In 2008, after 12 years of working for others, James Hallett decided he’d had enough of being “another number” and he turned to self-employment. This bold decision kick-started an evolutionary process, not only in his career, but in his personal life too. For the first time ever, James was able to look for opportunity where others only dared to and chase his BHAGs (big hairy audacious goals).
Discovering a passion for trail running opened the door to a whole new world. Inspired by his hobby, James launched his own business and started making adventure films. Then, in 2013, he founded Trails In Motion, an annual film tour designed to showcase some of the finest trail running films to audiences worldwide. He loves spreading the word about trail running and other outdoor adventure sports and is dedicated to building a global community which shares the same philosophies and ideals.
Image credit: Andrew King
1. How are you doing what you love?
People call me a content marketer, but I call myself a story sharer. My passion lies in communicating things that in some small way or another might change peoples perceptions about what is normal or structured. I hated conforming. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a rebel. I’ve never had a Mohican or a nose ring (if those things constitute being a rebel) but I’ve always liked living more unconventionally. To be able to talk about, and work with, the global trail running community really affirms that. It’s an unconventional sport at heart and sharing other people’s experiences excites, and humbles, me.
What do I love most about my work? The fact that I can arrive at my office in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and ply my “trade” amongst a community of people who love or simply yearn to indulge in adventure, particularly in the outdoors.
2. Tell us about your background and journey to this point…
After High School I left my South African home and headed overseas to cut my teeth in the golf course industry in England and the U.S. I was on a mission to become one of South Africa’s top golf course superintendents, a fancy way of saying “the guy who looks after the grass” on a golf course.
When I returned almost seven years later, I realised that I was seriously struggling with my career choice. Having worked on such amazing international golf courses I felt very deflated and uninspired by the prospect of working in South Africa again. I was fighting an internal battle, wondering how my career would flourish and grow. Even though I took jobs with some of the top courses in the country I was constantly chopping and changing and it wasn’t enjoyable.
Although I can’t say I was passionate about marketing, advertising and branding back then in 2005, my interest was enough to motivate me to return to full-time study and pursue a post-graduate in Brand Communication. I’ll never forget a conversation I had with a previous employer, a marketing guru, about starting the best way to start a career in marketing. The first thing he said was: “Can you tell me 100 different ways to shave?”. With a little chuckle I began… and it wasn’t long before I’d reached idea eleven and with no where else to go. I guess that is a metaphor for what I do now: I look for as many different ways as possible to share inspirational stories about trail running and other outdoor adventure sports.
Running along the Wild Coast, one of South Africa’s most remote stretches of shoreline. Image credit: Craig Muller
3. How has running changed your life?
During high-school and much of my adult life, I loathed running. I looked for every excuse not to run. Until I discovered trail running that is. My wife enticed me (by dragging me off the couch) to join her on a 5k trail we have close to our home. She said it would be fun to go running together. Back then I had an old rickety pair of New Balance 510s with the soles all but blown out which I used for work, so I strapped them on and jogged out the door alongside her, cursing and panting just to make her feel bad for convincing me. Soon we were prancing around in the forest and it was my wife who was left cursing and panting on several occasions, angry at me for running too far ahead. I couldn’t help it, I was like a kid in the proverbial candy store. That was early 2009… the rest is history!
I wouldn’t say running has changed my life as much as enhanced it. I consider myself an active outdoor enthusiast; surfing, hiking, camping or trail running any opportunity I can. I try to seek as much balance as I can in life so these activities really offer a sense of connectivity to nature that I think many of us miss, or simply neglect, in our daily lives. We’re so inundated with technology and unnatural things that it’s important to cut away from that and spend time in the wilderness reconnecting with nature and reminding ourselves of the simple things.
Gaining a new perspective. Image credit: Andrew King
4. What’s the difference between trail running, skyrunning and ultra running?
Not much really, they all rely on one intrinsic element: a persons desire to get out there and, well, run! But semantics aside, these three disciplines are certainly becoming more defined as the sport develops and matures globally.To begin with, even though the term “trail running” really encompasses the other two, the definition is, in my opinion, more focused on shorter distances and terrain that isn’t as potentially demanding as either skyrunning or ultra running.
