Virtual West Highland Way Race Midnight Thursday 11th June –12:00 Noon Sunday 21st June 2020
This is an opportunity to virtually run, walk or crawl the 95 miles (155km) distance of the West Highland Way, Scotland’s iconic long distance trail, following current government guidelines on exercise routines, for the period of the race. Like all virtual events, it relies on honesty from everyone just getting out there, logging some miles as accurately as they can, and having some serious fun too.
The event Starts Midnight Thursday 11th June and ends Midday Sunday 21st June. Runners have 9.5 days to complete the 95 miles.
We are actively discouraging anyone from running 95 miles in one go. We are also encouraging all entrants to stay local.
The virtual run allows runners to run 95 miles, over 9.5 days, either individually, as a semi competitive 3 runner team relay, or as a multi team fun relay.
You run segments of your choosing, by the 3 check point cut offs, and then upload your detail to SI systems
Checkpoints are at
Inversnaid – Leg 1: Total 36 miles that must be completed by midnight Mon 15th June
Victoria Bridge – Leg 2: 27 miles, total 63 miles to be completed by midnight Thurs 18th June
Fort William – Leg 3: 32 miles giving a total of 95 miles to be completed midday Sun 21st June
After you have completed a Leg, please return to SiEntries and EDIT your Entry so that you can record your time for the leg. As soon as you have saved your leg data on SiEntries you will be able see your cumulative time and position included on the leaderboard, so you can all have fun watching each other too!
For those not familiar with the full trail route, info is on this website. Route tab under Race
YOU decide your strategy according to your available time and ambitions. Run and enjoy long single stages or break it down in smaller (and possibly faster) stages – your own imagination is your only guide.
SOLO RUNNERS – YOU will be responsible for uploading your results at the end of each stage.
RELAY TEAMS – Team Captain to upload the results for all team members.
Your entry confirmation email gives details on how to enter your results
Minimum age 21 on 11th June 2020 for the individual race… no age limit for relay but under 15’s should be sensibly and socially chaperoned with maximum 5k stages.
Please take a few minutes to understand the virtual event and what it involves, before entering. Running isn’t cancelled, it is just adapting.
No overall prizes, but spot prizes awarded in an ad hoc simple fashion by the race and sponsors, details TBC
There is NO facility to upload a strava link or similar but the organising team reserve the right to ask for any data confirmation. Should we spot any obvious “outlier performances:-)”
We have however set up a Strava group so you can see what others are doing if you want to join it. Please note you still need to upload your milage to SiEntries as explained. This group is an extra for those who want to see how others are doing it!
The entry fee covers admin costs by the race and SiEntries in setting up the platform.
West Highland Way race continues to be a not for profit event, run by volunteers. We have kept the cost of entry very low and any surplus funds will be donated to Scotland Association for Mental Health. There is also an opportunity to add a donation to SAMH during the entry process. Please donate generously.
An event Buff and tee shirt will be available to purchase. We will notify entrants, and make an announcement on the race FB page, as soon as finalised.
If you post on social media please use #virtualwhwrace
Links you will need to enter and to add your results
Hi there, I have just entered. Do you include the elevation of the WHW race or is it just the distance. Thank you
Hi Jean. We are glad you’ve entered. No just the distance. You are free to try do the elevation as well if you want to!!
Hi
Do you have a link so I can buy a buff
Angela
Hi Angela
Here is the link to the shop to buy a buff
http://167.172.55.100/shop/
John
Does it matter if I end up doing my sections at the same time as one of my team mates?
If you want to run your sections at the same time as another team member that’s fine. Just keep a track of how many miles you run.
QQ and maybe silly, can you enter a team of 2? Thanks
Hi Neil
Yes you can have a team of 2. Just add a fictitious third runner and don’t allocate any miles to them!
Enjoy the ‘race’
John
Am I able to take part without uploading anything. I’m not on strava. I just use Nike gps app. I could screenshot each day as proof?
