How did you get into ultra running?

I honestly can’t recall.  My earliest memories are of playing or watching football, around the time of the 1978 World Cup.  I can’t remember a “pre-time”. I recall at infants’ school that PE was my favourite subject and sports day my favourite school day of the year.

Having completed numerous half marathons and marathons I decided to make the step up to ultra marathons and found that I loved them. I began with a 50 mile run then moved onto 100 mile runs completing races along the South Downs Way, North Downs Way and Thames Path.

I sought out further challenges completing the Lakeland 100, a 100 mile loop of the Lake District. With gaining skills and confidence I took on and completed harder challenges. I have 2 completions of The Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc, a 100 mile race around the Mont Blanc Massif traversing France, Italy and Switzerland. I also completed Spartathlon, an historic 153 mile race from Athens to Sparta. These achievements enabled me to apply for Badwater 135. Only 105 runners are invited to attend each year based on their essay style running CV. The race starts at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America and 135 miles later, having crossed several mountain ranges, finishes at Mount Whitney Portal after having climbed 14,600 feet through one of the hottest places on earth. The race is self-titled, “The World’s Toughest Foot Race” and I think few would argue with that.

What is it about ultra running that you enjoy the most?

It’s a mixture of the competition, jeopardy and emotion and in team sports, the camaraderie, although this can exist in solo sports too.

In terms of longevity, I’m proud of my five Lakeland 100 completions.  To turn up five years in a row with varying levels of experience, fitness and all the weather the Lake District can throw at you, I’m very pleased to have reached the finish line on each occasion.

What’s it like competing internationally representing your country?

I qualified to represent England Masters at the marathon but then got injured so will have to wait to find out.  To be one of a few from your country amongst an international field such as Badwater or Spartathlon is an honour and privilege but also carries a weight of wanting to do the place justice.

What drives you to succeed and to keep training so hard?

For running I honestly enjoy the training so it doesn’t feel hard, turning out on cold, wet, dark nights excepted but I’m lucky I can schedule most of those away.

Does  ultra running help in your everyday life such as gaining confidence, improving your health and wellbeing?

The physical benefits are well established and the overall well-being is now recognised.  Whatever else has been going on, sport has always been a constant in my life.

What, if any, special training, equipment, nutrition do you need to take part?

The beauty of running is in its simplicity.  Put on a pair of trainers and get out of the door.  Running overnight mountain ultras does bring with it a certain level of kit investment such as the equipment needed to deal with all weathers or emergency situations.  

Do you have any races coming up?

Completing Badwater 135 is probably the pinnacle of my running career.  It’s the hardest race I’ve ever taken part in.  It was a fantastic experience.  My biggest takeaway is I was so fortunate to get to experience it. 

The opportunity to take part is very limited, more people have climbed Everest than completed Badwater and I think there’s only just over 50 people in the UK who have finished it so I feel very fortunate.

Everything about Badwater was big and overwhelming. The temperature the distance, the difficulty.  The logistics and cost of travelling across the Atlantic with the personnel and equipment to keep safe are also daunting.  The CSSC funding I received helped to reduce this area of concern, helping me to focus more on my training and preparation, for which I’m very grateful.

The heat mainly but also the altitude made it the toughest event I have ever done.  There were a few lows but the whole package far outweighs them.  I ended up finishing in 38hrs 48mins 43 secs for 43rd out of 100 starters. 

Most recently I have managed to secure a place in this year’s Spartathlon in late September 2023.  300 or so athletes from around the world assemble under the Acropolis to recreate an ancient journey that the messenger, Pheidippides, took from Athens to Sparta, some 153 miles.  The finish line is to kiss the foot of the statue of King Leonidas in Sparta.

How do you use your CSSC membership? 

I’ve used the membership to take my family to a number of English Heritage sites both local and when on holiday.  A particular favourite was when we went to Audley End and by chance a WW2 re-enactment happened to be taking place.  It’s fair to say that the amphibious landing with gun shots and explosions made more impact on the children (and me) than the walled kitchen garden.