Race Across Scotland 2025 – Craig’s Journey

Craig Allen reports:

On 13th August, I lined up at Portpatrick harbour with one goal: to finally complete the 215-mile Race Across Scotland along the Southern Upland Way. I’d attempted it before in 2023, but injury forced me out at Boston Memorial Hall. This time, two years later, I was back — determined to reach the east coast.

The Race in Numbers

• Distance: 215 miles (220+ by the time you’ve weaved your way across Scotland!)

• Time: 83 hours, 5 minutes, 21 seconds

• Sleep: Just 5 hours and 10 minutes in total

• Finish: 23rd place overall

• Medal: Gold Buckle

Highs, Lows & Lessons

This race is as much mental as it is physical. The body hurts, the miles are relentless, and sleep deprivation plays tricks on your mind. But with the right strategy, support and stubbornness, you keep moving.

• Nutrition: In 2023 I made the mistake of living on Huel and quick fixes. This year, with the help of Rebecca Dent (sports nutritionist), I went back to real food: mash potato, sausages, burgers, bacon, beans, jam sandwiches, crisps and the occasional cola at checkpoints. On the trail, I carried Kendal mint cake, jam sandwiches, OTE oat bars, jelly sweets, bananas, crisps, oranges, and a few Maurten gels. Tbf, we ran out of food! The ‘real’ food kept me steady for the long haul.

• Feet: Running out of foot cream – Trench – early on could have been a disaster. My crew thought on the spot, came up with a solution, found a local farm shop and came back with cow udder cream — it worked perfectly! Apart from a couple of blisters, my feet made it through. I’d definitely recommend udder cream for short races, or those where crew can reapply regularly. It’s not something you can carry easily yourself on the trail.

• Sleep: Because of my nut allergy I couldn’t risk lingering in the official checkpoints, so all my rest stops were in our hire van. No comfort — just quick naps. The longest was two hours; the shortest, 20 minutes. Enough to reset and keep going. I slept for five hours and 10 minutes over the three nights of the race.

• Strategy: A pre-race ankle injury meant adjusting my training and pacing. Thanks to my coach, Doug Stewart, the plan was to start steady and conserve energy. It paid off.

Redemption at Boston

Crossing Boston Memorial Hall was emotional. It was where my 2023 race ended. This year, running in strong, grabbing food, and heading back out just past dawn and in a swarm of midges felt like victory before I’d even reached the coast. Everything beyond was uncharted territory in a single effort  — and that gave me fresh energy.

The People

One of the best parts of ultra running is the people you meet. From Austria, Canada, Scotland and beyond, I shared miles with runners whose stories will stay with me forever. In the final 10 miles, I ran side-by-side with Chris — tired legs, exhausted bodies, but a shared determination to see it through.

Mental Health

This race wasn’t just about miles. It was part of my Mental Health Foundation 3,000-Mile Challenge. Ultra events mirror life: overwhelming at times, but manageable with the right support. Running gave me space to reflect, reset and remind myself why conversations around mental health are so important.

Final Thoughts

There were moments when I swore I’d never do this again. 5kms only from now on, I kept telling my crew! Yet holding that Gold Buckle at the finish, I knew the suffering was worth it. From DNF in 2023 to finishing in 2025 — this was redemption.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could take on something like this, my advice is simple: don’t be afraid to try. The trail will test you, but it will also give you more than you can imagine — resilience, friendships and memories to last a lifetime.