Run The Highlands

27/11/2024

25 % off untill Sunday on our winter skills courses with the code HELLOWINTER

https://www.runthehighlands.com/winter-skills-for-runners

19/11/2024

👋🏻 Winter ❄️🏔️🏃🏽

Stunning conditions on this classic mountain route today but who knows which one we were on?

Not many folk about but plenty of tracks criss-crossing the mountainsides. You’ve got to be pretty hard to survive up there in these temps, brrrr!

Fancy yourself running up high on days like these? Join us on a Winter Skills for Runners course and discover how.

17/11/2024

Where did you run this weekend? ❄️🏔️

Here in the Highlands the temperature has plumeted, snow has fallen and our team have been out making the most of the mountains.

Some stunning views between the showers but bitterly cold up high. -5 degrees C was recorded on the weather station just below Aonach Mor summit.

Is winter here to stay? Watch this space!

11/11/2024

It’s a kinda magic ❄️🏔️☀️🏃🏽‍♀️

What’s your favourite sort of trail day? ❄️🏔️❄️

This is ours 👆🏻 TBT a winter trail run last year on the most glorious of blue sky, frosty morning, sunshine and snow days. We’re keeping everything crossed for more runs like this soon.

If you’d like to learn more about what running in winter can be like. How to grow your skills and confidence to head for the trails and mountains year round. And grab some top tips for winter training…

Join us for a special event THIS Thursday.

We’ll be Fort William hosting a social run at 6pm followed by a winter run themed ‘Knowledge Night’.

See you there?

04/11/2024

Finish line feels 🏁

Soggy, sweaty, dirty, tired, happy, relived, joyous… the photos say it all.

Just over a week has passed since we crossed that finish line and the dust is still settling, or should we say the mud is still drying?

Pushing your limits, trying hard, going beyond is where you are set to learn so much. We all certainly took a lot from this experience and are already planning how to put it to good use.

Is it about time you stepped out of your comfort zone again? Winter is fast approaching here in the Highlands which makes for a great learning environment.

Check out our winter events and courses and join us to expand your boundaries ❄️🏔️🏃🏽

📸 from team

28/10/2024

We did it 🏃🏽🏃🏽‍♀️💪🏻

Thanks everyone for your support & good vibes over the weekend. The team are stoked to report we all made it over the finish line at The OMM Mountain Marathon.

Given that 3/4 of us had never experienced the event before this is no mean feat.

The OMM is not just a mountain race. It’s a mountain race that seeks out the gnarliest, boggiest, tussockiest, steepest, untracked landscapes and plots a route right through the middle of them. A route that is not marked, nor entirely defined, and competitors must navigate their own way around the course, collecting check points as they go.

We can’t tell you how welcome the sight of each one of those orange and yellow flags was!

Oh yeah and did we mention that it’s a 2 day self supported event with the overnight being at a remote camp spot. Meaning not only do you have to cover the ground you also have to carry everything needed to survive for 48 hours out in the wilds.

On the A Course Sally and Anna covered around 60km and 5000m ascent over the 2 days. They were one of only 7 female pairs to run in this category which just shows how important representation still is.

They were very of glad their strong nav skills, years of practice of bumbling about random hillsides and ability to keep laughing despite being stuck in the bog for the umpteenth time.

Meanwhile in the Elite lineup George and Robin clocked up 84.5km and 6000m ascent. This was George’s third attempt at completing the Elite OMM but it wasn’t going to come easy.

The team moved fast and strong together but the wheels almost came off on the second day when a nav error cost them precious time. They ran their socks off and in a nail biting end crossed the finish line with no seconds to spare!!

This event is so much more than just running. It tests everything - physical fitness, mental strength, teamwork, logistics, problem solving, resilience, humour - you need it all. Completing the weekend is an achievement in itself and we are all extremely chuffed to have done so.

Huge thanks to team for putting together such a well thought out,welcoming and supportive event. Will we be back next year? Almost certainly 🙌🏻

25/10/2024

IT'S RACE WEEKEND!! 😆

Three of the team - Anna, George and Sally - along with Robin, have headed down to Glen Artney to take part in

There's six different courses to choose from. George and Robin are on the Elite Line course, while Anna and Sally are on the A Line course.

We're in for two days navigating around some of the finest lumpy, bumpy, boggy mountains in the country. Can't wait!!

If you want to follow our wanderings there'll be a link in our story.

Wish us luck! 😄

14/10/2024

The most notable things about this 👆🏻 list?

They are all words largely associated with our mental rather than physical well-being. Of course the two are inextricably intertwined but running is so much more than simply exercising our muscles.

Save this list for next time you are lacking the motivation to get out the door. How could you not run to the trails when all these things are waiting for you 🙌🏻

09/10/2024

Trail time 👣🙌🏻

We had a great afternoon out with a local runner who is keen to build their skills and confidence on the trails.

They’ve got their sights set on some of ‘s Winter League races so a recce of the Cow Hill circuit route made for the perfect playground.

We looked at skills for efficient ascending and descending on all types of trail. As well as talking race strategy and of course taking time to enjoy the stunning autumn views. It’s great to see how much someone’s confidence and ability can come on in just a couple of hours.

If you’ve got a route or running ambition in mind but don’t feel confident to achieve it alone then get in touch. We’d love to help!

07/10/2024

This looks like a great event, maybe see some of you there?

Demo the latest footwear from Salomon

04/10/2024

What do you get when you combine mountain running, excellent food and Italian history?

