Kilian Jornet and Maude Mathys make history at Sierre-Zinal report by Salomon Running

Posted on August 11, 2019 by talkultra

ZINAL, SWITZERLAND – Sierre-Zinal is a legendary trail race because of its nearly five decades of history and revered athletic performances, and on Sunday along its famed trails in the Swiss Alps another trail running legend added yet another chapter to both his own storied legacy and the race’s as well. Setting out with a blazing fast pace, Spain’s Kilian Jornet (Team Salomon) ran away from one of the most competitive trail running fields in recent memory to win in 2:25:35, shattering Jonathan Wyatt’s longstanding course record of 2:29:12 by three minutes and 37 seconds. It was Jornet’s seventh win at Sierre-Zinal in nine tries.

📷Kilian at the 2014 Sierre-Zinal

On the women’s side, Switzerland’s Maude Mathys* (Team Salomon) also broke the Sierre-Zinal course record, winning in 2:49:20 to best Anna Pichrtova’s 2008 time by nearly five minutes.

*(In 2015 Mathys was reprimanded for an ADRV for using clomiphene, a fertility drug which features on the WADA Prohibited List under section S4: Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. Mathys was let off with a warning as the drug was being taken in the hope of getting pregnant.)

Both Jornet and Mathys won from the front, surging to the lead on the challenging early uphill. As part of the second season of the Golden Trail World Series, Sierre-Zinal had another deep, talented field.

That seemed to bring the best out of the athletes taking to the starting line at the fourth stop of the six-race Series.Jornet was chased valiantly by 2016 winner *Petro Mamu from Eritrea, who also broke the former course record, finishing just 56 seconds behind the Spaniard in 2:26:31.

*(Petro Mamu (ERI) tested positive at the doping control in Premana after both the World Mountain Running Championships and the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships. Mamu received a nine-month ban starting on 19 September 2017 after admitting to the findings and co-operating with the IAAF (reduced from 2 years). All results of his following 30 July 2017 were cancelled. The substance being a medication normally used to assist with Asthma.)

American runner Jim Walmsley (Team Hoka), competing for the first time at Sierre-Zinal, was 3rd in an impressive 2:31:52. Juan Carlos Carera was 4th in 2:32:52 and Great Britain’s Robbie Simpson was 5th in 2:33:55.

Kilian Jornet grabbed the lead a few strides into the race and was alone from there on out. The course gains 2,200 meters from the start in Sierre to the finish line in the idyllic alpine village of Zinal, rolling along before a big downhill finish. Jornet wasted no time letting the competition know he was going for broke. At the Chandolin checkpoint he was ahead of Mamu by two minutes 1:05:59 and in hot pursuit of the course record set by Wyatt in 2003.

“I checked the time after the climb from the start and I knew it was good,” Jornet said. “I expected a couple guys to come with me on the first climb like Petro and Davide Magnini, but I was alone from the start after a few hundred meters. I have big respect for the record of Jonathan. He was a leader of the sport so to follow in his footsteps is a great feeling. This is special of all the victories.”

Jornet set his sights on the 31km Sierre-Zinal race with a dedicated training regimen that he knew was necessary if he was to approach the record of Wyatt. He scaled back his racing schedule this season to focus his training in an attempt to see just how fast he could be.

“I usually average about 15 races per year, and there have been years where I did 50 races between trail running and ski-mo, so you don’t train. You race and recover,” Jornet said after his win. “The goal this year was to focus on training and see if it makes a difference in the performance. I always target to win, but I plan a strategy in each race so I don’t really race full-out because I know I have another race just after, sometimes the next week. This year, the goal was to give everything and not have to worry about recovering for the next race. And I was six minutes faster than my best time here so it seemed to work. I thought it was possible to break the record, but I thought I’d be counting seconds.”

After winning in his 2019 debut at Zegama-Aizkorri Mountain Marathon in June, Jornet was appearing in his second Golden Trail World Series race of the season. Next, he will set his sights on the oldest trail race in America, the Pikes Peak Mountain Marathon in Colorado, the fifth stop of the 2019 Golden Trail World Series, on August 25^th

In the women’s race, Mathys made sure Jornet wasn’t the only one breaking a record on the day. Her time of 2:49:20 was five minutes ahead of fellow Swiss Judith Wyder (Team Salomon) who finished in 2:54:20, and it broke the former course record of 2:54:26 by five minutes and six seconds. Wyder was also under the former record by six seconds.

Mathys was 3rd at the Dolomyths Sky run in Italy a couple of weeks back, but on Sunday she used her strength in the uphill to put distance between herself and the field in the early going. She was more than three minutes ahead at the Chandolin checkpoint and was never seen again by the rest of the pack.

Italy’s Silvia Rampazzo (Team Tornado) was 3rd with another strong effort on the Golden Trail World Series. She finished in 2:56:17. New Zealand’s Ruth Croft (Team Scott) continued her amazing consistency with a 4th place finish in 3:01:56, while France’s Anais Sabrié was 5th in 3:01:58.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN TRAIL SERIES:

The elite runners of the Golden Trail World Series are trying to earn points in the season-long chase for a spot in the Grand Final, which will take place in Nepal in October. The athletes must participate in three of the six races during the series in order to be eligible for the final. The top-10 men and women with the most points in their three best races will earn a trip for themselves and a person of their choice to the Grand Final. The overall final standings (and the men’s and women’s champions) of the Golden Trail World Series will be determined again by the runners’ three best finishes during the season, plus their result at the Grand Final.

For up-to-date Golden Trail World Series standings.

Photo credits: Martina Valmassoi and Jordi Saragossa

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Kilian Jornet smashes Bob Graham Round record

Posted on July 9, 2018 by talkultra

It all dates back to 1932 (actually earlier) when a certain Bob Graham broke the Lakeland Fell record by traversing 42 fells and peaks within a 24-hour period, he ran 23:39. The ‘round’ has since become synonymous with fell runners as a bucket list item to do.

In 1960, Alan Heaton lowered the record to 22:18 and it dropped over the years to 17:45 by Mike Nicholson in 1977. But it was in 1982 when Billy Bland stormed around in 13 hours 53 minutes that set the benchmark that stood the test of time; 36-years to be exact.

