{{Short description|Scottish doctor and runner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = | nickname = | fullname = Finlay Wild | image = 2015 Ben Nevis Race Finlay Wild.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | nationality = British | sport = | event = | club = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1984|9|8}} | birth_place = | residence = | coach= | death_date = | death_place= | height = | weight = | pb = | country = | medaltemplates= }}
'''Finlay Wild''' (born 8 September 1984) is a Scottish runner and mountaineer who has been a British fell running champion. He has won the Ben Nevis Race twelve times.
==Early life and professional career== Wild was born on 8 September 1984 in Thurso.<ref>[http://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=861254 Deutsche Ultramarathon-Vereinigung: Finlay Wild.]</ref><ref name="Jonny Muir 2018">Jonny Muir, "The Monarch of the Glen", ''The Mountains are Calling'' (Dingwall, 2018).</ref> He gained an affinity with the outdoors through his parents Roger Wild, a mountain guide, and Fiona (née Hinde), an accomplished hill runner who won the Three Peaks Race in 1981 and the Carnethy 5 in 1981 and 1982.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://vimeo.com/159920070 |title=Ben Nevis – Wild Times |medium=motion picture |publisher=Nevis Landscape Partnership |date=March 2016 |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk/2013/10/fin-wild-runs-the-cuillin-ridge-sub-3-hours.html |first=Fiona |last=Russell |title=King of the Wild Frontier (published in the Sunday Mail on 27 October 2013) |website=www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk |date=28 October 2013 |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/337854/highland-gp-wins-ben-nevis-race-for-fifth-time/ |title=Highland GP wins Ben Nevis Race for Fifth Time |first=Sue |last=Restan |work=The Press and Journal |date=8 September 2014 |accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://threepeaksrace.org.uk/3Peak%20Race%20Winners%201954-2015.pdf |title=Three Peaks Race: Winners 1954–2015 |website=threepeaksrace.org.uk |accessdate=15 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022062657/http://www.threepeaksrace.org.uk/3Peak%20Race%20Winners%201954-2015.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="carnethy.com">{{cite web |url=http://carnethy.com/ri_results/c5/c5_sum.htm |title=Carnethy 5 Results Summary 1971–2015|publisher=Carnethy Hill Running Club |website=carnethy.com |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref> He was educated at Fort William primary school and Lochaber High School, then graduated with a medical degree from the University of Aberdeen.<ref name="NHSH 20Sep2013">{{cite press release |url=http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/News/Pages/Four-in-a-rowforFinlay.aspx |title=Four-in-a-row for Finlay |publisher=NHS Highland |date=20 September 2013 |accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926122208/http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Former-pupil-opens-Lundavra-school-29062016.htm |archive-date=26 September 2016 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Former-pupil-opens-Lundavra-school-29062016.htm |title=Former pupil opens Lundavra school |work=Lochaber News |date=29 June 2016}}</ref> He works as a general practitioner in Lochaber.<ref>{{cite news |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222014525/http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Hill-running-GP-puts-wild-places-in-frame-17022016.htm |archive-date=22 February 2016 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Hill-running-GP-puts-wild-places-in-frame-17022016.htm |title=Hill Running GP Puts Wild Places in Frame |first=Sue |last=Restan |work=Lochaber News |date=19 February 2016}}</ref>
==Sporting career== Wild first took part in a hill race at Ben Rinnes in 2005.<ref name="Jonny Muir 2018"/> He came to prominence through the Ben Nevis Race which he first won in 2010. His tally of twelve Ben Nevis victories is higher than that of any other runner in the history of the event.<ref>{{cite news |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005110359/http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Ben-Nevis-Race-is-a-family-affair-07092016.htm |archive-date=5 October 2016 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Ben-Nevis-Race-is-a-family-affair-07092016.htm |title=Ben Nevis Race is a family affair |work=Lochaber News |date=8 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arrs.run/HP_BNv10.htm |title=Ben Nevis 10 Mile |publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |website=www.arrs.run |accessdate=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0098|title=Ben Nevis Race |publisher=Scottish Hill Racing |website=www.scottishhillracing.co.uk |accessdate=6 September 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://athleticsweekly.com/blog/falling-for-the-fells-all-over-again-1039988994/ Athletics Weekly: Falling for the fells all over again.]</ref>
