Do You Have What It Takes To Race Across Scotland?

A collaboration between Ali Hall and Alan Hewitt

“The further I run, the less goes through my mind. It is like meditation. I am content, and my worries are elsewhere. My body is controlled by my mind, and I feel like I am one when everything is going well. It is only when there are challenges that I have to work to get them working together.”

It’s hard to fathom the sheer grit and determination required to endure the Race Across Scotland. The magnitude of this race is mindblowing. Pyllon athlete, Alan Hewitt, shares the highs and lows of his journey along with his unlikely love affair with his Leki running poles.

Who or what inspires you?

Ayrshire lad Alan was born, raised, educated, and now works within the same 3-mile radius; maybe that’s why he felt compelled to wander an advertised 215 miles (and added 21 miles on for fun).

Alan counts himself lucky to have the support of his wife, Kirsty, their two sons, Ethan and Roddy, and the star of the family unit, little Rocky, the border terrier. In fact, it sounds like Alan’s running is a blessing for his family as he’s often kicked out the door to run off his grumps.

When it comes to inspiration sources, Alan doesn’t need to look further afield than his immediate circle.

“My Mum and Dad are my biggest inspirations. 

My Mum was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer when I was in my mid-twenties. She had lived a healthy lifestyle but unfortunately was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer, which she fought tooth and nail for a year to beat but unfortunately lost the battle. Not only did she put her body through hell to fight the disease, but she never complained, and I often think about that in training and races. Nothing I go through in races is ever as hard as my Mum experienced, and I use that as fuel.

My Dad has also had difficult health issues but has tackled them head-on, and he continues to inspire me daily with his determination and strength to make change.

I want to show my kids that anything is possible, and the example my parents set for me, I want to pass to them. I see Ultra’s as a perfect way to show the kids that hard work, focus, and the human spirit can overcome anything. They also see the work and sacrifice it takes to achieve personal goals, and I hope they take that into their own lives.”

Describe your perfect adventure

“With my brother Ed, in Assynt in the North of Scotland running in the hills and mountains chatting and laughing. The weather will be uncommonly dry, with very few midges and no-one around for miles. Summer solstice time so we can run through the night without head torches. That would be perfect!”

Ha ha ha, dream on Alan! Uncommonly dry and very few midges? Alan’s perfect adventure is the polar opposite of what he signed up for with RAS.

Where do you draw your courage from?

It takes enormous fortitude not just to consider standing at the start of a race of this scale but to commit to the training. They say almost anyone can fluke a marathon. You can’t fluke 215 miles! Alan was certainly going to need more than luck on his side. But true to form, he committed to training once his mind was made up.

“I draw courage from my experiences in previous races. I had a lot of time to think during the RAS, and I realised that every challenge I faced in RAS I had faced before in another race. What I had learned from those experiences helped me navigate the current challenge. Injury, hallucinations, getting lost, torrential rain, feeling sick, confusion, headtorch giving out, not enough calories, and running out of water had all featured in other events or training.

I knew that I had previously pushed through or problem-solved those issues, which gave me the confidence to keep going. The more I can experience, good and bad in a race, will make me a better runner, and that was never more apparent than in the RAS.

There is the well-known saying, “It doesn’t always get worse.” but I was finding sometimes it does! I think if I hadn’t had a mixed bag of races, results, and experiences, I would not have been able to finish the race.”

What attracted you to the Race across Scotland?

The Race Across Scotland traverses Scotland along the Southern Upland Way, starting in the Western village of Portpatrick and finishing in the Eastern town of Cockburnspath. Any race with a 100-hour cut-off time is sure to demand deep reverence.

We all have our own personal why when it comes to our running. But very few people are drawn to this sort of distance. For Alan, once he started thinking about the possibility of this adventure, he couldn’t get it out of his mind. And so his love affair began.

“RAS is easily the hardest race I have done. Physically and mentally, it was a test beyond anything I had attempted before.”

After completing the WHW Triple Crown, RAS caught Alan’s attention and consumed his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the idea of it. Turning to his coach, Grant McDonald, for his thoughts, all Alan needed to hear was, “F*ck yeah - go for it!” and that was it, deposit paid.

The difference between a standard human being and a hardened ultra runner is that a hardened ultra runner seeks out failure.

