Episode description

In this episode of the WHW Race Pod, Paul sits down with Gus Irvine, winner of the 2025 West Highland Way Race.

Gus ran a controlled, composed race from Milngavie to Fort William, taking the win through patience, preparation, and trust in his process. But this conversation is not about how he won. It is about how the race sits with him now.

Paul and Gus have spoken before, but this episode looks at what has shifted since the finish line. They explore Gus’s relationship with the West Highland Way, how familiarity changes the experience of the trail, and why winning did not bring closure, but instead sparked a desire to return.

Gus reflects on the demands the race placed on him this time, the moments that tested his composure, and what it means to run with the trail rather than against it. He also talks openly about expectation, restraint, and the quiet satisfaction that settled slowly in the weeks after the race.

The conversation closes by looking ahead to 2026, and why some races continue to call us back, even when we think we already know them.

This is a thoughtful episode about return, responsibility, and the deepening relationship between runner and trail.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Winning the 2025 West Highland Way Race
2. Gus’s relationship with the WHW and how it has evolved
3. Running with composure and restraint
4. Managing pressure and expectation during long races
5. The moments that mattered most during the race
6. What stayed with Gus after the finish
7. Why the West Highland Way still feels unfinished
8. Looking ahead to a return in 2026

About the podcast

The WHW Race Pod is the official podcast of the West Highland Way Race.

Hosted by Paul Giblin, the podcast explores the lived experience of the race through conversations with runners, organisers, and people connected to the trail.

This is not a race recap show.

It is a place for reflection, memory, and storytelling from one of the most iconic long distance trails in Scotland.

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 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