Bland’s record has been considered almost untouchable… many have tried, but the difficulty of the route, the distance the elevation gain and loss, the need for a team of helpers to run the legs and of course the weather, all must combine for a perfect storm.

In 2016, Jasmin Paris ran 15:24 and suddenly the ‘impossible’ started to look possible. Read Here

Fell runner’s looked at Paris’s run and realised that Bland’s time was possible. It was something that Bland himself agreed on. He has often stated that the record is there to be broken and he couldn’t understand why nobody had.

The route can be run clockwise or anti-clockwise and starts at the Moot Hall in Keswick.

The summits are as follows:

Skiddaw

Great Calva

Blencathra

Threlkeld *road crossing point

Clough Head

Great Dodd

Watson’s Dodd

Stybarrow Dodd

Raise

White Side

Lowerman

Helvellyn

Nethermost Pike

Dollywagon Pike

Fairfield

Seat Sandal

Dunmail Raise *road crossing point

Steel Fell

Calf Crag

High Raise

Sergeant Man

Thunacar Knott

Harrison Stickle

Pike O’ Stickle

Rossett Pike

Bowfell

Esk Pike

Great End

Ill Crag

Broad Crag

Scafell Pike

Scafell

Wasdale Campsite *road crossing point

Yewbarrow

Red Pike

Steeple

Pillar

Kirk Fell

Great Gable

Green Gable

Brandreth

Grey Knotts

Honister Pass *road crossing point

Dale Head

Hindscarth

Robinson

Moot Hall, Keswick

Kilian Jornet has always been interested in the history of running and the Bob Graham Round has certainly been on his radar for some time. However, his Summits of My Life project had most certainly been a priority ever since 2012. But in 2017, this project was complete and he was now open to new possibilities. In September he came to Scotland to race the Glen Coe Skyline, a race that he won. He had considered an attempt at the ‘Bob’ before or after, however, conditions in September were not ideal, so, the project was shelved.

In early 2018, Kilian suffered an accident in a SkiMo race, he broke his leg, this put him out of action for months. However, he dedicated himself to recovery. At times using cycling to keep aerobic fitness and then when allowed by doctors, he returned to the mountains. Not running, just doing big days with the aim of regaining mountain fitness without damaging his fragile leg.

In June, Kilian could see light at the end of the tunnel and he decided, after clearing with medical teams, to return to racing at the Monte Rosa Sky Marathon (here). In all honesty, it was the perfect return event… You see, Kilian has very much based his career around Skyrunning following in the footsteps of Giacometti, Meraldi, Brunod and De Gasperi. The event had not run for 25-years but the Monte Rosa Skymarathon was ‘the’ event that created the sport of Skyrunning. Racing in teams of two, Kilian teamed up with his partner, Emelie Forsberg and the duo created a new part of history… Emelie dictated the pace for the duo and in the process set a new FKT for Alagna-Monte Rosa- Alagna. Kilian was back?

Well, even Kilian was unsure? In his words, “Next week I run the Mont Blanc Marathon, this is a fast running race and I am just not sure how I will feel with such an effort? My leg feels good but this will be a test!”

Mont Blanc Marathon arrived one week later and amongst a world-class field, Kilian won. It was an incredible return and one that confirmed that Kilian as the supreme sportsman that he is.

What was next?

Well, in Monte Rosa, I had discussed the ‘Bob’ with Kilian and he said it was on the cards, and that he just needed the window of opportunity, the weather and the correct people in place.

Cut to early July, just day’s after Mont Blanc Marathon and Kilian arrived in the Lakes. He was on the fells and doing a recce of the route. The weather window was good and with some frantic planning, an attempt was put together.

0600, July 8th. Kilian departed the Moot Hall, Keswick on his first attempt at the Bob Graham Round.

It’s important to clarify and Kilian is the first to acknowledge this, that any record attempt on the ‘Bob’ is not possible without the right people. For clarification, to run an official Bob Graham Round you must have runners with you at all times to help pace, navigate and confirm that you reach the summits. The Bob Graham Round club are very active in helping with this process. It is allowed that these ‘pacers’ can mule for the runner.

Kilian had a line-up of pacers that are world-class, nothing else would do! Let’s face it, if the record was on, he’d need people that could not only navigate the best lines and route, but also be able to keep up! Somewhat intimidating to know that you will need to run with the best mountain runner in the world.

The route is broken down into ‘legs’ and the pacers work on certain legs and are then replaced by fresh runners for the next leg – for the pacers and navigators, it’s like a relay. For Kilian, it’s an all out run as fast as you can loop.

Kilian had stated he was going 13:25.

READ KILIAN’S RACE REPORT HERE

How it unfolded

Early reports came in that he was 6-7 minutes up on the record – I posted this around 10:20am so Kilian had already been going 4-hours.

At 11:23 I posted that Kilian was on leg 3 and had 21-minutes on Billy’s time. It was getting exciting… Temperatures were rising and Kilian had a sting of supporters.

I had reports coming in from friends on the course and I was doing my best to build a picture of Kilian’s progress. I joked that Kilian was moving so fast that by the time I had an update, it was old news.

It soon became clear that the record was not only on, but it may will be obliterated.

Kilian arrived at Dunmail with 4:30 elapsed and this placed him 30-minute UP on Billy’s record.

It was a hot day though, anything could happen…. And what about Kilian’s leg, would it hold up to the relentless fells?

At Harrison Stickle, Kilian arrived at 11:51 am with approximately 5:51 elapsed – the record was really on and excitement started to grow.

Image copyright Paul Taylor

Bowfell came at 12:45 with 6:45 elapsed. He was looking fresh and reports confirmed that he was moving well.

The pace was relentless and the support incredible.

Image copyright Fellrunningbrief and Kim Collison

Good friend and experienced fell runner, Kim Collison confirmed that Kilian was 34mins UP on the record at Scaffell Pike – history was being written on the Lakeland fells!

Social media became a frenzy of Bob Graham hashtags and by early afternoon, many began to realise history was going to be re-written, a 36-year record was going to fall barring a disaster.

The Moot Hall, Keswick soon became a new meeting point for Sunday night as runners from over the UK made the journey to welcome Kilian home.

