The WHW Audio Companion – Week 1

In 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:

1. The moment when training goes quiet and belief starts to wobble
2. Why belief can’t be faked, and why this phase of training matters
3. How doubt and discomfort are not problems to solve, but part of the work
4. What athletes often think they’re training for, and what they’re actually preparing for
5. Why character, not just fitness, decides the later stages of long races

This 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.

If 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:

1. Send a WhatsApp voice note or message to:
2. WhatsApp: +44 7418 609498
3. Or message on Instagram:
4. @whw_race

Some of the most powerful stories are the ones people almost don’t send.

West Highland Way Race

https://westhighlandwayrace.org/

Instagram

@whw_race

Paul 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:

Website

https://pyllonultra.com

Instagram

@pyllon

@pyllonultra

YouTube

https://youtube.com/pyllon

Substack

https://pyllon.substack.com

The 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.