‘I hope women see my comeback win and want to try ultramarathons’

The winner of one of the UK’s most gruelling ultramarathons has said two other female competitors helped “reset her body and mind” before she went on to win the race in a “dream comeback”.

Anna Troup overcame a stress fracture in her foot and years of recovery to run the Montane Summer Spine Race on 15 June, from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, in a time of 84 hours, 56 minutes and 37 seconds.

The 55-year-old battled for days on the tough Pennine terrain with the weather “hosing it down and thick clag”, making an ascent of more than 10,000 metres (32,808ft) without much sleep.

“Hopefully other women will see this win and realise that it can be mastered,” Anna said.

This is the first year two women have claimed first, Anna Troup, and second, Irene Kinnegim, overall in the summer race.

There have been two other races where a woman has been the overall winner, Jasmin Paris in winter 2019 and Sabrina Verjee in summer 2019.

“At 55, it is difficult to win shorter races, but in ultra running races where you have to be able to strategise, problem-solve, run and endure, age and experience can outweigh speed.

Anna said “it feels wonderful” to have finished first overall.

However, Anna’s journey back to the top of her sport was far from straightforward, after she suffered a stress fracture doing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc three years ago.

“I really struggled with losing that part of my identity… but once I let it go and let the mental pressure off, it began healing,” she said.

Anna trained on an indoor bike for two hours a day, six times a week, and regained her strength.

“I wanted to show that you can come back from injury and it’s ok. It was the comeback you dream of, but not one you expect,” she said.

“This race really mattered. It has been a really long slog,” Anna continued.

“When you’ve worked really hard, it has more meaning,” Anna said.

The recent wet weather proved challenging for athletes and Anna described having to go through “almost winter conditions” on some days.

She said: “One day it was full clag and hosing it down with a head wind most of the way. It was full on.

“It’s the worst terrain for my feet because once it gets boggy, the foot slides and that’s when my feet are most unhappy.”

Midway through the race at about midnight, Anna Troup caught up with two other women.

She said: “I remember it being 45 miles (72km) in, and I was feeling really sick when they offered to walk with me.

“We were talking for 12 hours about everything – sharing stories of making it work with children, menopause and life.”

She said the two women “reset my mind and body and gave me a boost to keep going”.

“All of us took something really positive from it,” she said.

Anna said: “We need more women in sport and all I want is to encourage more women to get out the door… that’s the hardest part.

“The Spine race will never be tamed, but hopefully other women will see this win and realise that it can be mastered.”