Coming to our full #Fast10 round-up we have marathon and ultra distance athlete Karla Borland, also well known for her own What Karla Did blog and interviews.
The Northern Irish international ultra-runner details her own training and interviews a fantastic range of athletes on her own website, so we are delighted that Borland will be part of the Fast10 in 2021.
Stepping up from 100km to 100 miles is the yearly focus, as well as taking on one of the biggest challenges in UK ultra and off road running, the Dragon’s Back race in Wales in September.
Profile
Name: Karla Borland
Age: 34
Hometown: Originally from near Bushmills in Northern Ireland (where the whiskey is made) but I currently live in Winchester in the UK.
Club: Winchester and District AC, Springwell in Northern Ireland
Main discipline: Marathon, Ultras
Other disciplines: I’m happy to race over any distance although the steeplechase is probably my personal worst.
Work: I work full time as a veterinary anaesthetist in a referral veterinary hospital in Hampshire.
Goals for 2021 and past highlights
Goals or targets for 2021: Complete my first 100 mile race and enjoy it, hopefully make the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km team for Northern Ireland and do the Dragon’s Back race in Wales in September.
Past Running highlights: I ran Comrades [iconic 56 mile ultra in South Africa] in 2019 – the entire experience was pretty crazy and cool.
Interesting or fun fact: I have an English Pointer called Goose. He was the ultimate running companion but now is too old and stiff – he still loves his walks but stays in bed when I’ve got my running shorts on.
I run because…it really helps with work stress, I love the feeling of being really fit and I really love races (2020 has been a hard year!).
Photo: Paul Hammond
Favourites
Favourite training session: Long runs with a friend and plenty to catch up on.
Least favourite training session: Anything short and fast.
Favourite pre-race food: Coffee and a mug of granola. I prefer morning races.
Favourite post-race food: Pizza and a beer. Ideally with an ice cream sundae to finish.
Favourite running shoes: This is a tough one – I was an Adidas girl through and through but the new Ultra Boost trainers feel terrible on my feet so I’ve been experimenting with New Balance, Nike and Asics – the search continues!
Brands or organisations that support me – no brands but I do interview runners on my blog here.