Show Notes

In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, I sit down with Lucy Colquhoun, who still holds the women’s course record at the West Highland Way Race, set in 2007 in a time of 17:16:20.

Nearly two decades later, that performance still stands. But this conversation goes far beyond splits and statistics.

Lucy reflects on who she was when she lined up in Milngavie in 2007: an enthusiastic amateur who had only started running in her thirties, discovering endurance almost by accident. We explore what training looked like in a different era, before social media, before nutrition plans and performance data were everywhere, when hill running was still deeply grassroots.

She shares:

1. How she was “strong-armed” into entering the race after running the Highland Fling
2. The simplicity of her preparation, and the discipline behind it
3. Realising halfway through the race that she was leading
4. The moment the course record became a possibility
5. Bonking at Cramond Cottage and bouncing back
6. The emotional complexity of still holding a record so many years later

Lucy also opens up about something deeper: identity.

What happens when racing is no longer central to your life?

What does it mean to step away from competition?

How do you hold pride without becoming defined by one performance?

We also touch on her incredible victory at CCC in Chamonix the following year, and the psychology of validation, comparison, and purpose in endurance sport.

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about legacy, humility, and the private reasons we run.

If you’re preparing for the West Highland Way Race this year, this episode is a reminder that the experience itself is what endures. Records may stand or fall. But what you learn about yourself out there stays with you.

Key Themes

1. Simplicity versus modern complexity in training
2. Grassroots ultrarunning in Scotland in the 2000s
3. Running to feel rather than to pace
4. Identity beyond performance
5. Comparison as “the thief of joy”
6. The changing culture of the sport
7. Pride without ego

Listen If

1. You’re lining up for WHW this year
2. You’re curious about the history of the race
3. You’re navigating your own relationship with performance and identity
4. You’ve ever wondered what it feels like to hold a long-standing course record

If 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.

Paul

Get in Touch – Share Your Story

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: +447418609498
3. Or message on Instagram:
4. @pyllon

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

Race Links

West Highland Way Race

https://westhighlandwayrace.org/

Instagram

@whw_race

About the Host

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

About the WHW Race Pod

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.