On the Friday evening of the Festival, we were joined by record-breaking endurance athlete Holly Wootten, to hear her recount her remarkable performance in the September 2025 Dragon’s Back Race.
Spanning 380km and climbing a staggering 17,000 metres, the Dragon’s Back traces a north-to-south line along the spine of Wales. Widely regarded as one of the toughest multi-day mountain races in the world, Holly summed it up perfectly: “high, and monstrous.” Over six relentless days, runners tackle between 50–75km daily across some of the UK’s most rugged and unforgiving terrain. Rising to the challenge, Holly, now a professional athlete for Altra, crossed the finish line in 50 hours and 46 minutes, claiming first place amongst the women’s race and second overall, while smashing the previous women’s record by an astonishing three hours.
Holly’s path to that result was years in the making. Her journey began in 2022 while living in London, when she ran three marathons back-to-back along the Devon coast with friends, and immediately fell in love with ultra-running. The idea of the Dragon’s Back took hold during a London commute, sparked by a podcast about the race. Inspired by fell running legend Jasmin Paris, Holly found herself asking: “Why can’t a woman win outright—and why not me?” From that moment, a plan began to take shape.
In 2023, she first took part in the race with a friend, deciding she would use that year as preparation and as a supported route recce. Initially running with her friend at a comfortable pace, her friend unexpectedly dropped to the Hatchling (a shorter distance version of the race running concurrently with the full Dragon’s Back) and Holly was left to continue alone. What could have been a setback instead became a turning point, pushing herself through the final days, she realised she had the resilience to sustain a competitive effort across the full six stages.
In 2025, Holly built her entire year around the race. She honed her technical mountain skills through a series of demanding events, including a second-place finish at the Eryri 14 Peaks Ultra Sky Race in June, followed by a win at the Helvellyn Sky Ultra in July. Countless long days were also spent recceing the Welsh mountains, ensuring she could navigate instinctively and minimise time spent reading maps during the race itself. But as any ultra-runner knows, physical fitness is only part of the equation. Holly meticulously refined every detail, from reducing the weight of her running pack to perfecting her camp routine and nutrition strategy. Every decision was geared towards maximising efficiency and preserving energy over six punishing days.
Standing on the start line, however, she felt anything but composed. A combination of nerves and carb-loading left her feeling sick as the race began cautiously, with runners carefully managing their pace. What followed was a week of truly brutal conditions. While previous editions had been marked by extreme heat, 2025 delivered what Holly described as “biblical” weather, so wet, she joked you could simply hold out a bottle and let it fill with rain. A stark contrast to previous years where aid stations had had to ration water.
Despite the smiling race photos, the reality was far different. Each stage ended with a need to decompress, sometimes sitting quietly in a portaloo just to reset mentally. By day three, the relentless wind and rain had driven her to repeat a mantra: “I love wind and I love rain.” As the race unfolded, she kept the lead pack of men within reach, and by day four, she decided to make her move and ‘break the elastic.’
Day five brought terrain she had been looking forward to, but also the onset of sharp, stabbing foot pain. It was, in her words, “soul-destroying,” particularly as it became clear that her goal of winning outright was now slipping away as a result. The final day was “beyond painful,” yet Holly still pushed through to secure second place overall, an extraordinary achievement.
Reflecting on her experience, Holly shared a wealth of insights with the audience. She highlighted the value of running poles in reducing the load on legs over long distances and emphasised the critical importance of recovery in multi-day events. Efficiency in camp: preparing kit; eating immediately; prioritising rest, proved just as vital as performance on the course. She also spoke candidly about sleep deprivation, noting that while quality sleep is rare in such races, the key is not to panic: the body can still recover through rest, even whilst awake.
In the months following the race, Holly has had time to process the experience. While she anticipated the media attention, she was deeply moved by the support she received along the course, from spectators who came out specifically to watch her race unfold, and from fellow competitors who rallied behind her goal. A goal which, Holly notes, she “technically failed” (winning outright), she spoke to the overwhelming sense of community as the true highlight; an outpouring of encouragement and respect that made the journey unforgettable.
