A COACH from North Ayrshire Athletics Club this week spoke of her pride and relief following her completion of the West Highland Way at the weekend.

The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most popular and successful long distance trail and was officially opened on 6 October 1980. The course runs from Milngavie to Fort William, a staggering distance of 95 miles. Over the course of the race runners will climb 14,760 ft.

Lesley completed this run in a little over 25 hours, a fantastic achievement.

She said: "West Highland Way race done! Lucky enough to have completed this amazing event, so very pleased to collect my goblet this morning at prize giving. 

"At times I underestimated the race and the unforgiving terrains. I most definitely never planned for the amount of midges en route. Super weather, fantastic support and patience from my support team, the lovely Geraldine and Rachel, had a great run until around 90 miles when I started to get way too cold and very disorientated, confused and hallucinations kicked in. My crew found me four miles from the finish and ensured I got to Fort William before quite literally collapsing over the finish line. I'm sure I swore last night I would never do this again but I'll be in next years ballot! I would very much like to thank my fantastic support team, Geraldine McDowall and Rachel Fraser for their absolutely invaluable help and for giving up their weekend to come along.

"The highlight of the race for me was the beautiful sunrise as I approached Balmaha, one of the bonuses of starting in the early hours. I loved the vast openness of Rannoch Moor and the opportunity to get a good run in there, the challenge of the hills, Conic hill and the Devils Staircase and the final climb up over the Mamores before the descent into Fort William. The race is a prestigious one in the ultra marathon calendar and attracts runners from all over the world, it has a race family like no other, runners, race directors, supporters, marshals and crew come together and look after one another until the last runner crosses the line.”