Image copyright Amelia Hunt

Amelia Hunt confirmed that Kilian passed Yewbarrow at 14:00hrs – that placed home approximately 40-minutes up on the record.

Kilian passed Gable at 16:10hrs.

As Kilian entered a network blackout area, a lack of updates left questions on how fast he was going and then suddenly I had a confirmed report that he was approximately 45-minutes ahead of Billy’s record… was this possible? Was it possible that he could be going so fast?

Image copyright Andy Jackson

Andy Jackson ran from Grey Knotts with Kilian and confirmed he was flying “Ran from Grey Knotts with Kilian and pacers. He stopped for 2mins for food and drink and pushed on. Had a great team with him: Scoffer, Paul Aitken and Steve Birkenshaw.”

Image copyright Honister Slate Mines

Finally an update came from Honister Slate Mines at 1700 hrs +/-.

Kilian passed Dalehead at 17:26hrs and now sub13 was looking possible!

Image copyright the lakes mike

Kilian arrived at the final summit Robinson at 17:52 – the record was going down and by a big margin!

At 18:20hrs Kilian arrived on the road at Little Town and before we knew it, he was at the Moot Hall.

New record 12:52 (tbc) – 1h 01m quicker than Billy Bland – wow!

IT IS OFF THE SCALE.

Image copyright Tim Harper

In the words of @kilianj

“Thanks Billy, I had better conditions than you, the best pacers and your inspiration to give everything! And even like that it was sooo sooo hard!!! Thanks to Carl, Chris, Martin, Josh, Jebby, Steve, Paul, Andrew, Neil, Paul and all the guys who has been helping out, without you guys it wouldn’t been possible ! Big big thanks to Martin for making it real and such an organization last minute, thanks Shane, Thanks Jordi and thanks all the people cheering on the route. This Bob Graham Round was an amazing experience!” Photo ©timharper shared from Kilian’s IG account.

As I write today, I still struggle to comprehend the speed at which Kilian completed this route and a huge credit must go to the team behind this. Kilian had the ‘best of the best’ to pace and navigate him. Without them this could not have happened. He had perfect weather, maybe a little too hot for some? And the ground conditions were ideal enabling a fast time.

Like I said, it takes a Perfect Storm for a record to happen. But Billy’s record was just beaten, it was elevated to a whole new level. Just think, Billy’s record has stood for 36-years, how long will Kilian’s stand for?

Records are made to be broken and this is one record that elevates Kilian to a whole new level and I think finally, he may well get the respect from many who have said that he is not a ‘runner!’ With this record, he has done something so special, it is a great sporting achievement that should be embraced by all. It’s not fell running, mountain running, ultra running, Skyrunning or any label, it is just running – let’s embrace it for that.

Kilian undertook this FKT attempt in the true spirit of the ‘Bob,’ *it was low-key, without grandeur, without PR, without announcement, without film crews or photographers – it was man agains the fells. It says a great deal about the man and his character, he is a true ambassador for the sport. Post his finish in Keswick, he returned to the steps of the Moot Hall and sat for a hour with the assembled fans to ‘give back’ as he chatted and posed for photos.

Sporting achievements come and go, some truly last the test of time. Billy Bland’s record stood the test of time and now we have a new level. I personally can’t foresee this record being broken for many a year? But in year’s to come, I will be able to look back at July 8 2018 and remember that I witnessed a truly great sporting achievement by a truly great man. The word legend is used a great deal, in Kilian Jornet we have a living legend.

I will be interviewing Kilian on July 10th or 11th and his interview will be on Episode 159 of Talk Ultra podcast (Here). It will also be transcribed and post as word interview on this website.

*It came to light after the event that Lymbus employed a film crew and photographers to document Kilian’s BGR. At the time off writing this was unknown to me and I think to the general public. I still stand by the fact this attempt was low-key and without fanfare. Having now interviewed several of the pacers who helped Kilian on the legs, they have also confirmed that Kilian was ‘in the true spirit’ of the Bob Graham.

Kilian Jornet starts his 2017 attempt on Everest #OurEverest

Posted on May 20, 2017 by talkultra

“Good feelings today! Climb from Advanced Base Camp to 8.400m in a bit less than 6 hours. Our acclimatization process continues! #OurEverest”

Fast and light and without oxygen, Kilian Jornet has started his 2nd attempt at the summit of Everest. He departed on the 2017 adventure on Saturday May 20th* (Tibet is GMT +8) from the monastery of Rongbuk.

*Schedule in Tibet. 18,15 Spanish time, 17,15 hour in London, from rongbuk monastery 5.100 mts.

Taking the north face route, the world famous runner, climber and ski mountaineer will look to climb to the summit of the 8848m peak in a record time – he failed in 2016 due to bad weather.

Just recently in preparation, Kilian climbed in China with his partner Emelie Forsberg and made a successful summit of Cho You – the sixth highest mountain in the world at 8,188 metres (26,864 ft) above sea level. You can read his summary HERE.

Just a few days ago, Kilian reached 8400m after climbing from advanced base camp at 6400m. He tweeted, “Good feelings today! Climb from Advanced Base Camp to 8.400m in a bit less than 6 hours. Our acclimatization process continues! #OurEverest”

There is no benchmark for what Kilian is trying to achieve as with his ‘Summits Of My Life Project’ he will start from the last inhabited place. Records are usually taken from a base camp on the mountain. Kilian will leave and return to the monastery at Rongbuk.

Fast and Light? Here is Kilian’s equipment:

See the map:

We wish Kilian and the #OurEverest team god speed and good luck for the ultimate #SOML experience.

I have to say, I, like many others have had worries and concerns about the ‘Summits’ program. Let’s be clear here, I don’t doubt or question Kilian’s ability. What I do say and have always said, if you do anything enough times, it will eventually go wrong or something will happen. Kilian has already experienced loss and tragedy on this project. The death of Stephan Brosse was certainly a wake up call but Kilian understands the risks. Certainly the recent death of Ueli Steck is reminder to all of the challenge ahead.

“You have to go look for happiness in life, find it in the things that make you feel alive. Life is not something to be preserved or protected, it is to be explored and lived to the full.” – Kilian Jornet

“On the track, there is no risk so we time ourselves to get a benchmark. In the mountains, it is different. We try to become one with the mountain by finding new limits. It’s an emotion, from the heart, very connected to risk.”

