If you’re just getting started on your ultrarunning journey the 50KM distance is the perfect starting point to dip your toes into the longer distances. There is no shortage of ultramarathons to choose from but you must spend the time to do the research and choose the right one for you. I usually encourage my athletes to choose an event from an established race organiser (ideally a SheRACES partner if they’re in the UK) with rolling hills and generous cut-off times or none at all, no matter how beginner or experienced they are. RELATED: Best UK Ultramarathons for Beginners in 2024 Once you’ve ..read more

Did you know that 0.1% of the world has completed a marathon? More than 600,000 people completed an ultramarathon in 2018. But that’s still only 0.00008% of people who have completed an ultramarathon. 23% of participants are female, compared to just 14% 23 years ago. But that’s still only 0.00002% of people who have completed an ultra and are female. Even though the percentage of women in ultra running is still small, it has never been higher. So if you are struggling remember — if it was easy everyone would be training for ultramarathons. And it’s even tougher when you don’t have ready acce ..read more

Famous for the Bob Graham Round, England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike and associations with Beatrix Potter, the Lake District National Park is home to some of the UK’s most iconic ultramarathons.  But if there is one race I keep going back to it’s the Lakeland 50 & 100. I first stood on the start of this race back in 2021 and since then I've returned year after year to support many of my athletes to the start line of their first 50-miler.  Female participation rate in trail running has grown to almost 50% in the last 25 years but struggles to reach a mere 10% at many longer a ..read more

It’s that time of year again when many people are looking to work with a coach. So let’s get this straight, you don’t have to be a pro runner to work with a coach, many of the female athletes on my coaching roster for 2024 never worked with a coach before. Equally, it doesn’t matter how beginner or experienced you think you are. If you don’t consider yourself to be a very fast runner or if your ultimate goal is to do something like the Spine Race but you’re looking to walk instead of run. No goal is too small and no dream is too big, you deserve to be supported no matter what step or stage yo ..read more

Last week I asked what your running goals were for the year ahead. For some of you, your calendars are filled with back-to-back events, you’ve barely got time to breathe in between and you’re already looking ahead to your 2025 race season before even completing your ‘A’ goal race for this year. For others, tumbleweeds are blowing through your race calendar. There are so many events out there now that you feel paralysed questioning which ones are right for you and when, if ever you’ll feel ‘ready’ enough to finally hit the registration button. For me, 2024 looks a little different. If you’re p ..read more

This year I wanted to share with you some of my favourite female-led small businesses to encourage you (and those who are buying you gifts) to vote with your money and support small.  Stocking Filler Gifts Harrier Mini Runner First Aid Kit - £11/ $15 Wild Woman Pottery Mug The Thoughtful Potter - £35/ $50 Fell Cap by VÅGA - £30/ $40 Bob Graham Round Illustrated Map by Kate Sutton - £25/ $30 Lavender Palm Bag by Nicola Rowlands - £11/ $15 Set Of Five 'Today I Am' Positive Pencils Clara & Macy - £10/ $12 There is No Wall by Allie Bailey - £15/ $20 Why We Run by Danielle Ledbury ..read more

Multi stage ultramarathons or stage races are totally different to regular non stop ultramarathons where you’ll typically complete them within a day. Whether it’s the famous Marathon des Sables, the iconic 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, the UK's answer to the Marathon des Sables, Cape Wrath Ultra or something else that’s caught your eye. Because there’s always another race to add to the bucket list, right? 5 Bucket List Ultramarathons to Enter in 2024 — Read the Blog It’s no surprise that there will be certain nuances with your training plan if you have a multi stage ultra marathon on your ..read more

Dubbed the ‘Toughest Footrace on Earth’, you might have heard about the legendary footrace in the heart of the Moroccan Sahara after Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews completed the race back in 2021 or maybe you watched the first episode of last year's Netflix documentary ‘Human Playground’. Either way my guess is you’ve probably heard of the Marathon des Sables after watching a documentary of some sort and since then it’s always on your bucket list. But I suspect you might have not heard about the 4 Desert Ultramarathon Series. Am I right? Essentially the format of both events are very s ..read more

While a DNF (Did Not Finish) is not the type of outcome goal you want to be setting on race day the reality is, if you have been around for long enough the chances of a DNF increase in probability, statistically speaking of course. Some ultramarathons historically have a higher DNF rate than others, partly due to the difficulty of the event itself and partly because of a more relaxed set of entry requirements allowing lesser experienced athletes onto the start line. Either way there are a multitude of reasons for a DNF and no matter how well you prepare for your ultramarathon, whether it’s yo ..read more

Last month I received a WhatsApp from an athlete in the current Breaking 250 cohort training for Atacama Crossing later this year. Here’s what she said: “Realised something today. I’m scared of running fast in case I fail.” In school we’re taught failure is a lack of success but it got me thinking, what if success wasn’t in the absence of failure, but despite failure. I hate to break it to you but fear of failure can block you from finding out what you’re truly capable of. According to research conducted by SheRACES 45% of runners are put off entering races because of a fear of not making t ..read more