Caiden Thom
Location - Kingseat, Aberdeen, Scotland
Caiden Thom is a 20-year-old trail and mountain runner from Kingseat, Aberdeenshire, competing across hill, trail, road, and mountain races in the UK and Europe.
Primarily a trail and mountain athlete, Caiden also races on the road to build speed and efficiency, deliberately transferring that fitness onto technical terrain. Competing at a high level from a young age, his focus remains simple: be better than yesterday and leave every race satisfied with the effort given.
Caiden’s running journey began in 2017 following the loss of his Granda, Brian Thom, to cancer. Inspired by watching his father turn to running as a way of coping with grief, Caiden joined him — transforming loss into purpose. That foundation continues to shape his mindset, grounding his racing in grit, gratitude, and remembering why he started.
Despite his age, Caiden has already built a standout resume across hill races, trail events, fast road racing, and ultra-distance challenges, showing rare versatility from sub-15:10 5Ks to mountainous ultras.
Project Remember Why You Started
60+ miles / 18,000ft+ around the Glencoe Mountains (including Ben Nevis)
Fundraising run for cancer charities in honour of his Granda Brian Thom
📅 28 March 2025 - https://gofund.me/58b1bd548
Key 2026 Races
- Scottish Hill Running Calendar races
- Sierre-Zinal (Salomon Golden Trail Series)
- Additional trail and mountain races - TBC
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 640
- UTMB 20km: 642
UTMB UTS Snowdonia - 25km - 2nd Place
Fetteresso Marathon - 1st Place
Mormond Hill Race — 1st (New Course Record)
Bennachie Trail Series — 1st
Aviemore Half Marathon — 1st (New Course Record)
Formartine & Buchan Way 6-Hour Ultra — 1st (41 miles)
Flat n Fast 5K — 1st (15:41)
QA 5K — 15:07
Frankfurt Marathon — 2:34:02 (8th U23)
Salomon Ben Nevis Skyline — 16th Overall
Social
- Instagram: @caiden_th.m
📸 Credit: Thomas Lindie
Callum Laird
Location - New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland
Callum Laird is an endurance athlete from New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, a small town surrounded by hills and rugged terrain — the perfect training ground.
A member of the SBF Race Team, Callum is naturally drawn to hills and mountains, using them as the backbone of his training and fitness. He began running in 2023 and has already built an impressive resume, with multiple podium finishes across a range of distances, including wins at 100km+ events.
Still early in his endurance journey, Callum is focused on continued progression and seeing just how far this path can take him.
Key 2026 Races
- Transgrancanaria 126km
6,700m elevation — 14 March 2026 - Dragon’s Back Race
230 miles over 6 days — September
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 685
- ITRA Overall: 676
- UTMB 100km: 686
- UTMB 50km: 615
Social
- Instagram: @callumlaird__
- Facebook: Callum Laird
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Emily Lydon
Location - Shropshire, West Midlands, England
Emily Lydon is an endurance athlete from Scotland who has made an immediate impact on the ultra-running scene.
In 2025, Emily stepped up to ultra distance for the first time and delivered two standout performances. She won Ultra Wales 100km on debut and followed that up by finishing 2nd female overall at the Snowdon 100 mile, one of the UK’s most demanding mountain ultras.
With only two ultras to her name, Emily has already shown exceptional strength, resilience, and consistency in mountainous terrain. Still early in her endurance journey, she is focused on enjoying the process, building fitness through training, and seeing where the sport can take her.
Key 2026 Races
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 510
- ITRA Overall: 520
- UTMB 100M: 511
- UTMB 100km: 526
Social
- Instagram: @emily_katie_lydon
- Facebook: Emily Lydon
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Kelly Staunton
Location - Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
Kelly Staunton is a UK-based endurance athlete and member of Wigan Harriers AC, known for her toughness, consistency, and ability to perform across some of the UK’s most demanding ultra-distance courses.
Rather than being defined by a single breakthrough race, Kelly’s progression has come through years of steady results across distances from 50km to 100km+, stacking podiums and top finishes on brutally varied terrain. From technical mountain races to long, fast ultras, she has proven herself as a reliable front-runner in deep fields.
With multiple seasons of strong performances behind her, Kelly continues to build momentum through smart racing, resilience, and experience.
