Get that hill
When it comes to vertical altitude gain, trail runners undoubtedly own the bragging rights, and can look down on mere road runners from their lofty peaks.
It is after all the mountains with their huge climbs and drops that burn the calves, trash the quads and bring on vertigo, that put a grin on a trail runner’s face.
Kilian Jornet grabbed the imagination of the world in 2017 when he attempted Mt Everest without fixed ropes or supplemental oxygen. On May 22, he reached the top in 26 hours from base camp and then five days later he reached the summit again, using a new route in just 17 hours. Surprisingly his 17 hours was still 15- 20 minutes slower than the records set by Hans Kammerlander and Christian Stangi in 1996 and 2006!
My mountain whoops
On my first ever trail race, the 50km Mont-Aux-Source in 2007, I got klapped by the route. As an experienced road runner, I figured this would be an easy podium. A look at the race pace averages showed the top times weren’t fast.
But those who have run this race know that the climbs don’t stop until you reach the chain ladder. The TV commentator,
