Race across Scotland 2025

Ed Payne

(Photo credit - Dan Bentley)

Picture the scene… Its 10am the morning after the days before. I’m sitting on a sofa in an Air B & B somewhere in England, the dread is staring to sink in, my feet are still a mess but my head is getting outta of my control. Last night I DNF’d the Summer Spine race, blisters had arrived and I hobbled off course, tail firmly between my legs shown a lesson but a route it turns out I wasn’t ready for! Sitting here now I recall a brief chat I had with a runner a few days ago as we shared a few early Km’s together, he mentioned a race he was aiming for later in the year, Race Across Scotland he called it. I googled, there was a waiting list, my heart lifted, have I found an out I wondered. I flicked an email explaining where I was and why I was there. Sent. A reply less than 48hrs later and a ticket paid for less than 10 days later. I was back in the game, I had 215 miles locked in for early August. All I needed now was everything else.

I stand now on the West coast of Scotland, a little sleepy tourist town brought to life at very early on the 9^th of August as 160 odd lunatics attempt to find out what is takes to go sea to sea. We had made it, I’d built a team, got work sorted, nursed a sore back and 9 minutes before the kick-off I remember I haven’t told Insta much about what’s going on. I sneak out the back of the group and take multiple attempts to get my point across… I’m off to run across Scotland, I’m nervous, I’m feeling ok but wondering when the 100 miler two weeks ago will come back to bite and I’ll see ya when I see ya!

My crew was made up of Robbie, yep your spot on, the same cousin Robbie who brought me safely across Ireland last June. Member two was Salim, a Moroccan/Italian working with me on the farm and had crewed me most of the way through the Beara way earlier this year. I knew them both, they didn’t know each other…. They do now! I was quietly confident I had created something special with these two, their strengths complimented each other’s and their weaknesses were few. What’s App group made, travel plans, running goals, sleep targets, eating and drinking all explained with my usual brief but to the point manor (unlike my race reports I hear you moan).

The musketeers united in Belfast ahead of boarding a ferry to Stranraer. We dined on the far side and did the big shop, on route to bag check now, everything going to good to be true….. Dunk as the car randomly drops gear, turn it off, turn it on…. Fixed. “That was strange” Robbie tenses slightly, its cool I say, we’re good. Few mins pass, the air has a wait on it…….. Dunk, car drops the gear, seems to not like third. Ok I say, we need a garage. Robbie sorts it, GPS destination changes, I turn the car, we are all tense now. First garage, piss off (Politely) second garage were as helpful as they could be at 4:30 of a Friday evening with the sun shining and lads calling for beer gardens. Man had a look, Ipad plugged in, we got the news…. She’s sick, you could lose third gear, you could lose every second gear…… I only had one question, “Could we lose all the gears?” Apparently the Ipad wasn’t any better at telling the future than you average Paddy Power customer. We all agreed, She had brought us this far, in this car we trust. Lets roll!!

That we did, we rolled into Portpatrick like we owned the place, bag check… boom, House check-in…. Tick tick, more food….. on it now.  Number collection, and if you run a few of this events you’ll know that you leave your name at number collection, for the next few days I was no longer Ed, Farmer Ed or Runfarmrepeat anyone… I was 131 and I was ok with that.

Back to the house, our 3 way dynamic finding its flow now. I knew the gates of hell lay ahead of us all, a team building exercise HR would give their right arm to duplicate. So I tried to keep it light and keep the tasks few and clear. Never mention quitting, NEVER! Be there, Feed me, Water me, explain it to me….. twice, maybe three times, ask it back from me if you need. Charge my batteries (Phone and Watch), when its dark make sure I have enough batteries to be able to see. The plan was not to sleep at all, push the current 55 hour limit, find a new 55. The top 25 get a goal buckle, lets get one of those but lets not be silly and I’m here to finish, we are here to finish, end of, job to be done.

I’ve sent that Insta post now, the world knows where I am and so does my Mum so let’s do this! I try to squeeze back up through the pack, its gets harder to find space, I chicken out saying to myself I’m probably among my people here. 2 mins left. Bagpipes and drums still playing in front of us, they walk away, it’s getting real, a last chat from the man on the mic, we cheer!! The sun isn’t long up, the sky bright, the air warm and the Irish sea dances to the tune of the pipes. We have dancing shoes on too but I’m here to dance with the North sea, she on the other side of the floor playing hard to get, I’m nervous!! 3,2,1 Go. Crowds cheer, pipes play and drums bang, and I reach to my wrist and listen  for that comforting Garmin beep as I start the activity both physically and electronically.

