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

In one of my favourite episodes so far, I chat to Kevin Woods about his Winter Munro Round in which he completed all 282 Munros over the brutal winter of 2019/20. Delving into logistics and preparation for the Winter Munro Round gives a glimpse of Kev's incredible depth of mountain experience, having previously completed 4 (non continuous) rounds of the Munros. As an example of his meticulous planning, he carefully compiled a database of winter weather patterns over multiple winters, which he used to aid his decision making over the winter Munros project - in a winter season of relentless stormy weather. As if the continuous westerly storm cycles weren't enough, March 2020 brought with it new and unexpected challenges of a very different kind.

Kev's recent Arrochar Round takes in all the Munros (4) and Corbetts (7) of the Arrochar hills, in a rugged 52km loop with around 6000m of ascent. Kev laid down a time of 13h54m for this round in his local hills, which could well become a connoisseur's classic.

Our wide ranging conversation touches on many aspects of mountain culture including connection to place, historic depopulation of the land, changing land use and the intertwined history of the mountains with the people who live on and near them. Kev hails from Glasgow and takes us through his earlier mountain memories, which then led into climbing and longer linkups. From his beginnings its clear that creativity and the artist's aesthetic are large drivers for Kev - be that in his music, his media work or his many hills days themselves.

In the course of working on a film about Sir Hugh Munro for the Munro Society, Kev has delved into stories from a bygone era, and through this has discovered a deeper understanding of the Scottish hills, not just as "cathedrals of our sport" but as places steeped in and changed by human history - from the Clearances to early map making, from Victorian attitudes to adventure and Land Access right through to modern pressures on the land.

He also talks us through some of the climbing guidebooks he has been working on, previous adventures such as the filming of Dave Macleod's "24/8", and other projects, including an upcoming book on Winter 282.

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.

Even back in school he was clear that he wanted to make a career in sportswear design, and this led to a Sports Engineering degree at Loughborough University which he completed in 2021. Harry tells the story of how he then landed an exciting job as Running Footwear Designer for Ronhill, who were putting together a team with which to develop and release a new footwear range. Harry tells us about the process from start right up to actually seeing his finished concepts being worn in races and on big rounds.

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.

Developing the idea of midwinter rounds, Finlay maximised the darkness and committed to attempting whatever the weather on the longest night (Winter Solstice 21-22nd December). This first attempt was aborted at Scafell Pike in very poor conditions - strong winds, heavy rain and visibility reduced to 5m on the higher peaks.

Trying again on 6th January, Finlay had a narrower sunset-sunrise window (16h30 rather than 16h45 at the Solstice) but took advantage of better weather to try again. Setting out once more from Moot Hall at official sunset - this time 4.03pm - he had a very different experience and managed to get ahead of Kim Collison’s overall Winter BGR record of 15h47, taking 12minutes off this to give a new winter record of 15h35m47s.

Conditions were good: -2’c on the high tops, clear skies and light wind. Parts of the ground were frozen and there was icy hoar frost around the high peaks, but not much snow or neve build up. We discuss differing winter conditions, especially with the effects of climate change, and the idea that maximising the darkness - and using map and compass navigation - made for its own unique adventures.

We mention different definitions of Winter - Astronomical Winter is the name for the period between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.

See video of Blizzard bag vs race kit by Trail Running Scotland here: ⁠youtu.be/MIFNZdSjSDo?si=Ls_qK90N9WJ3CXuR⁠

More details on the Dark BG: https://strava.app.link/WuFBskn6fHb

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

I caught up with Dingwall-based climber Murdoch Jamieson to hear about everything North West climbing. A true allrounder, Murdoch has made first ascents and repeats of hard routes on some of the most inspiring cliffs in the region. From Carnmore to Beinn Eighe, Beinn Bhan and An Teallach we hear about why these big, remote and imposing mountains have and continue to inspire him.

We delve into a bit more detail on some specific climbs such as:

'One Hundred Years of Solitude', Carnmore Crag - first ascent team, led directly after Iain Small - E8 6c (2014)

'Root of All Evil', Beinn Eighe - first winter ascent with John Orr - IX, 8 (2014)

'Godzilla', Beinn Bhan - second ascent with Iain Small and Andy Inglis - IX, 8 (2015)

Godzilla was first climbed by Guy Robertson, Pete Benson and Nick Bullock (2011) and is a direct start to The Godfather

Photo credit: Uisdean Hawthorn. Murdoch on 'Heavy Flak', Beinn Eighe - first winter ascent - VIII, 8 (2019)

I talk to Olly Stephenson in Edinburgh about hiking the 2650 mile Pacific Crest Trail which he did in an incredible 88 days this summer. In Olly's words "the trail traces a line up the mountains of west coast USA, traversing five major regions: Desert, High Sierra, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington", linking Mexico to Canada. Olly is no stranger to long distance adventures, with the UK Big Three, the 220 mile John Muir Trail and the Petite Trotte a Lyon (300km) being a few previous adventures.

Well known by many as the Carnethy Five race director, a fit 50yr old Olly found himself suddenly breathless and unwell in late 2018. A succession of tests showed he had non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer affecting the body's lymphatic system. Olly had to endure six cycles of chemotherapy, with various complications, which he describes as his most difficult challenge yet. In remission since 2019, he talks about the shift in his priorities, motivations and outlook.

Olly is fundraising for Maggie's Cancer Care, a charity which he found incredibly supportive. If you wish to donate or find out more about the charity please go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/olly-stephenson

I talk to visiting American Jack Kuenzle who has been over in Scotland gearing up for some big mountain rounds. On 28th July he set out hard on Lochaber's uber-classic Tranter's Round and came in with a new record of 8h38m23s, shaving almost 15 minutes off my best time of 8h52m53s set the day before (more on that in the conversation!). The previous record to that was 9h0m5sec set by me in 2020. It's brilliant to see this aesthetic 60km round of the Mamores, Grey Corries, Aonachs and Ben Nevis getting some hot international attention. Jack has reccied the route extensively over the past month and found some surprising similarities (except the bogs!) to the terrain in the American North East where he holds several FKTs including the 100mile White Mountains record - set just last month on the New Hampshire portion of the Appalachian trail. He has also been known to break skimo records in his underpants! - on Mount Hood in Oregon last winter. The 26 year old ex-Navy SEAL is clearly one to watch, as he turns his focus to the Lake District and a certain round there...

fastestknowntime.com/athlete/jack-kuenzle

www.instagram.com/jackkuenzle