Kirsten didn’t find enjoyment racing 10Ks and half marathons. Then she heard about the 53-mile Highland Fling Race and did that in 2016 for her 50th birthday. Since then she hasn’t looked back. This year Kirsten completed the 96-mile West Highland Way Race, coming in as the penultimate finisher.
Like so many others, I started running to try to lose weight and get fit. I dutifully did Couch to 5K, ran various 5K races, then 10Ks, then a half marathon. Then I thought, what’s next? What can an overweight girl do that lets her enjoy running without the pressure? She can run ultras!
“I was sold on ultras from the minute I heard you are expected to start slowly and then slow down. What other sport expects you to walk uphills while eating chocolate? I eagerly signed up for my first ultra. All 53 miles of it. Yes, I started slowly and yes, I soon got a lot slower. There is a fair bit of pressure to make the cut-offs and it was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life… but I was hooked!