Hit the trails this summer: Learning from Summer Spine Race participant, Catherine Cowie

Looking to spice up your running this summer? Wanting to try something new or explore off the beaten track? Trail running might be just the thing for you! We recently caught up with ultra-runner, Catherine Cowie to find out how she first found and fell in love with the trails.

From school playground to the big city

“I ran from a very young age at primary school,” explained Catherine. “Even from age five I was super competitive at sports day, every race I wanted to win and beat all the boys. At secondary school, I met a girl who was at a running club which I didn’t know was a thing. I joined up to the same club and then also got into cross country which I loved. Eventually, I joined an athletics club too, so I was able to experience track and field as well as road. What I enjoyed the most was the endurance side, but because of my age I wasn’t allowed to run many long-distance races. I wanted to run further than six miles, but I just wasn’t allowed.

“Unfortunately, I ended up dropping out of running just before my A-Levels. When I went to university, I joined the cross-country team but I was distracted by university life and didn’t train very hard. After university, I moved to London and had the city lifestyle and I didn’t exercise properly for over ten years. It wasn’t until I went through a few life changes and relationship breakups that I realised I was missing something and wondered what I could do to get back on track.”

The desire for exploration

Living the corporate, hustle and bustle lifestyle may have taken its toll on Catherine’s running journey, but it didn’t bring it to a finite halt.

“I was living near Bushy Park at the time and started to go out and run for a couple of hours to explore and find some ‘me time.’ I soon realised that running was just what I needed. From London I moved to Scotland where I live now and I have been able to enjoy a healthier and more outdoorsy lifestyle – I joined a running club again and remembered how much I loved it.  During lockdown, I started to run further and more frequently and I soon got it into my head that I wanted to start running ultra marathons.

“I am in my early 40s now but in the last few years I have been lucky enough represent Scotland a couple of times at 100k distance so it shows it is never too late; you can leave the sport, come back and still manage to be competitive.

“Last year I signed up to do the Summer Spine Race which is 268 miles along the Pennine Way. I went into the race with low expectations; I had entered not long after breaking my ankle and decided a year of just hiking followed by the Summer Spine would be a ‘nice’ way to get back to fitness and it also coincided with my turning 40.”

Tackling the Spine Race

Undertaking an ultra-marathon trail race is certainly an adventure, but not to be entered into lightly – it takes months of dedicated training to hit the start line. Having exited the race approximately 26 miles from the finish line last year, due to severe sleep deprivation and trench foot, Catherine will be returning to the Spine Race for a second time this June. 268 miles is an extraordinary distance, but how exactly does Catherine tackle this?

"You have to break it down, I was standing on the start line last year thinking, I don’t know how long I am going to be out here – it could be five days, it could be seven. It is really hard to get your head around a race when you don’t know how long you are going to be out there for. You just have to focus on getting to each check point which are about 40-60 miles apart.

“As part of my training this year, I did back-to-back long run weekends on the Pennine Way where I would run six/seven hours each day, but not at a high level of intensity. I think that is what attracts a lot of people to trail running – it is being able to run at a pace where you can hold a conversation. You are running for a long time, but the intensity is low and it is kinder to your body.”

Mental resilience – the most prized tool

“You just have to trust your body that you are going to cover the distance. The Spine Race is a continuous multi-day race so you can choose when (or if) to nap or stop and eat - so long as you meet the cut-offs. Last year I worked out I probably slept around 90 minutes in the whole week which was not enough, and it really impacts your ability to move and make sensible decisions.

“Events like the Spine are more about knowing your body and responding to what it needs; Making sure you eat and drink enough, rest when you need to, being proactive with your foot care. Because of the weather conditions last year, there was a lot of boggy terrain and a lot of people suffered with trench foot which is very painful. There is a lot of admin and mental preparation you can also do ahead of the race and that is what I have focussed more on this year.

“A lot of the race is mental, and you really have to want to make it to the finish line. After a few days of not really sleeping, you can suffer with hallucinations which can be scary for some. There was one point on the top of Cross Fell where I just sat down, instantly fell asleep and I woke up and thought what am I doing here? It took me a while to come round and remember I was in a race. It becomes a really simplistic way of life for a week, you are focusing on your eating, breathing, moving. Even though I didn’t finish last year, I came out of it really at peace and wanting a more simple and serene lifestyle without the pressures of modern living.

“I am working with a coach, Debbie Martin-Consani, who has won the Spine Race before; working with a coach who has experience of the challenges I want to take on is invaluable.”

Want to give trail running a go?

• There are plenty of fantastic running clubs and RunTogether groups across the country who will be hitting the trails for sessions this summer. Find your closest affiliated club or RunTogether group today!
• Ready to give a trail race a go? From 5k intro races to ultra-marathons, the trail running community is super welcoming with races for all. Find your nearest licenced race on RUN:Events today.
• If you want to explore some local trails yourself, take a look at the OS Maps or AllTrails apps to support your planning.