Meet Our Supporters: Rachel Runs the West Highland Way

Meet Our Supporters: Rachel Runs the West Highland Way

As September drew to a close, the pitter patter of footsteps sounded an epic success for Rachel Owens as she completed her 100 mile run along the West Highland Way.

Rachel’s huge endurance challenge covered 96 miles (155km) with 3,155m of ascent along the famous trail, plus “a wee 4 mile top up to make it a nice round 100.”

Her goal was to raise £2,500 – the average cost of a mountain rescue call-out – in support of our volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams. By the time she crossed the finish line in Fort William, Rachel had exceeded her target – raising over £3,000 for Scottish Mountain Rescue.

And thanks to matched funding from her workplace, Rachel has now doubled her total, taking her fundraising to over £6,000 – an incredible achievement that will make a real difference to our volunteer teams across Scotland.

From her childhood in the Trossachs to a career at sea and now a love of long-distance trail running, Rachel has always had a deep connection to Scotland’s wild landscapes. This challenge was her way of giving something back to those who keep adventurers safe in the outdoors she loves.

We are incredibly grateful for Rachel’s dedication – from her tireless fundraising efforts to the resilience it took to keep running day after day, even when things got tough. We caught up with her shortly after her journey to hear more about her story and what inspired her mammoth challenge.

Rachel at the start of the West Highland Way

Can you tell me more about yourself?

I am from the Trossachs originally and spent my childhood bouncing up the hills with my family (including dogs!). We were always a pretty outdoors-y family; my mum, originally from Fife, has always been much more at home outside than in, and adores the solitude and beauty of the hills; my Dad was born in Canada but brought up in the mountains of Vaud in Switzerland and a Swiss Alpine Club member.

Rachel pouring a whisky on Ben A’an in memory of her Dad. It was his favourite hill and he climbed it as long as he was able to.

I was a deck officer in the merchant navy and spent just shy of 18 years at sea before coming ashore in 2021 to work for a shipping company.

Why did you decide to fundraise for Scottish Mountain Rescue? 

My first outdoor skills course when I was a wee girl was run by the sadly late, but always great, Sandy Seabrook from Lomond MRT. My first job was waitressing in a pub, The Trossachs Inn, where the owner had a massive swear jar on the bar that raised money for Lomond MRT (and let me tell you, it raised A LOT). One of my brothers was a member of Lomond MRT for a time and I have quite a few friends across multiple MRTs too. It was always instilled in me from a young age that this incredible and vital service requires support and fundraising to keep being able to do what they do.

As a seafarer, I raised money for Lifeboats and as a regular mountain and hill enjoyer I raised money for the Mountain Rescue.

When I told a friend who is a MRT member about this challenge he commented “That you paying for your inevitable rescue in advance, aye?”

Tell us more about your challenge…

To “run” the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William over 6 consecutive days + an extra few miles to make a nice even 100 miles. Until January this year the furthest I had run in one go was 8 miles.

What kind of preparation or training did you do for your challenge?

I did a lot of trail running and strength training. I very upsettingly got injured in May and had to take 2 months off which really messed up my preparation. But when approaching a challenge like this, the physical side is actually not the biggest part of training. It’s the mental side. You can be the fittest and strongest person around but if you can’t force yourself to put one foot in front of the other every day for 6 days when you’re in pain then you will fail.

I managed to hurt my ankles/feet on day 3 from Rowardennan to Crianlarich.

“Tape + painkillers + support from my amazing wife + utter refusal to quit got me through the next 3 days.”

Have to say though, day 5 Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven was the best running day I’ve ever had in my life despite the pain, elevation gain, and distance. Unbelievably beautiful from start to finish!

Scenery from Day 5 – starting the descent to Kinlochleven

What was the hardest and most rewarding thing about the fundraising?

The hardest things for me were asking for help when I needed it, it’s not something that comes naturally to me, and asking people to contribute to a fundraiser during a cost of living crisis.

The most rewarding thing was managing to raise more than my target!

What’s next for Rachel?

RECOVERY!!

When I arrived at Fort William on the Thursday I said to my wife that I am never ever doing this again. Ever. On the Saturday afterwards I saw an ultra called Devil O’ The Highlands which follows the WHW from Tyndrum to Fort William so looks like I’ll be entering that next time…

I was introduced to the term “Type 2 Fun” during this challenge – something which is in no way fun or enjoyable at all at the time, but when looking back on it you forget all the pain and misery and just see the fun and beauty of it all! This challenge was definitely that. Although, I can honestly say that there is nothing on this planet that will make me do that route up loch Lomond side ever again!

Looking back down Loch Lomond

Thank you Rachel for sharing your brilliant story with us, and for your incredible determination and support.

Your fundraising helps our volunteer teams continue their vital work – saving lives and reuniting lost and injured hillwalkers with their loved ones.

We wish you all the best with your recovery, and hope you’re as proud of yourself as we are. ♥

All the very best for your next adventure, and we’ll be cheering you on for the Devil O’ The Highlands!

All images above kindly supplied by Rachel