5 things we learned from Kilian Jornet’s new movie – from falling asleep on bikes to chasing more records

Kilian Jornet is the undisputed king of the mountain running scene. As a result, whenever he races, or releases a new shoe, or even does something as simple as posts to his 1.5 million Instagram followers, the running world tends to take notice.

So when we heard Kilian was releasing a new film about his epic recent challenge in the Pyrenees, and that its first UK screening would be held at the West Yorkshire HQ of Sportsshoes.com, we knew we had to get our names on the guest list.

The night had the feel of an exclusive red carpet event, with Kilian appearing via live video link-up to answer questions from attendees, and the film itself didn't disappoint as the packed audience was treated to an insight into the mindset of what has driven him for so many years.

Into the (Un)known is a journey through Kilian Jornet’s mind as he takes on the hardest challenge of his career. Sometimes testing limits requires you to look at a familiar place in a new way. When Kilian returned to the Pyrenees, where he’d spent time with his family as a child, he knew he wanted to challenge himself in a way that was as aesthetic as it was physical and mental.

With the assistance of local hut keepers, friends, and a rough GPX track to follow, he traversed the range, linking all of the major 3000m peaks in just 8 days. Along the way he noticed evidence of glacial retreat, experienced the blurring of days and nights, and rediscovered the mountains of his motherland.

5 things we learned from Kilian's new movie

After the screening and live Q&A with Kilian, we also caught up with Ben Mounsey (above), who organised this exclusive event for Sportsshoes.com, for a quick chat.

Come on then Ben, how much did you love that film?

Ben says: "Honest impressions... I think it's absolutely incredible. Not just because of what Kilian has achieved by traversing the entire length of the pyrenees, but because I felt his personal connection with the challenge and also with his natural surroundings. I felt like I'd experienced the journey with him and when he was emotional at the finish, we all shared his emotion. It was one of the most inspiring films I've ever seen and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to watch it on the big screen. Hopefully his next big challenge is just around the corner!"

How did this exclusive movie screening come together?

Ben says: "A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to be invited to Zegama by Kilian Jornet and the NNormal team. Shortly after recording his 11th victory at this prestigious event, Kilian headed to Bilbao to present the film premiere of his new film 'Into the 'Un'Known'. From here, he flew to Paris for the second screening and then the film continued to tour a few more key locations in France, including Chamonix. I was surprised to learn that there were no plans to bring the film to the UK, so I spoke to Kilian, NNormal and our distributor Unify, and together we put a plan into place to make it happen!

"Tonight we welcomed our brand partners, Ultra members, competition winners and the press to the SportsShoes.com HQ for a truly one-of-a-kind event as we hosted the only UK screening of this inspirational new film. And, as this is the only planned live showing in the UK, all of our guests were treated to a very exclusive experience!

"I did try my hardest to convince Kilian to attend – I even offered him a bed in our spare room, a chance to run on the finest Yorkshire trails and a night out in Leeds, but surprisingly he turned me down!!! However, he did agree to a video call and the highlight of the night was a live video Q&A with the trail running GOAT himself, talking about perseverance, training tips, NNormal products and sustainability within the sport. Needless to say, it was a VERY special event and one we won't forget in a hurry."

As a trail runner yourself, how much does Kilian inspire you?

Ben says: "For me, Kilian Jornet is undoubtedly the GOAT when it comes to trail running. What he has achieved in his long-standing career is nothing short of incredible and he is an inspiration to every single athlete on the planet. The fact he's still the best in the world at 36 years old (demonstrated at Zegama this year), is testament to his commitment and passion to the sport. This new film really highlights his humility and allows the audience to see him at his most vulnerable, as well as his most supreme."

And finally, how excited are you about the future releases from NNormal?

Ben says: "I've been lucky enough to test the new NNormal KBoix (above), which is due to launch sometime next year. This innovative shoe has three interchangeable midsoles and is designed to last and evolve with you - you choose the midsole, you choose the adventure.

"Each one is best suited to a different terrain, a different intensity and to different body types. This shoe is revolutionary in design and is a perfect example of NNormal's commitment to reshaping and rethinking the footwear industry, helping to avoid over-consumption by building products that are more durable and have a lesser impact on the environment.

"There is also another shoe I'm VERY excited about, launching early next year. The Kjerag Brut is a more aggressive version of the current Kjerag and designed for soft ground conditions. As a fell runner living in the UK, its lightweight design and grippy 6.5mm lugs are perfectly suited for UK terrain. It also looks incredible so I can't wait until it hits the market."

The screening of Into the (Un)known was an exclusive premiere for SportsShoes and there are currently no other planned screenings in the UK. We'll keep you posted about an online release date so you can hopefully see it for yourself soon!

Shop KIlian's NNormal range at Sportsshoes.com HERE