Sam Milton wins 2025 Highland Cross

Transcript

00:00Sam, congratulations on winning the 2025 Highland Cross. Thanks very much. At the first attempt as

00:17well. Did you expect to come out on top? I didn't really know what to expect to be honest. My run

00:24volume, I'm just sort of building that back up at the moment. I've been doing quite a lot on the bike

00:27so I hope to pace the run as conservatively as I could and save some legs for the bike,

00:33which I was sort of able to do. Probably pushed a little bit harder on the run than I may be

00:37intended to. But yeah, as I say, the bike, I was in survival mode from the first pedal stroke really.

00:47How did you find the course? Were you out at the front of the start or did you take it?

00:50Yes, there was about maybe six of us went out on the run and then it started to slinter

00:56after the initial climb. And then it was myself and Kyle Gregg and we ran together to transition.

01:03And then on the bike course, I just sort of pushed hard and kind of managed to keep off the front.

01:10Quite hot conditions, was that a factor? Yeah, I had to keep on top of the

01:14hydration and the nutrition early on. And yeah, just filling up as and when I could. I mean,

01:19there was plenty of aid stations. Credit to the volunteers out there today because it was really warm.

01:25And your first time, how did you just get involved in signing up for the event?

01:30It was a last minute shout actually. I was offshore about 10 days ago and I got a message from one of

01:35my friends and seeing if I'd answer the SOS to fill the void that my team member had left. And yeah,

01:43I stepped in at sort of short notice and yeah, I'm glad I did. It's an event that's always been on my radar.

01:48I must admit, the sort of multi-sports side of it does appeal to me, but I didn't really know what

01:53to expect. And it was, it was a sufferfest on the bike. I must admit, my calves were cramping

01:57from the get-go, but I managed to see it over the line and yeah, delighted with that.

02:01You've had plenty of experience at multi-sports events before.

02:04And second then, yeah, I've done some long distance triathlon. A couple of triathlons,

02:09but no, running was, running's my main bag. But I just use the cycling and that to cross

02:15train basically and stay injury free, which is the hardest part of it sometimes.

02:19I appreciate it. You just crossed the finishing line, but you're coming back next year?

02:24I would love to. I'd like to be even fitter to the Rantories there and hopefully have better legs

02:30for the bike. But yeah, I love it. It was a great event. And as I say, credit to the volunteers

02:35and all the participants out there, the walkers alike. Great support passing through the walking

02:40field as well. So credit to them, because it was a really hot day to be out there for as long

02:43as they're going to be out there. Well, congratulations. Fantastic achievement.

02:47Thank you very much. Cheers.