When Edward Whymper first conquered the Matterhorn back in 1865 can you imagine what he would have thought about the sight of extreme trail runner Kilian Jornet running past him en-route to the summit. 148 years separated both events, nevertheless it seems incredible that what once was thought an impossible mission, then eventually conquered in mountaineering gear could actually be scaled by running, right to the very top, in sports gear and in record time. The 25 year old Spaniard achieved this amazing feat in the remarkable time of 2 hours and 52 minutes, and that includes the descent back down to his starting point in the Italian village of Cervinia. Amazing.

Kilian knocked over 20 minutes off the previous record for the fastest ascent and descent achieved by Italian Bruno Brunod in 1995, echoing Edward Whympers race against an Italian team of climbers almost one and a half centuries earlier. "I felt really good during the climb, at first I was very warm, but little by little I gained rhythm and altitude, and I felt much better. Arriving at the top was a very special moment. The descent also was perfect, and I am happy because I didn't have to take too many risks. I slipped once or twice, but nothing important, adding,"I'm more than super happy," 

 This remarkable Spaniard has form for this kind of venture, two months previously he’d raced up and down the 4,810m Mont Blanc, in four hours, 57 minutes to set another record. You can imagine what the climbers inching their way up and indeed down the highest peak in Europe must have thought as this super human jogged past with a cheery, ‘buenas dias”.

 Jornet hared up the formidable French mountain on July 11th, 2013 dressed in his favoured mountain attire, of t-shirt, shorts and running shoes after starting early in the morning from the town of Chamonix. Whatever he had for breakfast I’m having. Kilian spent a month below the mountain, living in his van, to prepare for the record-breaking run. In the previous two weeks, he made eight ascents to study and rehearse the route. He also spent time with Bruno Brunod to discuss the former record holder's tactics, the Italian generously offered his advice and encouragement. "When there were only a few meters left to reach the goal, Bruno came to run with me, yesterday he predicted that I would run 2:52—it seems he knows me better than I know myself! My time with Bruno is the part of this experience that will stay with me—it was very exciting. If I'm here it's because of people like Bruno, who have inspired me since I was a little boy."

The climber is scaling celebrated mountains around the world as part of a “Summits Of My Life” project. Next on his list of peaks is 5,642m Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in the Russian Caucasus range. He plans to finish next year by climbing Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,848m. I think he might possibly need a new pair of running shoes, with heated insoles.