Up we go, lots ahead of me, my instant thoughts go to wondering when will this trail open to double and I can stretch a little. The chat is good though, the pace nice… “Done this before?” “Know much of the route?” “Come far for the race?” and the most important one…… “Done the distance before?” The chats were good, I flowed from runner to runner, we spoke running, work life, family life, love life, real life and what brought us here to this place, goals and aspirations etc. I’m a nosey fecker and always ask more than I answer… an occupational hobby of mine! I had no idea where I sat but a couple of hours in and heading to CP 1 I bumped into the man responsible for me being here, yes my Spine finishing friend from June, he has pedigree, I knew now I was getting to the thin end of the wedge. I’ve said it before but the chat is the same all over the field, only up here they won’t tell ya much about this race and what they do tell you can add a little salt. You’re in a race up here, mental reminder, you didn’t come to race, racing and finishing often don’t go hand in hand for me I remind myself.

Into Cp1 I go, the boys are ready, the chat is good, the mood is up, we’ve started now, the only way out is through!! Ham or jam sandwiches the food of choice,  I leave with gels for out there leave and a hand full of peanuts, it’s like clockwork so far. Big gap till I see the lads now. No crew aloud anywhere between CP1 and CP3, they have a plan and head off to get sorted for the night/nights ahead and see me at CP3. I leave CP1 and drop into step with an absolute gentleman, it really isn’t hard to find sound folk in a 200 miler. My research has found that the more KM’s to be completed in a race reduces the chances of meeting a twat by direct corelation… but don’t get me wrong, there is always one and sometimes it probably me!! However this was a gentleman and we discussed cheese, I love cheese, he knew more about cheese than me but when he told me there is tasty American cheese I said it as I saw it…. Ah here, your pulling the piss now!!

Day 1 rolled on, I met a couple  I knew, I met plenty I know now, we moved well, one man had a near fatal accident years ago and he has seen the light, more to life that material we discussed. I thought while I agree, a newer car with all its gears working is a piece of material I’m into right about now!! Mr cheese and myself stomped a bit with the army dude, he tone was strong, confident. The more I asked the more I wanted to know, 10 years in the army now, 14 more ahead, but it was his story that brought him to the army that we dived into, he spoke freely now,  drug abuse, lots of abuse, regrets, rebuilds but what a life built for himself from there. He was and should be proud, not that and I keep saying it, my view has any merit but he should be proud!! He finished, there was never a doubt.

The day moved on and CP3 came to meet us, a long out and back, I was in the teens position wise, happy, gold buckle plan still comfortable. To get to CP3 was a long out and back. First place was already all done and back ahead of me when I turned onto the out and back so I didn’t see him but I got to see everyone else ahead of me (Yes I’m competitive, a leopard, spots, you know the story). At this point I had figured many of these people were new to 200 miles, many stepping up from 100 and if I know anything I know that 200 miles is twice as far and 100 and this baby was a 220 miler. I saw lads striding out like the it was 9:30 on a Saturday morning! I thought to myself, relax Ed, don’t judge, these lads could be beasts and if they are then get to admiring cause you are watching some cool shit, and if not, still relax cause this course will eat some of these with electrolytes on top.

The chats continued and I started to gather a picture of what lay ahead in regards of the course, CP4-5 hilly, boggy, marathon distance, hard to navigate, a pure slog. I was getting a picture alright, a bloody ugly one. “What’s after that?” I enquired…. It gets worse it was confirmed to me. CP5 to six is short but hilly, and then say nothing about CP6 to 7 is long, 20 miles and really hilly as the man form the German shop used his hands, fingers flattened and stretched out pointing them to the sky, then down as he points them to the floor, up again and he whips his elbow and points his fingers skyward again. He repeated this ritual multiple times, drawing my attention to how each hill was steeper and steeper, still explaining with use of  more dramatic angles at the elbow. He all but stopped to drive it home that the last of these hills and gestures were the steepest, his arm, palm and figures now nearly perpendicular to the floor at this stage. I looked to my feet, wondering could I manage to forget all of what I had just heard. I rarely have time to reece a course and sometimes feel it wrecks the surprise on the day….. this last conversation had been a surprise and wrecked the buzz at the time. The only positive I could muster was that surely if I could make it to CP7 the climbing would be done, the average would be downhill, for the record I was wrong.

CP4 came now, still a bit of light and we headed into the unknown, the hilly bog awaited. Myself and the man from the German shop swapped a word or two that confirmed we were gonna do this together, into the fold we went. I was loaded with pizza at this point, bananas in my pack, gels and caffeine, I was prepared. We rolled together and the running knowledge I was joined by was fantastic, he had experience, I listened, he shared, I learnt. We openly discussed plans, there were no games here, we were in the bog section, a marathon to drag our arses through, no time for petty games or tactics, we became friends. If you were there, you’d understand. I remember we dropped down at one point and met crew, refill, refuel, more pizza, restock the gels and bananas and into the fold we go again.

