Main: GP and runner, Finlay Wild Left: Finlay has completed a Ramsay’s Round Running Wild GP Finlay Wild has broken almost every record in hill-running, with a series of other achievements under his belt

by FIONA RUSSELL

UNNER Finlay Wild has been quietly – but On June 27, he started with a 14.4km (9-mile) Ring Ramping up the distance and ascent, nine days later determinedly – ticking off a series of impressive of Steall traverse of five peaks – including four Munros, Finlay did a Tranter’s Round, combining ridge running in R Scottish mountain challenges. mountains over 914.4m (3000ft). His FKT was a shade the Mamores with the Lochaber Traverse summits. While the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions saw almost under two hours. His 2016 record for the 59km (36.5-mile) route all races cancelled, the Lochaber GP turned his attention Three days later, he set another record – completing stood at 10 hours 15 minutes, which he smashed in a to some classic circuits and traverses. a Lochaber Traverse, including the nine high summits of shade over nine hours. With each bid, he ran supremely fast times and set the and Aonachs, as well as Carn Mor A few weeks later, Finlay had yet another goal in records, sometimes beating his own previous best time. Dearg and the UK’s tallest peak . He ran the mind – the less well-known Mullardoch Round. He set “I’ve called 2020 my ‘Year of FKTs’ – fastest known 26km (16-mile) route in three hours and 32 minutes. another record of seven hours, 40 minutes for the 55km times,” says Finlay, 36, who has lived in the With only a week of recovery, he found the energy (34-mile) route over 12 remote Munros. town of Fort William for most of his life. to break his own 2017 record on the Mamores Round, Then came the challenge that Finlay had coveted – a “With so many great mountains and routes on my a 35km (22-mile) traverse and total ascent of 3399m Ramsay’s Round. On August 31, he set out, as he puts it, doorstep and a lot of flexibility thanks to my locum (11,150ft) over 11 peaks, 10 of which are Munros. He “to see how fast I could go and for how long”. work, I decided to see what I could achieve locally.” was almost 30 minutes faster in four hours, 49 minutes. Acclaimed as one of the toughest UK mountain routes,

“Then came the challenge that Finlay had coveted – a Ramsay’s Round”

95 Right: Finlay is happiest running solo

Below: Finlay and his partner, Suzy

more focused on climbing and mountaineering. It wasn’t until later I began running seriously. I realised I could get to summits faster and lighter if I could run.” In 2005, aged 21, Finlay participated in his first Scottish hill racing event at the Ben Rinnes Race in Moray, placing an admirable 10th. the Ramsay circuit is 93km (58 miles) of wild terrain, with Just seven years later, Finlay won the Rinnes race in an ascent of 8697m (28,500ft). Ramsay’s is an extension 2012 and over 15 years he has accumulated a string of of a Tranter’s Round and 32km (20 miles) further than Scottish hill racing successes, including records such as Finlay had ever run. the Glamaig Hill Race, Jura Fell Race, Meall a’Bhuachaille, “I remember on the 2016 Tranter’s, looking east to the Creag Dhubh, Beinn Dubh and the Trotternish Ridge. greater Ramsay’s route beyond and not being able to In 2015, he won the British visualise running that far. Championships and, the following year, he was third in “It was only last summer that something clicked for me the “Extreme” section of the . thanks to a combination of experience, confidence in my He’s also a British Ski Mountaineering Champion and endurance and pacing and nutrition.” Scottish SkiMo series winner. Finlay set a new record of 14 hours, 42 minutes, some The race that has arguably brought Finlay greatest 90 minutes faster than the previous record. fame is perhaps also the most pertinent. In total, he’s The talented runner completes most of his challenges competed the Ben Nevis Race 13 times, winning it 10 solo and unsupported – and with minimal fanfare. times in a row. He says, “I do like running with other people, “I didn’t plan to do the race so many times in a row,” including my partner Suzy Devey, but I prefer to do the Finlay says, “but it’s a great race and it’s special because long challenges on my own. There is less planning and it’s local. I have been fortunate to win it many times. organising of other people when going solo and therefore “In fact, I feel lucky and grateful to be as fit as I am so I you can just set off when it suits you. can continue to set myself challenges in the mountains. “On my own, I get into what I call a ‘flow state’ where “I will never get bored of the mountains – running in I’m immersed in the moment. them creates the best version of me.” “People ask how I can run so fast for so long but to me it feels just right; the perfect pace. I train hard and I’ve learned my mountain craft over decades so, for me, moving fast in remote and challenging terrain is quite natural. I feel free and it is almost relaxing.” Given his heritage, it seems unsurprising that Finlay – who was born in Thurso, Caithness, before moving to Fort William – is such an accomplished mountain runner. His father Roger is a retired mountain guide and his family spent their summers in the French Alps. “Dad gave me my first experiences of the mountains at Ben Nevis looms over a higher altitude and Mum was a keen hill runner. Corpach village

Pictures: ROGER WILD, FINLAY SUZY DEVEY, REX/SHUTTERSTOCK “But as a teenager and a student in Aberdeen, I was