with Greig not too far behind them grinding away through the technical sections that can sometimes make or break your race. At some point Kirsty took a bit of a fall and hurt her knee and hip, but managed to keep pushing on.
When the runners got to Beinglas farm check point they were treated to some Harrier comfort in the shape of Yvonne Prager and Elaine medinelli who were marshalling here. I know for a fact they appreciated the care given by the girls here.
Once through to Tyndrum the route opens up and becomes a wee bit more runnable, but with 50 miles in your legs a meeting with your crew is long awaited.
Kyle was maintaining his top spot sitting around 7th place, again he was in and out of the checkpoint and heading towards Bridfe of Orchy, Kirsty was next in and despite her earlier tumble was still pushing on, William and Greig by now were feeling it and after some hot food and more “advice” from their crews were back out and heading north. From here runners are allowed to have a support runner after 1130 something that Kirsty, Greig and William would use to their advantage to keep them pushing on towards Fort William. After a short section into Bridge of Orchy Kyle was out and on his way to Glencoe, however an unfortunate road accident on the A82 meant that crews were going to have to take a lengthy diversion to meet their runner at Kinlochleven, this left Kyle with a dilemma as he was going so fast, he had to decide to carry limited nutrition to make it the last 26 miles without meeting his crew, but his long winter training had left him in good shape to carry this out.
The path runs through Rannoch moor at this point which is remote, exposed and undulating, but Kirsty kept up her fine form and was making decent progress. William and Greig had came in to Bridge of Orchy roughly at the same time, William was struggling with his nutrition at this point which gave Greig the chance to push on and take a bit of a lead on him. With all the runners safely through Glencoe they then head up and over the Devils Staircase – a pretty tough climb rewarded with outstanding views towards the mamores and back over Glencoe, however not this time, as it was overcast and starting to rain.
By now Kyle was well on his way over the Lairig Mor towards Glencoe maintaining his position in the top 10. He was certainly battling with all he had despite still suffering from knee pain.
In the route down to Kinlochleven Kirsty was finding the steps down a wee bit difficult after her earlier tumble, Grieg had his second or third wind and passed her about 2 miles out from the check point. William was struggling to get any nutrition in, but was still putting one foot in front of the other and moving north.
Kyle eventually got down onto the fire road and made his way towards the Nevis Centre and crossed the line in 17:23 and taking 6th place over all. I’m sure this will not be the last time he runs this race and it’ll be good to see him come back for another crack at it.
Back out on the trail, it was getting dark again as the runners entered their second night, the climb from Kinlochleven up onto the Lairig Mor is another tough one, the weather was now closing in and Greig, Kirsty and William were going to have to touch it out over this 14 mile section in the dark and wet, this one is when a good support runner is invaluable as it can easily be demoralising in the dark. All 3 had experienced runners with them and were guided through the mountain pass with no major dramas, although the reported hallucinations are a good laugh.
Greig was now on good form and managing to run a fair bit of the trail, picking off places all the way to the finish line in a time of 25:07.
Kirsty was next up in 27:29 a cracking race execution despite her injury. William had now managed to find a fuelling strategy and was next in to Fort William in a time of 28:55 to round off a successful day out for Glenpark on the West highland way.
The prize giving on the Sunday is a good end to an amazing weekend with each runner being presented their “Goblet” by rhetorical race team. The ballot opens in November for the 2025 race, we wonder if we can get more than 4 harriers in this time !!!
