Carolin is a 51-year-old ultra-runner and multi-day stage race specialist, however, this wasn’t always the case. When Caroline was 36 years old, she was a stay at home mum to three daughters. Wanting to feel better in herself, and wanting to get fitter and lose some weight, she started on a journey which would ultimately lead to her becoming an ultra-runner….accidentally!!

She didn’t tell anyone what she was doing, and it was tough going at the start, she started with walking, then gentle jogging and gradually build it up over time to running further and further distance, until she was training for her first marathon! She persevered with it, even through injury and kept on challenging herself more and more. Since then Carolin has gone on to participate in some of the toughest multi-day ultras on the planet, from running the Ice Ultra in the Arctic Circle to the Jungle marathon in Peru.

Show notes

Living in Calgary in Canada
Having 2 siblings and doing lots of sports growing up
An ordinary person who just fell into ultra running and extreme distance sports
Why she decided to take up running
As a stay home mum, how she started running with 3 children
Not telling anyone she was running
Deciding to do a marathon as her first race
Dealing with injury and getting the bug for running
Starting to notice the benefits almost from the start
Not having any proper equipment
Celebrating the mini victories along the way
Never having good body image
How her confidence built over time as she got stronger
Not telling her friends
Running her first marathon at 39 and why it didn’t quite go to plan
Doing her first triathlon!
How she trained for her first triathlon
Why it’s all about the challenge
Where she gets her determination from?
Getting burnt out from triathlon
Doing her first ultra race in California (50K) and coming in last and why it didn’t matter
The support she has received from the trail running community
What she thinks about while running
What training is like
Training for the Ice Ultra organised by Beyond the Ultimate and why she wanted to do it
Her race training strategy
Why gear was so important and why her biggest challenge was keeping her water from freezing
How she protected her face with buffs
The high and low points from the race
The Peru Jungle Ultra - what it is and why she loves it
Why she has run it 4x
Being terrified the first time she did the race
The mental preparation she does before a race
What she’s feeling on the start line and her race strategy for the Jungle Ultra
Why she has to break the long stage down into smaller sections
How she prepared for the heat!
Her mantra - “Just keep moving forward” and why got it tattooed on her arm
Her nutrition and diet
Managing your feet in wet jungle conditions
Her 3 top tips for the Jungle Ultra
Wanting to go after a 100 mile race - the reasons why and why she keeps on trying
The Lost Soul Ultra (100 mile race)
Mental Health - and why its important to talk about it
How running has helped your mental health
Her self care routine
Her running from home bag
Her next few races
Final words of advice

Social Media

Facebook: @accidentalultrarunner

Instagram: @carolinbotterill

Blog: www.accidentalultrarunnerblog.wordpress.com

Episode 120: Lisa Leonard