“I wanted to do it because I thought the chances of failure were high (60% DNF rate) and therefore knew it would test me in every way. It gave me the fear, and that meant I focused 100% on training and did everything I could to be ready.”

The only thing certain about ultra races is uncertainty. And the longer they are, the more unknowns are thrown into the mix.

Getting to the start line prepared and in one piece was the first highlight for Alan, and quite right. Very often, the accomplishment is in the training itself. Finishing a race is the icing on the cake.

Understandably, there were a few low points, the stand-out low was IT band issues causing overcompensation in his other leg, resulting in tendonitis and swelling in his ankle, increasing it to double the size at just 128 miles in. Despite this restricting his movement for the second 100 miles, he pressed on.

A real mind and body war ensued, with his brain willing him forward at a quicker pace than his body could tolerate.

What did you learn about yourself?

“I learned that I can cope with prolonged periods of pain and discomfort, I can function with very little sleep and that I won’t give up no matter the odds. The latter might not always be in my best interest but seems to be the way I am wired.

I’ve not found my limit yet. There is definitely more levels to explore.”

Alan tells us that the further he runs, the less goes through his mind. He compares this to being in a meditative state. With his daily meditation practice and the mind-boggling length of RAS, it sounds like Alan’s superpower was the ability to control his mind and embrace a place of inner calm.

Any advice for others looking to do the RAS?

First up, find yourself a dream team crew! As many of us understand, we couldn’t do the epic races we do without those who willingly give us their time and sacrifice their sleep to crew for us. Alan will be forever indebted to his brother Ed, best friend Alan, and wife Kirsty.

“Standout Kit was my Leki poles. They helped me manage some very steep ascents and descents with my injury, and without them, I would have struggled. I kissed them at one point when I was sleep-deprived and emotional, having made it down a very steep hill!”

Without dwelling on negatives, Alan regrets not having a drop bag at two checkpoints where his crew wasn’t available. This error prolonged his misery in wet and cold clothing.

We all know the importance of fuelling and resting in and around our training. However, incorporating this into an actual race can be tricky.

“Sleep and calories are superpowers and it’s amazing the difference both make physically and mentally.”

Ultimately, for anyone looking to do the RAS, expect the unexpected. Alan’s game plan was to run a bit slower than he would for a 100-mile race and then hang on for dear life until the end. This strategy worked for him; will it work for you? One checkpoint at a time, focusing on a positive mindset, and keep on keeping on, are factors that helped drag Alan to the finish line.

What tips and tricks keep you moving and healthy?

The holistic nature of the ultra-running lifestyle is what keeps Alan healthy. He recognises the importance of supporting his body through all means possible to help sustain his running. Yes, this means mobility, yoga, and strength for the body and also daily meditation for the mind.

“I eat a fairly balanced diet. Multivitamin and turmeric daily. Beetroot concentrate each day 10 days out from a race which makes the toilet trips a bit scary when you forget you are taking it! Walking the dog I also use for active recovery.”

What would life look like for Alan if he didn’t run? More work and less play. He envisions a cyclical life of work-filled weeks with alcohol-fueled weekends. Running really does help save us from ourselves at times!

“Running is my freedom and feels like an essential part of my daily routine. It still clears my head, allows me to push myself physically and mentally and above all makes me happy. I’m not always happy when I’m running but I’ve never regretted a run and no matter how the run has gone I feel better than I did when I started.”

A huge well done to Alan for a spectacular, brave, and inspiring accomplishment. Thank you also for sharing your insights with us.

You can find Alan on Instagram at @chewsieruns

Pulling Back the Curtain on the Enigma That Is Paul Giblin

A collaboration between Ali Hall and Paul Giblin

Paul Giblin is the brains and inspiration behind Pyllon. As someone who shies away from the limelight, he can be a bit of an enigma. Much like the native Scottish red squirrel, he is happiest in nature, avoiding the masses and without drawing attention to himself.

I’m hoping this short Q&A session will highlight the fun, sensitive, goofy and human side of our friend and community founder.

Are you ready?

If you didn’t run what would you do instead?

So many things I’d do if I didn’t run! Where do I start?

