What does it take to conquer one of the toughest ultramarathons in the UK?
In this episode of UKRunChat, we catch up with Isobel Turner and Danny Smith, the first woman and first man home at the Dragon’s Back Race, just a week after completing the legendary six-day, 380km journey across the mountains of Wales.
They reflect on the highs and lows of an extraordinary challenge, from navigating technical mountain terrain and battling physical exhaustion to managing the mental demands of running day after day. They share how they trained for the race, the importance of uphill hiking, fuelling and recovery, and the lessons they learned along the way.
Isobel talks candidly about her toughest moments, the injury that disrupted her preparation and the emotional challenge of pushing through the middle days. Danny shares his approach to breaking the race into manageable sections, the importance of luck and preparation, and why the camaraderie between runners was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Beyond the results, this is a conversation about curiosity, discovering your limits, the incredible people who make ultrarunning special, and finding the motivation to keep moving when everything hurts.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to tackle the Dragon’s Back Race, or you’re simply inspired by people pushing the boundaries of endurance, this episode is for you.
