Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc 2015

Millie and Me

So who am I?

My running journey has taken me to some amazing places, fantastic races and personal challenges. I never in a million years would have thought I would have been capable of running the world famous UTMB (Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc) CCC trail race or qualified and run the Boston marathon and also completed numerous multi stage races !! Dream big.........as it is amazing what you can achieve.

Having come from a horse riding background and ridden since I was 6 years old, the world of Eventing, Show Jumping and Dressage was my passion. After moving to France in 1999 I was some years later that my passion for the countryside had me starting my running journey. With so many tracks and trails on my doorstep it seemed a natural progression to jump into the running world.

Funnily enough the training of horses to a high competition level I find has transposed itself into my running. Building of fitness, endurance, speed work, hills, balance and core work are all the same things you work on to build a better athlete. Looking after your feet, your nutrition, your equipment are all important requirements !!

My first race was an 8km race at a Marathon event and I was truly inspired by the marathon runners and took a whole year to train my self to run that very same marathon a year later at Amsterdam. Since all of my training was on tracks and trails it was a natural progression that my love for trails got me started on trail running and then into ultra races.

There are an abundance of trail races here in France and I have run many races from 13km to 100Km + races, including challenging mountain races. I have been fortunate enough to have podium places at lots of races including 50km, 80km and 100km+ races.

I've competed with the very best runners at top ultra races at Chamonix, Lac d'Annecy, Tarawera 100km ultra in New Zealand, been placed 2nd and 3rd and 3rd at a 6 day multi stage race in Corsica and also completed the gruelling Costa Rica challenging 6 day 230km multi stage race running through jungle, beaches, rivers, in 40 degree heat, with the elevation total the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest, in intense humidity finishing 12th lady in a stacked elite race after having paced my daughter during the first and final stages of this race.

My daughter also has competed in 2 multi stage 6 day races and finishing 1st in Corsica and 2nd lady (3rd overall) in Costa Rica 140km Adventure category.

Another great personal achievement for me was running the Grand Canyon, South Rim to the North Rim and back to the South Rim (Rim2Rim2Rim) on my own. A major highlight and memorable feat.

So between us we have lots of knowledge and experience with such challenging races.

I have also run quite a few road marathons and after qualifying for Boston ran a 3:37 at the Boston marathon.

Corsica Coast Race, 170km multi stage - 2nd lady

The Wall, 110km - 14:36 hours - 16th lady