It was a late afternoon towards the end of January. I am descending from the Kilpatricks hills north west of Glasgow towards the end of a hilly trail run. After a series of storms and wintry weather the day was clearer, brighter and fresher. I told myself it was good to get out and experience the fresh air. However my thoughts were not just on the weather. Now well through my seventh decade the body reminds me that time is marching on. If I am to continue running how should I adjust? Maybe I just keep going until some injury occurs. As if to emphasise this risk I am running on my own. My regular running buddy had broken a bone in his ankle a few weeks ago. There is a slight, somewhat guilty, relief. He is a good deal younger and sometimes pushes me beyond my comfort zone. On my own there are more excuses for taking it easy.

Have recently been reading ‘Outlive’**, an excellent book on longevity. The prevailing cultural narrative is that ageing means being less mobile, less strong, frail, liable to falls, cognitive decline, disease etc. etc. All somewhat depressing thoughts. The central thesis of the book is as we get older to try and mitigate many of these risks and calamities as we age. The aspiration being to live as healthily as late in life as possible. For my part, running has given me much. Regular endurance running is a so called ‘cascade habit’. By that I mean it is a habit that directs to other good habits. The discipline and importance of eating well; sleeping well; good posture; moving well; reducing stress; maintaining strength and stability; appreciating the outdoors and nature. There are more but hopefully you get the idea. I am definitely a ‘work in progress’ in most of these areas. However sustaining endurance exercise leads to awareness of the need to address these things. 

Reflecting on my running history the races I have most experience of have been on the West Highland Way (WHW). 7 times doing the full distance and 9 times the half distance ‘Highland Fling’. If interested, you can read my accounts at WHW and Highland Fling. They have had a major impact on me. A celebration of the amazing potential of the body, mind and spirit. All gift from the Creator.

John Kynaston, a friend who sadly passed away in Jan 2021, had also ran the West Highland Way Race several times. It was John who first inspired me to get into ultra distance running. A friend of his, Renita Boyle***, composed a poem for him to try and explain ‘why run the West Highland Way?’ She came up with a whopping 95 reasons, one for every mile of the race! Selected below are three of the 16 stanzas. If you wish to hear them all listen to Ninety Five Reasons 

Ninety Five Reasons (excerpt)…    

To exceed our limit
To pick up pace
To lose ourselves
To win the race
Blood pump – pumping through our veins
Warm sun
Hot sweat
Refreshing rain

To exhale angst
To inhale air
To ponder love
To live in prayer
The peace
The pride
The surge of power
To split the seconds
And reap the hours

Rustling leaves
Ripple of wind
The whisper of God upon our skin
To press on to the goal
To never look back
To meet the challenge of what we lack

Renita Boyle – Writer, Artist, Storyteller

Many of these explanations speak to me personally – they are life affirming, inspiring. Not only for the 28-35 hours that in my case it has taken to run the West Highland Way. They also celebrate much of what it means to be alive, with purpose. To be human.

As the years pass learning to make friends with my mortality. For the time being the spirit remains willing. In regard to running, sooner or later, there will come a time when the weakness of the flesh prevails. However, very soon, I plan to lace up my shoes to begin a pre-dawn trail run. This time with aforementioned running companion. He is healing well.

** ’Outlive’ by Dr. Peter Attia

***  Writer, Artist, Storyteller   renitaboyle.com