David Williams

International Mountain Leader.

UESCA Ultra Running Coach.

I’ve had an eclectic career working all over the world. I’ve lived and worked in the coast mountains of Canada, served in the UK Armed Forces as an Army medic, guided wilderness trips in New Zealand, spent ten years coordinating emergency medical evacuations for the shipping industry and now have come full circle back to working in the mountains again. The outdoors have been the true constant throughout all I have done.

I grew up in the countryside and my earliest memories are spending hours running through fields and forests. That’s evolved over the years, and I’ve dipped in and out of racing. I was bitten by the bug through the fell running scene in Scotland, partly through the social side and partly through the amazing locations. My most recent ultra trail race was the 100km Cape Town Ultra Marathon, but my true love is using trail running to take me away from the crowds and into wilder, quieter areas. The simplicity of lacing up a pair of shoes and “disappearing” into the wilderness is hard to beat.

Every time I take groups into the mountains, I get to see that experience through the eyes of someone else. We all have a different relationship with the outdoors and differing reasons for immersing ourselves in the mountains. We may come from varying backgrounds, interests, careers and experiences, but trail running strips away everything other than our immediate surroundings. Being a part of my guests’ journeys teaches me a lot, too. It’s a great experience to share.