You get the 🇮🇹🤤⛰️

Sure, some people raced the 43km and 3000m of vert, finishing in sub 5 hours, but for me, it was all about enjoying the running, the views, and the delicious food!

The running was fun and techy, and the route was spectacular, with stunning views the whole way. Along the way, we visited 8 rifugios, each offering tasty Italian snacks, and the final climb was up through Lagazuoi tunnel, one of the many WWI tunnels that can be found throughout the Dolomites.

I'm trying my best to make more environmentally conscious decisions, and part of that is to not travel just for a race, but to tie it in with something else too. Like a holiday. And I'm so glad this is a 3 week trip because the Dolomites need waaaaay more time than a single weekend!! 😍

23/09/2024

Mental health matters ⛰️🌿🥾

We had a great time a little while back supporting a ‘Walk and Talk’ event for as part of World Su***de Prevention Day. A big thanks to for having the vision for this project and bringing it all together.

Getting outside is so important for our mental as well as our physical health. The Glencoe weather was certainly a good test for resilience in the pouring rain but you never regret time spent outside. Whatever the weather.

It doesn’t matter what speed you move at, what matters is the movement and the views whilst you do it 🙌🏻

We are looking forward to working more with this team over the coming months and helping to improve access to the outdoors for lots of folk who work in the construction industry across the Highlands.

09/09/2024

Would you like the skills and confidence to enjoy hills and trails year round? 🏃🏽🏔️🏃🏽‍♀️

Join us this winter for a two day course aimed at enabling you to do just that.

Winter can be a difficult time to keep running motivation up. Day light hours are short, the weather unpredictable and underfoot conditions challenging.

It’s also the season when getting out for a run becomes ever more important to keep us happy and healthy.
​
This course is aimed at anyone who would like to run on trails and in mountains year round. It will help you gain the skills and experience needed to stay safe in the winter mountains, give you the confidence to keep running year round, and enable you to make sound decisions when winter mountain running.

Content includes:

❄️ a running or walking journey through a winter mountain environment

❄️skills for moving safely & efficiently over snow & ice

❄️where, when and how to use crampons, micro-spikes and ice axe

❄️winter running kit and mountain safety essentials

❄️ understanding mountain weather & avalanche risk

❄️tips, tricks and advice on how to train and fuel for winter runs

❄️how to plan an appropriate route for a variety of winter conditions

❄️winter navigation strategies

You do not need to be super fit to benefit from these weekends. You should be comfortable with running up to 10km with some ascent, the pace will be very relaxed, and a lot of the weekend will be walking.

The aim is to increase your skills, experience and confidence in a winter mountain environment. This will be the focus and as such we will not be covering big distances and will only be running if safe to do so.

Full details, dates & booking are live on our website now.

17/08/2024

Winter Skills for Runners ❄️🏔️⛏️

We’ve thought long and hard about how to offer a winter skills course for runners.

The Run the Highlands team is pretty unique in that we have a wealth of winter mountain running experience AND the qualifications to match.

We all spend a lot of time training and running through the winter and taking this into snowy mountain environments as much as possible.

As well as our personal competence and are qualified Winter Mountain Leaders with many years experience between them helping people build the knowledge, skills and experience to access Scottish winter.

specialises in coaching people to run in extreme environments and there isn’t much about how to train and motivate yourself for winter that he hasn’t studied.
e.fisher is well on his way to becoming a Winter Mountain Leader and has countless hours of experience of winter in Scotland and how running sits alongside this.

We’ve put all of this together and come up with a course aimed at anyone who would like to run on the trails and mountains year round. It builds in loads of flexibility to make sure we can offer a brilliant weekend whatever the weather and conditions because we all know winter can be fickle.

It will help you gain the skills and experience needed to stay safe in the winter mountains, give you the confidence to keep running year round, and enable you to make sound decisions when winter mountain running.

We’ll share lots more on all the details in the coming weeks. If you’re interested head on over to our website for all the info or drop a comment below and we’ll send you the link.

Now lets go get excited for winter 🙌🏻

25/07/2024

Let’s talk Trail snacks 🥨🍫🥪🍬

Help us settle a debate here at Run The Highlands HQ. What’s the best on the go snack?

is all about the sweet most often seen in possession of a mars bar or snickers, whereas is always to be found with a cheese wrap in her pocket!

We know there is no one answer to this question. Nutrition is such a personal thing, you have to experiment to find what works for you.

Give us some inspiration for what to try next. Share your go to running snacks in the comments 😀

10/07/2024

Check out our blog for some inspiration for your next trail running adventure 🙌🏻

Our pick of 5 of Scotland's best trail running routes. From scenic glens and tranquil lochans to rugged mountain tops.

08/07/2024

New Dates 🙌🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏽⛰️

We’ve had a lot of requests for more dates for our Trail Running Weekend. We’ve shuffled around busy schedules and added not 1, but 3, more weekends for you to chose from!

🗓️ 24/25th August
🗓️ 28/29th September
🗓️ 19/20th October

Lochaber is home to some of the best trail running in Scotland. Come join us for a weekend full of guided runs, tips and tricks to improve your running and loads of quality time on the trails with like-minded folk.

We will cover around 10 - 15km each day at a relaxed pace. The focus will be on exploring the landscape rather than pushing the speed.

No previous experience of trail running is required, just a willingness to give it a go.

21/06/2024

Was great to be interviewed by Daily Mail about extreme fitness and Run The Highlands a chance to share with others what we are trying to achieve in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Wild Roots Highland Guiding Apexx Training George Fisher

AS THE Scottish summer reaches its peak, there will be a collective dusting-off of hiking boots around the country.