Skyrunning began in the early 90s when a man by the name of Marino Giacometti from Italy began pushing the limits of running vertically. In other words, he and bunch of Europeans were seeking routes normally only hiked or even soft-climbed where they were staging almost ‘underground’ races at high altitudes. The International Skyrunning Federation was subsequently born and these days there are literally hundreds of skyrunning events all over the world where many top athletes test themselves. Of course, the greatest skyrunner of them all is the Spaniard Kilian Jornet, who has numerous world titles under his belt, but skyrunning is creating a new wave of runners who are honing their technical skills on courses often held above 4000m in altitude.
Then, bring in the beast, ultra running. This is where the line between athleticism and madness becomes blurred as ultra trail races usually present 100 mile long courses, or longer. Currently this is the pinnacle of the sport, with races like the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, the Western States 100, the Hardrock 100 and many others testing the limits of endurance, many on extremely tough, mountainous courses.
On location in the Swartberg, South Africa shooting a new film called A Journey To Black Mountain. Image credit: Andrew King
5. Tell us more about Trails In Motion…
Trails In Motion began as a local film tour here in South Africa in 2013. At the time, I was publishing Go Trail magazine, a dedicated online trail running publication, and was looking for new ways in which to socially engage with our readership (socially being the operative word). Once we had finished up the first tour, which consisted of four screenings in three cities (Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town), I was inundated with interest from international members of the trail running community wanting to host their own screenings. So in 2014, the tour went international and grew to 22 screenings in nine countries. This year we have already seen tremendous growth. Since launching in December 2014 the 2015 tour is scheduled for over 130 screenings in 26 countries (and that number is growing fast!).
Ultimately, what we hope to achieve with Trails In Motion is two-fold. Firstly, we want the platform to be recognized as a benchmark outlet for film makers in this genre; a place that allows them to present not only great stories about our community but also the philosophies and ideals behind their film making. After all, it’s quality content that will generate interest in Trails In Motion.
Trails In Motion Screening, Belgium. Image credit: Sport.be
The second objective is building the Trails In Motion community. What better way to celebrate the dirty art of trail running than to kick-back with with a bunch of like-minded outdoor souls for a couple of hours, away from the typical race-day vibe or training run, to watch some movies, drink a beer (or three!) and celebrate the creativity of others. We want the global trail running community to look forward to an annual tour where they know they will be able to catch a screening in a city near to them and, in doing so, gain some inspiration and motivation for their own running, not to mention catch up with their local running peers.
6. Any personal favourites this year?
Come on, how can you ask the tour director of Trails In Motion that question? In all honesty I couldn’t pick. They’re all my favourites. Because I’m part of the official selection judging panel, I try and keep an open mind and look for nuances in each film that may resonate with different audience members. The sound track, the protagonist, the scenery, the dialogue. Every person at a Trails In Motion screening will see the films in a different way. I think that’s the greatest part about Trails In Motion, the message is down to personal interpretation, how it resonates with your own running career or your own life, and that’s really all that matters.
7. What is the most inspiring film you’ve ever seen about trail running?
I would have to say UNBREAKABLE by American production company Journeyfilm. It’s the story of the 2010 Western States 100 when four of the world’s top athletes at the time go head to head in an epic battle. It was powerful because the film maker, JB Benna, cleverly managed to weave each top athlete’s background into the story as the race was unfolding. It was utterly captivating – a real rollercoaster. You can watch the trailer here.
8. What are you enjoying working on at the moment?
I’m really enjoying working on growing Trails In Motion at the moment, both from a brand perspective and securing new screenings for 2015. We are constantly receiving enquiries from people all over the world who want to host the tour, and working with them excites me. They are passionate individuals, and like we were in 2013, they are looking for fresh new ways to connect with their local community. Knowing that my hard work results in getting audiences in far off places in front of great films is extremely rewarding for me.
