Music Meets Running

Don’t look too far: this is probably the most technically impressive and thrilling trail running video-clip you will find on the Internet. Settled in the Åndalsnes Mountains, Norway, the movie featured with advanced technological means (individual Go Pro cameras, external terrestrial and aerial cameras) the Spanish ultra-runner Kilian Jornet — who has actually been living in the abovementioned Scandinavian country since 2016. Just pay quick attention: the man runs along an extremely narrow high-moutain glacially-shaped igneous rock crest, with immense void on both sides of the path — where you would use ropes and climb or crawl. Without any discernible fear, Jornet goes up and down flying and simply turns his sporting practice into artistic performance.

Born in 1987 and raised in a high-moutain refuge, Kilian Jornet specialized in ski mountaineering before bursting in the trail running universe with an oustanding victory at the Ultra-Trail of Mont Blanc (UTMB, ∼170 km of distance and 10,000 m of positive ascent), in 2008 — at the age of only twenty-years old. Since that moment, he has won an innumerable quantity of skyrunning and trail running races, being notably famous for having finished first four times at the UTMB. He his the holder of the record of Mont Blanc solo ascent and descent in 4 h 57 min, in 2013. In 2017, with a starting point in the Rongbuk monastery at 5,100 m above sea level, he reached in alpine style the summit of Mount Everest in only 26 hours. Jornet is undoutedly the most renowned trail runner in the world. Nobody knows when he will calm down and retire.

Although a love interpretation is probably more recommended, U2’s “Even Better Than The Real Thing” may deal with drug consumption and effects. What do you think running means for runners, especially when the latter progress in magnificent environments? Jornet’s movies simply give the will to enjoy healthy life and challenge oneself; we all have a Kilian Jornet in us — let’s find him, whatever the way.