The 30 years old athlete from Peebles, Scotland,  Scout Adkin (GBR) is synonymous to reliability in Mountain Running, which translates in multiple podiums and in this 2023 season that meant 8° place at the Uphill race at the Mountain Running World Championship in Stubai and almost podium in every other race she run, with 2 great victories, firstly at the Montemuro Vertical Race  (Golden Label race which started the season in Europe) and winning also the Uphill race at the Finlaissima in Gran Canaria.

LET'S TALK MOUNTAIN RUNNING EPISODE 3: SCOUT ADKIN (GBR)
THE INDOMITABLE SCOTTISH FORCE

The 30-year-old athlete from Peebles, Scotland, Scout Adkin (GBR), epitomizes unwavering consistency in the realm of Mountain Running, evident through her numerous podium finishes. Her exceptional performance in the 2023 season was highlighted by an impressive 8th place in the Uphill race at the Mountain Running World Championship in Stubai, in June.

Scout Adkin (GBR), the indomitable Scottish force started the season with a remarkable 8th position in the World Championships uphill in June. Her remarkable journey continued as she surged to victory in the Montemuro Vertical Race on the second Golden Label race of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, claimed second place in the grueling Piz Tri Vertical, also a Golden Label race, and secured a commendable fifth position , the day after, at the demanding Fletta Trail.

A testament to her consistency and tenacity, she clinched second place at the WMRA Asscoiated Race Challenge Stellina and at  the third place at Vertical  Nasego, Golden Label Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, followed by a commendable seventh in the Trofeo Nasego, just the day after.

Notably, she nearly clinched a podium spot in every other race she competed in, from June until October, boasting two remarkable victories: her victory at the second Golden Label   Montemuro Vertical Race that marked the start of the European season. Additionally, she showcased her prowess by securing victory in the Uphill race at the Finlaissima in Gran Canaria which was followed also by a third place in the Finalissima Sky Gran Canaria Classic distance.

At the end of the season, Scout Adkin (GBR) has finished 2° in the Women's overall Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, which together with her great perfromance this year made Scottish Athletics nominated her for the athlete of the year award along side 4 world class track athletes. 

Scout's presence on our platform is not unfamiliar, as she has been featured previously, including an interview alongside her brother Jacob Adkin in 2020, underscoring her enduring legacy in Mountain Running. 

WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT IS YOUR HOMETOWN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I am from Peebles in Scotland but now live in the Lake District in the North of England.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING IN THE VALSIR MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP 2023?

This is the first year that I have managed to travel to enough races to complete the series and its been a great experience. All the race organisers have been really helpful, supportive and accommodating and I have made many friends.

MOUNTAIN RUNNING IS A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING SPORT. COULD YOU SHARE SOME INSIGHTS INTO YOUR TRAINING AND PREPARATION LEADING UP TO THE WORLD CUP? HOW DO YOU TRAIN IN WINTER? DO YOU COMBINE DISCIPLINES SKI, BIKE, RUNNING?

Training includes hill sessions and flatter endurance sessions to train for the demands of the uphill and classic up and down disciplines. In spring I do a block of heat training at the local sauna to help my body adapt to the much hotter weather in Europe than we get here in the UK! We don't get enough snow in winter to be able to cross train in winter sports such as skiing, but I do often have to be flexible to the extreme weather in the higher hills and will use an incline treadmill to compliment my training when needed. I think gym based sessions along with pilates-type training are very important components in any runners weekly training schedule and I will do atleast 2-3 sesisons a week.

SPONSORSHIP PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN AN ATHLETE'S SUCCESS. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPONSORS/TEAM?

Earlier this year I joined Team Hoka. It's been good to have their help and support throughout the year as I have stepped up the level of racing abroad that I am doing.

WITH 16 RACES IN 8 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, EACH COURSE HAD ITS UNIQUE CHALLENGES. CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT

Due to work commitments, I was only able to travel and compete in 7 races but I still managed to see and run in some amazing places.

• THE BEST LANDSCAPE RACE-  The Piz Tri Vertical  and Fletta Trail  races in Malonno, Italy, are run on really pretty forest trails – just a shame I couldn’t slow don’t any enjoy the views more!
• THE FASTEST- The shortened uphill Sky Gran Canaria race, I wasn’t expecting a 20min short blast!
• THE MOST DIFFCIULT/TECHNICAL- The last long rocky descent at Trofeo Nasego – My body was struggling at that weekends races and starting to descend that in the heat I had to mentally dig deep to keep pushing on and try not to loose too many places.

THE COMPETITION IN THE MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP IS FIERCE. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE AND STAY MOTIVATED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?

It can be a very long race season. Once I have planned which races I am going to travel to I will plan some easier recovery weeks during the summer to give myself a break physically and mentally. I am limited in the amount of time I can take off work to travel but I also find travelling can be very tiring and stressful so will try and be strategic in the races I choose.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PRE-RACE RITUALS OR MENTAL TECHNIQUES YOU RELY ON TO KEEP YOUR PERFORMANCE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CUP?

The pre race logistics are very different for each race and some things can be unknown until you arrive at the start so I try and keep my pre race routine the same each time to avoid any extra stress! This includes a pre breakfast run, the same breakfast (which I often bring with me just in case the place I am staying at doesn’t have it) and the same warmup routine at the start.

FINALLY, WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE RACE/MOMENT DURING THE VALSIR MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP, AND WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL TO YOU?

 The Montemuro Vertical Race  in Portugal where I won my first World Cup race. This is special to me because I hadn't ran as well as I could have at the World Championships a few weeks earlier but this race proved what I knew I was capable off and that I can compete against some of the best mountain runners in the world.

 More about Scout Adkin (GBR) at the athlete profile in the WMRA or you can follow her Instagram here.