Damian Hall is an incredibly inspirational, multi-talented, yet humble UK ultra-runner.
His impressive achievements include:
A 5th place finish at the UTMB
Four fastest known times (FKT’s) - Including the incredibly tough Paddy Buckley round
Being a member of the Great Britain trail team, just 4 years after taking up running
As well as his incredible ultra-running CV, he is also a father, husband, journalist, speaker, UK Athletics coach… And generally overall nice guy!
But one of his most recent passions is on the impact that we’re all having on the environment.
In this article, Damian tells us about:
The massive environmental problem we’re all facing in the next 8 - 10 years
What specific actions we can all start doing - We don’t have to be perfect… But we do have to do something!
Plus, he gives us an insight into his own training - A typical training week, his top training tips and what kit he uses
I hope that this article gives you some information and inspiration on the things we can start doing to save the planet.
Damian is an ambassador for inov-8 and Tomax Technology. You can find out more at www.damianhall.info.
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JamesRunsFar: Hi Damian. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me. First, could you give us an overview of your endurance and adventure background, please.
Damian Hall: Thanks for this James! I hope I warned you I'm very boring?
I mostly played football since school but also loved trekking and mountaineering.
In 2011 I did the Bath Half, which I loved and was soon doing a first marathon (dressed as a toilet) and ultramarathon.
Four years after that I was in the GB Trail Team.
I got a bit obsessed with UTMB and have done that four times, my best performance being 5th place in 2018.
I have four fastest known times (FKTs), including the Paddy Buckley Round (overall and winter records). It's all just a midlife crisis really.
Damian Hall has rapidly climbed into the elite level of ultra-running. His impressive running CV includes 4 UTMB finishes, including a 5th place. And he also four fastest known times (FKT’s). This photo is him at the end of the UTMB. Photo by Andy Jackson
JRF: Can you tell us more about your focus on the impact we’re having on the environment
DH: I think everyone knows we're heading for disaster and that the government is doing bugger all about it (and we probably know why, too).
Extinction Rebellion (XR) woke me up. We only have eight-10 years to sort things out or we could well be f**ked.
There are personal things we can do and political things we can do.
I think we're better off concentrating on political actions, pressurising government and corporations and those funding fossil fuels, to help make the systemic changes we urgently need.
Please get in touch via my Instagram account if you're interested in joining Runners for XR - @ultra_damo - https://www.instagram.com/ultra_damo/
Damian Hall is part of the Extinction Rebellion group. They’re trying to make a major difference to the impact the we’re all having on our environment. Photo by Mikkel Beisner
JRF: How has your focus on the environment impacted your ability to train and race?
DH: In 2019 I did seven return flights, five for races, and I just can't do that again. It seems wrong to me.
So I decided this year to race abroad less, fly less (mostly likely two flights max), race domestically more, use public transport more and offset any greenhouse emissions, so my family is carbon negative.
It's not perfect. But nothing about this situation is.
I'm okay with being imperfect. I'm fine with being called a hypocrite. I care. And I'm trying.
JRF: What specific changes have you made in training, racing and in your lifestyle?
DH: My wife has worked really hard at cutting down our plastic waste. Simple things like getting milk delivered in glass bottles, using more refills, and buying more food from Riverford (which is local and organic too).
We've switched to a renewable energy supplier in Bulb (cheaper!), and I've given up beef, lamb and dairy – under the watchful eye of sports dietician ace Renee McGregor, so hopefully my health and performances won't suffer unduly.
I'm going to get a train to UTMB rather than fly and do more domestic races, and try to share lifts or use public transport for them when possible.
If I'm to be half competitive at international ultras, I still need to drive to the Brecon Beacons to train sometimes, which is regrettable but I don't see a realistic way around that.
Again, it's imperfect activism. But a step in the right direction.
Oh, and I'm trying to remember not to take T-shirts or medals at most races, as rightfully encouraged by the amazing ReRun Clothing.
