Sanna Sets New FKT & Other Strong Female Performances: This Week's Trail Tally

Sanna on her way to a new Pembrokeshire Coast FKT

Chasing Trails: Week 32

Last week was packed with fantastic female performances on the trails. We’re beyond delighted that Harrier PRO Team member Sanna Duthie set a new FKT on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, but we’ve also cheered on the first female-only trail race organised by SheRACES and been impressed by Naomi Lang smashing it on the world stage in the Golden Trail Series. Let’s not forget up-and-coming talents at the Youth Skyrunning World Championships. A massive well done to all!

- Kate Parker, Director - Founder 

Sanna Duthie Sets New Pembrokeshire Coast Path FKT

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path covers 186 miles on a national trail that twists and turns from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south (or the opposite way). Depending on the tide, it can be run on the sand in parts, and it offers spectacular scenery, challenging (and changing) terrain, and a brilliant goal for trail runners.

Sanna had already set a supported female FKT (fastest known time) on the route going north to south, in 2021, when she ran it in two days, three hours, 30 minutes 3 seconds. She attempted it again earlier this year, but it wasn’t to be. You can watch the ups and downs of this attempt on the Harrier Youtube channel here.

This time, she came back for more, setting off on Friday 1st of August from Amroth (the opposite direction). And what an epic “round 2” - “the run of her life” as she says, which she completed in 48 hours 23 minutes 49 seconds. A huge well done from us all!

You can donate to the Pembrokeshire Coast Trust in support of Sanna’s efforts here.

More Fantastic International Exploits for GB Runners

Naomi Lang is on a roll! We reported a few weeks ago on her amazing third place at the Marathon du Mont Blanc. She’s now won her first major international race in the Golden Trail World Series, the Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail. The route had to be shortened in inclement weather, still throwing 20km and 1,000m of ascent at the runners. Quite the feat against a stacked international field, but Naomi took the lead early and kept it all the way to the finish line. A huge well done!

© Naomi’s Instagram

And in Italy, the Youth Skyrunning World Championships took place in the Apennine Mountains. Runners competed in two disciplines: a vertical race of 3.8 km with 1,033 m of ascent, followed by a 23km sky race with 2,226 m of climbing (depending on age groups, younger competitors had a shorter second race).

The UK’s Sam Bentham secured a brilliant third place in the Sky race, in the Youth C category (19-20 years old), finishing in 2:38:32 minutes behind Spain’s Lluis Puigvert and Austria’s Maximilian Meusburger. With a combined points total of 146 across the two races, he also took home the combined bronze medal.

And, in the Under-23, it was a similar story for Tom Spencer. He ran a solid 23km in 2:32:25, enough to secure third place behind Spain’s Fabian Venero and Ïu Net. He then totalled 150 points for the weekend, winning another combined bronze medal for Team GB. Brilliant future perspectives for both of them!

© Damiano Benedetto - Gran Sasso SkyRace

Youth C Male Podium © Damiano Benedetto

SheRACES’ First Event Is a Success

Over in the Peak District, SheRACES organised their first-ever female-only trail running event, offering 25km and 50km distances with no intermediate cut-offs to encourage more women to take to the start line and enjoy the outdoors.
The result? A 100% finisher and completion rate, with smiles for everyone.

Well done to the 25km podium: Kamile Stanelyte (2:31:20), Helen Sharman (2:39:18) and Katie Freestone (2:40:14); to the 50km podium: Suzy Whatmough (4:32:58), Deki Fourcin (4:42:56) and Luci Cooke (5:08:31); and to all the participants!

© SheRACES Trail Series on Instagram