Finding the Edge: Conor’s 215 Miles Across Scotland

Running 215 miles across Scotland is not just about testing endurance and facing yourself when there’s nothing left. For Conor, Race Across Scotland wasn’t about escaping the office for a while. It was stepping into an unforgiving landscape that forces you to keep going when everything in you wants to stop.

In our conversation, Conor opens up about what it really felt like out there. Exhaustion, hallucinations, and the moments of pure willpower. He describes how the experience became less about the distance and more about finding a way to keep moving, even when the end seemed at an infinite distance. Each mile was its own battle, but turning back was never an option. He kept moving forward, step by step, no matter how hard it got. 

P: What motivated you to take on such a gruelling challenge like the Race Across Scotland? Was there a specific moment or experience that pushed you to go for it?

C: "For me, endurance sports are an outlet to test my mettle and answer some big questions about myself. These off-grid, self-sufficient races, where you have to navigate and carry all your kit, are raw. There's a toughness you can’t replicate in everyday life. I live in the city, where everything’s about screens and distractions, but in the mountains, it’s just you and the environment. It strips everything back. It’s about seeing what you’re really made of when everything else is taken away."

P: Training for a 215-mile race is no small feat. How did you approach training for something so physically and mentally demanding? Did you adapt your typical training routine for the specific challenges of this race?

C: "You don’t train specifically for a race like this—it’s more about years of accumulated training. I’ve been training six to seven days a week for 10 to 15 years, so it’s all built up. I think most people train for one event, like a marathon, and then stop. But for me, it’s been a continuous journey. Specifically for this race, I focused on training in similar environments—working on the elevation, carrying my kit, and doing night training where I’d go out with no reference points. I got used to being uncomfortable and lost, which was essential."

P: Running through the night must have been incredibly tough, both physically and mentally. How did you manage to keep going when faced with darkness and isolation? Did it ever feel overwhelming?

C: "The nights were incredibly difficult. You become vulnerable, and your mind plays tricks like crazy on you. I only slept for two hours in the 76-hour race. By the final night, I was seeing things—hallucinating frogs jumping in front of me. Time moves more slowly at night, especially when it’s dark and silent. It feels like you’re not making any progress. It’s easy to feel stuck, but you just have to keep moving forward, even when everything in you feels disoriented."

P: I know some people use visualisation or meditation to prepare mentally for these kinds of challenges. Did you incorporate any of that into your preparation, or did you take a different approach?

C: "I didn’t do much visualisation or meditation, although I know it can help. My approach was more pragmatic—I had everything mapped out and prepared meticulously, from checkpoints to kit lists. But mentally, I leaned on a few quotes that stuck with me during the race. One was ‘Burn the boats, burn every boat,’ which means eliminating any other option besides success. That mindset really kept me going. Even when things got tough, quitting never crossed my mind. It wasn’t an option."

P: Nutrition must play a huge role in keeping you going, especially in such a long race. How did you plan your nutrition, both leading up to the race and during the event itself? Did anything surprise you?

C: "Nutrition is always tricky, especially because I’m a bigger guy and need a lot of fuel. Protein is something I often struggle with—I knew I had to focus on that in the lead-up to the race. During the race, though, nutrition is a delicate balance. You have to eat every 20 minutes, but your body doesn’t always want to process food. The exhaustion makes it hard for your stomach to function properly because your blood is prioritising your muscles. You need food that’s easy to digest but still gives you enough energy, which can be a challenge."

P: Did you have any go-to products or foods during the race that helped you stay fuelled and focused? Did anything unexpected work particularly well?

C: "I relied on Maurten carbohydrate drinks to get a lot of calories in without too much effort from my body. But something that really surprised me was Revels, the chocolates—they became my go-to for morale. When I was feeling low during the night, having a few Revels made me happy. It sounds silly, but it lifted my spirits. At aid stations, I’d get hot food, like beans on toast or soup, which was great for warming me up after being cold for so long."

P: What was your absolute lowest point during the race, and how did you push through it? Was there a moment where you thought you might not be able to continue?

C: "The final night was the worst. My knee was inflamed for the last 100 kilometres, and I was moving incredibly slowly, getting colder and colder. I hadn’t seen anyone in hours, and it felt like I was in a vacuum. I thought I wasn’t making any progress, and it felt like I was going in circles. The hallucinations made it even harder—I was seeing frogs everywhere. When I reached the aid station, I got some codeine from the Mountain Rescue team and slept for an hour. That helped me finish the last marathon, but that night was brutal."

P: And on the flip side, what was your proudest moment from the race? Was there a particular moment or feeling that made you realise just how far you'd come?

C: "The finish line was special, but not just for me—it was for my crew too. They went through their own version of the race, dealing with the cold and sleep deprivation, and managing all the logistics. When we finally reached the finish line, it was the first time any of us could stop and say, ‘Job done.’ It was a shared moment, not just about me finishing the race but about the team effort it took to get there. That was a particularly joyful moment for me."

P: What would you say are the biggest takeaways from this experience, and how will they inform your approach to future races?

C: "The power of circadian rhythm was one of the biggest takeaways. Even though I didn’t sleep for 47 hours, when the sun came up, everything changed. I felt energised and clear-headed again. The night was brutal, but the daylight gave me a second wind. So going into my next race, I know that if I can just make it through the night and get to the morning, anything is possible.

P: Can you tell us about the next big challenge you’ve got lined up—what is it and what are you doing to prepare?

C: "Yeah, the next one is the Montane Winter Spine Race, and it’s a tough one. It’s 268 miles along the Pennine Way in winter, so we’re talking freezing temps and almost no daylight. It’s going to test everything. Mental agility, endurance, and particularly how I handle the cold and lack of sleep. I’m really going to have to up my protein game this time and make sure I’m fuelling properly throughout the race. It’s one of those races that really tests everything. I’m prepping for the long days and nights, and just trying to get my head around the technicalities and logistics of it all."

A big thanks to Conor for sharing such an honest, raw reflection on what it was like to take on this monumental race. And we are all here cheering him on for the next big event!

For Conor, Race Across Scotland wasn’t just a physical feat. It was about facing himself when every part of him wanted to give up. There’s something in all of us that shows up when things get tough, and that’s what Conor tapped into. Whether you’re running a race or facing a personal challenge, we all hit that wall. And just maybe, there’s always a bit more left to give than we think.