Category

Races and Runners

08/03/2019

Who Run The World? Tish!

Tish Joyce, briefed us on her journey from 5k to running the world… her story is rather inspiring. It was a New Year’s resolution following the death of my stepfather, that started my life-changing journey to Run the World. Although I had run a few marathons, I had slipped into unhealthy ways; working, smoking and drinking to excess and was struggling to run 5k. I decided to enter the Great Wall of China Marathon to force me to get fit. For the next few months, I slowly got healthier and... Read More

14/01/2019

Exclusive Interview with Lizzy Hawker & Richard Bull

Today’s blog post is an Exclusive Interview with ultra-running legend and five times UTMB winner Lizzy Hawker and renowned race organiser Richard Bull about Ultra Tour Monte Rosa (UTMR) brought to you by Rebeca Enrooth on behalf of myRaceKit.   -How did Ultra Tour Monte Rosa come about as a race? Lizzy: The Pennine Alps around Monte Rosa & the Matterhorn is where I fell in love with the mountains at the age of six. In the years while I was training for UTMB I would get tired of repeating... Read More

05/01/2019

Ultra Tour Monte Rosa – How To Own A Mountain

  In Lizzy Hawker’s book Runner there is an episode where Lizzy has returned to Kathmandu after another monstrous run in the Himalayas. Richard Bull and she are on a rooftop, drinking milky tea and stargazing, reflecting over the question: Why do we run? Their answers are philosophical. I ask myself the very same question as I climb Colle del Turlo.  Although, my question is highly relevant; the climb is gruesome. My legs are aching. Every time I advance, turning a corner, the climb appears even longer. Do endless climbs... Read More

03/01/2019

100km of Namib Desert – The Ultimate Running Holiday

Ever felt like combining running in an epically scenic environment as well as enjoying a luxury lodge? The 100km of Namib Desertmight be the right option for you! After doing many wonderful running holidays usually involving self-sufficiency, carrying a sleeping bag and mat, the combination of running and pure indulgence was tempting. I signed up for the 100km of Namib Desert which is a four-stage race covering 15km, 42km, 26km and 21km. The stages are varied; one savanna stage, a marathon mountain ridge stage, a canyon stage and a sand... Read More

10/12/2018

UTMB Oman Race Recap: The Journey into fear.

Written by Mark Buley (@CostaMENAI ) “I’ve learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.  The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear. (Nelson Mandela)” Over the past year, I began running ultra’s (Running events over 50km) as a way to keep fit and to ward off the Dubai stone that comes to many aging expats. Experiencing my first Ultra in October 2017, I quickly realized that whilst there was a physical upside, the true benefit of my... Read More

26/11/2018

Marathon Des Sables – Beyond Due Limits?

Author: Mark Buley It was with some trepidation, back in July 2017 that I, along with Gary Turnbull made the decision to enter the Marathon Des Sables, the often credited “World’s Toughest Footrace”. People question the motivation, logic and reasoning.  For me its about challenges, I had tasted challenges and moved away from the inner circle of my abilities (the comfort zone) and wanted more, to explore the boundaries and limits beyond those boundaries (do limits exist?). For those who are not (yet) familiar, the MDS is a 6 stage... Read More

19/11/2018

UTMB Oman 2018: Interview with Samantha Chan Hoka One One Elite Runner

Oman by UTMB® is a runner’s dream – an ultra trail along mountain top ridges, through villages, palm plantations, deep wadis and narrow gorges. The journey will lead runners off the beaten tourist tracks, allowing them to explore the Sultanate’s hidden gems that are located deep within its rugged, untouched landscapes. Our dear friend and journalist Mark Buley (@run_beyond)  was recently fortunate enough to catch up with Samantha Chan, Hoka One One Athlete, ahead of her assault on UTMB Oman. Samantha is an experienced Elite Hong Kong trail runner with a notable... Read More

White Rose Ultra Marathon mountain view 19/09/2018

White Rose Ultra Race Recap

By: Annabeth Orton. www.glittermouse.co.uk Twitter: @Glittermousie White Rose Ultra 2015 was my second solo ‘ultra distance’ event. Having placed third female at TrailBlaster12 on Summer Solstice this year, running 59 miles in just under 12 hours, it hadn’t seemed a big deal in July to register for the mid-distance race from the 30, 60 or 100 mile White Rose options. For various reasons, however, in the weeks leading up to the 1st of November, I began to doubt that my fitness was where I’d like it to be to comfortably meet... Read More

UTMB-challenge-race-review-my-race-kit 05/12/2017

Ultra Trail Mont Blanc Race Recap

Race report by Colin Barnes (race date 29th – 31st August 2014). Photos courtesy of Rebecca Lynch (world class UTMB crew to Mark Lynch). A wet start It was 16:30 in the afternoon and the clouds were thickening. They were looming above us, dark grey, and seemed to be heading in the direction we were going to run. This was no surprise at all as it had been predicted by the weather reports but I had hoped they were wrong. Alas not! It had been 3.5 years since I was... Read More

clif-bar-10-peaks-challenge-race-review-my-race-kit 05/12/2017

Clif Bar 10 Peaks Brecons Beacons Ultra Recap

Race Report by Elisabet Barnes (race date 6th September 2014) About Clif Bar 10 Peaks 10 Peaks was created in August 2009 by Paul Smith to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and as a legacy for his father, John, who lost his battle with cancer shortly before his 62nd birthday. The event has grown and in the first three years has raised over £80,000 for Macmillan. The Clif Bar 10 Peaks events are designed to challenge even the toughest competitors, combining ultra distance running/ hiking with some of the UK’s... Read More