In 2019 Sarah was crowned World Cup champion by the World Mountain Running Association.
After a series of seven races throughout the season, including a win in Wales, Sarah secured victory with a second place in Slovenia, the final race in the series.
Sarah is a Cumbrian-based athlete, a brand ambassador for Inov-8 – who sponsor the Lakeland Trails series – an Irish international mountain runner (representing her country no less than 25 times!), a qualified ecologist and a professional running coach.
She lives with her partner – and fellow Inov-8 brand ambassador – Paul Tierney and their two border collies, Quilla and Lupo, in a shepherd’s hut in Windermere.
“You can’t have a good race every time, but you can gain something from each and every run. If you have a bad race, find one or two positives to take away from it, even if it’s just something you now know you’d do differently, and then start looking ahead to the next one.”
Info/Stats:
UK Athletics-Certified Trail & Fell Running Coach
PhD Biogeochemistry, MPhil Chemistry BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
Mountain Running World Cup Winner 2019
Italian Mountain Running & Vertical Kilometre Champion 2020
Top ten - World/European Mountain Running Championships - 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
Winner, Snowdon International Mountain Race 2014, 2015, 2019
European Cross Country Championships Team Gold 2012
Irish Cross-Country Champion 2014
5k PB 15:46 / 10k PB 33:33
Listen to Sarah now!
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Show notes
Being based out of the Lake District usually
Woking as a running coach
Living in a camper van in Spain
Welcoming the sunshine
Doing van life for the past 5 years
Heading to the Alps and Ireland
Growing up and her early years
Racing short races from 6 years old
Moving to America and having the American high school experience
Moving back to the UK at 21
Being on the girls track team
Going to college/university to study biochemistry and joining the running team in her final year of Michigan State University
Training with the university team and learning how to become a better runner
Her ambitions with running
What happened after leaving university
Not seeing a future in running and focusing on getting a job in the UK
Doing a Masters at Sheffield University, UK
Winning her first race in 5 years
Key races and her love of the Italian mountain races
How running makes her feel
Loving the simplicity of running
Getting into cycling
What is mountain running and how it’s different from ultra running
Climbing at a 30% gradient
Running uphill? Running or power walking?
Why walking is encouraged
Not fully trusting her ankles
Magical moments in races that really stands out
Training and working with a running coach - Robbie Simpson
Example of a training session for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Race
Dealing with injury
Rest and recovery
Mental side of running and Sarah’s top tips and advice
Writing down goals….
The Dream Race — Jungfrau Marathon 2022
Taking the van to Switzerland
Having 3 passports!
The early start of van life and how it progressed
A day in the life of Sarah
Nutrition and fueling being a vegetarian and focusing on protein at every meal
Working with a running coach
Being supported by Inov-8 and working as an ambassador
Connect with Sarah online
Final words of advice and wisdom for women who want to get into running
How having the right gear can help with confidence in the mountains
Social Media
Website: www.missinglinkcoaching.co.uk
Instagram: @missinglinkcoach
Facebook: @MissingLinkCumbria
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The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored by Inov-8 throughout March.
Get your exclusive 15% discount code for inov-8.com by signing up HERE
Website: www.inov-8.com
Instagram: @inov_8
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