Basically it is an honesty based challenge. All you have to do is tell us how long it took you to run each section. If it looks dodgy we might ask for proof!
👍🏽
I take it by how long u mean running time and not days if that makes sense?
Hi Bryan
Yes we are after your running time so if you run leg 1 36 miles in 3 separate runs add up just the running time.
John
Thank you for your reply, that is what I thought 😂. Looking forward to it
For the 3 person relay is it as simple as this… Leg one runner has from start date to first cut off to do their distance, Leg two runner has from start date to cut off two to record their distance and lucky number 3 leg runner had the whole time from start date to finish date to record their distance, therefore meaning leg 3 is the best leg to have??
That is one way of doing it! We want it to be as straight forward as possible so we are happy for you to work it out for yourself. Enjoy!
Is there a limit to how many people can sign up to a team?
We have a 3 member team or an open team. In the open team you can have as many members as you want.
John
Great – thanks John
Is it moving time (so say the added together moving time of 3 runs over three days) or total time from start to finishing of each leg (20 say 72 hours from start of run 1 to end of run 3 on leg 1)?
I think I understand your question!
All you need to do is tell us on SiEntries how long it took you to run/walk 36 miles for leg 1. If you are a relay then the team leader needs to record the distance and time for each of the three runners. The total distance will be 36 miles for leg 1 and we will have a total time for the 36 miles for leg 1.
Does that make sense?
I’ll try and explain my question better with and example. If I ran 18 miles on day 1, starting at 8am and finishing at 11am, then 18 miles the following day, same start and finish time, is my leg 1 total time:
– 6 hours (time running, 2 x 3 hrs)
– 27 hours (time from starting leg 1 at 8am day 1 to finishing leg 1 at 11am day 2)
– 35 hours (time from start of race at midnight day 1 to finishing leg 1 at 11am day 2)
Hopefully that’s clearer! I have no hope of being competitive, so not sure why it matters – really just looking forwards to a different kind purpose to running for a few days in June!
Hi CJ
All we are after is the time it took you to run 36 miles for leg 1.
How you do it is up to you. You could run 1 mile 36 times over the 4 days if you like.
So we are looking for the time it took you to run 36 miles so in your example 6hrs
We are having a Q&A live session on our whwrace Facebook page tomorrow Sat 30th May at 7pm so come and join us and ask any questions!
John Kynaston
crystal clear – cheers!
Hi ,
Can my wife and I do this as a pair please ??
Hi Alan
Sorry I’ve only just seen this question. It was in the junk folder for some reason!
Yes you can enter as a pair. Just add a third fictitious name who doesn’t actually run!
John
I would like to know the answer to CJ’s question. Also if I Walk/run then stop for a break/lunch do I stop my watch or does my time include lunch? As you say “SiEntries Team will display your cumulative time” I would assume that you mean only walking /running time . A great idea and looking forward to it. I might try for a place in 2021 or 2022.
I’ve answered CJ’s question so hopefully that makes sense to you.
In summary all we are after if how long it took you to run 36 miles for leg 1.
John Kynaston
Will it be possible to send buff and t Shirt abroad?
Please email Adrian Stott at shop@westhighlandwayrace.org and he will be able to answer your question.
Thanks
John Kynaston
Thanks
Hi John
Can I ask if I complete more than 36 miles by Monday evening do I just record the time for 36 miles or can I enter the additional miles – I’m hoping to do 40 by Monday evening. Thanks
Hi Ruth
Record the time for 36 miles by Monday night and then add the next 4 miles onto the next section.
