Since joining Leamington Cycling & Athletics Club in 1986 I’ve run well over 50,000 miles in training and racing (which equates to more than twice around the world - hence the title of my blog!). Starting out as an 800m, 1500m and cross-country runner I progressed up the distances over the years and moved more towards road running, eventually running my first marathon in 2001. For the next 10 years I focussed on marathons and was selected to run for Great Britain in the 2004 Kosice Peace Marathon, finishing 2nd female, and the 2006 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
In 2010 I had my first taste of ultra-running when I was selected to run for England in the IAU 50k World Trophy Final in Ireland. In my first attempt at the distance I not only won the race but also set a new UK best, English National record and World Masters Best time (and was ranked no. 1 in the world for 2010)! In April 2013 I won the bronze medal in the IAU European 100km Championships in Belves, France, setting a new British W40 age best and putting me 6th on the UK all-time rankings (all ages). In 2015 I again represented Great Britain in the IAU World & European 100km Championships, improving my pb to 7:39:50 which ranks me 5th on the UK all-time women's 100km rankings. I also took the silver medal in the World Masters W40 Championship. In 2017, whilst running for England, I won the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km and was crowned British 100km Champion. In 2021 I dipped my toe into the world of 24-hour running in the Self-Transcendence 24 hour Track Race in Battersea Park, finishing 21st overall, 6th female and 1st W50. I’ve been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to race all over the world, including many European countries, South Africa, Canada, China and even Beirut!
I work as a Chartered Landscape Architect and somehow manage to fit many hours of training around a 30 hour working week.
I’m hugely grateful for all the support I receive from many people, but a special thank you must go to my fantastic coach, Les Barnett, who has been there since the beginning.
You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram:
@ultrarunnerSue