On Saturday, we were joined by UK Altra elite athletes Keith Wigley, Hugh Chatfield and Holly Wootten for an inspiring deep dive into the world of elite trail and ultra-running. In a dynamic panel session, they shared stories from standout performances, explored their training philosophies, offered insights into gear choices, and reflected on the mental strategies that carry them through some of the toughest races in the sport.
Holly, in addition to her success at the Dragon’s Back race, explained that distances around 50 kilometres are her sweet spot, particularly when there is significant elevation involved. She spoke about her passion for pushing the limits of her endurance and capability in demanding terrain. In contrast, Hugh, who represented Great Britain at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain, specialises in distances between 50 miles and 100 kilometres. For him, his enthusiasm for the sport is driven both by competition and the opportunity to explore the outdoors. Keith, also a 50 mile – 100km expert, and who also competed for GB alongside Hugh, began his running journey on the road over shorter distances before discovering trail running, where he found a new way to challenge himself and test his limits.
When asked about their proudest moments, each athlete offered a unique perspective. Keith reflected on standing on the podium at Ultra Trail Snowdonia alongside Mathieu Blanchard and Jon Albon, widely regarded as two of the best mountain runners in the world, as a career highlight. Hugh pointed to his experience at the World Championships, noting that despite finishing an hour behind the leader, the sheer level of competition made it his proudest achievement. Holly, not surprisingly, highlighted her Dragon’s Back victory as a defining moment, shaped by years of preparation and the support network around her.
A common thread between the three athletes, beyond their partnership with Altra, is their involvement in the Elite Trail Team, a pioneering initiative in running that mirrors established models in professional cycling. The programme brings together a network of specialists, including coaches, dietitians, sports psychologists, physiotherapists and sleep experts, alongside regular masterclasses. This holistic approach allows athletes to focus on marginal gains that can significantly impact performance. The Elite Trail Team also offers an online running club, providing a wider community with access to expert advice and support. Hugh emphasised how valuable this integrated system has been in helping him perform at the highest level.
The athletes also reflected on how their mindset has evolved since turning professional. With running now their primary focus, training has become more structured and purposeful. No longer needing to balance training around full-time work, each session is carefully planned under the guidance of a coach. Furthermore, with enough time dedicated to recovery, the training can be harder. Hugh noted a particularly significant shift in his approach to racing, moving from frequent competition to a more strategic focus on a small number of key events each year, allowing him to perform at his best when it matters most.
Beyond competition, the importance of community was a recurring theme. Keith and Hugh shared the story of their friendship, which began at Ultra Trail Snowdonia in 2023. In a memorable moment seven hours into the race, Hugh struggled to open a gate, only for Keith to arrive, climb over the wall, and jokingly tell him to “work harder, not smarter.” While Keith claims this was the only time he has beaten Hugh, their partnership has since extended to racing as a team, including a third-place finish at the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon), a two-day self-navigated event.
Holly also highlighted her work with She Runs Free, an initiative focused on making running safer and more accessible for women. Recognising that safety concerns can make running feel intimidating or even unattainable, the group fosters a supportive community where women can share experiences and build confidence, particularly when running alone or in the dark. Earlier this year, Holly and the group took on a relay run from London to Birmingham along the Grand Union Canal, running through the night and finishing at the National Running Show.
Perhaps most important to note, when asked about fueling and kit, they confirmed their runs are often powered by chocolate brioche, and the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon shoe!
Overall, the session offered a compelling insight into the realities of elite trail running, balancing physical endurance, mental resilience, and a deep connection to community. While their achievements at the highest level are remarkable, Keith, Hugh and Holly’s stories also highlighted the universal appeal of the sport; the joy of pushing personal limits, the value of shared experiences, and the importance of support both on and off the trails.
photo credit ©No Limits Photography and @hollyahaldane