CP5 found us and I could mentally tick off one of the tough sections, trust me a night time marathon distance bog and hill section is one you wanna tick off the list, it’s a win that can give your heart a well needed lift. Sunday and sunrise brought the legs back to action, I moved again, the sun like oil on my joints! I knew I had hills ahead but I was ready again. The lads were on point, we were chilling, it felt easy, the mood was good, they were steering me well, clear notes, clear voice messages, lifting what they could from me, we were chilling!! Short section to CP6 but long hills, drags. I like these, power hike mode set and we just go. German shop was staring to limp now, two pain free knees a key component to completion and he was down to one. No words needed this time just a gap allowed to open, no chat coming from behind, no noise now, no sign.

Shit am I racing, either way I’m in forth now and not many would believe me if I said I got here without racing, maybe I am I asked myself, well top 25 is safe for a while yet I thought. Up and up, where are you CP6?? Found it, in I go, 3^rd is here, he looks ok…. Shit, I am racing! Rinse and repeat, food, pizza, sandwiches, pack the bananas and gels… do you want peanuts? I don’t know, do I? Oh no, I’m going off my food, ya I’ll take them I need to take them, the up down up down figures demonstration section lies ahead, I eat a couple, feel like puking and return the remainder. Oh now I’m losing the stomach, Stop racing ya twat.

It didn’t disappoint, 20 miles of hell, we reached the highest part of the course, all down hill from here I told myself, shortly after I hated myself!! Just keep moving I told myself, pick it up, put it down, you can see the top, don’t stop moving forward, momentum, we just need momentum. Not to mention the downhills, too step to run, step enough to wreck every remaining muscle you had held in reserve. I repeated this for what felt like 5, 10, 15 hills. I got annoyed at the hills, then at myself for being annoyed at them, then I stopped and that drove me mad so I took another step and then hated that I instantly wanted to stop again. But every hill had a top, every valley a bottom and I found them all and shuffled my way into CP7.

The plan was to find a new 55, see how far I could push the sleep away but whether I had got it right pre event or the hills on Sunday proved too much for the first time in a long time I have to find a bench during Monday, lay my pack down as a pillow, set a 15 min alarm and close my eyes. 14 mins later I jumped up a new man, my faith restored in 15 min naps and I powered up the route, moving and flowing again. Monday didn’t change much, the hills they just kept coming, Cp 7 to 8 was vicious at times, switch backs up and down. The scenery though can’t go unmentioned, it was breath-taking, vast, spectacular. I looked up as much as I could trying to pull myself out of the race and have a look around, I was rewarded every time I managed it.

I left CP8 in third place and in a race, not the plan but if the cookie crumbles then lets go!! Happy at this point to take 3^rd (Honestly) and very aware there was some deep pockets experience wise behind me, no less than Anna Troup was every looking like a dot that could do damage! Into night two we were going, what sleep lay ahead of me and how little could I do with? Darkness robbed the views my energy levels, I reached CP9 and met 2^nd place as he left to take to more hills, I should have slept here (hindsight is handy that way) but I didn’t, I ate, a bit, brushed my teeth, discovered why it is a 215 mile race that actually has 220 miles in it. I restocked, mood checked the crew and they did the same for me and I excited. I instantly got thrown to the hills again, a long drag, poles in hand and a march on.

I was sleepy though, stopping to rest my head on top of my poles too often for my liking. I’ll have to sleep, its dark, that’s a help, it’s raining, that’s an inconvenience. Bag off, jacket off, lay the jacket down, (No one like a wet arse) pile of harvested tree trunks offer some shelter, sit down, rest my head back against the end of the trunks, stretch the legs out, set the alarm, 10 mins will do. Darkness. Woken to a rustle, turn on head torch, fox goes looking for something a little more dead than me. I squeak to a stand and mosey on. Still tired, that didn’t work. Rest head on poles, moving is slow, I’ve wasted time, try again? Keep going, I’m sleep running now, hallucinations are active, its cats this time, I’m not a cat person but the choice isn’t mine!! I’ll have to try again, I’m too tired, I’m not going anywhere, am I? It’s still raining, I’m higher now, its colder here. I have to though. Jacket off, no trees here, path has a high back on one side, Jacket on floor, bag back on so as I sit down I rest it on the bank and it pushed up against the back of my head and cause I have it over my shoulders it cant get away from me and slips in as an acceptable make shift pillow. Cant get legs comfy, they are cold, I need this I tell myself, set 10 more on clock. Darkness.