Everest is the final test in the #SOML project and will probably be the most demanding challenge of the project and, indeed, of his life. Kilian has broken records on mountains around the world and the final part of this personal project is an incredible one; an attempt to establish a ‘FKT’ (fastest known time) for ascending Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,848m. Kilian is taking on this challenge his own way, in the most pure and minimalist manner possible.

UPDATE – Sunday 21st May 1530 UK Time

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE #SOML #OurEverest @kilianj – Seb has seen Kilian at 7500m, apparently KJ is good! Weather also good!

LATEST UPDATE

KILIAN SUMMITS EVEREST from #SOML

Kilian Jornet has the Everest summit, midnight (local time) from 21 to 22 May. To do that you have not used or oxygen, fixed ropes and neither has done one go.

The summit has achieved for the north face of the highest mountain in the world (8.848m) following the traditional route. Kilian Jornet started the challenge of Everest Base Camp, located in the old monastery of Rombuk (5.100m) on May 20 at 22h local time (+5: 45 GMT).

At 12h15 local time on 22 May is back to Advanced Base Camp of Everest (6.500m) which confirmed the summit achieved at midnight, 26 hours after starting the ascent.

38 hours after starting the challenge and get back to Advanced Base Camp explains: “Until I felt good 7.700m and planning ahead as planned, but from that point I started find bad guess to a stomach virus. From there I advanced very slowly and had to go stopping every so often to get me to recover. Finally, however, I made the summit at midnight “

Due to illness, Jornet decides to terminate the attempt to Advanced Base Camp instead of down at Everest Base Camp, located in the old monastery Rombuk as planned initially.

Once you have more information about the challenge, informed through the channels Summits of My Life.

Trail running for me is?

Posted on August 5, 2013 by talkultra

“TRAIL RUNNING, FOR ME, IS NOT ABOUT RUNNING.”

Kilian Jornet very kindly signed a copy of his photo book, “TRAIL RUNNING, FOR ME, IS NOT ABOUT RUNNING.” I realised that this would be something that many listeners to Talk Ultra and followers of my website would like, so, with that in mind, I asked the question, “What is trail running?”

The winner will be selected and the signed book by Kilian Jornet will be posted to you. This is the last chance to add to this list. The winner will be announced on Friday August 9th.

Here are the responses:

