Since lockdown began, every day at 10am and again at 5.30pm, a motley crew of Glaswegians and Highlanders have been coming together online to exercise. For the past 12 weeks, members of Glasgow gym Inside Out have been zooming into zumba, yoga, core, circuits or stretch classes twice a day – all conducted in isolation and from the safety and anonymity of living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and studies.

But as lockdown begins to ease across the country, and having been Inside for weeks, we’re finally going Out…

For the next ten days, Inside Out members are going to be covering the miles of the West Highland Way. Not the actual route because that’s not allowed. Instead, we’re committing to cover 95 miles in 10 days from midnight on Thursday 11th June to midday on Sunday 21st June. We will build up those miles around our own neighbourhoods. Dawsholm Park will be making do as Rannoch Moor, the steps in Park Circus our Own Devil’s Staircase, Pollok Park will become Glencoe…you get the idea. Some folk might be doing their miles within the confines of their own garden.

This won’t be (ahem) a walk in the park. We’re a very mixed bunch of ages, abilities and fitness and to hit the 95mile target in 10 days will take commitment and effort, even in our teams of 2 or 3.

We have been split by our leader, Graham Angus, into twelve teams. Team names have been chosen; spreadsheets have been developed.

The teams are as follows:-

1. Blister Sisters - Emily, Jacqui and Sarah

2. Smiles Apart - Mary and Kathleen

3. West Highland Wahay - Karen, Jo and Ann

4. Glennifer Braes' Caravan Club - Graham and Marc

5. Sole Sisters - Lorna, Rhona and Jenn

6. Not Fast, Just Furious - Fiona, Andrea and Steve

7. Legs Miserables - Abbi and Norma

8. Ben Never Again - Jean and Gary Angus

9. Scrambled Legs - Anne, Jan and Stewart

10. Joseph and the technicolour dreamboat - Joseph K and Ron

11. The Tortoise and The Hare - Susan and Monica

12. Easier Said Than Run - Marjorie, Joe and Anjelica

Inside Out has helped keep us sane(ish), cheerful and connected throughout lockdown. We feel lucky to belong to a gym that managed to seamlessly move online and help provide an important sense of community during worrying times. And so we’d like to give back – and use our virtual West Highland Way challenge to raise awareness and funds for two very worthy causes.

We have chosen two charities to fundraise for:-

Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights - a Glasgow based strategic racial equality charity focused on working to eliminate racial discrimination and promote racial justice across Scotland.

Scottish Association for Mental Health - Scotland's leading mental health charity who provide support in over 60 communities working with adults and young people, providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, among others.

Please donate and support us in our virtual run / walk / crawl round the West Highland Way.

Thank you and wish us luck!