© Benedict Tufnell

Ironman UK? Check? Multi-stage desert ultra? Check. Ultra-duathlon? Check. Endurance sport enthusiast, Mara Hafezi, has notched up an impressive list of fitness firsts just this year alone. Better known by her social handle of The Fit Londoner, Mara, who is a communications specialist by day and personal trainer on the side, chronicles her endurance adventures on her blog of the same name.

Fresh from completing the 5-day, 260km long Wadi Rum Ultra in southern Jordan a few weeks ago, I quizzed Mara about how it felt to complete her first ever multi-stage desert race.

Ultra-runner Debbie Martin-Consani has completed some of Europe’s most notorious ultra-distance events, including the unrelenting 330km Tor des Geants, and has numerous ultra-running podiums to her name. She’s also represented Great Britain several times at the World 24-hour Championship (yes, such a thing exists!)

Based in Scotland where she lives with her husband and son, Debbie fits running around a full-time job and is currently in training for the Bob Graham round next month (66 miles and 26,000ft of elevation). Despite a packed schedule, the Montane athlete kindly let me quiz her to find out about her training, bucket list running events and her sleep-deprived Tor des Geants experience.