Watt is a real trail blazer

alongside you know what you are going through and vice versa.

“People also know how much effort and training has been done to get to the start line. There is a mutual respect which goes on.

“Runners have different motivations and thoughts going on in their head. I have a toolbox of positive thoughts and bring them out as times get tough.

“There are deeper thoughts too about things like people who have passed away. It’s the ‘if they could see me now’ feeling.

“One positive thing for me at the weekend was that, because of the set-up, you ran through the base camp every four miles.

“My mate John Cassidy was crewing for me to make sure I had all of my nutrition and hydration levels sorted.

“You run the fourmile lap for 23 hours and at 11am on Sunday morning they shorten the lap around the camp site. Everyone is on the circuit together with music going and crowds cheering.

“The race organisers BaM Racing are really good at what they do and have a series of ultra-marathons in Scotland.”

Watt, a business change manager at Perth and Kinross Council, also completed the Highland Fling 53-mile ultramarathon this year. But now thoughts turn to a period of rest and recovery.

He said: “I’ve not got anything else planned for this year.

“My main race in 2017 was the Highland Fling, which was at the end of April.

“I trained really well for that and I finished in 10 hours and 27 minutes for the 53 miles.

“It’s about letting the body recover a little bit now before thinking about what I’m going to tackle next year.

“I’ve gone from being a non-runner. So when other people say they can’t do it, I say there is a case study right here.

“I’m not the quickest or the best runner but, if you put your mind to something, it’s incredible what can be achieved.”