In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Rebecca Devereux — a dedicated mum, a vet, and a passionate trail and ultra runner. Rebecca shares her journey into endurance running, her training highs and lows, and what it took to place third in one of Britain’s most brutal races — the Montane Winter Spine Sprint, a 46-mile challenge across the rugged Pennine Way in the depths of winter.
We dive into Rebecca’s approach to training and mindset, how she balances family life with her love for the trails, and her growing involvement with Black Trail Runners, a community breaking down barriers in the outdoors.
From road marathons to alpine trails, Rebecca’s story is one of resilience, preparation, and quiet determination — whether she’s running through snowstorms in spikes, racing in the Swiss Alps, or supporting others in their running journeys.
If you’re looking for inspiration to start your own trail running adventure — or just want to hear how someone juggles it all and still finds joy in the challenge — this episode is for you.
Tune in now and get ready to be inspired by Rebecca’s grit, humour, and heart.
We first spoke with Rebecca December 28th 2023 - Listen to this episode here - Rebecca Devereux - Active member of Black Trail Runners (BTR)
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Show notes
- Who is Rebecca
- Mum, vet, and an ultra runner
- 3rd place in the Montane Spine Race (Winter Race)
- Speaking with Rebecca on the TGP - December 28th 2023
- The beginning of 2024
- Training for the London Marathon
- Her first road race
- UTMB Eiger
- The difference between training for a road race compared to a trail race
- Black Trail Runners (BTR)
- What race day like
- Running to Heart Rate
- Craving salt 30k in
- Wearing a running vest?
- Magical moments and the stand out bits
- Recovery after the marathon
- Racing in Switzerland and wanting to be back in the mountains again
- Race strategy for UTMB Eiger and dealing with the killer climbs
- Taking a nasty fall and hurting her ankle
- Losing her confidence on the downhill sections
- Heart rate and effort
- Wanting to involve her family in the racing
- Being a beacon runner
- BTR and having a 35% increase in members
- Hosting taste days and working with different partners
- The Spine Race….
- Could I do this?
- Getting on the waiting list…
- Being encouraged by Sabrina Pace-Humpreys
- Winter Spine Sprint - 46 miles along the Pennine Way
- Peak Divide ONEr - 75 miles - during the day, a social run.
- Running in the bad weather
- Running better in the wet and cold compared to running in the heat
- Planning race strategy and training with her coach - Sam Village
- Living on the course and being able to do recce runs
- Planning and preparing for all eventualities
- Being a prepper to help deal with anxiousness
- Hill sprints and hill repeats
- Snow….
- Haworth Hobble Race
- Anything else that could have been done to prepare for the race
- Shorts in winter….
- Needing to believe in herself and her choices
- Silence the noise - silence anything that is going to affect you in a negative way
- Wearing spikes for running in the snow
- Yaktrax
- Kahtoola Spikes
- Having a goal of finishing the race
- Having the right mindset for when the racing is going slow due to the slow
- Having the aim of keeping moving forward and not getting frustrated with the speed of the race
- Being confidence on navigation
- Catching up with the main group
- Getting into flow and everything feeling right
- Ambassador for TORQ Fitness UK
- Having a caffeine hour
- How the conditions helped her
- Making the right decisions and grinding it out
- The full Montane Spine Race (268 miles)
- Challenger South - 110 Miles…
- Having a massive respect for the race and not feeling ready to take on the full spine race
- Plans for racing in 2025
- UTMB - OCC
- Running with 7 women from Black Trail Runners
- How to connect with Rebecca and Black Trail Runners
- Final words of advice for other women who are on their trail running journey
- “Turn up, do the sessions, and if you are consistent you will make progress”
- The importance of preparation.
Social Media
Instagram: @rebecca_runs_wild
Black Trail Runners - Campaigning charity promoting inclusion, participation & representation of people of Black heritage and people of colour in trail running
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/273210547440261
Instagram: @blacktrailrunners