Reflecting on 2025 with the Harrier PRO Team: A Year of Learnings and Progress

From creating the Harrier PRO Team earlier this year, to our first get-together, and through exciting races, challenges, and events, it’s been a full year to look back on and celebrate. We’ve asked Sanna, Kallum, and Sam to give us some of their highlights and best lessons they’re taking into 2026 as we reflect on a fantastic year on the trails.

Sanna’s 2025: Mixing Community, FKTs, and Competition

“2025 has been a year of resilience, pride, and unforgettable milestones,” says Sanna. Her highlights include setting the fastest known time (FKT) on two different trails, winning the Slate Trail Ultra, but also community runs and empowering women to spend more time outdoors.

The Year of FKTs

A huge part of it was linked to her attempts to break her own record on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - a 186-mile route and National Trail that follows the coastline from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south. April saw a tough failed attempt to run it from north to south, stopped short by painful swelling in the Achilles tendon and the arch of the foot. But, as Sanna learnt, “when the trail says “no,” you can run back at it.” She worked on her training, strength and conditioning, meticulous preparation, and a new approach, running south to north. You can read more about her journey here - ending in a superb new record time for a supported run by a female athlete, in 2 days 26 minutes 25 seconds, in August.

But this wasn’t the only FKT for Sanna this year. Having spent such a long time training for the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, she wanted to race again and measure herself against her peers in an organised event. So she entered the inaugural Slate Trail Ultra, a 91-mile (147 km) challenge with 12,800 feet (3,900 m) of elevation in the Welsh wilderness. This was a unique race for Sanna, taking her from Bangor and around the Slate Trail (an 83-mile route visiting the historic mining sites in the area). She ran hard from the start, took the lead in the women’s race and won. As it was a race, it could also be entered in the supported category of FKTs for the Slate Trail portion. This is how she ended the year with an FKT of 22 hours 3 minutes 10 seconds! We wrote more about her FKT achievements and how they were recognised here.

Community at the Heart of Running

For Sanna, it wasn’t just a year of running, but one of building and showing up for her community. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is her home and “[her] heart,” so it was amazing to have her FKT be recognised not just with the Against the Tide film, but also with her very own gate on the path, courtesy of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path Charitable Trust. Moreover, Sanna was recognised with the Pembrokeshire Sports Award for Female Achievement of the Year - “an amazing recognition for a year filled with hard work.”

Being part of a vibrant women’s running community was another highlight, empowering women on the trails by working with SheUltra: “I’ve met incredible women, shared miles and motivation, and helped build a supportive space that gets more of us out exploring the trails across Pembrokeshire.”

And, of course, another community aspect of trail running was joining the Harrier PRO Team. A new way to connect with trail runners, while testing new kit and helping create exciting content.

Sam’s Racing Highlights

For Sam, 2025 brought some amazing new experiences, from a first attempt at the Winter Spine Race to a win on another iconic winter event, the Cheviot Goat Ultra. 

Two Strong Top 10 Results

Racing the 268-mile Spine Race from Edale to Kirk Yetholm is a fantastic challenge and a bucket list item for many runners. The harsh conditions, difficult terrain, and long and arduous days and nights are a true test of grit, determination, and confidence. Sam took it on and finished in a fantastic eighth place, learning a lot along the way.

“I had done well in the Winter Downs 200 in 2023, but I had crew there. (Sam was second behind Ry Webb who set the previous course record in that race) The Spine requested a different level of preparation, with checkpoints far apart and no one else to rely on. I learnt a lot… and I feel there is more to come. Trail mapping and better use of caffeine are some things I plan to improve on before I have another go at it!”

Later in the year, Sam also secured an eighth place in the gritty Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB 100-miler. This tough race in the Welsh mountains was “unforgiving,” as Sam recalls. Perhaps a bit quick to return to racing after the grueling Spine Race, this was an opportunity to compete hard and learn more about pacing, developing strategic training blocks, and perfecting nutrition and logistics.

A Brilliant Win

Later in the year came what Sam describes as his best performance to date: a standout win at the Cheviot Goat Ultra. Interestingly, this result came not from piling on mileage, but from training smarter.

