Mark McDermott is the man who had the audacity to take on Joss Naylor's dominance of the Lake District 24 hour fell record and succeed.
Despite the scepticism of many of his supporters, on a baking hot day in 1988 he upped the ante from 72 to 76 peaks and ensured that he could be a "has been" rather than a "never was".
His running achievements run far deeper than that single day and include a still current record for Tranters round in Lochaber plus a win in the Karrimor Elite. An expert skier and long time lover of the mountains, Mark turned his attention to the greater ranges and, over the course of 4-5 years climbed Cho Oyu, 98% of Lhotse, Denali, Aconcagua and Ama Dablam. In a well prepared and logical progression these all culminated in his ascent of Everest without Oxygen - only the 3rd British person ever to do so. Back in 1997, recently returned from Nepal he assisted Mark Hartell in adding a 77th peak to the Lake District fell record and then went to Colorado where the pair recorded a joint victory in the Hardrock 100 (this months featured race).
What was your first really long run?
As a teenager I was quite keen on hiking, and fancied doing something "tough", and got it in my head to try and hike the Lakeland 3000'ers, having read about this in one of Harry Griffin's books. I figured I'd better do some training. So, I ran from my home in Leyland , over to White Coppice where the nearest moors were, and over "Great Hill" to Piccadilly Farm, and then back home the same way. It's about 18 miles, but for a 16 year old in Green Flash pumps without any food or training it was a bit of a shock.
How did you get into the sport?
As well as wanting to do the Lakeland 3,000's, I also heard about the KIMM and entered it with my brother Peter when I was 17, and struggled round the "B" course in Galloway in '76, with steel toe capped boots and woollen breeches - I had a bit to learn….
When did you decide you should tackle the Lakes 24 hour record?
After a few beers in the pub on my 29th birthday - in February 1988.
Apart from your Lakes 24 hr record what do you think of as your best 3 running achievements?
Ever since my first KIMM in '77 I'd wanted to win the Elite, so I was really pleased to win with Adrian Belton in 1991I first ran the KIMM with my brother when I was 17, so I was really pleased to win in 1991. I was also please to win Hardrock with the interviewer. Not sure what else I'd pick - I think my record for Tranter's Walk still just about stands, so maybe that.
Are there other things in running that you aspired (or still aspire to) or was it a case of having ticked off everything important?
Ha Ha - I have a list as long as my arm of things that might've been, but never quite worked out: - I always intended to do a fast Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley, and Charlie Ramsay rounds, but never quite contrived to do it! And then there was the sub 2:30 marathon, running the Pennine Way, etc, etc….
Tell us a bit about the transition to big mountains. Was that always part of the plan?
I got involved in climbing as a teenager, but never really thought about climbing real mountains until I took up skiing, when I became interested in doing some easy Alpine summits. I soon realised that long hill runs and climbing easy peaks required similar sorts of stamina, and then started to wonder how I'd get on at higher altitudes.
And Everest....when did you decide to have a go at the big E?
Everest was always a pipe dream, after reading about its history, and particularly Messner and Habeler's ascent without oxygen. I think I was reading about it back in 1988 and wondered whether I'd be able to do it without oxygen, but never dreamed I'd actually get the opportunity to try, as Himalayan expeditions seemed very exclusive back then.
There are plenty of people who have made a successful after dinner career with less material than you have....does it not interest you, is it modesty ?
I suppose the honest answer to that is I've never gone in for self aggrandisement. That said, I have given a few talks to raise money for charity or for "special interest groups" and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not sure that my "English understatement" style of delivery is well suited to the corporate motivational speaker circuit…
Are there any big goals left for you?
There are plenty things I want to do, but I have made a conscious decision not to try and keep training intensively year after year, as firstly I don't have the time, and secondly my body would crack up! I always try and stagger round the Bullock Smithy as it's on my doorstep, and I'd like to have a go at the TMB next year, but that's probably it. I suppose one day I might try and tick off the Paddy Buckley and Ramsay Rounds, but not in the next year or two.
Funniest/most embarrassing incident out in the hills?
Hmmm. In my time I've been a reasonably good navigator, but I've managed to go spectacularly wrong on a few races, which is a bit tiresome when it's an important race.
I've also been known to offer my expert guidance to hikers on the flanks of Scafell only to find that I'm 180 off course - despite having known the area intimately 20 years ago.
Aside from running and the big mountains - what interests/motivates you?
I used to be very keen on swimming and triathlons when I lived in Oman in the Middle East, and I would love to have the time to improve at water sports like windsurfing/surfing and the like, but having a young son has put paid to that for a while.
You were part of the incredible activity around 15-20 years ago when new records were being set every year, and in some cases, every week. Do you have any thoughts on the fact that no one has broken a UK round record (ramsay, Buckley, Graham) fastest or most in 24 hours for nearly 10 years - is there no talent, are people distracted elsewhere, does it matter?
Can't really answer that - it wasn't exactly a huge crowd back then, just a handful of us with nothing much better to do! I think there is a much wider selection of things to do now: multi-day adventure races, more mountain marathons, mountain bike events, more awareness of challenges and races abroad, etc, etc
As an old sage, what advice would you offer to some of the young talent?
Top quotes:
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Second is first loser
Smile things could get worse
Seriously, the main thing I've learned is that just because you feel awful in the middle of a long run, it doesn't mean that you'll stay feeling that way.
Thanks Mark - good luck with the Bullock Smithy and being a Dad!