Key 2026 Races
- Winter Spine Sprint South - 46miles
2,017m elevation - 10 January 2026
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 553
- ITRA Overall: 562
- UTMB 100K: 553
- UTMB 50K: 511
Social
Instagram: @kellymariestaunton_
Facebook: Kelly Marie Staunton
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Jordan Cruickshank
Location - Aberdeen, Scotland
Jordan Cruickshank is an endurance athlete based in Aberdeen, Scotland, with a strong background in road racing and marathon performance.
He races across marathons, road events, and longer endurance challenges, building fitness through consistent mileage, smart training, and a genuine love for the process. Whether it’s long runs, tough sessions, or chasing progress across different distances and terrains, Jordan’s approach is rooted in steady improvement rather than shortcuts.
Alongside racing, Jordan works as a Personal Trainer at PureGym Rubislaw, balancing coaching with his own performance goals as he continues to expand into longer endurance events.
Key 2026 Races
- Inter-Districts — January
- National Cross Country — February
- Inverness National Half Marathon Championships — March
- Flat ’n Fast — Sub-15 5km attempt (April)
- Ultra-distance race — TBC
- Saltire 24 (24-hour race) — 20–21 June
Target distance: ~130 miles - Chicago Marathon — Project 2:25 (26 October)
Performance Index
- 5K PB: 15:09
- 10K PB: 31:05
- HM PB: 67:52
- Marathon PB: 2:28:09
Social
Instagram: @jec_runs
Gary Andrews
Location – Manchester, England
Gary Andrews is a UK-based endurance athlete whose journey into ultra running has been built on persistence, adaptability, and a hunger to see how far he can go. Originally from the North-East and now based in Manchester, Gary is often found in the Peak District chasing the hills that city life doesn’t provide.
Starting his fitness journey around eight years ago unable to run 5 km, Gary progressed through OCR and endurance events, earning Age Group podiums at World’s Toughest Mudder, Europe’s Toughest Mudder, and America’s Toughest Mudder. Over the past year, he has shifted focus to ultra-distance running, bringing that same grit and work ethic to longer, tougher days out.
With a growing base of ultra experience and big goals ahead, Gary is firmly in a phase of exploration, testing limits, learning fast, and stacking hard races back-to-back.
Key 2026 Races
GB Ultra Grand Slam:
• Chester Ultra 100
• Scotland Ultra 100
• Beacons Way Ultra 100
• Yr Wyddfa Ultra 100
• Cheshire Ring Ultra 100
Additional races:
• Chester 50
• M2L 50
Performance Index
UTMB Overall: 492
Social
Instagram: @MrGaryAndrews
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Fiona Cook
Location – Manchester, England
Fiona Cook is a UK-based endurance athlete whose rise in ultra running has been defined by late entry, rapid progression, and exceptional consistency. Balancing a full-time job and motherhood, Fiona came to running at 35 after having her daughter — and has since built an impressive competitive record in a remarkably short space of time.
2025 marked Fiona’s first serious season in ultra running, and it was a breakthrough year. She secured three GB Ultras wins with course records, alongside a standout second place at Race to the Stones, finishing behind Sophie Power in a deep international field. Across distances from 50km to 100 miles, Fiona has demonstrated an ability to race smart, recover quickly, and compete at the sharp end.
Known for her calm approach, durability, and strong execution over long distances, Fiona continues to push her limits while balancing family life — proving that late starters can still achieve elite-level performances with consistency and focus.
Key Results
- Cheshire Ring Ultra 100 Mile (2025) – 3rd Overall, 1st Female (Course Record)
- Race to the Stones 100K (2025) – 2nd Female
- Manchester to Liverpool Ultra (2025) – 1st Female (Course Record)
- Chester Ultra 50 (2025) – 1st Female (Course Record)
Key 2026 Races
- GB Ultras - Chester 50
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 606
- UTMB 50K: 574
- UTMB 100K: 608
Social
Instagram: @fi_likes_running
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Jake McAulay
Location – Yeovil, England
Jake McAulay is a UK-based endurance athlete whose ultra-running journey has been defined by volume, resilience, and a willingness to take on big challenges early. Still only in his second year of competitive ultra running, Jake has already lined up for 15 ultra-distance races, rapidly building experience across demanding terrain and conditions.
Rather than easing into the sport, Jake has consistently chosen tough courses and long days out, using each race as a learning opportunity. From mountainous 100km events to brutal coastal and multi-hour efforts, his approach has been simple: race often, adapt quickly, and keep progressing. This consistency is reflected in a steadily rising UTMB index and an expanding race CV that spans both UK and international events.
