Skylander, beckoned by illusion and dream – John Proctor

There is a coldness in the air, and all is quiet on the mountain, the first rays of sunshine open up the mighty and majestic north face of Ben Nevis as it breaks its cover from darkness. Engulfed by Incredible feelings of strength, excitement and desire, billions of neuron’s light up the inner mind.  I tune into the atmosphere, step forward into the day and drift deeper into my soul; the trail has begun, time is rolling on.

“It was not exactly an Alpine start. I needed the daybreak for my ascent of Ledge Route, the trail to the summit of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak. I had driven the 350 miles to Scotland and pitched my tent in Glencoe below the Aonach Eagach ridge. As I lay alone, resting and thinking of the run, a nervousness began swirling around my mind, casting a shadow of self-doubt. I knew navigating through the north face in the dark was a risk too far, I would wait for the sun’s rays.”

“I had turned to Sky running a few years previous, when a friend introduced me to it. I loved being in the mountains and I knew them well. However, to become a sky runner I needed to train and learn so that I could develop new skills and knowledge. The very nature of the challenge strongly upholds what I consider to be the hallmarks of adventure, risk, uncertainty, and commitment. I was hooked and set off on a personal journey, through Britain highest mountain trails, running, climbing, and becoming physically stronger, while mapping my mind and gaining on-trail knowledge.”