Getting it done

Ultra runner Ali Young has conquered some of the world's most extreme races, including becoming the only British woman to finish the gruelling 153-mile Spartathlon three times. Despite her impressive achievements, Ali's approach remains refreshingly straightforward – there's no zen-like mindset or runner's high carrying her through. "I'm definitely never in a kind of meditative state. It really is just a hard slog the whole way," she admits. Her success comes from practical strategies, patience, and the ability to manage the inevitable ups and downs. Whether raising funds for charity or setting a Guinness World Record running the London Marathon in a penguin costume, Ali's philosophy is simple: “It’s just a case of cracking on and getting it done.”