Winning is the part everyone sees.

The pressure beforehand, the difficult decisions, the quiet conversations between crew members, the volunteers standing in the rain, and the moments when an athlete is wondering whether they can keep going are much easier to miss.

After spending the weekend crewing for Gus as he defended his West Highland Way Race title, Paul and John sat down to compare notes. The conversation begins with the race itself but soon broadens into something much bigger.

They discuss how defending a title feels very different from chasing one, the responsibility that comes with supporting an athlete through difficult moments, and the fine line between coaching, crewing and simply being a friend.

Along the way they reflect on what makes the ultrarunning community so special, why races can bring out both the best and worst in people, and the stories that rarely make it onto social media.

This is the first of what we hope will become a regular series of conversations between two friends, coaches and long-time observers of the ultra running world.

• How this year's West Highland Way Race felt different from last year
• The pressure of defending a race title
• Crewing Gus through a difficult day
• The differences between coaching and crewing
• What spectators and social media rarely see
• The role of volunteers and support crews
• Community, belonging and friendship in ultrarunning
• Why racing often reveals more than finishing times

Paul Giblin is an ultra runner, coach and founder of Pyllon Ultra.

You can connect with Paul here:

Website: https://pyllonultra.com

Substack: https://pyllon.substack.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pyllon

Pyllon Ultra: https://instagram.com/pyllonultra

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pyllon