Greig is fired up for top performance in trail run

Runner has many reasons to be motivated for Highland Fling

Metro Aberdeen’s Kyle Greig is fired up and ready to produce a top-class performance in tomorrow’s Scottish ultra trail running championships incorporated within the Highland Fling 53-mile race between Milngavie and Tyndrum.

The Alford-based athlete, who finished second behind Great Britain mountain running international Andy Douglas in the Trac 15-mile trail race at Balmoral last Sunday, has plenty of reasons to be motivated.

He feels aggrieved at being overlooked by Great Britain’s selectors when they chose their team for this year’s world ultra trail running championships to be held over an 80km course at Penyagolosa in Spain on May 12 and wants to prove a point.

Greig was the first British scorer in the last year’s world event in which he finished 26th over a 50km course in Italy.

Earlier this year he finished fifth in a world ultra race series 102km trail race in New Zealand.

But none of this convinced the national selectors that the Metro man was worthy of a place on the team.

The north-east will, however, be represented in Spain by Aberdeen’s Rob Sinclair, who has justifiably been picked following a series of outstanding performances last year, including setting a course record of 6hr 41min 15sec at the Highland Fling.

Greig said: “First the Highland Fling of all, is the

“I’ll be having a real go at it but I don’t want to do anything silly”

Scottish championship race and I really want to win the title. That’s always important.

“But I’d also like to break Rob’s course record and prove a point to the selectors.

“I’ll be having a real go at it but I don’t want to do anything silly and get carried away.

“I need to make sure I’m properly hydrated and fuelled up for running that distance, so I’ll make sure I carry enough gels to keep me going.

“I didn’t get that part quite right in New Zealand, so I learned from that.

“I believe there’s one good English guy taking part but other than that I’m not sure who else has entered.

“I’m not really bothered, I just need to focus on running my one race.

“Can I get the record? Well, I want it but a lot will depend on the weather conditions, so it’s impossible to tell.

“Finishing second behind Andy at Balmoral has given my confidence a boost.

“He is a class runner and I was at least able to keep him in sight for a long way.

“I was happy with that performance.

“I hadn’t been feeling too good recently but that run has certainly given me a lift.

“I’ve taken it easy in training this week, so I’ll be ready for Saturday.”

More than 800 runners have signed up for the race, which includes 7,500ft of climbing along the testing route of the West Highland Way.

PREPARED: Kyle Greig has taken it easy this week and will be ready for tomorrow