For our 200th (!) episode, we’re jumping across the pond to catch up with Finlay Wild, Scottish resident and recent Paddy Buckley record-setter. A doctor with a passion for painting, Finlay shares his vast insight and skill on all things fell running, UK rounds, and the UK at large.
With nine FKTs to his name, Finlay’s most iconic feats include the Cuillin Ridge Traverse on the Isle of Sky, the Tranter variant of the Ramsay Round, and his most recent feat: setting the unsupported record on the Paddy Buckley, Wale’s premiere round.
After completing the other two rounds in the “Big Three,” Finlay chose to finish with a fast attempt on the Buckely—the longest and perhaps gnarliest of them all. He clocked the 47 summits, 100 plus kilometers, and 28,000 feet of elevation gain in 15 hours, 14 minutes and 45 seconds to record-setting fanfare. While Finlay completed his attempt in an unsupported style, carrying all his nutrition and gear on his back and only collecting water from streams along the way, he also smashed the supported record by over an hour.
Unlike many (if not most) other FKT routes, the Buckley—whose route is a true circle—lets you choose your start point. Tune in to the FKT Podcast to learn why Finlay started at a nondescript bus stop in Llanberis. You’ll also get the inside scoop on just how grassy, rolling, boggy, and pathless much of this round can be, along with some of the storied history behind the iconic route.
Get to know Finlay beyond his running, including how a setback led to him finding a passion for art. And learn how Finlay captures the soul of UK landscapes in his paintings.
Read up on all of Finlay’s FKTs on fastestknowntime.com, and check out his artwork and blog on his website gomountaingoats.com.
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