Me hosting the first Trails In Motion in 2013. Image credit: Nick Muzik
A typical day for me consists of a lot of correspondence with these hosts, mainly to answer any questions they may have about their events. I’m also actively involved, alongside our community manager, in developing content for our immediate community. Sharing insight about the making of the films on this year’s tour or launching the Dirty Runner Film Society are just means to connecting our audience with what the tour is all about, cool films and a cool vibe!
Trails In Motion Screening in Durban, South Africa. Image credit: Anthony Grote
9. What’s the toughest lesson you’ve learnt?
In all honesty there have been a few, but I think the toughest one of all, one which I’m still learning on an ongoing basis, is presence. My work life demands my attention 24/7, especially because it involves working with social media and community needs that are global, and in the past I’ve been so wrapped up in what I was doing that I’ve missed things in my personal life.
10. What are you most proud of?
I would have to say my two daughters for sure. Having children has opened my eyes to a whole new world. To see them develop, to appreciate what they’re learning, to understand their needs (and getting it wrong sometimes), is an amazing feeling. From a career perspective though, I’m most proud of is taking the risk to become self-employed and persevering through countless hours of work to reach the point where I’m at now.
11. Where’s next on your list of things to do and places to see?
I’m planning a two-week road trip with my wife and daughters this June that will have us camping, hiking and living more simply. We’ll be driving East to West across South Africa and then back again visiting some of our country’s most beautiful regions.
12. What advice would you give anyone who isn’t doing what they love?
Tough question. Everyone has something they love doing, but it may not be a career, it may just be something that facilitates their happiness. I find that doing what you love simply starts with being happy, mainly with yourself and the situations that you find yourself in. Constantly question yourself, and combine creativity with realism but always see the positives, even if you think there aren’t any. Also, practice persistence. Often it’s the things we love that take the most time and effort to achieve.
Working on location – Transalpine run. Image credit: Kelvin Trautman
James’ snapshot
Happiest place: When I’m on my own, it’s definitely in the surf and the anticipation of a wave, especially when the conditions are perfect. When I’m with someone else, it would be when I’m with my wife and two daughters, just hanging out.
Most exciting, exhilarating run, why? The marathon day of the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage race in India, also known as the Mount Everest Marathon. It’s the third day of the race and you leave the small mountain village of Sandakphu at 4000m above sea level on the border of Nepal, with sweeping vistas of the Himalaya all around you, including views of Mount Everest, to run 45km back down to “civilization” in Rimbik. Why it was so exhilarating was because I’d never had such an overwhelming sense of physical achievement before. The route takes you up and down valleys at an average altitude of 3500m before plummeting almost 2000m down the Himalayan foothills, a real metaphor for the highs and lows (excuse the pun) of the day. I remember sitting with a few of the other runners that evening and we were all looking at each other with these almost stunned looks on our faces like “wow, did we just do that!?!”
Coolest piece of running kit: A two-tone blue and white New Balance running vest I’ve had for about six years. I’m not an overtly technical kind of runner and am happy to trot out the door in what ever is clean.
Three things you love doing in your spare time: In every particular order: surfing, reading with my three-year-old daughter Sophie, and savouring a good coffee or craft beer.
First film made: Mountain Of Greatness
Most profound experience: Completing the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race. I still think about that run and that trip in 2011 extensively to this day. It was at such a pertinent time of my life as my wife was expecting our fist child. It put a lot of things into perspective for me.
Me during the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Run. Image credit: Helen Spratley
Best light-bulb moment: Deciding to make Trails In Motion an international film tour.
Anything is possible… what’s your dream? My dream is simple really, it’s to one day paddle out at my favourite surf break with my daughters and watch them ride waves.
Quote you live by: My motto for what I do is pretty simple: I have to be connected to nature in some small way or another, it’s a respect and a love for wild places that truly makes me a better person.
Wish for the world: Whoa, the beauty pageant question! I think it would be for us as humans to become less consumeristic and focus our efforts on sustainable living. I know that sounds cliché but what bugs me the most are the things we absolutely don’t need in our lives that end up wasting us the most, be it through energy or time. If anything, it’s the wish I have for myself and my family.
On the road. Image credit: Andrew King
You can find out more about Trails in Motion here and watch the teaser trailer for the 2015 event below.