Jake is known for his durability and work ethic — traits that allow him to stack hard races back-to-back while continuing to develop as an endurance athlete. With a strong base now established, his focus is shifting toward refining performance and pushing further up competitive fields.
Key Results
- The Oner 140km (2025) – 5th Place
- Grand Tour of Skiddaw 75km (2024) – 8th Place
Key 2026 Races
- Ultra Trail Marão 110km (Portugal) – March
- King Offa’s Dyke Path Ultra – 185 miles – August
- South Downs Way 100 Mile – October
- Additional shorter trail & road races - TBC
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 531
- ITRA Overall: 531
Social
Instagram: @conditioned.through.adversity
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Gareth Jones
Location – Aberdare, Wales
Gareth Jones is a UK-based endurance athlete whose approach to ultra running is defined by volume, resilience, and an ability to recover and perform when most athletes are still standing still. Rather than targeting isolated races, Gareth has built his reputation by stacking some of the toughest endurance challenges the UK has to offer — often back-to-back.
In 2025, Gareth delivered one of the standout ultra performances of the season by completing two of the UK’s most demanding races just 13 days apart. He finished 5th at the Beacons Way Ultra (100 miles) before lining up again less than two weeks later at the Race Across Scotland (215 miles), where he secured an impressive 6th place finish. The combination of distance, terrain, recovery demands, and execution places Gareth firmly in the category of athletes built for prolonged, multi-day endurance.
Known for his race intelligence and mental toughness, Gareth approaches long events with a calculated mindset — understanding when to push, when to manage fatigue, and how to keep moving when conditions deteriorate. His performances highlight that endurance at this level is as much about decision-making and resilience as physical fitness.
A long-time user and early tester of BareFuel, Gareth has trusted it across hundreds of miles in both training and racing — making his progression into the Highland Fuel athlete team a natural step.
With his focus now turning toward further multi-day and back-to-back challenges, Gareth continues to explore just how far consistent execution and controlled aggression can take him.
Key Results
- Beacons Way Ultra (100 miles) – 5th Place
- Race Across Scotland (215 miles) – 6th Place
Key 2026 Races
- Full Winter Spine – 11th January 2026
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 616
- ITRA Overall: 639
Social
Instagram: @mentalhealthwanderer
📸 Credit: Dan Bentley
https://www.danbentleyphotography.com
Jon Samrai
Location – Sutton Coldfield, England
Jon Samrai is a UK-based endurance athlete whose racing is defined by versatility, structure, and an appetite for continual challenge. Competing across ultra running, trail racing, triathlon, and backyard formats, Jon thrives on variety and consistently seeks out events that demand both physical resilience and disciplined execution.
One of Jon’s standout achievements came in 2025 with the successful completion of a Full Ironman at Les Sables d’Olonne, a race that forced him to rethink and refine his fuelling strategy at the highest level. That discipline now underpins everything he does, from high-intensity triathlon efforts to multi-day mountain ultras.
In November 2025, Jon delivered another composed international performance at Ultra X Madeira (110km). Raced over two brutal days in mountainous terrain, the event combined a 60km opening stage with a 50km second day, demanding patience, durability, and smart execution. Jon finished in a total time of 19:51:21, placing 12th overall and 2nd in the M40–49 category. He opened with a controlled 10:11:38 on Day 1 to stay inside the top 15, before backing it up with a strong 9:39:43 on tired legs across technical descents on Day 2.
Alongside ultra-distance racing, Jon is also a proven age-group triathlete. In 2025, he secured 1st place in his Age Group at the Birmingham (Alderford Lake) Sprint Triathlon, finishing in 1:14:15, highlighting his ability to perform across both endurance and speed-focused disciplines.
Known for his methodical preparation and commitment to nutrition planning, Jon approaches racing with precision — understanding that consistency and execution are just as important as fitness when the hours stack up.
As one of the original testers of BareFuel, Jon has been involved with Highland Fuel from the very beginning, providing detailed feedback throughout development and trusting the product across training and racing long before public release.
Key Results
- Ultra X Madeira 110km (2025) – 12th Overall, 2nd M40–49
- Full Ironman – Les Sables d’Olonne (2025) – Finisher
- Birmingham Sprint Triathlon (2025) – 1st Age Group (1:14:15)
Key 2026 Races
- TBA
Performance Index
- UTMB Overall: 468
- ITRA Overall: 504
Social
Instagram: @jonsamrai