Go Mountain Goats

Trofeo Kima is a unique technical race in the beautiful Val Masino region of Italy, in the rough granite mountains not far from Lake Como.

While I don't usually devote episodes to organised races, I think Kima justifies an exception, especially this year's race - in which I had a fantastic racing experience with none other than Jack Kuenzle. Jack is now a recurring character on the podcast, having shown up in Episode 21 to beat my Tranter's Round record, and again in Episode 38 when I got it back!

Join Jack and I as we delve into a race analysis of our head to head 'duel' at the front of the race. We both managed to come in under the previous Kilian Jornet record time of 6hr9mins, with myself winning in 6hr5mins. Beating Kilian's record was a first for me, although not for Jack who has already achieved this with his Bob Graham Round record in 2022.

The race is dedicated to the memory of Pierangelo Marchetti, nickname "Kima", who was a local mountain guide who died in 1994 during a rescue mission. His sister started the race in 1995 in tribute to him.

For a visual on the terrain we are covering, see the great video by Julen Elorza featuring Hillary Gerardi (also featured in my Episode 18), La Gara: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CivvJNiHNnw

Also the 2022 race highlights where you see a bit more of me, and my first win at Kima: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyzvgiOGHJg&t=584s

In this episode I read my article 'Competition as Catalyst: Beyond Racing on Tranter's Round' which was recently published in Like The Wind magazine #42. Tranter's round is a 60km round in the Lochaber hills, and my favourite round. I held the record for several years until Jack Kuenzle arrived from the USA and shaved around 15 minutes off in summer 2022.

It may come as no surprise that I was keen to try and get the record back, which I did on 1st June this year.

Myself and Jack have had an interesting friendship-rivalry since meeting in 2022, with him going on to gain the Bob Graham round record, and us meeting and skiing together in winter 2024. We also raced at Trofeo Kima in August, but that's for another discussion - next episode! For a detailed discussion about Jack's Tranter's record in 2022, listen to episode 21.

My Tranter's run was one of my all time best days out, particularly in the latter stages, where I experienced a rare and near euphoric mind state. I highly value the way that running hard in the mountains can at times produce these special experiences.

It's December 2019. Ben Bardsley packs up his wet tent in the rain at Lindesnes lighthouse, the most southerly point in Norway. He sets off heading north, a direction he will rarely waver from over the next 3 months as he attempts to traverse the entire length of Norway - Norge På Langs - in a single winter.

Dealing with a particularly stormy winter, he first met difficulties when the usual winter routes across frozen lakes were not safe in the south due to mild conditions. Next he experienced exhausting trail breaking in one of Norway's snowiest Februarys on record, which increased the difficulty of this 2700 km journey significantly. Finally, suffering from illness and the strain of near constant bad weather and incessant wind, he entered an Arctic Circle even more deserted than usual due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

A veteran of multi-day adventure racing competitions, an accomplished fell runner and a champion mountain bike racer, Ben recounts his 106 day solo adventure with passion and honesty. This was a journey that challenged him in ways that few have experienced.

Returning from the trip, Ben suffered from extreme fatigue and was unable to return to work for several months. He talks us through the process of discovery and positive thinking which led to his recovery.

Ben was supported on the trip by Lyon Equipment and Rab Equipment.

He raised money during his trip to support his friend Dave Hollinger who suffered a spinal cord injury in a skiing accident in 2018. For more details and to donate go to www.gofundme.com/f/quotnorge-pa-langsquot-inspired-by-dave

Es Tresidder chats to me (Finlay Wild) about my record for the Cuillin Round. Set on May 1st 2024, I travelled solo and unsupported from a tent at the base of the South Ridge of Bla Bheinn, returning to finish the loop in 13hrs 04mins 13secs. The round takes in 60 summits in the Black and Red Cuillin in a route created by Rob Woodall in 1999 and rekindled by James Gibson last year with his record of 19hr 39min.

We spend some time discussing different rounds in the Cuillin, starting with the famous Cuillin (Main) Ridge traverse: the classic mountaineering journey of the 'British Alps', which has a point to point record for which both Es (2007) and then myself (2013) have held the record (currently my 2hr59mins). Longer outings are generally based around the main traverse with the addition of hills in the Red Cuillin (Glamaig, Marsco, etc) plus the brilliant Clach Glas - Bla Bheinn traverse. The Cuillin Round itself takes a slightly different route along the Main Ridge to take in outliers such as Sgurr Sgumainn and Knight's Peak, then drops to Glen Sligachan's runnable terrain before the tough climb up Glamaig and a traverse of the Red Cuillin, including outlier Belig, and a finish over Clach Glas and Bla Bheinn. It also traverses lesser known peak Sgurr Hain and the fab viewpoint of Sgurr na Stri. Much of the terrain is scrambly and exposed, with around 7300m of ascent over 53km.

I was incredibly satisfied with such an unforgettable day out in some of the best terrain the UK has to offer a runner-climber. I'm pleased to become the sixth completer of the round, and would highly recommend it to others with the skillset.

Corrections/ extra info:

Greater Cuillin Traverse record (main ridge + Clach Glas - Bla Bheinn): Tim Gomersall and Johannes Felter, 2015, 9h 24m peak to peak (also included Garbh Bheinn)

Rob Woodall's Cuillin Round concept can be seen at https://gofar997.wixsite.com/gofar/cuillin-round

Note his 59 tops were defined as having at least 50 ft drop on all sides.

More detail on various Cuillin rounds can be found at SHR Long Distance Records page at https://scottishhillrunners.uk/LongDistance.aspx

I mention a 'Sea King' helicopter, when I of course mean Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, the Sea Kings having been retired some years ago.

James Gibson did climb King's Chimney on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich on his Cuillin Round

Recently I bumped into Harry Bolton of Keswick AC and we arranged to sit down for a chat when he was up in Fort William. Harry has a real love for fell running and has notched up some impressive results including being the Lakelands Classics winner in 2022 and both the English and British Under 23 Fell Running Champion, also in 2022.

Correction: I mean Speedy Tours 7, not 6

Rob Greenwood, UKC Guru (probably not his actual job title!), interviews Finlay Wild about his recent “Dark Bob” - a Bob Graham Round run between sunset and sunrise, solo and unsupported in Jan 2024. Rob is no stranger to long rounds, having racked up an impressive CV including the UK “Big Three”, Rigby Round and Spine Challenger.

Re ski rounds in Cairngorms with GPS - I mean a dedicated GPS unit, not a watch

Cumbria-based James Gibson has had an incredible past few years picking off a host of big ticket endurance running records. In a 10 week period from December 2022 he became the first person to complete all three UK Big Rounds in one winter season, solo and unsupported (Bob Graham Round, Paddy Buckley Round and Charlie Ramsay Round). Completing this 'Winter Trilogy' took 6 attempts and James talks about the experience he gained from the 'failed' rounds early in the winter.

I talk to Natalie Hawkrigg about a number of Swim - Run challenges she has completed. Based in the North Lakes, Natalie is the female record holder for the Frog Graham Round, a 40 mile run with four lake swims around the Lake District. She was also the first female to complete the Frog Graham in winter, and went on to do the Welsh Puddle Buckley challenge as well.

3. Natalie realised she got a fact wrong at the end of the chat: "I said that Chris Waters had not completed the Ring Of Stirling - that is not true. He has completed it in time of 22hrs 42, it was the Puddle Buckley he has not completed - he devised the Puddle and recced it but never did the final version."