That one didn’t go much better either and I woke up, cold and wet but no more sleep was aloud, I had to warm up. I ran as I could, a time passed, an hour maybe two and I dropped down and me the lads, walked right up and into the passenger seat. Seat you alarm for 10 mins please Robbie I need sleep. 10 more done, And this was what was to be my last sleep of the event, 45 mins done and dusted, I put on my warm jacket and told them I’d see them at CP10

CP10 was a magic place, I felt great, the sun filled the sky again and I was back at it, life flowed into me again, the darkness and misery I have been through hours earlier were forgotten, I ate well, drank plenty. Monday now and we were moving through this. I left CP10 thinking, lets just get a wiggle on!! And that I did. Not long later I saw a body in the distance, 2^nd, Stop racing…. Too late. He stood aside, we exchanged a few pleasantries, we discussed how out and done we both were and just holding on. I thought, you caught him, now you got to lose him, lift it for 5/10 and you’ll have a little gap. I dropped the hammer, ran the ups, pushed the flats. A glance back and there he was, oh ok, not enough, lift again, I pushed the ups, pushed the flats and strided into the downs, I was eating ground. Looked again, must be gone now…. There he was. Then I did it, I dropped the hammer good and proper, I lite every candle, all the ups, the flat were race pace, the downs were dangerous. 6 min kms flashed up, legs burned, arms screamed, my head knew I was running in red but no one was listening, I threw it all at it and some.

I jumped onto the phone sending a message to say I wont be stopping at CP11, in, out, go. I need a gap to work with. Arrangement made and no sign of my tail I raced into CP10, I thought, turned on my heel and there he was as I walked out, Time for a fist bump as we crossed paths and to the shock of many, off I went. Trotting through town trying to get a read on my body and the extent of the damage I had just rained down on myself. 60km remained and I needed to get operation systems cooled down. No candles left but hopefully he was relaxing and a gap opening. I glance back and he is 10 paces back and trots out past me. I step in, my eyes dull I’m sure, I’m now back where I began but only now I’m down and out. 1km later a blister explodes on my little toe, Spine nightmares fill my head, demons flow in looking to sniff a weakness. Robbie is ahead, we badly tape it up, change socks and I hobble away. Is it over I wonder, will I hold third, will I finish even 5 or 6^th, will I finish? I walking, gate altered, pain behind my shin now, left leg. Jen rows in, lift it, move it, you can do it! I shuffle, the pain resides, clip a few km, toe not sore now. Then whip lash my right knee wont bend, why did I drop the F’ing hammer?? Short grass and tar is ok, I can drag the foot through, long grass is hard at a walk, cant get the foot up and over. Jen rows in, 50km, move, shift, go, one step, one step…… you paid for this thing, this is fun for you, live it, live it now!!

I lift and drag, I wince, I scream, I weep, I hope and wish for my watch to move quicker but I get up and over the top and down to CP12 the last, plenty of road remains and I might get moving there. CP12 is the same, I’m in and out, Anna is coming now and I’m can’t hang. Quick chat with the lads, restock, replan and move. I am moving, the knee is bending, its not pain free but its not as painful. I’m running now, it’s slow but it’s a run. I can hold this, I might just get 3^rd. Moving, I’m moving. I admire the farmland, the stock and then bump into a farmer moving what must have been 150 ewes, I stopped to chat, he knew about the race, and sheep. We chatted, he was a tonic, I kept moving. Short time later and as I watch read 19km remaining, I checked, I came around a corner to see 2^nd place right there. I was really moving now, back on it, knee sore but finish was locked in and the mind is a wild and wonderful thing when it needs to be. I ran out passed him, now his eyes were glazed. As I said a leopard isn’t in the habit of changing so I dialled in again, I gave all I had, I had very little but I emptied it out there and then, the road and trail fell below me and I ate it up. 16km now and I was second. I left Ireland happy to finish, I started, happy to hit sub 25^th. I was running now for second and that is what I did. I ran until the lads could tell me with confidence I was safe and then I walked, I soaked it in, I came through a forest, caught up to a climbing mountain biker and burst her bubble by first catching her and then telling her my run started on the other side of the country, that was a low blow and I regret it and wish I could apologise, uncalled for.

Then as planned, I turned out onto the coastal path for most of the remaining 5km and enjoyed the views of the North sea. I was walking, my dancing days were over but boy was I happy. Off the path and up into the town of Cocksburnpath for a finish and a second place. 61hrs 08mins and 47 small ones. The dream team hugged, smiled, laughed, regrouped and headed out to get some food, the only place open……. A Pizzeria!!

Thanks must go to my crew, Robbie, Salim and from a distance Jen. What fun we had. I loved every step, even the agonising ones. Every run I gain more, learn more, figure more. More about running but more importantly more about why I’m running and I am grateful to you for allowing me that.

To GB Ultras and all your amazing volunteers, thank you so much, you created the playground and wow but did we come and play!!

To the mechanic who says he did nothing, however the car only stepped out one time in the entire rest of the week and we are all safely home now.

To the other dots, starting is victory, the rest is the story!!