Michael Roberts Trail running is living and everything else is just waiting.
    Kevin McFaul Trail Running is peacefully, a way to escape the every day.
    Bazimus Dunn Infinite horizons and broken limitations.
    John Gaivin Trail running for me is a release…a time to just let go and zip through the trees and rocks and fell without a worry in the world!
    La cave à Jaife Trail running is my way to discover the beauty of nature!
    Benj Lance Trail running is freedom and pure bliss. Trail running is hard lessons and suffering that makes the rest of life seem much easier. Trail running is exploring the world and tapping into your primal self to move quickly through the mountains and woods. Trail running is an attitude and a lifestyle.
Kevin O’Rourke Trail running for me is about kissing goodbye to asphalt and saying hello to nature .
    Andrew Morley Trail running is getting away from burks in cars!
    Christopher Wiley Trail running for me is the opportunity to experience God’s creation and have an adventure!
    Sarah Lo trail running is breathing .
    Iain Wallace Trail running is moving through nature, swiftly, lovingly, and peacefully.
    Torsten Stuart Norgate Trail running is using your physical body, your strength, your sweat, your ability to push yourself, to take your spirit into new landscapes and adventures.
    Henrik Modin It’s my escape from health-issues and work-related stress. A valve through which I can release tension. A way to get closer to nature. And my legs look great!
Robert Nelson for me it’s all about the fun of jumping in muddy puddles.
    Franz Dill A reconnection to true origins, primordial places, to distill to basics, and appreciate the simplicities in life.
    David Monge Garcia Lol Simon Edwards, funnily enough we see trail running as opposites (forgetting / finding.
    Nate Blouin it’s about seeing what I’m made out of physically and mentally. It started as a way to see more of the mountains I’m used to skiing and has become so much more.
    Simon Dick Trail running is nuts, bonkers, and crazy. So I stick to pub-crawls…
    Steven Stainthorpe Trail running has become my new adventure!
    Marco Balsarini Trail running for me is a way to experience nature in total freedom!!!
Santiago Fernandez Indefinable  Like · Reply · July 23 at 7:44pm via mobile
 Chris Valenti 1. To do what should not be possible, to be free, to explore an unknown, forbidden place. It is about using one’s physical body to transcend its own existence. The first thing that happens as you deplete yourself is that you find you have another self in there, trying to control you. Then, as you further your relationship with your dual self, and if you are lucky, you transcend both selves and become a…fleetingly…another consciousness.
    Nicola’s Holy Trail running is nowhere, with everybody .
    Graeme Waterworth Peace.
    Shannon Koch Simplicity .
    Charlie Hunsberger Trail running is my commune with nature, the very necessary nourishment my soul demands to remain sane.
Sabrina Moscatelli Trail running brings me back to the origin of human move on earth .
    Adam Briggs Trail running to me is about finding myself, testing my limits, and hopefully making my heart donor proud, as I thank him on every run.
    Cait Morgan It is my release, my liberation .
    Dan Ripple For me, the trails are simply an analogy for life. Along those paths, whether it be high in the mountains of Chamonix or at the start of Badwater, I, along with others, come to find and connect with ourselves, with others, and with life itself. I can either be in a race with 2000 other runners or be completely alone in the mountains; I am, with each step, with each breath, and with each heartbeat, humbled and forever grateful to be given such an opportunity.
Darren Hutchings Friends for life .
    David Eastham Trail running is a means to stay in touch with Mother Nature and help me remember what’s important .
    Transvulcania, isla De La Palma Uff…difficult to say and to answer…. It’s everything for us!
    Mikey Pm Trails are my temple and running is my religion together I’m practicing my religion in my temple as much as possible.
    Jordi Nunez Freedom. Disconnection.
    Tony Branam For me, trail running is The Way – If you are in The Way, you are of The Way and not in the way but are one with The Way. If you are not of The Way, you are in the way, and must be moved out of the way and toward The Way. We who are in The Way know The Way and follow therein. Those in the way know not The Way and must be shown The Way lest they remain in the way. Some seek The Way and need guidance. Some seek The Way and need no help to find their own way to The Way. Some seek not The Way and need guidance to see their need lest they remain in the way. We of The Way must seek our way to guide those poor wayward souls not in The Way to The Way so that they may become one with The Way the way we of The Way are now.
Kate Newman Freedom, peace, breathing.
    Marlon Voorn Trailrunning is for my freedom and are one with the nature!!!
    Pablo Aznar It’s a place without time where you can meet yourself. At the same time that you enjoy all around and get worried on the basics: breathing, eating, and drinking.
    Ronan Hickey It’s about leaving the crowds behind. We all start in the same place, but trail runners reach heights no one else can.
    Gavin Markey Trail time is dreamtime. Everything that a dream can hold is within reach while on the trail/mountain.
    Amanda Hyatt Trail running is the runner’s mirage; always calling, forever a little further away; filled with dreams and possibilities and maybe, just maybe, if you take just one more step, there’s a runner’s oasis on the other side.
    Jp Syverud Trail running is my religion. There is no place I feel more alive and happy as when I am outdoors exploring nature and running. Most people go to church on Sunday mornings. I hit the trail.
Emanuel Simoes trail running is a way out of myself, a way to forget the world’s problems and merging with Mother Nature. I feel as small as an ant when I run in the mountain, and that feels so good.
    Daniel Henderson Trail running is about the adrenaline fuelled terrifying descents.
    John Eden Getting away from point A.
    Ewa Crazychick it’s a desire. With you every minute.
    Eje Carlos Navarro Trail running is another way to stay in the mountains…
    Phil Beeston Trail running is an escape. An escape from the urban jungle and cluttered life that man has created that takes us back to the ‘real world’. A world where we can take a moment to breathe, to see, and where our soul is stripped bare.
    Antonio Moreno Trail running is going back to the roots, to a time when being fast on your feet meant the difference between life and death, between progress and decay. If we are here today it’s only because our ancestors ran… in nature. It’s only natural that we crave to follow in their footsteps!
Reece Ingram Trail running is about being at one with yourself & nature!
    John Bryant Trail running is always a “get to know you” session with myself. I rediscover who I am, gain perspectives that probably wouldn’t be gained anywhere else, and simplify my life to it’s barest essentials. It allows me to strip away the fluff of the world and emerge free and satisfied, yet yearning for more.
    Claire Akin-smith Being out on the trail: Space to think, feel & move at the same time.
    Shirley Treasure Trail running clears my mind; quality time on some single track makes me ready to take on the FWY’s of life.
    Bernhard Rohrbacher Trail running is about freedom. Yes, you can follow a trail but the beauty is making a trail of your own.
    Keith Crook Trail running is the air I breathe .
    Pablo Cascante Barahona Trail running is the beginning of the rest of my life…
Craig Calderwood Trail running is pain, sweating, sore quads; lost toenails, skin knees, blisters and chafing. Fun though.
    Gabriel Drilea Trail running gives you the opportunity to be with yourself away from the life low-level distractions. It brings you closer to God and humanity.
    Mark Johnston a good reason to exist!
    Kerstin Grupinski Trail running is the heart of my life.
    Rute Roque It’s being one with the earth accepting the final union .
    Dewayne Tim Stephens To Trail Run = To Be.
    Lior Sion Trail running for me is freedom in a busy world .
    Amanda Hyatt Trail running … Comfort food for the sole(s)
    Justin Rea Road running exercises the body. Trail running exercises mind and body
Mark McGinn It’s about the five foot of trail ahead of you and constantly scanning it to decide where your foot will land in 3 steps time. Until you lift your head and discover you 15 miles from where you started. People who admire the views when trail running have too much free time on their hands!!
    Paul Hart Trail running is simply escaping from the man made and trying to reconnect with nature and our inner-selves .
    Tammy Clauser Wuerth I wrote this several years ago… When I run the trails. I feel alive. I feel and believe I can conquer anything life throws at me… I am a free spirit who can soar to the highest mountains… endure distances unlike any other, and I can just “be” me…. w/o judgment, as I just flow and go deep into my soul… and, run… run. And run… through it all… conquer my deepest fears. And, just be…. and that my friends… is a beautiful thing…. to have found in this lifetime…. ahh. Yes. The “essence of trail running”
