Being a skyrunner is not just about racing and podiums, it’s also about exploration, discovering new cultures and making new friends along the way.
Scottish Skyrunners Jacob Adkin and Ross Gollan recently took their talents and trail shoes across the Atlantic, diving headfirst into Latin America’s rugged beauty and rich cultures as part of the 2025 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series. Racing in both the México Sky Challenge and the Andes Mountain Skyrace in Chile, the duo’s journey was as much about cultural discovery as it was about chasing peaks and pushing limits. We caught up with the guys to find out more about their epic trip.
The Journey Begins: Mexico City
“We began our Latin American odyssey in México City. Not wanting to splash the cash so soon, we opted to take advantage of the city’s metro system. Unbeknownst to us, this was not the right call. Timing it just at rush hour, we joined the 4.5 million people who ride the metro each day. What ensued was a hair-raising, body-breaking scrum that wouldn’t be out of place in a Calcutta Cup scrap. Spat out at our final destination, we counted our limbs and blessings and headed to a quiet suburb to decompress.
Our time in Mexico City was brief, but an exploratory run saw us discover some parks, the anthropological museum, and a chatty Amnesty International dude. Not naturally inclined to city life, we were glad to make our way to Orizaba, or ‘Pueblo Mágico’, and joined up with our French/Spanish translator, Frédéric Tranchand. The following week saw the ‘Amigos de México’ discover the vibrant Orizaba and the course of the México Sky Challenge, which would prove invaluable come race day.
South to Chile: Valleys, Volcanoes, and Therapy Cats
Following our Mexican leg of the trip, we journeyed to Chile, and a different season. With a little more time, we wanted to explore a few different areas and so Taylor (the Suzuki Swift) came to our aid. They took us to verdant valleys and Mars-esque volcanic peaks, before we parted ways and headed up to El Colorado, a small settlement within a high ski resort. Here, we joined an extended French family – Frédéric, Damien, and Hugues. At 2700m, our ‘smart’ watches gave us daily updates on our health and performance stats, which were duly ignored, and we spent the final days before the Andes Mountain Skyrace enjoying tune-up trail runs and R&R with resident therapy cat, Gato Esteban (Cat Stevens).”
Why These Races?
“Looking at the various race calendars for 2025, both of these Merrell Skyrunner® World Series races stood out for us for a variety of reasons. We’d not fully explored Latin America before and therefore wanted to discover some new mountains and check out some historical and cultural sites along the way.”
Highlights of the Journey
“Highlights – as cliché as it is, the people we met along the way! Local trail runners, taxi drivers, mountain guides, fellow international competitors and the Skyrunning team!
The museum of Anthropology and the ancient city of Teotihuacan were México highlights, especially when accompanied by Merrell ‘trail dad’ Fred!
Our Chilean highlights were definitely the mountains! From the volcanic Maipo canyon area to the green valleys of Altos de Lircay, there were stunning peaks literally as far as the eye could see – it was hard to know where to start! Natural hot springs, an owl encounter and our Chilean therapy cat (Stevens) would also make the extensive highlights list!”
Challenges Faced
“Clearly, a basic understanding of the Spanish language is valuable, so our limited vocabulary did prove a little difficult at times. However, the people we spoke to were super nice and helped us along.
Physically, the environments we encountered were radically different from our home of Scotland (particularly arriving from a Scottish winter). Further, maintaining contact with all of our limbs on the México City metro, and missing out on Scottish Summer 2k25.”
Advice for Future Trail Travelers
For runners considering a similar trip, Jacob and Ross recommend preparing for environmental extremes, connecting with locals, and brushing up on your Spanish. “Arrive with an open mind, and embrace the different speeds of life,” they shared.
From navigating the wild rhythms of Latin American cities to finding challenges on sky-high trails, Jacob Adkin and Ross Gollan’s journey was a mix of endurance, connection, and discovery. They were pleased to see the growth of the sport in these countries. These skyrunners chase challenges and new experiences.
Follow Ross and Jacob on their social media platforms throughout the season and watch the rest of their skyrunning journeys!
@rossgollan
@jacobadkin
