Scott McLean

It seemed that for many this past weekend was a busy couple of days for running events…congratulations if you took part in any events and make sure you wear your medal with pride and post about your achievement.

For me, this is a reflection as well as a post for self motivation for this coming Saturday.

Pictured is my medal from Devil O the Highlands Footrace from April and my goblet from in May but something is missing….

This Saturday I will attempt to complete Highland Fling Race for the 2nd time and if successful again it will mean I will have achieved my own version of the 2026 West Highland Way challenge.

For the past year I have worn my Highland Fling 2025 finishers t-shirt with pride but that doesn’t mean finishing this years race is a formality.

Anything can happen in a trail race especially one on the West Highland Way and the notorious loch side section after Inversnaid, that’s why if (when) the going gets tough then I know I can look back at this post from today and reflect on my achievements and use it as motivation to do everything I can to complete my triple challenge.

I can reflect on an amazing experience on a sunny late April day running from Tyndrum to Fort William during the Devil O the Highlands Footrace and then my biggest success to date completing the full 97 mile route North to South from Fort William to Milngavie on a very wet late May weekend.

One final push awaits this weekend in my attempt as I line up on the starting line in Milngavie alongside 500 other runners ahead of a gruelling but exhilarating 53 miles on the famous West Highland Way.

Good luck everyone 👍🙏 for this coming weekend and well done to all who ran this past weekend.

Up until two years ago The West Highland Way (WHW) was something I had heard of but never really gave it any thought, now the famous trails spell has captured me and I just can’t seem to escape from it…..not that I want to.

That’s why for 2026 I set myself my own version of The WHW Triple Crown: Devil O the Highlands Footrace, WHW Challenge Race and Highland Fling Race. this time next week I will attempt to complete The Triple Crown when I return to the WHW and The Fling Race.

With the northern section completed at the Devil Race on a warm sunny April day and the full route completed at WHWCR on a very wet late May weekend that leaves The Fling and the first 53 miles of the southern section from Milngavie to Tyndrum.

I ran The Fling last year but that doesn’t mean this years race is a given as any trail run especially one on the WHW can always throw up nasty surprises.

I can’t wait though to get back my feet back on the trail and also meet up with and see fellow running friends take on the race as well.

Do you have a favourite trail that just keeps on drawing you into it’s charm? I bet some of you will also say The West Highland Way.

Sunrise run with no sunrise 🌅 ❌.

Well we all know the sun did rise but even though it threatened to show itself the clouds over the Ochil Hills won the early morning battle and obscured what could have been another cracking sunrise run.

8 miles before work with a little elevation thrown in around King’s Park and up towards Stirling Castle. A good few runners out as well at that time around 6am taking advantage of a calm mild morning.

Just over a week now until it’s Highland Fling Race time and my attempt at my own version of ‘triple crown challenge’

I love designing running routes on Strava and on Saturday I made up a mini Castle to Castle route from Doune to Stirling via the golden postbox in Dunblane.

This was the first of my mini castle run’s in the lead up to the Rat Race Castle to Castle Trilogy in the summer of 2027.

I had ran a lot of this route before but it was still interesting to explore new paths and sights.

Full video of my run is now on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/

The build up to my Castle to Castle 2027 Trilogy attempt begins with the 1st of my mini Castle to Castle adventures: Doune to Stirling.

Watch as I head towards Stirling Castle and maybe close to where the trilogy will end in late August 2027.

Castle to Castle: Doune to Stirling via a Golden Postbox Castle to Castle: Doune to Stirling via a Golden PostboxWill I su...

Castle to Castle - Doune to Stirling 

In 2027 I will take part in the Rat Race Castle to Castle Trilogy - 3 x 100 mile events between July and August.

So in the lead up to that challenge I’m doing my own mini Castle to Castle runs which started today with Doune Castle to Stirling Castle with a starting point in Dunblane and the famous Andy Murray Golden postbox.

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