    Simon Edwards Trail running is finding myself among the chaos, and learning to like what I find .
    David Monge Garcia Trail running is forgetting myself.
Amanda Crozier Trail running for me is my peace, my link with nature.
    Albert Franklin Miller Jr Trail running, pure bliss powered by “PRE”!
    Nico Meunier Trail running is feeling like a superhero.
    Larry Lobb Trail running is my silence. When I get to check my thoughts at the trailhead and just exist. It allows me to lose myself, settle myself, and find myself. A return to innocence. Trail running is my moment of Zen.
    Sanja Jugovic Burns One of the greatest ironies. An insane sanity…
    Amanda Shumway Grimes for me trail running allows my soul to grow.
    Miriam Riba Rossy It’s about being ourselves. It’s the way of mountain lovers. Trail Running are all days of our lives when rain, snow, thunder and lightning get together to test us, to feel what we love with our soul and what we are. What I am. It’s a beginning of my new life. Regards Catalonia, Miriam Riba-14 years old
Radu Milea Trail running for me is a way of life!
    Mike Saporito Trail running for me is a return to the basics of what life should be about – nature, simplicity – one with the world. It is at the same time very physical and very mental – it exhausts me and it rejuvenates me.
    Ana Čufer Trail running is a gift, given to few. Every step brings us closer to becoming worthy of it, yet we never quite reach it. The trick is to never stop running.  Like · Reply · 6 · July 23 at 8:11pm
    Eric Ahern Trail running is what I do to work on becoming the best possible version of myself. (All respect to Rich Roll.)
    Katie Simpson Trail running is perfect clarity .
    Thomas Lelu Trail running is enjoy the life in all of its aspect s.
 Suzanne F. Stroeer Trail running is the freedom, the ability to choose. Trail running is running fast to be completely still.
Paul Weir Trail running run for me is the ability to explore nature, to escape the trappings of human beings and become one with nature, the sights and smells and not to see a single sole for miles and hours
    Sabine Heiland Trail running is loosing myself in nature.
    Ben Brindley Trail running is letting go!
    Mark Warner I call it “trail meditation” Tune in, free your mind and the body will follow….
    Mark McGoldrick Felling of been free, & clearing the mind, sense of adventure, meeting new friends & exploring new places .
    Jono Mervis Trail running to me is the ability to leave the day-to-day world behind. It allows me to experience the numinous. To wonder at the incredible world & universe that we call our home. To feel true freedom. To feel the wind on my face and blood flow through my veins. To feel at one with myself, with the world and the people around me. It allows me to experience the joy of movement, the joy of health, the joy of nature and, more than anything before it, the joy of life. Every step, every breath and every meter out on the trails are the best of the day.
Ally Speirs The freedom to go where few can go, the silence at the top, and the peace within .
    Mario Perez Bautista Trail running is all about free your mind and move your soul according with nature .
    Richard Hurdle Trail running for me is about finding new amazing places, sometimes far away, sometimes on your doorstep, always in your soul .
    Ian Campbell Running the way you feel. Taking a familiar route or exploring the options of new trails. I love running the same trails throughout the year, spring, summer, autumn or winter, day or night. They are all different and you experience everything that nature and this earth has to provide and it creates a love of this earth much more so than in the cities on Tarmac.
    Abhishek Sengupta Trail running for me is about searching for those pockets of silence where I can root and grow.
    Chris Schultheiss Trail running fro me is about the community of runners, I love the people!
Martin Pether Trail running is ‘special’, simple as .
    Picos Xtreme Trail running is a lifestyle and a way of live that we love!!
    Emanuel Simoes trail running is a way out of myself, a way to forget the world’s problems and merging with Mother Nature. I feel as small as an ant when I run in the mountain, and that feels so good.
    Michael Roberts if you’re trail running, you’re living and everything else is just waiting.
    Andrew Titus trail running for me is knowing that I am the part of the forest that is breathing.
    David Eastham Trail running for me is about finding my ‘self’…. Who I am.
    Marlon Voorn Trail running is for my…. freedom and are one with the nature!!!
Asmina Piškulić Being I.
    Nicola’s Holy It’s like explore myself everywhere .
    Ellie Mackin Trail running is different things on different days: a chance to escape, a chance to push myself, a chance to meditate, a chance to sweat it out. Trail running is what you need it to be on the day.
    Trailrunning Osttirol trail running isn´t a lifestyle. It´s life!
    Wlodec Da Lukas This is my way.
    Martin Pether Trail running is ‘special’, simple as .
    Picos Xtreme Trail running is a lifestyle and a way of live that we love!!
    Emanuel Simoes trail running is a way out of myself, a way to forget the world’s problems and merging with Mother Nature. I feel as small as an ant when I run in the mountain, and that feels so good.
Alessandro Vigano’ exploring the world!!
    Angie Zee quiet .
    Curt Krieger Hitting the trails each day is like hitting the reboot button and getting that fresh start!
    Jill Buckenham Trail running teaches me to open my mind… to listen… to see… to be patient… to find peace and energy.
    Geoff Smyth Being in the midst of beauty finding my inner self-losing the hectic world around us. If I were fit enough I would stay on the trails day and night.
    Charlie Hunsberger Trail running for me is about re-convening with nature, and nurturing my soul!
    Kristin Jossi Zosel Trail running is about freedom and celebrating life!
    Ron Castillo Finding my peace.
d’Jo Vander Linden Trail running is one of the millions of ways to find sensations you are looking for, find yourself, freedom, escape from stress, break routine, get stronger and fitter…. But most of all, a motivation to live life, there’s always a new track for tomorrow .
    Dave Deason Trail running is about the clean air, the freedom and the feel of a mountaintop as we summit .
    Steven Stainthorpe trail is my way of meeting new people and new runs; it’s my new adventure .
    Chris Tack is about not having to answer questions about what things are about!
    John Dayton Trail running is pushing beyond your comfort zone and testing your limits all while being surrounded by nature. And sometimes she’s a mother.
    David Monge Garcia What about ‘trail running is increasing the flavor of a beer x5’??? Everything smells and tastes of heaven after a trail LR!!!
Rannelle McCoy Trail running is harmony of mind, body and spirit, in the nurturing embrace of Mother Nature.
    Holly Miller It’s my moving meditation.
    Stephan Roos Trail running for me is about freedom and connecting with nature and friends.
    Brian Watson Trail running …feel alive were all signs of man disappear. (Somewhere in the Australian bush).
    Rubén Quesada López Trail running is MOUNTAIN LIVE .
    Tefal Trailrunner T – Trepidation, taking the first steps in to the wilderness – Rejoicing in what Nature can offer us. A – Adventure, going where you want, when you want. I – Inspiration, from all the scenery and experiences you run through. L – Laughing out loud during a fast descent or when on your own in the middle of nowhere.
    Jorge Laustalet Trail running is returning to nature .
    Les Hall Trail running is my ALIVE time.
Richard Lendon Trail running quieting the voice inside
    John Meijberg Trail running is living your life and leave the trails.
    Omar Rodríguez Rodríguez Trail Running brings you freedom when you’re running through the mountains and trees, while you’re breathing fresh air in the morning or in the evening. It doesn’t matter where you do it, always it feels the same. This is because Trail Running is a life way. Everyone can touch the sky, there’s no limit.
    Mayte Pach Trail running for me is a mix of inside peace, mental relax and love the nature.
    Pablo Cascante Barahona For me trail running is the beginning of the rest of my life.
Phillip Gibb Freedom
    Sophia Tam Trail running is a way to know myself and enjoy the moment in the nature.
    Andrew Bowen In a word Therapy! A path to leave the world behind, think clearly and to do more than you ever thought you could.
    Alain Riedacker Exploration of our environment and own limits in peaceful settings .
    Richard Ferron is about getting out of the city for real pleasure, not artificial.
    Joeri Van den Brande being completely free as a person and completely connected to nature as a being.
    Josep M. Vileu Freedom.
Martin Stacy Escape.
Darren Gillman It’s the part of my life that I love, and that keeps me just about sane enough to survive those parts of my life that I have to do.
    Marcelo Jiménez Roqhuett Trail Running is about exploring my life thru that experience, and finding more inspiration around every corner I turn.
 Gemma Carter Trail running is where I experience a deeper sense of myself- its the opportunity to dig down deeper. Under the layers that our superficial life can build around me that cause me stress and worry. It’s where I feel simply most me. Pure. Calm and free…