1. I’d do more with music. I got into music from a very young age. Started collecting vinyl when I was still in school and DJ’d all through my 20’s. I still do quite a bit now, but I just don’t have the time to be focused enough. There’s still a Mercury Music Prize in me yet - might just have to wait a few more years 😀

2. I’d likely bag a few more big mountain peaks. Again - ultra running takes over and hasn’t left me enough time to do more. I had intentions of doing more paragliding when I lived in Chamonix but I was either running or recovering.

3. I have really enjoyed training Mya (my dog), and we hope to do some IGP trials with her. But much like running it requires a lot of time, so I’m not pushing it too much and I am making plenty of mistakes along the way. Learning a lot, but realising I don’t even know the full scale of what I don’t know! :D There are lots of parallels to coaching runners, to be honest - if there is enough drive, then it's a guidance, teaching, and confidence-building role.

4. I’d shoot more photos and videos. I’d draw and paint more. The creative stuff I really love and miss when life takes over.

5. There’s maybe 10 other things I’d love to do more of, but I’d never sleep or do anything well if I took those on too.

Have you any running habits that are slightly quirky?

Quirky? I’m not sure. I don’t like to change things much when I’m out running. I’ll rarely stop to take a top off if it’s too hot or change my shoes unless they are causing me serious pain. So, I might be in some discomfort overall, but I accept it and forget that I maybe can reduce the discomfort with a change. Is that quirky?

I also like to run barefoot the day before a race on the dirt I’ll be running. I’ve done it for years. I know there’s no benefit, but I guess it’s a ritual, and rituals have the capacity to calm nerves.

What’s a standout running moment for you?

I’ve had lots of great moments. It would be easy to list a bunch of race wins and solid performances. And they’ve been awesome. But actually, it’s been about running with people. Sharing some trails or doing a race with a great crew and feeling part of a team - on a mission together. You’ve worked super hard to achieve something, and there are people around you who know and care as much as you do.

When I think back to the End2End trail, for example - whilst it was obviously a real slog at over 2,000KM, there were so many small, wonderful moments across the four weeks. Conversations and laughs, meeting strangers in a field who had come out to run with me for an hour, friends turning up, kind words, smiles, and shared meals. That’s the stuff that really matters. 

There is a lot of heartache, too, but I guess those become standout moments too. That’s where you are presented with choices. How will you deal with a setback, and what trail will it lead you down in life?

How long have you been running for?

I’m not sure to be honest. For about 14 - 15 years now. I think I always under-estimate, so this could be way off!

How did you start running?

Same as lots of people really - in the gym! I became very conscious of my health and general lack of fitness. I started warming up on a treadmill and it grew from there. Very quickly!

What is your greatest non-race running achievement?

I guess running across the UK was an achievement. I loved running the Outer Hebrides years ago. My Dad came out to rescue me in the second half; it was just him and me at the finish. Those times I’ll never feel again. I actually did a few YouTube videos of it before vlogging was big. I’m sure they’re awful compared to today’s standards. I can’t bring myself to watch them as I miss my Dad so much, and it’s easier not to think about it. I’m glad I did that. And I’m really glad and grateful for the Pyllon Endeavour and XP events that we have done. I’ve met so many cool people and made a few friends that I’m lucky to still have.

What animal are you?

They say dogs reflect their owners, right? So, I’m a little Belgian Malinois. Pretty determined, keen to be outside, can get super-focused on stuff, and be quite wary of new things and new people.

I take a long time to get to know other people and to trust their intentions I guess - but when I do, I just want to help and be there for them. I can’t run as fast or bite as hard, but I’m fairly nimble on any terrain!

In all honesty, I’m not half the athlete of a Malinois. But it’s okay to have role models, right?

What is your ultimate running song?

Ooof. I really struggle with giving a single favourite anything! It has to be something that swells some emotion in me if I’m looking to push hard. I'm a huge fan of electronic music, so I’d normally go there. But it depends on where I’m running and the mood of the place.

Running in a forest has a very different feel to a tempo session on a cycle path. Something with a minimal syncopated beat for hard sessions and something organic that takes you on a journey over a beautiful trail through a forest. Techno to jazz and everything in between kinda covers the spectrum of the music I like.

A massive thanks to Paul for being a good sport and humouring my silly questions. If you are interested in working with Paul and allowing him to help you achieve your dreams, contact us here.