Damian says that there are lots of small things that we can all do to make a difference. Not taking the T-shirt and medal at races is one thing. Photo by Guillem Casanova
JRF: You have a young family too. Has it been difficult to change their mindset?
DH: To be honest we don't want to alarm them too much.
And though we're doing sneaky things with their diets, they don't like oat milk, so we're not pushing them much for now.
They don't seem to miss beef or lamb. They know who Greta Thunberg is and they made me an XR flag for my birthday.
JRF: What’s been the hardest thing to change as a result of your focus on the environment?
DH: I thought it would be the milk in my tea (I drink a lot of tea).
But that's been surprisingly okay. Cheese is tricky. But I'm slowly winning.
JRF: What are the simple things that other athletes can do to minimise their impact on the environment?
DH: I don't want to be preachy or tell others what to do.
But some quick research will tell you it's fly less and go plant-based (I haven't done this completely, yet).
But also, let's just keep talking about it, keeping it on the agenda, asking questions.
JRF: What are the bigger questions we need to tackle on this issue?
DH: The big polluters and complicit politicians have tricked us into thinking we should solve the issue, when they need to act and make systemic changes, urgently.
Political and systemic change will have much greater impact than we can have as individuals.
But it seems they need a nudge in the right direction...
Damian’s typical training week sees him run between 60 - 90 miles. But there’s a lot of variety in each of his workouts. But his biggest piece of advice is for runners to increase their mileage a little. But do it slowly and gradually. Photo by Lee Proctor
JRF: As for running, what does a typical training week look like?
DH: Back to the running. Phew.
I usually run six days a week, with a long run somewhere lumpy, one workout and the rest mostly easy, but with a fair few strides and hills.
Anywhere from 60-90 miles a week.
JRF: What are your top training tips for the readers of JamesRunsFar?
DH: Most people could simply run a bit more, but keep it mostly easy and build up gradually.
Rest a bunch, eat well, sleep well and fun fast sometimes too.
And above all, enjoy it.
JRF: What food and kit do you use and recommend?
DH: I'm very lucky to be sponsored by inov-8, and the excellent grip on their shoes is well known, even better now with graphene.
My favourite shoes depend on the time of year, but the new MUDCLAW G 260 was ace on my recent winter Paddy Buckley Round and I'm loving X-Talons in the local mud.
Come summer and harder trails in the Alps and I'll be back in my TERRAULTRA Gs, most likely.
I still love the Stormshell jacket (great features and protection for such low weight) and their new packs are well skill.
But that comes with the caveat that many of us are guilty of over-consumption, myself included.
Try not to buy new kit unless you really need it. Let's make stuff last longer.
JRF: What would you like people to remember you for?
DH: Not banging on about our climate emergency too much.
No hope is there?
Damian has some big racing plans for 2020. But he’s trying to cut down the amount of travel he’s doing. He’s cutting down flights and will be taking the train to the start of the UTMB… if Coronavirus doesn’t stop it from happening!
JRF: What’s next for your racing?
DH: I hope to do UTMB again this year, but like a lot of runners at the moment my immediate races plans are in limbo due to Coronavirus.
I hope to do UTS50 and Wendover Woods 50K too and hopefully one or two fun things in the autumn and winter (TBC).
JRF: Where can people follow you?
DH: I'm sure I'm pretty easy to find. I'm more active on Instagram and Strava. On Twitter and Facebook it's all gloomy climate stuff. #Sorry #NotSorry
JRF: Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us about your adventures, your advice and your views on the massive environmental challenge we;re all facing.
One Last Call… Please Vote for JamesRunsFar as ‘Best Professional Running Blog’
I have made the shortlist for the ‘best professional running blog’ by the Running Awards.
If you like what you read on my site, then please vote for me here.
Thank you if you’ve already voted. And the good news is, that you can VOTE AGAIN!
So, please do.
The main reason I started this blog was to inform and entertain you.
I hope that I am doing that.
And if you agree, then please vote for me.
Thank you!
:-)
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