Globe-trotting trail runner David Kilgore, 27, will be taking on the 2020 KPMG Tortola Torture a 34-mile ultramarathon in the British Virgin Islands.
David was a member of the American team at the 2019 Trail World Championships held in Portugal earlier this year. Just two weeks later he ran the Rio de Janeiro Marathon in Brazil – twice. After crossing the finish line for the first time in under 2 hours 46 minutes, David kept a steady pace to loop around and completed his double marathon (52.4 miles, 84.4 km) in 5 hours, 40 minutes.
David finished 3rd at the 2018 USATF 50 km Trail Championships, 4th at the 2019 USATF 50 km Trail Championships and won the 2018 Breakneck Point 42K.
Sponsored by On Running, his personal bests include: Marathon – 2 hours, 28 minutes (New York Marathon 2018); 5K – 14.27 minutes; 50K – 3 hours, 1 minute.
David Kilgore – On Running
Avery Collins from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, set a new record in the 2018 KPMG Tortola Torture. With a time of 4 hours, 35 minutes and 47 seconds, Avery took a handsome 9 minutes and 18 seconds off Eric Senseman’s 2016 record-setting time (04:45:05).
TJ Hindes from St John won the 2019 event with a time of 04:54:33.8
Commenting on his attendance, Dave said: “Very excited to come and race the 2020 Tortola Torture in the British Virgin Islands. Growing up in Florida I am no stranger to the tropics and challenges the heat and humidity pose against the human spirit, though I have now been living in NYC the last two years.
“I know this will be an intense challenge as I have seen some of the times of previous competitors. Looking at tapping into my NorthEast mountain legs and Florida roots of battling the heat to challenge the course record. Stoked to be out here to face the challenge!”
The Event
The KPMG Tortola Torture is a 33.74 mile (54km) race that circumnavigates Tortola with only 22% on the flat, the rest is on hot and humid hills with 12,000 feet of elevation change. The steepest gradient is 33.33%.
A record 44 individuals competed in the 2019 event. These 28 men and 17 women were joined on the course by five 2-person and eight 3-person teams.
Twenty-two of this year’s competitors were from overseas: seven from the US Virgin Islands, six from USA, four from Puerto Rico, two from Hong Kong, one from the UK, one from Canada and one from Trinidad & Tobago.
THE KPMG Tortola Torture has banned the use of disposable bottles on the race course. By using reusable 5-gallon jugs and coolers, organisers eliminated the use of over 1,200 half litre bottles of water.
Our Sponsors
The KPMG Tortola Torture is open to individuals, two-person, and three-person relay teams.
Title sponsor KPMG provides audit, tax and advisory services together with industry insight to help organizations negotiate risks and perform in the dynamic and challenging environments in which they do business.
Mourant, platinum sponsor, is a leading offshore law firm, advising on the laws of the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey.
The BVI Tourist Board is the international promotion partner.