Harrier PRO Trail Team: Meet Sam Skinner

Secrets Running For Recovery, Community... And Ultra-Trail Snowdonia Prep!

Next up, we’re proud to introduce another member of the Harrier PRO Trail Team, Sam Skinner.

Sam’s story into trail running is powerful. A former footballer and boxer, he found running during his recovery from addiction and poor mental health. What started as a way to cope quickly became something more: a path to purpose, healing, and connection.

Fast forward a few years and Sam’s now a regular on some of the UK’s toughest start lines with a top 10 finish at the 268-mile Winter Spine, second place at the Centurion Winter Downs 200, and big goals on the horizon for 2025.

But it’s not just about racing. Sam’s also the co-founder of South Downs-based trail running crew, The George and Falcon, that supports people in recovery and those struggling with their mental health. For Sam, running is a lifeline, and a way to help others find theirs.

We’re stoked to have Sam on the team. We recently caught up with him to talk about his journey, how running has shaped his life, and what he’s got planned for the 2025 season.

Let’s dive in!

SAM, WELCOME TO THE HARRIER PRO TRAIL TEAM. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO JOIN US?

"This trail/mountain running is a journey, and I’m proud to be part of the new Harrier PRO Trail Team from the start. For me, Harrier feels like an original 'British brand’ and Kate and the team have the same ethos, passion and drive as I do. I’m excited to use/test their products in all conditions and work with the Harrier brand for all trail runners, now and for the next generations to enjoy"

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY INTO TRAIL RUNNING

"My original sporting background was football and boxing. I played football for a number of years, right from an early age up to age 15 when I was at the Southampton Academy. I got released at 15 and still did a little bit of track at school and things like that, but I never did much competitive running or anything like that.

Then I took up boxing and got quite good at that. I'd had a number of amateur bouts and competed in Sweden and other places. So I did quite well at that.

And then I had children and put sports down for a few years until I had a few life changes that I wanted to make. By this point, I’d put on quite a lot of weight and had a few personal issues. So yeah, signed up for the Great South Run.

That was back in 2014. After that, I entered into the South Downs 100 back in lockdown, and it got cancelled, so I went and ran it anyway, and that was my first big effort. I went and did it on my own. And yeah, I just haven't looked back really. I've been challenging myself and really embraced the ultra scene. And yeah, here I am"

SO, WHERE ARE YOU AT WITH YOUR RUNNING NOW?

"I've got a trail running club that I helped set up locally on the South Downs Way. So I do a lot of work with ex-addicts and people who are struggling with mental health and things like that. We get them involved in trail running, it’s a really real close community here, which has really taken off.

For me personally, I've entered into some big races over the last three to four years I've done alright. I did the Centurion Winter Downs 200 and came second, and then more recently I did the Winter Spine 268 miles, where you run the whole of the Pennine Way, and got a top ten finish in that.

I'm still learning along the way, which is great. I've got a big race coming up that I've been training really hard for. The next big one is the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB®. I’m spending time recce-ing the course and I've some really big training weeks coming up until I start to taper.

So yeah, I’m keeping busy.

But it’s more than running to me. It's the escapism. I enjoy getting other people involved in trail running as well. There's nothing better than seeing what it does for me and for other people as well.

I just think it's a massive part of getting away from the rat race. It's changed my life for sure and it's helped me change other people's as well which is great"

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE UTS COMING UP. HOW ARE YOU STRUCTURING YOUR TRAINING, AND PREPARING YOUR MINDSET, FOR THAT?

"Well I recently did the Spine in January - and that took a lot out of me. I only actually had a couple of weeks downtime. So my coach has definitely suggested that the UTS is probably a bit too soon. So I'm going to try and have a bit of a longer taper for it.

You know, I'm sort of cramming in the race recce-ing at the moment and the big volume to then try and ease into the tapering. I'm probably going to have a week and a half, two weeks taper for this, just so I can try and be as fresh as I can.

It's not ideal. I'm going to - not gamble if you like - but I've got a bit of game plan for this one to try and work my way into the race. But it's ultra running, it's not playing sailing and there's no script. There's probably 99% of the people turn up on that start line with some sort of niggle or training that hasn’t hasn't gone right. So it's how you adapt. Adaption is big part and I like to think that the more that's thrown at me in a race or, that’s where I can adapt to most situations. Or at least I'd like to think I can"

DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH UTS?

"Yeah, I did the 100k last year"

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED FROM THAT RACE THAT YOU’LL BE TAKING INTO THIS ONE?

"Yeah, I mean, the race was very adverse. The weather conditions were really adverse. It was so hot last year. So things like making sure you've got enough liquid. I had one of those Sahara hats. So I was dipping that in pools of water when I was running past and things like that. And again, I started that race last year and I was going to pull out of it a week before because I had an ankle injury. But I strapped it up and I actually started the race quite reserved. It was a really competitive race, but I worked my way through the field quite well because I started a little bit more reserved. I was just watching the ankle and ended up in the top 10.

I was really pleased with that. And again it shows you about starting a little bit more reserved and working your way through the field as the race progresses. Equally, on then the flip side of that, I've had races where I've gone all out, leading for 160 odd miles and I blew up pretty much. So rolling the dice - sometimes it can work for you, sometimes against. So again we'll see what happens"

ARE YOU SETTING YOURSELF A GOAL FOR IS, BEARING IN MIND WHAT YOU’VE SAID ABOUT YOUR PREP AND READINESS?

"For me it's about being the best version of myself. I'm fascinated with the human mind and how people adapt to certain scenarios or races. So yeah, I'm sure I'm gonna learn a bit more about myself on this race. It's not ideal with what's happened with the Spine only being three and a half, four months ago. So I might be sitting down in a couple of months time saying, “I shouldn't have done it” or “I should have done this”.  But again, it's all learning. So, I've got a few little tricks up my sleeve and I’ll just see what happens. I'll just be the best version of myself and enjoy it"

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY TRAINING OR RACE DAY RITUALS THAT YOU THINK MIGHT ACTUALLY WORK?

"The night before I have to have a jacket potato with tuna and beans, with a little bit of grated cheese on and a couple of pickled beetroots. That's like my go-to meal the night before, it's quite interesting"

IS THAT BASED ON SOME CARB-TO-PROTEIN RATIO THAT YOU’VE CALCULATED? OR JUST WHAT YOU ENJOY EATING?

"I don't know, I think I might have had a couple of good results with that in the past. I used to eat that before my boxing matches as well. Mashed up potato was quite a good release for me, I think. The other thing as well is your carb mix and things like that. If you're using carb mix or gels in races, you need to train with that. Some people just wait until race day and then start using loads of gels. You can easily have an upset stomach, so I'd probably recommend that in the days leading up to the race or event, start getting used to it"

On 16th May, Sam will be racing the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB®. Keep an eye out for a full race report from Sam, as well as the second part of our interview, where we uncover more of his training and mindset secrets!