Although the long-term organiser had suggested that this 30th edition would be his last, he had already been questioning that choice and after witnessing a record entry – selling out 150 places – and the closest Division One title race in history, he has confirmed that he is not done yet.
‘It’s been amazing,’ he said during his annual trip from his base in Portugal.
‘It’s, well, the best one there’s been.
‘It’s the 30th year and it’s been fantastic – biggest entry and really competitive racing as well.’
This competitive racing culminated in an exceptionally close Division One where Mickey Haimes took the throne, but there had been just 24sec. spanning him, Ben Langlois and Andrew Zabiela leading into the Herm finale.
‘This is the first time that I can remember that we’ve ever had three people in contention going into the final day,’ King said.
‘We’ve had close finishes before featuring two people, but three, never, and that was great.
‘If we can provide a fun environment for people as well as providing a close race, that’s fantastic.
‘I’d had the idea that maybe the All Terrain was coming to an end and my participation was coming to an end, but I always said if it’s successful I’ll carry on. It will be carrying on next year and hopefully for many years to come.’
The France-based Haimes, who ultimately topped the general classification by 29sec. from veteran Zabiela, had started the week as one of several runners vying for second behind Island Games runner James Priest.
Priest withdrew after facing a hamstring issue on Wednesday’s track night, which Langlois won and backed up with a victory on Thursday’s Icart Loop.
Haimes then took his first-ever stage win at Le Val des Terres and Jamie Ingrouille echoed that feat in the concluding Herm cross-country. Alex Grogan and Shay Goddard were also in the mix over the week.
‘We all shuffled up and down the leaderboard,’ Haimes said after finishing first, second and third across the seven days.
‘Obviously me and Zab were close all week, but Ben looked unbeatable some nights, Shay constantly on our heels, couple of cracking runs from Alex, and of course our roving reporter storming the east isle.
‘Going into the final race I genuinely had no idea who was going to win, which is pretty rare. I loved it.
‘Times that by six divisions and there’s a lot going on.
‘Shame for Priesty getting injured but it certainly spiced things up. He can win it next year.’
Le Val des Terres hill climb proved his favourite stage, the cheering crowds up top providing a great example of one element he had particularly enjoyed over the week.
‘There was great support out there every day and I hope at least a few people watching who thought, “Wow, I fancy a bit of that, that looks like fun” sign up next year who maybe otherwise wouldn’t have,’ Haimes added.
‘It’s shown running doesn’t have to be all about carbon shoes, Strava and arbitrary target paces. It can be about moving your body, in nature, with good people.’
On the women’s side, Katie Birch’s victory was never in doubt.
Qualifying for Division One made her incomparable to her nearest rivals in Liz Chalmers and Lucy Garner.
She had thrown down a real statement with her course-record 29min. 56sec. on the opening 5.5km cliff run from Saints Harbour, which has been used most years since 2017. That put her in the top 10 on the evening including men.
‘I really felt so strong on that first run and I just loved all the ups, all the downs, and I felt like I flew,’ she said.
‘I had no idea I had it in me to break any of those records or times or anything, so how amazing.
‘Coming out in the top 10, I was completely shocked.’
On the more-trodden Icart Loop, she posted an uncanny time of 40-00, which was enough to make her the eighth fastest woman ever on the route.
‘I also really loved that course.
‘Where I fell short was, funnily enough, on the flat road.
‘The rest of it I thoroughly enjoyed and to get on the all-time record list, I’m so pleased. It’s great to have my name on the list.’
But it was ultimately, after a personal disappointment at Le Val des Terres, the finale in Herm that she considered her secondary highlight of the week.
‘I just went out and really wanted to enjoy the run. I did just that and I felt strong.’
Summing it all up, she described ATC week as ‘one of a kind’.
‘It’s been great fun. I found things hard, found things amazing, and yeah, just what an experience.
‘The support around this event and being the top woman, and in the top division, has just been really quite incredible.’
