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.”

“My journey started when I was about 40. We were living in Durban, in South Africa, and I was heavily into the gym,” Fiona explains. When a friend suggested she run the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town before attending a wedding, a personal trainer said it would be “a bit harder than running 10k on the treadmill.” That comment made her want to train for the race. “I left the gym, bought a Runner’s World magazine, and thought, ‘Well, I’ll show you.’ Being told I couldn’t do it really motivated me.” Since then, Fiona has found that the mental side of running is key. “I actually think that’s more important than the physical, because the body can do it.”