Anna Troup – Spine Race Champion & Endurance Icon - Season 15 Eps 5

In this episode we sit down with ultra-running powerhouse Anna Troup, winner of both Summer and Winter Spine Races including the 2025 Summer Spine outright. Anna opens up about training in the Lake District, navigating injuries, managing menopause, building resilience, and rediscovering her running identity.

Episode Highlights

• Anna’s journey from Oxford rowing → triathlon → ultras
• Living and training in Grasmere
• Why she prefers early morning sessions
• How cross-training keeps her running as she gets older
• First ultra: Hardmoors 60, “baptism of fire”
• Learning navigation the hard way on her first Spine
• Winning the 2021, 2022 & 2025 Summer Spine, plus 2026 Winter Spine (1st female)
• Handling recurring stress fractures & lessons from menopause
• Why women thrive in long ultras

• Cows, storms, lost moments, and the art of problem‑solving in big races
• Fuelling: “Rice, cheese and butter — that’s my magic bowl”
• Her go‑to kit: DexShell socks & ASICS Trabuco

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