In 2012, he set a new course record for the Glamaig Hill Race, breaking the previous best set by Mark Rigby in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/glamaig-hill-race-record-smashed/007268/ |title=Glamaig Hill Race Record Smashed |first=Helen |last=Webster |publisher=www.walkhighlands.co.uk |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> He improved the record by a further five seconds in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theskyetimes.co.uk/index.php/3369-new-records-set-at-glamaig-hill-race |title="New Records Set at Glamaig Hill Race", ''The Skye Times'', 8 Jul 2018. |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224012/http://www.theskyetimes.co.uk/index.php/3369-new-records-set-at-glamaig-hill-race |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Wild's other wins include the Carnethy 5,<ref name="carnethy.com"/> Goatfell race,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.obantimes.co.uk/2015/05/28/three-in-a-row-as-finlay-wins-goatfell-hill-race-on-arran/ |title=Three in a Row as Finlay Wins Goatfell Hill Race on Arran |work=The Oban Times |date=28 May 2015 |accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref> the Isle of Jura,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0044 |title=Isle of Jura Fell Race |publisher=www.scottishhillracing.co.uk |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> Stuc a' Chroin,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0033 |title=Stuc a'Chroin Hill Race |publisher=www.scottishhillracing.co.uk |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> the Ennerdale Horseshoe,<ref>[http://www.cfra.co.uk/results/Ennerdale2019.pdf CFRA: Ennerdale 2019 Results.]</ref> the Langdale Horseshoe,<ref>[https://www.amblesideac.org.uk/2019/10/langdale-horseshoe-2019-race-report/ Ambleside AC: Langdale Horseshoe 2019 Race Report.]</ref> Wasdale<ref>[https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/FRA-English/2024/Wasdale/ SPORTident: Wasdale Fell Race.]</ref> and Borrowdale.<ref>[https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/FRA-English/2025/Borrowdale/ SPORTident: Borrowdale Fell Race.]</ref> He won the British Fell Running Championships in 2015<ref name="ScotOutdoors Jan2016">{{cite journal |url=http://www.scotoutdoors.com/outdoor-passions/finlay-wild-hill-runner |title=Finlay Wild – Hill Runner |first=Neil |last=Braidwood |journal=Scotland Outdoors |date=6 January 2016 |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gomountaingoats.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/how-it-was-for-me-british-fell-running.html |title=How it was for me – British Fell Running Championship 2015 |first=Finlay |last=Wild |publisher=gomountaingoats.blogspot.co.uk |date=22 August 2015 |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> and again in 2022.<ref>[http://www.uka.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BRITISH-CHAMPIONS_1972-2022.pdf UK Athletics: British Champions 1972-2022.]</ref> He has also won the Lakeland Classics Trophy.<ref>[https://www.irunfar.com/finlay-wild-profile iRunFar: Love of the Hills: A Conversation With Finlay Wild.]</ref>
Wild has the fastest known time for the Cuillin Ridge traverse on the Isle of Skye, completing the crossing in 2:59:22 in 2013.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/assets/000/000/932/JMT_Journal_58_spring_2015_original.pdf?1438518075 |first=Kevin |last=Lelland |title=Finlay Wild, Hill Runner |journal=John Muir Trust Journal |volume=58 |issue=Spring 2015 |pages=34}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=68429 |title=Finlay Wild on His New Cuillin Record |website=UKClimbing.com |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref> In February 2016, Wild and Tim Gomersall made a winter crossing of the Cuillin Ridge in a time of 6:14.<ref>[https://www.thebmc.co.uk/uisdean-hawthorn-new-winter-record-cuillin-ridge British Mountaineering Council: Uisdean Hawthorn: New Winter Record on the Cuillin Ridge.]</ref>
In 2016, Wild's results in the Tromsø SkyRace and the Glen Coe Skyline gave him third place in the Extreme section of the Skyrunner World Series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skyrunnerworldseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-rankingEXTREME_men.pdf |title=Skyrunner World Series: 2016 Extreme Series |website=www.skyrunnerworldseries.com |accessdate=15 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015172853/http://www.skyrunnerworldseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-rankingEXTREME_men.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In October 2016, he set a record time of 10:15:30 for Tranter's Round in the mountains around Glen Nevis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gomountaingoats.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/tranters-round-record.html |title=Tranter's Round Record |first=Finlay |last=Wild |website=gomountaingoats.blogspot.co.uk |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref> He further reduced the time to 9:00:05 in July 2020<ref>[https://scottishhillrunners.uk/NewsItems.aspx?NewsItemID=62848 Scottish Hill Runners: Finlay Breaks The Tranter Round Record!]</ref> and then to 8:52 in July 2022, but the latter record only lasted one day until it was beaten by Jack Kuenzle with a time of 8:38.<ref>[https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2022/07/tranters_round_broken_twice_in_24hrs-73110 UKClimbing: Tranter's Round Broken Twice in 24hrs.]</ref> Wild retook the record in June 2024 with a time of 8:27:53.<ref>[https://www.ukhillwalking.com/news/2024/06/finlay_wild_sets_new_tranters_round_record-73699 UKHillwalking: Finlay Wild Sets New Tranter's Round Record.]</ref>