YOU HAVE TIME TO ADD A COMMENT BUT YOU WILL NEED TO BE QUICK!

Kilian Jornet – An Interview

Posted on August 1, 2013 by talkultra

As another day draws to an end and the sun creeps behind the mountains, I catch up with Kilian Jornet outside his hotel on the outskirts of Canazei in the Dolomites. Looking fresh and relaxed he is on his iPhone, no doubt tweeting and replying to many of the messages he will have received congratulating him on another stunning win in the ISF Skyrunning Dolomites Skyrace. Just forty-eight hours earlier he had also won the Dolomites Vertical Kilometer.

Kilian needs no introduction. He is without doubt the leading example of everything that is great about our sport, not only on the trails, but also off them. He is the superstar of the sport. Always in the limelight, always in demand, I have been fortunate to see both sides in close quarters for some time now. It’s not just racing! Kilian has so many demands placed upon him, that it is miraculous that he can perform at the consistently high level that he does.

After our chat he must prepare for a long drive to Switzerland the following day for a four-hour meeting. Returning the same day to Canazei he will then leave for Verona, attend a meeting and then depart for the ISF Skyrunning Trans D’Havet ultra, he will attend three stores to do signings, photos and maybe go for a run. It is a hectic, full on, non-stop life. Despite all this, despite all the pressures placed upon him, I have never witnessed him say no to a photograph or an autograph. His dedication to the sport, his fans and al those around him is remarkable, so, when I ask to take up some of his valuable time for a chat it is always with a sense of guilt… I, just like you, want to hear what he has to say; I want his thoughts and his input. But at the same time, I also want to leave him, let him relax and just find some downtime away from the buzz that his ability as a runner attracts.

So, when I chat, although I would love that full hour with him so that I can go deep, ask about his life, talk through his progression I don’t. I set myself a fifteen-minute deadline, conscious of the fact that when I ask in the future, I hope, Kilian will always say yes!

Racing at the Dolomites Skyrace just hours before he had a close race; just three seconds…. Not many people can push Kilian to the line like that!

IC – Another great win Kilian and this time you had a real battle on your hands with your old adversary, Marco De Gasperi. You won by just three seconds, an incredible race!

KJ – Yes, a hard and incredible race. It’s always great to race Marco and today was very hard. During the race it’s hard and then it is beautiful afterwards. This is how we like it.

IC- Many people think that when they see a start list with your name on it, that you are automatically going to win. However, when we see Marco’s name, it’s great because we know he will push you along… Luis Alberto Hernando can do this too. Do you relish the opportunity to race these people so that you are pushed?

KJ – I think people think I am going to win but in my mind it is not like that. When I see Marco or Luis is in a race I think, this is going to be super hard. For sure, it is motivating. I relish competition. For the last three weeks I have done many races, for example the VK I have just done and the Skyrace when competition is tough that is what I like. I knew here at the Skyrace it would be tough against Marco. He likes short distances and I knew that he would go hard from the start. I needed to push myself. It may be easy from the outside to look in and think I am going to win but it is much harder than this.

IC – I agree, we all know your ability. Your skill in the mountains and your skill as a runner are without question. It is unfair to assume that you can race Ice Trail, the VK, The Skyrace and then go to Trans D’Havet and for us all to assume that you will win… when you approach a race like the Dolomites Skyrace and particularly this year with lots of snow, you must think that plays to your advantages, is that correct?

KJ – I know this race. I know the route quite well. I have raced here twice before. The snow wasn’t great for racing this year. It was soft, so not ideal to race fast. The snow wasn’t an advantage this year, however, it was more of an advantage to know the route. When I started with Marco I pushed on the uphill, at the top I had 20 seconds so I thought, we will do the downhill together. The downhill you need the correct line, so it was important to get the best line and if you are in front or if you have someone in front it is easy to follow, so, it would have been impossible to drop Marco. I was sure we would finish together. For me, I thought Marco would be stronger uphill. I thought he would start fast. But when I was with him uphill, I knew it would be a race to the line.

IC – Now Emelie Forsberg keeps tweeting about sprint sessions and interval work. The last time I spoke to her, she told me that she was going to make you do some speed work! After that VK finish when you sprinted from third place to take the win and then in the Skyrace finish you won by three seconds, does that mean you are not telling us something?

(Laughs)

KJ – I am improving in my sprint for sure. I am not a sprinter, in SkiMo I am a bad sprinter, but yes, I always have a little speed for the last meters. It is something I never train so I need to work on this, it’s good for me to train and work on this. Sometimes when you follow someone it’s better… last week we tried to catch Chamois, it was impossible but good for sprint training.

IC – Well it has worked! I mentioned the VK. The VK here is a tough course, very steep. I actually went up myself, boy it was tough and steep. Watching you three race up, I am guessing you placed yourself in third so that you could surprise the others. Did you have a race plan to use this tactic?

KJ – It’s a very particular VK, I have raced here three times before and I never felt good. So I was a little afraid, not afraid, I mean not confident. For all three races, (VK, Sky and Ultra) the VK is the race I was less confident about. It is a specialist race and it suited runners like Urban Zemmer. I was thinking before the start that I needed to relax and then when I saw that I was in good shape I tried to follow Urban, he is the best at this discipline. I was following and in the steep parts he was super strong, it was really difficult to be in touch with him. When it was less steep I could run and I felt better. It was okay. I needed to make sure I didn’t loose time or contact. When I saw the finish, I thought it was perfect for the sprint.

IC – It was an impressive sprint. I watched a clip on YouTube, you put your poles together, you went down the outside and then that final 50m is a wall. You have to grit your teeth and get up as quick as possible. Now one thing that many were interested in, is the fact that you used poles. Not something that you use a lot, the VK here is so steep that it would be foolish not to use them. What advantages do they bring?