John
Another daft question sorry . As it’s a race I take it that’s it’s your elapsed time you should submit and not your moving time (so edit strava entry to race or look at analysis ) Hope that makes sense
Hi Ruth
That’s not a daft question at all. In fact I’m going to put a post on the West Highland Way Facebook page to say that runners should mark their run as a race on Strava and so record the elapsed time and not ‘moving time’
Thanks
John
It’s sylvia but I answer to most things haha . That’s great John thanks 😊
Sorry but on the TomTom watch (don’t use Strava), I just have ‘active time’, which I assume is more like ‘moving time’ than ‘elapsed’. But I’ve just read this and can’t go back and retime the segments. For shorter segments (eg 5k), it shouldn’t make much difference as there weren’t any breaks, but for longer segments it definitely would. However, using ‘active’ or ‘moving’ time is effectively just splitting a long segment into several short segments with breaks, which I think is allowed anyhow? Sorry that’s a long one.
Hi Charlotte
It is a personal challenge so record your time in the way it feels right to you. If you run for 20 miles and choose to break it into 4 sections of 5 miles with a rest in between in one then we wouldn’t know because all we ask is you tell us how long it has taken you to run each leg.
I hope you are enjoying the ‘race’
John
Are the 3 checkpoint times local or on Scottish time? I’ll be running in San Francisco Bay Area.
I have entered today is there a map so I can tell my husband where I am on each day approx.
There is a map on this website …
http://167.172.55.100/race-information/route/
Hope that helps
John
Thanks John much appreciated.
Hi, is there medal for completing this virtual run?
Many thanks
Steve
Hi Steve
Sorry no medal but you can buy a t-shirt or buff to celebrate!
John
Will the updates be here as well as not all of us use Facebook?
Good point! Yes I will update on the website after each leg.
John
That is great news thank you John.
Sorry if these have been asked before – do we have to upload to sientries before the cutoff, or is the next morning ok? Not that we intend to be running at midnight but you never know. Also please can you confirm that the checkpoints (midnight Monday) are the end of Monday/start of Tuesday? I’m probably being a bit thick here! Sorry.
Hi Sarah
You will be able to upload to SiEntries the next day. Yes the end of leg 1 is midnight Monday/Tuesday.
John Kynaston
Hi Sarah
I’ve just checked on the SiEntries and you do have to submit your time for each leg by the deadline.
For example you must submit your time for leg 1 (36 miles) by midnight Monday 15th June.
John Kynaston
If I complete it solo would it be possible to buy or add a virtual WHW goblet? Asking for a friend obviously. Great charity too. Raised money for SAMH for last few years now.
Hi Simon
Thanks for your question. At the moment we don’t have any any plans to have goblets available but do checkout the shop for t-shirts and buff that we have available to buy.
John
Hello, just wondering if the runs all need to trail runs?
Hi Andrea
It is a personal challenge so you can do it in the way that suits you. So no not all your runs need to be trail. Enjoy!
John
would it be possible for my rowing club to do this using our on-shore Ergs? Or is it only for “feet on the ground” activities?
Thankyou
Hi Anne
The Virtual whwRace was set up was a running/walking challenge but there is no reason why you can’t do your own challenge alongside ours!
John
I’m thinking of entering. I intend running all of it but if I struggle can I really walk some bits?
It is a personal challenge so you can walk / run as much as you like. I think a lot of people will be walking parts of it so you won’t be alone!
John
Great idea John, keep up the good work. Stay Safe. Max.
Thanks Max
John
Hi team,
I have a question and not sure if already been asked.
I have signed up to do the race solo and been asked to be part of a team.
I have the second leg in the team event and it’s 27 miles. Does that mean I have to go the second stage again in my solo attempt or if I run one 27 mile run can that count both solo and for the team.
Sorry if it’s been asked or silly question.
Cheers
Davie 😊
Hi Davie
Good question but I’m not sure you will like the answer!!
If you are doing it solo and as part of a team you will need to run the middle leg twice! So 27 miles for your solo run and another 27 miles for the team.
So you will end up with 95 miles + 27 miles = 122 miles
Enjoy!
