Ultrarunner Magazine UK

Ultrarunner Andy Berry shares his Steve Parr Round experience as he set a new Fastest Known Time of 33 Hours 45 Minutes 59 Seconds.  The challenge takes in all of the 2500 feet + summits in the Lake District National Park. In 2020 following growing interest in the challenge, the Fell Running Association (FRA) adopted Steve Parr's route of 61 peaks. It includes the 57 peaks documented by Wainwright as being higher than 2,500 feet plus Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Shelter Crags and Helvellyn Lower Man. This became the benchmark for formally registering completions and record breaking runs of the 2,500ft peaks.  The round was named in honour of Steve as he completed the first round in 1984, starting and finishing at the Keswick Moot Hall. He covered some 116 miles and 42550′ of ascent in a time of 42 hours 56 minutes, a record that stood for 36 years.

In 2014, Jill Wheatley was living and working in Germany as a high school health and physical education teacher. On a day that began like any other, while Jill was teaching her students how to connect bat to ball, a fluke accident would result in a traumatic brain injury and a 70% loss of vision, she was given just three days to live. Surrounded by the Colorado Rockies, Jill drew inspiration from the mountains that called out to her as she lay in her hospital bed trying to recover. Overcoming mental anguish and a loss of hope, Jill moved her mindset to one of growth. After finally being allowed to leave the hospital, she headed straight for the mountains and into a challenge as she navigated the trails, in an unfamiliar body, towards her independence.

Sanna Duthie has just set a new Fastest Known Time on the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path of 51 hours and 30 minutes. Sanna shares her thoughts on the journey and also her determination to make the attempt a reality!

Anna Rutherford shares with Ultrarunner Magazine her thoughts and inspirational mindset to show her children and the world that dreams do come true! Nine months after giving birth to her second child, Anna has just set a new women's Fastest Known Time on the Southern Upland Way 214 Mile, beating the previous record by 17 hours, and shares insight into her challenges along the way!

An interview with Liverpool legend John Hammond who has raised over £100,000 for charity over the years with a focus on supporting families with ill children. John has taken on the race dubbed the ‘Toughest Race on Earth', the Marathon des Sables and ran consecutive marathons every day for over a month amongst a great many other challenges. A remarkable and humble man. Here more from John about his journey.

Conquering the Southern Upland Way 55 hours and 45 minutes The most thrilling part of all of this, for me, was the weight of the pressure. I do not know why, but I find it an exhilarating task. Every decision influences the effort and unlike a race, each rest stop, meal stop, even down to what items I bring along, well, that is on me. One false move and its game over and I relish that challenge!

Dr Robin Smith is a 38-year-old Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the Cardiff School of Social Sciences and the current holder of the Offas Dyke FKT. Ultrarunner Magazine spoke to Robin to find more about his journey into ultra-running and the Offas Dyke

In the summer of 2020, ultra-runner Beth Pascall, at 33 years of age, took on one of the most difficult fell running challenges the Lake District has to offer. Not only completing the Bob Graham Round but owning it as she took the record for Fastest Known Time (FKT) along the route. Shaving a remarkable 50 minutes off the previous record, Beth talks with Ultrarunner Magazine about the incredible accomplishment!

Taking on the Wainwrights & the Pennine Way (FKT). So, I say, enjoy the journey and take it as it comes. Have fun or what's the point in any of it? Purple writing and drawings on the road that said, 'Go Sabs!', it was such a boost.

Damian Hall, record breaking ultra marathon runner and holder of the fastest known time along the 268 mile Pennine Way. Not only beating Mike Hartley's record, which stood for 31 years, but also slashing 3 hours off John Kelly's attempt, who had taken the title from Mike, just a week before. Damian also cleared the trail of litter along the way.