KJ- I don’t use poles often for running but in SkiMo I use them everyday! I am extremely used to them. For years I used them everyday for 6-7 months. It is a particular exercise that you need to work on. On a VK like this it is like having four legs because you have the arms and upper body and you can really push. So when it is really steep it makes a big difference.

IC – Canazei is over and in 5-6 days you will race at Trans D’Havet*, it is the third event in the European Skyrunning Championships, you will be up against Luis Alberto Hernando, he will be arriving at that race fresh. You have lots of racing in your body, how do you think this race will be go?

KJ – It will be a great fight, I haven’t seen the list of other racers but I am sure it will be quality. I am in good shape. I am strong. Mont Blanc Marathon a few weeks ago was a fast race, Ice Trail Tarentaise was like a long training session and then the two races here makes it hard but I am good. I hope I can keep this shape for one week and then I will rest. Yes, it will be hard, Luis is strong this season and of course he hasn’t raced recently, he is focused on Trans D’Havet it is going to be hard but the hardest part of the race is the 0100am start… that is horrible.

(Laughter)

*Kilian and Luis Alberto raced head-to-head at Trans D’Havet and both crossed the line together in what will be seen as a defining moment of the sport, read my race report HERE

IC – You flippantly talk about races such as Mont Blanc and Ice Trail. Particularly Ice Trail, you said it was easy but everybody else thought it was super tough… you are here now for the VK and Sky but you have missed your Chamonix-Mont Blanc-Chamonix record… super impressive! A fantastic achievement, many look and find it difficult to comprehend how someone under human power can do something like this. What is it in the Summits project that has illuminated the fire within you to push to new depths?

KJ – Summits it is about pushing in the mountains. It is about being light. It is more than records, a record is nice but it is about being light and moving fast. How light can I be in the mountains? If you are light you need to be fast to be safe. Mont Blanc took a lot of time. We had too much snow early season, I attempted ‘CMBC’ after Mont Blanc Marathon but it wasn’t the correct time. The snow wasn’t correct. The week before my attempt I was in the mountains everyday to form an opinion on when was the best time and when the best day would be. It was all about timing. It is not like a race. Here you need to be in the mountains, to understand. Every mountain is different; you need to understand how it works how it breathes. I had perfect conditions for my attempt and the perfect day. I was with Mateo Jacquemoud for all the uphill and most of the downhill so it was just pushing, pushing each other. (Note – Mateo fell on the downhill and insisted that Kilian carry on)

IC – You mentioned a couple of great points. The one I concentrate on most is the need of understanding the mountain. It is very easy for people to follow Talk Ultra, websites or blogs and look at what you do and think, Chamonix-Mont Blanc-Chamonix, I can do that! But it is a real risk, a real understanding of the mountain is required, you make it look easy, I know that it is not. Do you feel you have a responsibility to those who follow you?

KJ – I saw Alex Honnold do soloing in Yosemite, I saw Ueli Steck doing the north face of the Eiger, and it is not because of this that I would do an attempt. It is inspiring but it is important not to follow. We can all have our goals, our own summits, but of course when we do these things, we have a responsibility. Chamonix is accessible, many people climb every year, and I am not dangerous but every year people die. That is because of rock falls, avalanches etc… you need to know the mountain, you need to know yourself and you need to know your limits. We take risks when we go, of course, but we accept those risks based on our ability.

IC – It is about your personal summits and about you understanding what risks you can take, about how light, how fast you can go?

KJ – Yes, it is about knowing each persons capacity and knowing the conditions, the mountain conditions change daily. Maybe one day you have the capacity and conditions but the next day it changes. I know people who climb a mountain and then they say it was easy… It is not like that! Today they climbed but another day maybe more wet, cold, snowing and everything changes; it is no longer the same mountain. Nobody is stronger than the mountain. You need to understand that, you need to take time, spend time in the mountains and understand them.

IC – The Matterhorn will be your next summit?

KJ – After Trans D’Havet I will take a break. I plan to stay more than one month without a race to recover and then prepare for the Matterhorn. It is a technical mountain. Bruno Brunod has a record of 3:14. It is a technical route that is not difficult BUT if I fall, I will die! I need to know the route very well, I need to spend time on the mountain, and I need to learn every step.

IC – And the process? Will it be going on the mountain everyday, working routes and understanding how the mountain adapts to the weather?

KJ – Yes I will be in Cervinia (Italian side of the Matterhorn) with my van and I will stay for at least a month. I know many guides in the area and I also know that it has too much snow at the moment but during this time I will go up and down, up and down etc… I need to know everything. I think Bruno climbed thirty times before the record attempt; so, I need to go up 10-15 times at least.

IC – And your attempt, will that come before or after the ISF Skyrunning Matterhorn Ultraks?

KJ – It depends on the weather? I planned Mont Blanc for May but snow made it impossible… I actually did it in June! I have planned the Matterhorn for late August or early September, however, the mountain will decide.

Image taken by Kilian Jornet, Friday Aug 2nd w/ Emelie Forsberg at the summit of the Matterhorn copyright: Kilian Jornet

IC – Kilian, thank you so much for your time. I wish you all the very best for the coming months.

KJ – Thank you so much Ian, see you at the Matterhorn!

You can listen to this interview on Episode 40 of TALK ULTRA – HERE

WANT TO WIN A SIGNED BOOK BY KILIAN JORNET?

PLEASE GO HERE AND ADD YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

LINKS:

Dolomites Vertical Kilometer HERE
Dolomites Vertical Kilometer IMAGES HERE

Dolomites Skyrace HERE
Dolomites Skyrace IMAGES HERE

Trans D’Havet HERE
Trans D’Havet IMAGES HERE

Skyrunning HERE

Kilian Jornet HERE
Summits of my Life HERE
Salomon Running HERE

Kilian Jornet – win a signed photo book

Posted on July 24, 2013 by talkultra

If you’d like to win this book signed by Kilian Jornet.

Please tell us: WHAT TRAIL RUNNING IS FOR YOU?

Kilian Jornet says in this book ‘Trail running for me is not about running’

I have already been inundated by comments on the Talk Ultra Facebook page HERE and on my Ian Corless Facebook page HERE. However, please feel free to add your comments to this post below using the comments box. In a week or two we will select the best comment and forward the book to you via secured post.