Damian Hall

Hall grew up in the Cotswolds. Though he was competitive at cross-country at school, he didn't start running as an adult until 2011, aged 36. The following year, he completed his first marathon (dressed as a toilet).^[2] In 2016, Hall represented Great Britain in the IAU Trail World Championships in Gerês, Portugal.^[3]

Hall has held the Fastest Known Times (FKTs) for a number of British long-distance trails, including the South West Coast Path, Cape Wrath Trail (with Beth Pascall), Paddy Buckley Round, Pennine Way, South Wales Traverse and Wainwright's Coast to Coast.^[4][5][6]

Hall won the 2019 Ultra Tour Monte Rosa and the 2023 Spine Race. He was 4th at the 2023 Tor des Géants and 5th at the 2018 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.^[1][7] He has attempted the Barkley Marathons twice, reaching the final loop on both occasions.^[8]

Various documentaries have been made about Hall. Wrath followed his 2018 run with Beth Pascall on the 230-mile (370 km) Cape Wrath Trail, self-supported and during winter.^[9] In 2019, Underdog was released, following Hall's attempts to break into the top ten of the prestigious 105-mile (169 km) Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.^[10] In 2020, Totally FKT followed his battle with John Kelly to break the 268-mile (431 km) Pennine Way FKT.^[11]

Hall is vegan, a climate activist,^[12] and a founding member of The Green Runners.^[13][14] He is outspoken about sportswashing, unveiling protest banners at race finishes and pledging not to run races with high-carbon sponsors.^[15] He has plogged (picked up rubbish while running) during record attempts.^[16]

Hall has written for a large number of newspapers and magazines.^[17] As well as writing the walking guides Walking in the Cotswolds^[18] and Pennine Way,^[19] Hall has written books about running and FKTs with In It For The Long Run,^[2] and about running and climate with We Can't Run Away From This.^[20]