Outdoor Journalist

& Ultra Runner

Damian Hall

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My first half marathon, in 2011, was life changing.

A year later I ran my first marathon and ultramarathon. Four years later I was representing Great Britain at the Trail World Championships.

Trail-ultramarathon running has become a, mostly healthy, addiction. The sport brings out my competitive nature, but it's much more about having a big sweaty adventure somewhere spectacularly lumpy, and the great health, happiness and friendships it rewards with. And the opportunity to scoff a lot of cake.

In the UK, I've placed on the podium at the Spine Race, the Dragon's Back Race and the most recent British Athletics UK Ultra Trail Championships, which earned me a call-up for the GB team.

Abroad, I've placed in the top 20 at the 105-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (x2) and the Marathon des Sables, in the top 10 at Ultra-Trail Word Tour races, and 1st at 2018's Ice Ultra in Arctic Sweden.

I've also completed a Bob Graham Round, a Charlie Ramsay Round and hold the record for the Fastest Known Time (supported) on Britain's longest National Trail, the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

I'm grateful to be supported by Inov-8, Running Reborn, 33Shake, Mountain Fuel, Petzl and Black Diamond.

I'm also qualified as a UK Athletics Leader in Running Fitness (and currently studying to become a UKA Coach in Running Fitness) and really enjoy coaching runners of all abilities.

SELECT RESULTS

2013

3rd, Cotswold Way Century, 102 miles

2014

4th, The Spine Race, 268 miles

2nd (joint), Cotswold Way Century, 102 miles

2015

3rd, The Spine Race, 268 miles

3rd (5th OA), Dragon's Back Race, 195 miles

29th, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), 105 miles

2016

4th, The Coastal Challenge, 146 miles