Nicola "Nicky" Spinks is a 51 year old, British long distance runner, specialising in fell running,
Nicky has over 16 years' experience of fell and ultra running, successfully completing ten 24 hour Rounds holding the record for the Ladies Lakeland 24 hour round with 64 Peaks in 23.15 hours. She also held the Ladies records for all three UK rounds; BG 18.06, Paddy 19.02 and Ramsay 19.39.
In 2016 she broke the record for the Double Bob Graham finishing in 45.30 hours.
In racing she prefers long mountainous fell races such as 10 Peaks Extreme winning outright and current course record holder, the Ultra Tour Mont Blanc (11th & 16th) , E’Chappee Belle (2nd), Grand Raid Pyrenees (1st twice) and Grand Raid Re-Union (4th).
Nicky has set women's records for the major fell running challenges including, The Ramsay Round, the Paddy Buckley Round and the Bob Graham Round! She is also the holder of the overall record for the double Bob Graham Round.
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Show notes
Who is Nicky Spinks?
A farmer & a fell runner
Growing up on a farm with 6 kids and running everywhere
Going from the farm to working in an office in the city for 7 years
Meeting her husband!
Deciding to take her running more seriously
2001 - running with a friend and doing her first 10K
Joining a running club and finding a passion for fell running & doing her first 20 mile run
Being a competitive person and using races for training.
What the Bob Graham round is?
Heading back up to Scotland for training
Her 10 year journey in running and why she doesn’t rush things
Enjoying 100 mile races and being happy with her performance
The biggest challenge she’s had to face - cancer
2006 being diagnosed with breast cancer
Dealing with the emotions and how she handle it and why she applied her training to cancer
Celebrating more in her life
Getting back into running after surgery
Giving her brain a break from the cancer by running
Diet and food
Preparing mentally for the Double Ramsey
Getting through the low points and how she gets out of them
Dealing with the heat and leg cramps (after 4 hours!)
Strategy for the race
Being her own coach and creating her own training plan
Never wanting to quit
Knowing she was going to complete the double!
Sleep deprivation…
How she recovers
Would she go back & try to do it faster?!
The next race….
Advice and tips for women who want to take their running to the next level
Blogging since 2006
Working as a running coach and how it works
Final words of advice
Social Media
Website - www.runbg.co.uk
Twitter - @NickySpinks
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