Running the Munros, Wainwrights and Classic Rounds - An Interview with 'Mountain Man' Matt Poulton
‘Mountain Man’ Matt Poulton is a fell runner and photographer.
He is currently combining both hobbies by attempting to run all the 284 Munros of Scotland, the 214 Wainwrights of Cumbria and the 3 classic rounds - The Bob Graham Round, the Paddy Buckley Round and the Ramsay Round.
In this article, Matt tells you:
Why he’s taking on this awesome challenge
Who inspires him
Tips and advice for running
November is ‘inspiration month’ - Where I’m doing a series of interviews with inspirational people.
The first interview included expert pacing advice from Paul Addicott - Who has paced 82 running events.
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JamesRunsFar: Hi Matt. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me. First, could you give us an overview of your running background, please
Mountain Man Matt Poulton: Alas there isn't a great deal to tell.
I grew up just outside the Lake District which is home to some of the greats of fell running. However I never fancied it growing up.
My family used to drag me out hiking when I was a sullen teen, so from a young age, quite reluctantly, I grew familiar with the hills (and the shortest time it would take to get off them so I could scuttle back to my room).
Once I finished university in summer last year I decided I wanted to try something (relatively) new so I took up fell running.
Having done lots of hills before as a kid, albeit sullenly walked rather than joyfully ran, I presumed it would be pretty easy.
I was wrong.
My first fell run was knackering but I loved it. I loved the way that I could go far further than I ever did while hiking and I liked the idea that if I stuck with it I would gradually be able to go further and further.
JRF: Can you tell us about your current project to run the Munro’s, Wainwrights and the Classic Rounds?
Note from James - The Munros are Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet. The Wainwrights are English peaks in Cumbria over 1,000 feet (except one) and the Classic Rounds are a set of challenges where athletes must reach a specific number of ‘peaks’ in a given time.
MMMP: So a few years back, about the time I went to university, I set myself the challenge of completing all the Wainwrights.
Despite taking me over some odd fells (*cough* Mungrisdale Common *cough*) in horrendous weather it did get me out into areas of the Lake District I would never have previously thought to go.
Note from James - Mungrisdale Common was thought to be Alfred Wainwright’s (the creator of the Wainwrights) least favourite hill. He once described that it "has no more pretension to elegance than a pudding that has been sat on"
I loved doing this challenge as it gave me a sense of purpose as I got gradually closer to the target.
Once I actually completed my last fell I actually felt quite sad and knew I had to set myself another target (hence the new challenge).
This new challenge should get me to explore different bits of Scotland which, despite my proximity to in Cumbria, I rarely went to.
As well as revisiting all the old favourites in the Lakes.
Mountain Man Matt is currently taking on the challenge of completing all the Munro’s in Scotland, the Wainwrights in Cumbria and the 3 Classic Rounds - The Bob Graham Round, The Paddy Buckley Round and the Ramsay Round
JRF: Who inspires you? Either running or non-running?
MMMP: Has to be Joss Naylor.
if you don't know him look him up. His antics are well worth a read.
Note from James - You can read about 83-year-old Joss Naylor here and here.
He is exactly the same age as my Gran (to the day) and still goes out and completes big mountain days in the Lakes.
His completion of the Bob Graham has to be my favourite story about him.
He completed the round (a notoriously difficult achievement) and decided to add a few more hills in (30 more) then went straight back to his farm to herd sheep.
The man is a machine.
JRF: What’s your favourite place to run?
MMMP: It really depends. So many things makes a good day which can vary from the weather and the company just to your mindset and how your body feels on a run.
However I always will have a soft spot for the Lake District Fells.
When I went on hikes in the Lake District I didn't particularly pay attention to the geography of the area around me, more just focused on bagging hills.
I was unaware before I started running, how close together hikes and mountains I used to hike were.
There is something immensely satisfying about connecting up several routes I used to hike as a youth into one long running day.
JRF: What is your dream place to run, if money wasn’t a problem?
MMMP: I would love to go to the US (a broad and somewhat stereotypical answer I know).
The routes i'm used to are over, in the grand scheme of things, relatively small hills.
As well as this the overwhelming thing I take from running in the UK is being aggressively rained on or being drowned in bog (which I do enjoy).
But it would be a nice change to try running without this happening.
My friends recently went to Colorado and went up Pikes Peak and the views from that looked amazing so hopefully I will bag that one day.
Matt says that Joss Naylor, legendary fell-runner, is his biggest inspiration. And that his favourite place to run is the Lake District. Although he’d love to run in America one day.
JRF: Could you tell us your top tips for running?
MMMP: In terms of actual running technique I think it varies so much from person to person and as I haven't been running that long I feel any advice I give, although well meaning, may not be amazing.
However what I have found in that running is achieved via a good mindset.
Everyone is running for a reason (to get fitter, to get well defined calf muscles, to escape a bear, etc) so keeping in mind those goals is always important.
JRF: What’s Next for you?
MMMP: Well I spent a big part of this summer being injured.
When I do things I like to fully throw myself into them which was foolish and has resulted in an ankle that looked a bit like a pretzel.
My aim for 2020 is to build the mileage up gradually over the winter and spring and work on flexibility as well. So I can hopefully tackle some larger projects in the summer (Abrahams Tea Round and the Tranter Round)
Matt has exciting challenges for 2020, including completing more rounds - Including the lesser-known Abrahams Tea Round and the Tranter Round
JRF: Where can people follow you?
MMMP: The best places to follow me are
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