Karen Nash, 65, becomes oldest British woman to win an ultramarathon

Karen Nash became the oldest British woman to win an ultramarathon by completing the 13 Valleys Ultra in the Lake District. The 65-year-old from Preston, Lancashire, finished the gruelling race, which features 7,000 metres of elevation gain, in a time of 35:58:26.

Unconventional preparation

Her victory came despite minimal structured training and recent holidays with little running. Nash relied on varied activities she enjoys, including climbing and cycling. "I don’t really have a training routine, I just do lots of what I enjoy," she said. She was nervous before the 13 Valleys Ultra because she had been on holiday and done very little specific training in the build-up, although she had recently completed a 185km race in the Pyrenees.

At the end of August, she raced the 185km Grand Raid des Pyrénées. She had another holiday afterwards with similar activities but still no running. After returning to the UK in mid-September, she went back to the climbing wall and took part in a team Turf event on the bike. Since then, she has climbed a few 13 V grades, been back to the wall on a Monday and done Cycle Turf in the afternoon. She planned to do more Cycle Turf later in the week.

Nash almost always climbs indoors for around four hours on Mondays and Fridays, and she cycles quite a bit. She also runs in the hills, usually around 20km at a time, but only when she fancies it.

A season of endurance

The 13 Valleys Ultra was her fourth 100-mile-plus race in four months. This summer she did not finish at the Hardmoors 200, although she made it to 120 miles. She was ill afterwards, so she rested, did a few short runs and then raced the Lakeland 100. After that, she went on holiday, so there was no running, but she did lots of walking, some via ferrata, climbing and stand-up paddleboarding.

The race went really well for her and, unusually, she managed to eat well right up until the last checkpoint. She praised the checkpoint staff and food, noting the highlight was definitely the band at Black Sail. She ran with many friendly people, which really helped. At Grasmere, she thought she was in second place and was worried about being caught. She did not realise she was actually on for the win until she ran past her husband just before Threlkeld.

What’s next for Nash

Her upcoming schedule is guided by fun rather than a fixed plan. Next weekend is orienteering, followed by a short ultra the weekend after. Then she has the Original Mountain Marathon and finally a 24-miler on the last weekend of October. She will keep climbing and might do some 15km runs on the West Pennine Moors. There is no real plan, it is just about having fun and doing a variety of things.

Nash started running with cross-country in school and took up orienteering in her 30s. She both competes in and organises running events, having begun tackling ultramarathons in 2009. Karen Nash will keep climbing and might do some 15km runs on the West Pennine Moors.