In 2024, we followed the journeys of six (extra)ordinary women as they prepared for an ultramarathon – our Ultra 50:50 Challengers.
Our Challengers came from a range of different backgrounds and experience levels, from a first-time ultrarunner celebrating the five-year all clear from cancer to a new mum making a triumphant return to the trails.
We’re now on the lookout for a new group of women to form our 2025 Challengers and take on their first ultra with us by tackling either 50km or 100km at Race to the King in June.
Returning to Ultras
A few of our 2024 Challengers had completed an ultramarathon before.
For example, Hester, the CFO of a FTSE-500 company, had run multiple 50km and 100km events in the past, navigating the demands of a busy job and a young family whilst doing so.
Romey, a sales manager from Brighton, had also completed a number of ultras, but joined the Ultra 50:50 initiative a few short weeks after giving birth to her first child, Evelyn. Navigating returning to training as a new mum presented unique challenges.
“Navigating training with young baby was my biggest obstacle,” Romey told us. “I wanted to ensure that Evelyn’s needs were always met first – as I am breastfeeding & wasn’t able to pump or bottle feed this meant that my long runs would be broken up so that I could unsure I was feeding Evelyn.”
Romey, Evelyn, and partner Neil at the finish of Race to the King
Lisa, meanwhile, had completed all of Threshold’s trail events in a single year to celebrate turning 40, and was therefore no stranger to the challenges of an ultramarathon. But, reflecting upon her experience as a Challenger in 2024, she noted a marked change in the diversity of the participants at Race to the King.
“This was my third year running events with Threshold,” she told us. “To see more women overall, and more women from diverse communities, was very touching and made me feel so proud. It wasn’t like that when I started. The diversity this year shows ultras are more accessible to other runners from different backgrounds.”
Stepping Up to Ultras
Other Challengers had never toed the line at an ultramarathon before. Two of our Challengers, Nazrin and Semeena, had ticked off marathons in the past but never considered going beyond the 42.2km distance.
Semeena and a friend at the finish line of Race to the King
And one Challenger – two-time cancer survivor Deborah – had never even taken part in an official long-distance running event. Aside from regular jogs with her beloved dog Luna, Deborah did not consider herself a runner, but signed up to the challenge as a way of celebrating her five-year anniversary of getting the all-clear from cancer.
“Ultras hadn’t really crossed my path- I thought all ultra marathons were for sleek, super athletes, not average Deborahs,” she told us. “The challenge allowed me to feel empowered as a woman, showing that I can compete in a field traditionally dominated by men, and I hope to inspire other females to consider it in the future.”
Deborah and co at the finish line of Race to the King
2025 Challengers Wanted
All of our Challengers inspired us, but it was the journeys of those who had never run an ultra before that really got us thinking – how can we carry on the Ultra 50:50 initiative in 2025?
For that reason, we’re now looking for women who have never completed an ultramarathon before to be our 2025 Ultra 50:50 Challengers. We’ll be asking them to take on their first ultra with us by tackling either 50km or 100km at Race to the King in June.
If this sounds like a challenge, well, that’s kind of the point! Research we conducted in 2023 identified Representation & Perception as one of the major barriers for women looking to get into ultrarunning.
Our hope is that by showcasing true stories of inspiring individuals taking on their first ultra, we can encourage more women to take on the challenge and experience the life-changing magic of ultras.
If you are interested in applying or nominating a friend, you can do so using the form below. Applications will close at midnight on October 25th.
