Profile : Andy Nicoll - Extreme Runner
Andy Nicoll - Extreme Runner.
Name: Andy Nicoll
Date of Birth: 9th July 1969 (nearly officially an old bugger!!)
Occupation: Engineer
Sports I do: Fell Running, Ultra Running (distances longer than a marathon), Mountain Marathons, Biking (Mountain / Road / Cyclo-Cross – once a year for 3 Peaks Cross).
Sports kit I use: I love kit that works and hate stuff that doesn’t perform!! Some of
my races / challenges are pretty extreme and I select kit that I know I can trust to keep going even when I want to curl up and die.
Inov8 shoes (315 & 320) - a fairly recent convert - after trying to find the perfect trail shoe for years I eventually found the 315 and immediately Christened it the holy grail of trail shoes. I’ve now just got some 320s (just for a change) and I’m hoping they prove as good – time (or the blog) will tell.
Walsh PB - for pure fell races nothing comes close.
Don’t think you sell these at SS but the BUFF is perhaps my favourite all-time piece of outdoor kit. I’m never without at least one of these simple but effective little beauties when I’m on the hills come rain, snow or shine.
Thorlo socks – after completely trashing my heels in the Karrimor Mountain Marathon (now the OMM) in 2006 by wearing ‘ordinary running socks’ I switched to Thorlos for all my long runs and, despite my Yorkshire upbringing, now think that 10 quid for a pair of socks is reasonable!!
One piece of kit I’m also rarely without is my Montane featherlite windproof – this has got to be one of the best designed items of performance clothing ever made. Packs smaller than an apple, weighs nowt and works a treat.
I also use Hummel sports wear as my mate is their sales manager and he’s keen to promote their stuff on the running circuit – it’s actually fantastic gear that not only looks cool but also performs (especially their base layers and windproofs) – SS should stock it!!
A bit about me: I’m a dad, husband and employee before I’m a sportsman. My training, racing and adventures all have
to fit in and around my family and work. This is often a juggle but it keeps things interesting!! I love crazy physical challenges and pushing myself to the limit – so I guess fell running was always the perfect sport for me. I came to running after BMX, basketball, Ju-jitsu, caving, motorcycle trials, scuba diving and mountain biking. I still ride mountain bikes regularly but all the other stuff is now history. I’m an active member of Bingley Harriers and love their philosophy of putting maximum effort into training, racing and beer drinking
Some of my best sporting achievements so far : I walked the 3 Peaks in under 12 hours with my dad when I was eight years old and then last year (30 years later) did it twice in 10.5 hours as a training run for the Ultratrail Tour Du Mont Blanc (UTMB).
I staggered round the London Marathon in 2000 in 3.35 and this sparked my interest in distance running but I quickly dumped flat tarmac in favour of mud and hills.
In 2007 I ran the UTMB and completed the 100 mile circumnavigation of Mont Blanc with 29000 foot of ascent in under 35 hours (with no sleep!) – this has got to be one of the highlights of my running career so far but there have been so many great times it’s hard to know which to mention.
My sporting objectives for this year: I’ve already done The Trog, The Hobble, The 3 Peaks and the Fellsman this year but 2008 is all about the 3 Peaks Yacht Race. This is a team event (3 sailors and 2 runners) with 25 boats racing from Barmouth in Wales to Fort William in Scotland with the running pair taking in Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis on route. We know when it starts (28/6) but have no idea when it’ll finish – should be fun (in a painful sort of way!!)
After that it’ll be Borrowdale Fell Race in August, Ben Nevis Race in September, the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross and then the OMM mountain marathon in October where me and my Hummel mate are tackling the A class for the first time. A fun packed few months ahead which should throw up a good few stories.
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