In May 2019, Wild ran the Welsh 3000s in a time of 4:10:48 which broke the long-standing record of 4:19 held by Colin Donnelly since 1988.<ref>[https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finlay-wild-breaks-records-for-welsh-3000ers-and-snowdon-horseshoe British Mountaineering Council: Finlay Wild Breaks Records for Welsh 3000ers and Snowdon Horseshoe.]</ref>
Wild set a record for the Ramsay Round in August 2020, completing the route solo and unsupported in a time of 14:42:40.<ref>[https://www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk/2020/09/finlay-wild-sets-new-ramsay-round-record.html FionaOutdoors: Finlay Wild sets new Ramsay Round record.]</ref> He also completed the Rigby Round of Munros in the Cairngorms in July 2021 in a record time of 16:40.<ref>[https://www.scottishhillrunners.uk/LongDistanceRecords.aspx?LongDistanceRecordID=10 Scottish Hill Runners: Cairngorm Munros.]</ref>
In August 2021, Wild ran the Bob Graham Round in 12:59, just outside the record at the time of 12:52 held by Kilian Jornet.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irunfar.com/this-week-in-running-august-30-2021 | publisher=iRunFar | title=This Week In Running: August 30, 2021 | first=Justin | last=Mock | accessdate=14 September 2025}}</ref> Wild ran the Bob Graham Round again in January 2024, completing it between dusk and dawn in a time of 15:35, the fastest time achieved for a winter round.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irunfar.com/this-week-in-running-january-8-2024 | publisher=iRunFar | title=This Week In Running: January 8, 2024 | first=Justin | last=Mock | accessdate=14 September 2025}}</ref>
In April 2022, Wild completed the Paddy Buckley Round, solo and unsupported, in a time of 15:14, beating the previous record of 16:20 set by Kim Collison.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ukhillwalking.com/news/2022/04/finlay_wild_breaks_paddy_buckley_record-73040 | title=Finlay Wild breaks Paddy Buckley Record | first=Rob | last=Greenwood | publisher=UKH | date=26 April 2022 | accessdate=14 September 2025 }}</ref>
Wild broke his own record in the Isle of Jura Fell Race in May 2022 with a time of 2:58:09, the first time any runner had completed the event in under three hours.<ref>[https://www.fastrunning.com/events-and-races/weekend-round-ups/euro-10000m-cup-diamond-league-see-gb-success-weekend-roundup/34396 Fast Running: GB&NI success at Euro 10000m Cup & Diamond League – weekend roundup.]</ref> The following month, he set a new record of 30:39 at Buckden Pike, beating Colin Donnelly's previous best from 1988.<ref>[https://run247.com/running-news/trail/british-championship-fell-race-2022-results-report Run247: Wild and Russell show the way at 2022 British Championship Fell Race.]</ref>
In August 2022, Wild was victorious at both Matterhorn Ultraks<ref>[https://trailrunningspain.com/2022/08/19/matterhorn-ultraks-2022-goes-to-finlay-wild-and-naiara-irigoyen/ Trail Running Spain: Matterhorn Ultraks 2022 goes to Finlay Wild and Naiara Irigoyen.]</ref> and Trofeo Kima.<ref>[https://www.trofeokima.org/lo-scozzese-wild-lamericana-gerardi-si-aggiudicano-la-21a-edizione/?lang=en Trofeo Kima: Scotsman Wild & American Gerardi win the 21st edition.]</ref> He returned to Trofeo Kima in 2024, winning and setting a new course record of 6:05:04.<ref>[https://www.trofeokima.org/tripletta-di-hillary-gerardi-finlay-wild-da-record/?lang=en Trofeo Kima: Tripletta di Hillary Gerardi, Finlay Wild da record.]</ref>
Wild has also competed in ski mountaineering and was the British champion in that sport in 2016 as well as the Scottish Skimo series winner in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Ben |last=Bardsley |title=Interview: Finlay Wild |journal=The Fellrunner |date=Autumn 2015 |pages=56–59}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skimoscotland.co.uk/resources/Results/2014-Results.pdf |title=Official results Lecht 2090 race – 27th December 2014 |publisher=Skimo Scotland: Results |website=www.skimoscotland.co.uk |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skimoscotland.co.uk/resources/Results/2015-Results.pdf |title=Official results Lecht 2090 race – 28th December 2015 |publisher=Skimo Scotland |website=www.skimoscotland.co.uk |accessdate=15 October 2016}}</ref>
==Artwork== Some of Wild's paintings were displayed as a solo exhibition at the John Muir Trust's Wild Space Gallery in Pitlochry for eight weeks in early 2016.<ref name="ScotOutdoors Jan2016"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/02/11/cuillin-record-runner-finlay-wild-reveals-artistic-side-with-kaleidoscape-show |title=Cuillin record runner Finlay Wild reveals artistic side with Kaleidoscape show |first=Bob |last=Smith |publisher=www.grough.co.uk |date=11 February 2016 |accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://gomountaingoats.blogspot.co.uk Wild's blog] * {{Power of 10}} * {{ITRA}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wild, Finlay}} Category:British fell runners Category:British sky runners Category:Scottish male ski mountaineers Category:Scottish men long-distance runners Category:British men long-distance runners Category:People educated at Lochaber High School Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Category:Scottish general practitioners Category:Living people Category:People from Fort William, Scotland Category:1984 births Category:Scottish male skiers Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen