Inspiring women of the Dragon’s Back Race
With international women’s day coming up, we wanted to celebrate some of the incredible women taking on the challenge this year.
Read our interview with two of the inspirational women signed up to this year’s race - Sanne Duthie and Sarah Gerrish.
Lisa Watson, winner of the 2022 Dragon’s Back Race (5th overall) ©No Limits Photography
Sarah Gerrish
Sarah finishing her Bob Graham Round ©Hddnmedia
Lakes-based runner, Sarah Gerrish, is the founder of Wonderful Wild Women, a community that encourages women of all ages, experiences and abilities to get outside. The Dragon’s Back Race® will be her biggest challenge to date!
Could you tell us a little bit about your background as a runner?
I started road running at 25 after having my daughter. In the beginning, I was participating in triathlon and viewed running more as a means to an end with training and getting fitter after being pregnant.
Moving back to the Lake District in 2012 triggered a gradual transition to off-road running and with it a new perspective and mindset. Instead of analysing the numbers and pushing for constant improvement I started to enjoy the process and adventure of getting out into the hills, going on journeys and appreciating the environment I was in.
Over the years I have participated in various events and challenges, from 5k road races to the Bob Graham Round. The Dragon’s Back Race will be the next step out of my comfort zone.
What drew you to the Dragon’s Back Race?
The event first popped on my radar back in 2017 at my very first Kendal Mountain Festival fell running session where Helene Whitaker (née Diamantides) was a guest. I was a year into my transition from road running to fell running and the whole world of running off-road; the races, the runners, and the possibilities, were all very new to me.
At that point there was not a chance I would have envisaged stepping up to that start line. But in recent years, as I’ve built on my own experience, I have seen my peers with the confidence to give it a go & work through the training. I am a big believer that your role models are those around you, a few steps ahead doing things you can aspire to do too. Paving the way if you like, sowing that seed that it might be possible and something you could achieve.
How have you been going about training?
Training has been more about shorter mileage & consistency mixing in some strength training. Over the coming weeks I’ll start to increase the mileage and I’m looking forward to getting in some back-to-back recce days.
What do you think the main barriers are for women looking to enter events like the Dragon’s Back Race?
From my personal experience as a full-time working parent, the barriers which I feel most prevalent centre around time, money, and confidence.
The time required for training is extensive and you have to be, at times, selfish to make sure you are putting in the work required, to put yourself in the best position to be successful. Women with children arguably either don’t have that time or aren’t ready / feel like they want to take that time for themselves. There can be a lot of societal pressure & judgment on mothers who do opt to pursue their chosen interest. Fortunately, that perspective does seem to be changing.
The event itself costs (understandably) a lot of money and I would suspect many, like me, do not have the disposable income to sign up to events like these without serious consideration. The ability to accrue credit through volunteering at other Ourea Events is a great way to reduce or remove this kind of barrier.
In terms of confidence, I didn’t grow up in an ‘outdoorsy’ environment and to take on challenges like the DBR is hugely intimidating and has required learning skills as an adult that others may have developed over a longer period of time. So, confidence in my ability definitely comes into play. I think in general women tend to under-value their abilities.
Sanna Duthie
Sanna Duthie was recently chosen to represent the Wales Air Ambulance charity at the Dragon’s Back Race this year. The Pembrokeshire-based runner is the first female athlete to represent the charity at the race.
Sanna out on her training runs in Wales
Could you tell us a little bit about your background as a runner?
I did my first ever race/run 11 years ago, it was 5k and it was a race for life. I loved it, the atmosphere, and the feeling of pushing myself. I have always gone to the gym and kept fit, but running was more than that. I completed my first marathon in 2013. It was not fast nor pretty but that feeling of completing something and pushing my body was amazing. I won my first marathon in 2015 with a time of 3 hours and 9 minutes. I was so pleased but was bored of the roads and just running fast. I wanted an adventure.
What drew you to the Dragon’s Back Race?
I met a guy called Caz the Hat! He has done the Dragon’s Back Race and volunteers. He took me on the Preseli hills and I was hooked! The falling over, mud and sense of adventure. His stories of the mountains made me want to create my own. In 2017 I ran 100 miles of the Pembrokeshire coast path. Me and Helen came first female and we have been friends ever since.
Hearing Caz's stories and joining him on Dragon’s Back Race training days had really drawn me to the Dragon’s Back Race. The adventure, the wildness of the mountains. I want to push myself and have something to aim for. This race will definitely do that. I don't have much self-confidence, but whenever I complete a big challenge it helps me grow.
How is training going?
My training is going really well. I did a 100-mile race at the end of January. I am now recovered and hitting the training hard again. I am in the gym at least twice a week and doing double training days. And getting lot of elevation in. I'm off to recce crib Goch this month, and will be doing recces every month. I also have a few races planned to ensure I get some long runs in.
Could you tell us a bit about the cause you are running for?
I am running for the Wales air ambulance. I raised nearly £5000 for them back in 2021. I ran the whole of the Pembrokeshire coast path (186 miles) in the fastest known time and was the first female to complete it in that format. They are such a great charity to work for. Here in Pembrokeshire we see them at work a lot. I feel they are an important charity to support, living in a rural area. Also our local hospital isn't as funded and staffed as it used to be, so getting to another hospital quickly is very important.
What do you think can be done to encourage more women to take part in ultra events like the Dragon’s Back Race?
Ultra-running has been male dominated, but I do feel that is changing. In the race I did in January, the top 5 women (I was 5th) broke the previous female course record. We are starting to change and push the barriers out the way.
I think we all need to share the ups and downs of running, the success stories and our journeys to them, the good and bad bits.
To change the focus from body image and praise our bodies for how they perform. I often feel I don't look the part of the runner, that I am not thin enough. But then I remember what my body can do. It’s important to fuel well and not worry that you may weigh a pound or two more before the race. Then more importantly to eat well after.
To encourage more women to race, I think we need to share the stories of normal people doing the amazing race (not just the pros) to offer some support and recognition to 'everyday people'.
I think it helps now that sanitary products are available at races too and that it's not a secret. Women welcoming and encouraging each other, competition is good but it needs to be friendly and we need to support each other.
We are committed to making our events as inclusive as possible
Check out our equality, diversity and inclusion policy, which includes information about our pregnancy deferral policy, our provision of menstrual products, and our other measures to ensure our events are accessible to all.
Looking for more inspiration?
Feeling inspired by Sarah and Sanna?
Why not join Sarah and Sanna on their journey? Entries are open for the 2023 Dragon’s Back Race now!
Or, join us for our special women’s webinar about women in ultra running. The women at Ourea Events will be chatting to 2 more awesome women: Katie Mills (winner of the 2021 Dragon’s Back Race) and Laura O Driscoll (winner of the 2022 Cape Wrath Ultra).
There will also be the opportunity to ask any questions you may have - we look forward to seeing you there!
Katie Mills winning the Dragon’s Back Race in 2021 as she runs into the finish with Elaine and Zoe ©No Limits Photography