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A conversation about running, life balance and the spirit of the mountains with trail running legend Jonathan Wyatt
Six-time mountain running world champion, two-time Olympian over 5,000 metres and in the marathon – Jonathan Wyatt is a living trail running legend. Born in New Zealand, he now lives with his family in Val di Fiemme, Italy – and has never lost his passion for mountain running. His active time as a runner is over, but there is intention of stopping. We spoke to Jonathan about the secrets of his career and running after the high.
Six-time mountain running world champion, two-time Olympian over 5,000 metres and in the marathon – a living trail running legend. Photo: Sport Conrad
Conrad Magazine: You have had a long and very successful running career and have tried out various running disciplines. Up until 2006, you remained fairly injury-free. How did you deal with the extreme physical strain of your career?
Jonathan Wyatt: In New Zealand, we always say that running is the biggest contact sport that isn’t a contact sport. (laughs) It’s all about rugby there, which is a very physical and tough sport. But running is also extremely challenging because you land on the ground countless times and the impact puts a lot of strain on the body. On the one hand, it was probably just a bit of luck. On the other hand, the way many top runners, including myself, run is very efficient. I usually run in a neutral position. So there are no major biomechanical problems that could lead to injuries. But it’s also a lot about dealing with injuries. I’ve always made sure to get massages and work with physiotherapists. In a way, I didn’t run as many kilometres as others. Many runners run twice a day. I usually only ran once a day, after which I did a second workout, maybe on the bike or in the gym. I also do stretching and exercises alongside running. Also, I probably wouldn’t have run for so long if I hadn’t started mountain running. Back then, many races were only uphill. There are not so many hard impacts.
What fascinates you about running?
Wyatt: Over all those years, running becomes part of the routine and part of who you are. There’s definitely an element of addiction to it. It only really gets stressful when you can’t do it. For me, not going for a run is not a problem. But it’s much more difficult when I can’t run. You always want to have the opportunity to do it. I think what I love most is the fact that I’m travelling alone – when you’re just with your thoughts. There are no distractions. I never take a phone with me, so I don’t have many photos of my run (laughs). But that’s part of it. It’s a way of tuning out the world for a while. You can just think about things. If you have problems, a run gives you more confidence to go in a certain direction. It certainly has a meditative aspect, perhaps even a spiritual one. There are examples of this in all kinds of cultures, such as the Japanese monks who run a marathon every day for ten years. That sounds incredibly crazy. But it’s such a simple process of putting one foot in front of the other. And then there’s the stimulation you get when you’re out in nature. You turn a corner on an unknown path and suddenly you see something in front of you that makes you marvel. That always gives you stimulation.
And on the other hand, there is meditation, where you concentrate almost exclusively on yourself. So both things come together.
Over the years, running becomes part of your routine and part of who you are. Photo: Sport Conrad
You have been working for the mountain sports brand La Sportiva from Val di Fiemme since 2017. You are part of the R&D team in the area of trail running product development. Can you name a product that you are really proud of and that you developed together?
Wyatt: In May and June 2023, we launched a trail running shoe that we developed in consultation with our team runners. The shoe is called Levante. It’s a medium to long-distance trail running shoe that was developed specifically for our female runners. The shoe has turned out really well. We wanted to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. The Levante consists of 50 per cent of its weight in ecologically sustainable or recycled material. But working with the runners was not easy. We started the project just as Corona was taking off. We really had to fight to keep the momentum of the project going because it took longer than planned. But it was really nice to see that the participants were enthusiastic and put their own energy into the project.
Is there a lesson you’ve learnt over the course of your career that you wish you’d known sooner?
Wyatt: I sometimes joke that the best thing that could have happened to me was if my parents had given me a golf club instead of a running shoe. I could have made a lot more money with that. (laughs)
I ended up in a bad sport to earn money. But I think I still made a career out of it. It was important to me not to make running my career so as not to put too much pressure on myself. Knowing that I had to run to earn a living would have taken the fun out of running. I really wanted to make sure that running was something I did in addition to other things. That’s why I did my degree in architecture at university and then worked in architecture for another four or five years. Of course, the more time I spent running, the less that became. But it was always important to me to have a balance in life and not just be a full-time runner.
Did you take anything typically from New Zealand with you to Italy?
Wyatt: When we built the house, I had some parts of the house made out of wood from New Zealand. Also, the great thing about our daughter Dorothy is that through her I have the opportunity to teach her some of the Maori language, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. It’s something we didn’t do much of at school. It wasn’t very popular. But today it is very important that the children learn something of this language in order to preserve it. For me, it’s a good motivation to learn something of the Maori language myself.
“That sounds incredibly crazy. But it’s such a simple process, putting one foot in front of the other.” Photo: Sport Conrad
Trail running as a school of life
Jonathan Wyatt shows how to turn passion into lifelong motivation – without losing yourself in competition. His story is an example of sustainable success in endurance sports. Between world-class performances and a conscious lifestyle, he has found his own path – close to nature, with a clear attitude and a lot of heart for the sport.