In 2015 Ben Smith embarked on a challenge, running 401 marathons in 401 days, to raise incredible sums of money for anti-bullying charities. Ben caught up with Ultrarunner Magazine ahead of his next challenge, running and cycling 14,000-miles across 50 states in the USA, to talk about the message behind the miles. *Part one and two*

This year, the Barkley won again, picking off its competitors one by one. With only two competitors completing a third loop and no survivors left to make loop four, the Barkley marathon in Frozen Head State Park, was over just 48 hours after Lazarus Lake lit his cigarette. In an interview with Ultrarunner Magazine Laz gives his post-race thoughts, discussing the 2021 edition of the Barkley, and what challenges he went through as a Race Director, hosting the ‘most gruelling Ultra on earth', inside of a global pandemic.

In 1997 James Earl Ray was being held in Frozen Head State Park after committing the murder of Martin Luther King JR. The ambitious criminal made his escape from Brushy Mountain Penitentiary with big ideas of freedom in mind. However, James only managed to get 8 miles from his cell in his 54 hours of stolen time before being caught. Navigating through the American terrain that legend tells, ‘eats its intruders and spits them out' he was swallowed by the landscape and threw back into the hands of the law.

I first witnessed the magnificence of a mountain, as a six-year-old child. My family and I were on holiday and as we hiked our way through the rolling landscapes, and so my love affair began. I felt a sense of ‘home' as the wildness, it provoked my curiosity and ever since I have sought adventure wherever that wonder takes me; typically, atop a mountain!

Dylan Bowman, a multi-record-breaking athlete, finishing in 3rd place in the ‘Race Across the Sky' Leadville 100 mile (2010), which draws athletes from around the world, and returning a year later to take 2nd place. Also, amongst Dylan's achievements, 1st place at the San Diego 100 mile and 5thin the 2013 Western States.

Ultrarunner Magazine was treated to an interview with the incredible South African trail-running sensation, Ryan Sandes. During his 14-year running career, Ryan has completed and defeated some of the toughest ultramarathon's on earth! In 2010, he became the first competitor to win all four ‘Racing the Planet' desert races before going on to become the first person ever to win an Ultra-Trail race, on all seven continents! Discussing family life and the impact of the global pandemic, Ryan went over some of his biggest challenges to date, including winning the Western States 100 miler in 2017 and setting a Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Great Himalayan Trail.

My Battle for Mental Health, Rome to Home Ultra. We spoke to Dan about his incredible journey of Mental Health and Ultra Running.

Experienced Ultrarunner and first woman to finish Big's Backyard 250 mile ultra, Maggie Guterl, sat down with Ultrarunner Magazine after taking part in the 2021 edition of the Barkley Marathon. Maggie discusses her journey with the legendary Barkley and what she has taken away from the experience this year.

After receiving a life-changing diagnosis in 2019, Marcos Jarvis and his family began the painful process of accepting the devastating news. A keen sportsman and avid runner, Marcos studied his way through the biggest fight of his life, turning the negatives into positives with the power of the human mind. Marcos plunged into ice baths, ran a duathlon with chemotherapy on his back, and swapped stress for Tai Chi as he reset his body, mind and lifestyle. Marcos sat down with Ultrarunner magazine to discuss his journey, detailing the process of acceptance and why he took on the David Goggins 4 x 4 x 48 with ‘Stage 4' cancer. AN INSPIRATIONAL INTERVIEW WITH A REMARKABLE MAN

Where the mind meets the mountains, time freezes, and the presence of peace is as forceful as it is mute. The wilds of mother nature support my body and true freedom is possible where no worries exist. The spirit of an Ultra runner demands the body to endure and the mind must be as strong as the rocks that carry the feet. The reward we collect for entering the extremes that most are not compelled to move into, is knowing the true scale of what is humanly possible for the mind, body and soul.

With success both here in the UK and on the World circuit, Kim has also had a top 10 finish in the massively competitive Skyrunning World Championship, winning the Falcotrail Ultra in Spain. Having racked up an already impressive roster, Kim recently succeeded on the incredible. Breaking the Lakeland 24 fell record (with an outstanding 78 tops in 23 hours 45 minutes!), 23 years after Mark Hartell in 1997. Read more about the man himself – in his own words, Kim Collison, as he spoke to Ultrarunner Magazine.