Kilian Jornet, a legendary figure in trail running and alpinism, shares his incredible journey, including winning Zegama for the 11th time and completing a 1200km project called 'Alpine Connections.' He discusses the importance of fostering a love for adventure in children and how his family is adapting to parenthood. Kilian dives into training philosophies, particularly around stress management and circadian rhythms. He also shares insights on balancing high performance with life as he looks ahead to exciting races in 2025.
Kilian Jornet emphasizes the importance of integrating outdoor exploration into family life to foster children's appreciation for nature.
He discusses the evolving landscape of trail running, highlighting advancements in professionalism and heightened competition over his 17-year career.
Jornet shares insights on lifestyle management's impact on athletic performance, emphasizing stress reduction and recovery for sustainable success.
Deep dives
The Value of Family and Outdoor Connections
Killian Jornet emphasizes the significance of integrating outdoor activities into family life as a means to foster a connection with nature. He and his partner, Emily, strive to create an environment where their children grow to appreciate the outdoors, focusing more on the experience rather than achievements in sports. They believe it's vital for children to engage with nature, recognizing that many kids today lead sedentary lifestyles due to parental fears of outdoor injuries. By encouraging exploration and movement, they aim to instill a love for nature and outdoor adventures that transcends competition.
The Evolution of Trail Running Competitions
Jornet provides insightful perspectives on the changing landscape of trail running, noting significant advancements in the sport over his 17 years of competition. He mentions how the increased professionalism, improved training methods, and heightened media visibility have transformed the running community, leading to a more competitive environment. Furthermore, he discusses how the depth of competition has intensified, making achievements more difficult and, thus, more rewarding. Overall, he recognizes a shift where dedication and training have become paramount for success in this evolving athletic domain.
Training Insights and the Importance of Lifestyle Design
Jornet shares his thoughts on the critical role of lifestyle management in enhancing athletic performance, particularly as one ages. He explains how stress management, routine, and recovery practices significantly contribute to his training efficiency and overall performance levels. By observing and understanding how external factors impact physical adaptations, he stresses the necessity of maintaining low inflammation levels in the body for optimal results. Jornet concludes that by prioritizing a balanced lifestyle, athletes can maximize their physical capabilities while enjoying a sustainable training regimen.
Alpine Connections: A Personal Endeavor and Artistic Exploration
Jornet discusses his ambitious project, Alpine Connections, which he considers one of the hardest undertakings of his career. This endeavor focuses on linking multiple summits across the Alps in a continuous journey, highlighting the intricate relationship between movement and creativity in the mountains. He reflects on the importance of maintaining mental focus and the meditative state achieved during long outdoor pursuits, where connection with the environment becomes paramount. Ultimately, he describes the experience as not just a physical challenge but an artistic expression of his relationship with nature.
Future Aspirations and Competitive Spirit
As Jornet looks toward the future, he expresses a keen interest in participating in the Chianti Trail, which could potentially lead to a return to the Western States race. He acknowledges that his journey into the next competitive season will depend on his growing family and the arrival of his third child. Despite the challenges of parenthood, he remains motivated by the thrill of competition and the opportunity to push his physical limits. This balance between personal commitments and athletic ambitions exemplifies his dedication to both family life and the pursuit of excellence in trail running.
Kilian Jornet is one of the greatest athletes of all-time across all sports. His athletic accomplishments are staggering across trail running, alpinism, and ski mountaineering. This season he won Zegama for the 11th time, Sierre Zinal for the 10th time, and then completed a 1200km traverse of the Alps -- a personal project he called "Alpine Connections."
Some topics we discuss:
Kilian and Emelie’s expanding family and lessons from parenthood
The value of exposing kids to a life of adventure
Zegama, a race that Kilan has now won 11 times over 17 years
Kilian’s training, including a fascinating discussion around belief, circadian rhythm and stress management
Sierre Zinal, exploring how we maintain high performance as we get older
Alpine Connections, talking about the vision, the complexities, flow state experiences, and artistic influences inherent in the project.
Kilian's future goals including some exciting potential races in 2025