“I’ve been working a lot on my speed, but I’ve actually reduced my weekly mileage quite dramatically,” Sam explains. A key part of this shift was taking part in physiological testing at Loughborough University. Learning more about his training zones and undergoing lactate testing fundamentally changed how he approached his training. “It’s helped me increase fitness without overtraining, and I feel better in general.”

That controlled approach has translated well across distances, with new personal bests in the marathon and sharper, shorter races along the way. For the Cheviot Goat itself, Sam treated the race with full professionalism, travelling up a day early to prepare alone, dial in logistics, and pack with precision. The race itself delivered one of those rare, unforgettable moments in trail running: battling it out through the first half with Simon Roberts. “I remember being in awe of his performance at the Dragon’s Back Race in 2021, watching him and Russell Bentley battle along the spine of Wales. I used to wonder what it must feel like to move that fast across that terrain. Fast forward four years, and there I was racing him at that pace.”

For Sam, that moment captured exactly why he’s so drawn to the sport. “I’m fascinated by trail running. I’m like a sponge with advice and training techniques… always learning.” 

Kallum’s 2025: Progress, Perspective, and Patience

For Kallum, 2025 was a year of clear progression, even if it didn’t unfold in a straight line. When he was able to race, the results spoke for themselves.

Early Season Momentum

The year started exactly as hoped, with a win and a new course record at the Country to Capital 43 miler in January. It was Kallum’s third time racing the event, and each appearance has come with a significant improvement in finish time. “Seeing that year-on-year progression has been one of the most satisfying signs that the long-term approach is working.”

That momentum carried into spring with a second-place finish at the Centurion Hundred Hills 50km in March, again in a much quicker time than the previous year. In May, he returned to familiar territory at the Dukeries 40 miler, taking another win and course record. Like Country to Capital, Dukeries is a race Kallum has revisited multiple times, and each performance has marked a clear step forward – a real confidence boost heading into the summer.

A Challenging Summer and Long-Term Perspective

The middle of the year, however, did not go to plan. Despite starting the summer in good shape and targeting the British Trail Champs long-distance race at the Ridgeway Ultra, a recurring injury flared up and ruled him out of racing and structured training for much of the season.

Kallum managed a return to racing in early September with a local trail half marathon, where he finished first and set yet another course record. Later that month, he switched things up with a road outing at the Dorney Lake Marathon. Despite limited marathon-specific training, he took the win in 2:32, securing a Championship qualifying time for London.

October saw a return to ultra distance at the Autumn 100. Fitness felt good, but an early ankle roll caused severe swelling and forced a difficult decision to stop around halfway. While frustrating, Kallum still took positives from the weekend, not least seeing Hugh Tibbs deliver an exceptional performance and break the British 100-mile trail record.

Despite interruptions, his overarching feeling from 2025 is one of progress. “The performances when I’ve been able to race show that I’m still improving year on year,” Kallum reflects. Crucially, with the support of his sports physio, the root cause of the recurring injury has now been identified, and a robust strength and conditioning framework is in place to address it. That alone feels like a major step forward heading into 2026.

Looking Ahead to 2026

If 2025 was a year of learning, 2026 is shaping up to be one of focus and intent for the Harrier PRO Team. Across all three athletes, the message is consistent: progress comes from training smarter, staying patient, and remaining connected to why they run.

For Sam, his Cheviot Goat win highlighted the impact of a more measured, data-led approach to training and meticulous race preparation. Reduced mileage, clearer understanding of his zones, and professional execution have unlocked a new level of performance, with the Arc of Attrition in January a natural next challenge.

Kallum moves into 2026 with confidence built on long-term progression rather than uninterrupted results. Despite injury setbacks, his performances when healthy confirmed he’s still improving year on year. With the root cause addressed and stronger foundations in place, he’s looking ahead to a full season of racing, including targets like the Lakeland 100.

For Sanna, 2026 remains about balance: taking on the Arc of Attrition 100 miles while continuing to build and support the SheUltra community. It’s a continuation of a year defined by resilience, connection, and joy on the trails.

Together, the team enters 2026 focused on consistency, purpose, and trust in the process: step by step, mile by mile.