Project: Breaking 250 – Hannah Walsh

Are women better at running Ultramarathons than men? A question that has echoed over the trails and tarmac for quite some time. A matter that can only be met with speculation as the percentage of females taking on Ultra distances, while higher than ever, remains relatively low. With the sport being male dominated there is no reliable data to prove one way or the other. A question that leads to more questions; why are there so few female endurance athletes? And what can we do to diversify the trails?

Ultrarunner magazine met with Ultrarunner and coach Hannah Walsh, who is working hard to break down the barriers that prevent women from entering the sport. Creating a female powered coaching programme, Project: Breaking 250, Hannah has been building Ultra female communities and guiding women towards the start line!

Moving to London, I found myself alone in a new city, not really knowing many people and without very much to do, I started to run to fill the time. I came across a group of women online who were trying to get females to the start line of an Ultramarathon. I became a part of that group and in 2014, I got my first taste of an Ultra.

After falling into the sport and becoming integrated in the Ultra community, meeting more and more people and taking part in various races, it all got a little out of control, in a good way. I think that all Ultrarunners will agree, that completing distances that seem, at first, impossible, only leaves you pondering; if I can achieve that, what else can I do?

I took part in an Ultramarathon, Racing the Planets 250 km footrace that takes part in the Atacama Desert of Chile, and it was amazing! That was my first experience of a multiday Ultra and it felt a bit like a holiday. As opposed to a single day, the multi day Ultras extend the experience and you have the chance to get to know other people. It is a really nice environment and being passionate about travel, vast landscapes and connecting with people, multi days have become my preferred events.

“Completing that first Ultra marathon and the progression thereafter, I developed a confidence and self-belief, not just on the trails, but in day-to-day life as well. Taking on greater challenges and believing that you can achieve those bigger goals, self-confidence transfers from sport and touches all aspects of life, such as business, work, and family.”

I have been working within the running industry for eight years, I have a nine to five job, I am a stepmother to three children and fitting in my own training, it can be a bit of a juggling act. I had always thought about moving over to coaching but had not put my thoughts into action until the Covid-19 pandemic hit us. From my own experiences coming into the world of Ultras I was aware of some of the barriers that prevent women from entering endurance sport. I wanted to help females overcome those hurdles and get to the finish line of an Ultra marathon.