Dr Finlay’s racebook: GP’s year of running round the mountains

Runner Finlay Wild has been quietly and determinedly ticking off a series of impressive mountain challenges.

While the pandemic restrictions saw almost all races cancelled, the Lochaber GP turned his attention to some classic circuits and traverses.

With each bid, he ran supremely fast times and set records, often beating his own previous best time.

“I’ve called 2020 my ‘Year of FKTs’ – fastest known times,” says Finlay, 36, who has lived in Fort William for most of his life.

“With so many great mountains and routes on my doorstep and a lot of flexibility thanks to my locum work, I decided to see what I could achieve locally.”

On June 27, he started with the 14.4km (9-mile) Ring of Steall traverse of five peaks – including four Munros. His FKT was a shade under two hours.

Three days later, he set another record, completing a Lochaber Traverse, including the nine summits of the Grey Corries and Aonachs, as well as Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis. He ran the 26km (16-mile) route in three hours and 32 minutes.

A week later, he found the energy to break his own 2017 record on the Mamores Round, a 35km (22-mile) traverse and total ascent of 3,399m (11,150ft) over 11 peaks, 10 of which are Munros. He was almost 30 minutes faster in four hours and 49 minutes.

Ramping up the distance and ascent, nine days later Finlay did a Tranter’s Round, combining ridge running in the Mamores with the Lochaber Traverse summits.

His 2016 record for the 59km (36.5-mile) route stood at 10 hours and 15 minutes, which he smashed in a shade over nine hours.

A few weeks later, Finlay had another goal in mind – the Mullardoch Round. He set another record of seven hours, 40 minutes for the 55km (34-mile) route over 12 remote Munros.

Then came the challenge that Finlay had coveted – Ramsay’s Round. On August 31, he set out on one of the toughest UK mountain routes, 93km (58 miles) of wild terrain, with an ascent of 8,697m (28,500ft). Ramsay’s is an extension of a Tranter’s Round and 32km (20 miles) further than Finlay had ever run.

“I remember on the 2016 Tranter’s, looking east to the Ramsay’s beyond and not being able to visualise running that far.

“It was only last summer that something clicked for me thanks to a combination of experience, confidence in my endurance and pacing and nutrition.”

Finlay set a new record of 14 hours and 42 minutes, 90 minutes faster than the previous time.

The talented runner completes most of his challenges solo and unsupported.

He says, “I do like running with other people, including my partner Suzy Devey, but I prefer to do the long challenges on my own. There is less planning and organising of other people when going solo and therefore you can just set off when it suits you.

“On my own, I get into what I call a ‘flow state’ where I’m immersed in the moment.

“It feels just right; the perfect pace. I train hard and I’ve learned my mountain craft so, for me, moving fast in remote, 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 – 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 a higher altitude and Mum was a keen hill runner.

“But as a student in Aberdeen, I was 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 10th.

Just seven years later, Finlay won the Rinnes race and over 15 years he has accumulated a string of Scottish hill racing successes, including records such as the Glamaig Hill Race, Jura Fell Race, Meall a’Bhuachaille, Creag Dhubh, Beinn Dubh and the Trotternish Ridge.

In 2015, he won the British Fell Running Championships and, the following year, he was third in the “Extreme” section of the Skyrunner World Series. He’s also a British Ski Mountaineering Champion and Scottish SkiMo series winner.

The race that has arguably brought Finlay greatest fame is perhaps also the most pertinent. In total, he’s competed the Ben Nevis Race 13 times, winning it 10 times in a row.

“I didn’t plan to do the race so many times in a row,” Finlay says, “but it’s a great race and it’s special because it’s local. I have been fortunate to win it many times.

“In fact, I feel lucky and grateful to be as fit as I am so I can continue to set myself challenges in the mountains.

“I will never get bored of the mountains – running in them creates the best version of me.”