© Ian Corless

Swedish ultrarunner Elisabet Barnes is often referred to as desert running royalty. Both a coach and runner, the 42-year-old specialises in multi-stage races, particularly in desert conditions, with wins at the Marathon Des Sables (twice), the Oman Desert Marathon and Tunisia’s Ultra Mirage El Djerid to her name. As a result, she’s often the go-to coach for those wishing to take on their first MDS experience.

But her talents aren’t just limited to the desert. She has a fast road marathon running time, a love of fastpacking adventures (including a trip to Everest Base Camp) and last year came third at the 160km multi-stage Everest Trail Race, amongst other things. She also co-owns online running kit store MyRaceKit.com, so enjoys insider knowledge of the best gear for running, ultras and beyond. In fact, if you’re planning a multi-day desert ultra, check out Elisabet’s website for what to pack and how to prepare.

© Tarawera Ultramarathon

Following on from Tuesday’s interview with leading ultrarunner and speed record holder, Camille Herron, I’m back with part two, which is our chat about doping in mountain and ultra trail running.

Camille comes from a marathon running background where she was tested rigorously in and out of competition by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Since moving to mountain and ultra trail (MUT) running, she’s grown concerned about the lack of out-of-competition drug testing (unannounced spot testing) in the sport and was keen to chat about this, which is where we pick up below.

*N.B I am in no way an expert on anti-doping and have not contacted any governing body or company mentioned here for comment.*

© Jubilee Page

After years of successful marathon running (PB: 2:37:14), Camille Herron committed to ultra distances four years ago and has lit up the ultrarunning scene ever since. The 37-year-old American holds multiple world speed records, including the 100 mile record, 50-mile record and the greatest distance covered in 12-hours and 24-hours (162.9 miles for the latter). And she’s not done yet.

In this chat Camille tells me what fuelled her fire for the speed records, why she’ll never run long, back-to-back runs in training, and how she’s hoping to stay injury-free for Comrades (87km) and Western States (100 miles), which are her main bucket list races this year.

**Check back on Friday to read our chat about doping in mountain and ultra trail**

© Hokey Cokey Swimrun

Swimrun isn’t a new sport (it originated in Sweden more than a decade ago via ÖTILLÖ), but recently it’s exploded out of its niche sector, becoming popular in more mainstream endurance sport circles. Since I first wrote about swimrun in 2017 a lot has changed, with more events and brands on the scene in the UK and even a ‘solo’ option for competitors (historically it’s been raced in pairs).

According to Breca Swimrun, the brand that brought the sport to the UK, 45 percent of its field at the 2019 Breca Bay of Islands swimrun was female. So if you’re considering a swimrun, what do you need to know? Jude Palmer, experienced swimrunner and swimrun coach, fields my questions on the ins and outs of swimrun and shares her own experiences of racing and training.

Last summer RAD Monika (aka Monika Sattler) made history as the first woman to ride the entire 3058km route of the one of cycling’s toughest grand tours: the Vuelta a España. Riding only a few hours ahead of the pro men, she covered all 21 stages and 49,337m of climbing in the blistering Spanish heat, her mission to inspire more people, particularly women, to get on their bikes.

Monika is one of the most upbeat, can-do people I’ve had the pleasure to chat with. She doesn’t put any limits on what she’s capable of and throws herself into life. Here, she chats about how she coped with the physical and mental demands of riding the Vuelta and reveals what a typical day during the three week ride entailed.

As one half of an adventure writing husband-and-wife team, Jen Benson has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Britain’s best running trails and off-road adventures, having tested most of them at some point within the last few years.

The ultrarunner and mum of two is co-author (with husband, Sim) of some of the best-known trail running and adventure guides: Wild Running, The Adventurers Guide to Britain and Amazing Family Adventures, and has run more than 50 marathons and ultra events. Oh, and did I mention that in 2015 the family spent a year living in a tent, wild camping with their then 6-month-old and 3-year-old in tow? I quiz Jen on this crazy adventure, her ultras and a career in adventure writing below.

© Guillem Casanova Photography

It takes most ultrarunners decades of hard graft and consistent mileage to work up to completing a 100km distance race, but ultrarunner Lucy Bartholomew ran hers when she was just 15-years-old, alongside her dad, before she even realised the magnitude of the distance or her achievement in completing it.

Since then the Aussie, now 22, has enjoyed a slew of wins at ultra-long distance races, including the 100km Ultra-trail Cape Town and Ultra-trail Australia, and last year took on her first 100 miler in the shape of one of the world’s most notorious and respected races: the Western States 100, where she came third.

We cover this, lessons learned during last year’s Western States 100 and more, below.

Where to start with today’s interviewee? Rosanna Kuit is an ultra-running, bike-packing, obstacle-running adventure lover who last year set a fastest known time (FKT) record running Britain’s 129-mile Greensand Way. She’s also a pretty accomplished obstacle course racer and has represented the UK at the Obstacle Course Racing World Championship (OCRWC).

On the bike, Rosanna’s cycling adventures have taken her to Chile twice where she’s ridden the Carretera Austral, which I quiz her about in this interview. She also spills the beans on her FKT experience, ‘ultra rage’ and blistergeddon.

© Marta Bacardit photographer

After a stonking 2018 race season where she was crowned Trail World Champion, Skyrunning Ultra Champion and overall winner of the Migu Run Skyrunner World Series, you could have forgiven Dutch athlete Ragna Debats for easing into her 2019 season. But instead she celebrated her first race of 2019 – the multi-stage desert ultra, the Marathon des Sables – with a decisive win, finishing nearly three hours ahead of the next female runner.

It was Ragna’s first experience running in the desert, and despite being sick and becoming dehydrated due to pain in her back (aggravated by a too-big backpack), the Merrell ambassador won the 250km race in 22 hours and 33 minutes. Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to chat to Ragna last week and hear first-hand about her training, preparation and Marathon des Sables (MdS) race experience.

© Richard Bullock

At the age of eleven, Lydia Philip fled harrowing conditions in war-torn South Sudan with her father and six siblings after her village was burned down and her mother abducted. After arriving as a refugee in Kenya, her talent for running 400m was spotted by the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation (run by Kenyan former elite runner, Tegla Loroupe) leading Lydia to join the Athlete Refugee Team, a collective of international refugee athletes competing under one banner.

As a result, Lydia’s life changed completely. Now 17, she’s represented the team in the U18 Athletics World Championships, and earns a small amount of pocket money which she divides amongst her family for food and school items.

Honest, moving and inspiring, I’m humbled that Lydia has shared her story with me in her own words.

A huge thank you to On, sponsors of the Athlete Refugee Team in Kenya, for making this happen.