John
When is Midnight Thursday 12th June?! Is it first thing on Thursday morning (00:00) – or is it first thing Friday Morning (00:00)?! The SI Entries site says from Friday 12th so I’m guessing it’s the latter but it’s not obvious. 😀
Hi Paul
The event start on Thursday night midnight which is Friday morning so first thing Friday morning. Sorry if it is not obvious.
Enjoy your race!
John
Hi John. I think you should make this an annual event to run alongside the WHW, for those who can’t get to the race proper, or those who miss out on the ballot. Looking forward to it (although I’m injured so will be walking most if not all of it).
Hi Paul
Now there’s an idea!
John
I really think it is a great idea some of us would love to do the real race but sadly in my case ruptured Achilles would never let me do it.
Just so I can compare to the real deal… what is the total elevation of each leg??
Inversnaid – Leg 1: Total 36 miles
Victoria Bridge – Leg 2: 27 miles, total 63 miles
Fort William – Leg 3: 32 miles, total 92milse
Thanks!
Hi Lynsey
Are you on Facebook? John Munro did a post with all the elevation. Let me know if you can’t see it and I’ll send it to you.
John Kynaston
woop woop!!! thank you. I have found it 🙂
I think I know answer to this but thought I’d check. If a runner were to complete 95 miles, with at least 14,000 feet elevation, within 30 hours, with GPS proof (Garmin Connect, Strava etc.) would you validate them for 5 UTMB Points and Western Stated qualifier? Thanks
Hi James
Sorry but we won’t be able to validate UTMB points as it is not a continuous run.
John
Hi John
Dave here. Just clocked you can walk some of it so considering entering.
Question: do you have to do 36 miles between midnight this Thursday and midnight Monday 15 June, then 27 miles in the time period midnight Mon 15 June to midnight Thursday 18 June, then a further 32 miles between midnight Thur 18 June and midday Sunday 21 June?
For example, I realise I would have to run the first 36 by Monday 15 June, but say then I wanted to do 40 miles between midnight Monday and midnight Thursday then the final 19 by midday Sunday, would that be okay?
Capiche?
Dave
Hi Dave
Thanks for your question. Basically it is a personal challenge and so you can work it out the way you want. We are keen to avoid encouraging people to run too far in one go so that is the reason that we have divided it up into legs. If you want to run 40 miles in leg 2 that’s fine. Just record your time for 27 miles and ‘bank’ the 13 miles for leg 3.
John
2020 Mens West Highland Way Tee
The medium size is out of stock – will you be getting more in?
Hi Stuart
I’ve emailed Adrian Stott who is in charge of the shop and I’ll let you know asap!
John
Hi Stuart
I’ve heard back from Adrian. He’s waiting to see what interest there is on doing a third order. The first two orders sold out! It needs to be worthwhile as the order needs to be fairly large.
Keep your eye out on the shop page
John
For the open relay can the leg distance be made up from multiple runners. So 36 each doing 12 before Monday. Cheers Scott.
Hi Scott
Basically the key thing is between your teams members you have to run 36 miles so either if you have 3 members you all run 12 miles or if you have 6 members in an open relay you could all run 6 miles. OR 1 person could run 20 miles and the other members run 16 miles between them. OR 1 person could run 36 miles for leg 1 and a second team member runs the 27 miles for leg 2. Basically it’s up to you how you organise your team. As you long as between you you cover the distance!
John
Is it ok to do some of the running on a treadmill?
Hi Ann-Marie
Yes that fine. It’s a personal challenge so you set the rules!
I hope it’s going well so far.
John
I did not enter because I didn’t think I could complete the distance in the time. However I gave myself the challenge and I have run 75 miles so far! Thank you for the inspiration and I hope you have a virtual race next year too. I will make a donation to SAMH.
Well done Rhoda
Keep going and thanks for the donation.
John Kynaston
Do you know when the t-shirts and buffs will be back in stock?
Hi Gillian
Adrian ordered a new stock of t-shirts so what is available on the race shop is what is available.
John Kynaston