2025 British Ultra Running Highlights
2025 British Ultra Running Achievements
As the dust settles on another phenomenal year of endurance, 2025 will surely go down in history as a watershed moment for British ultrarunning. From the frozen fells of Northern England to the scorching deserts of Namibia, and the biggest mountain stages in the Alps, UK athletes haven't just competed, they have dominated, broken records and redefined what we thought possible of the human body.
The depth of talent currently residing in Great Britain is staggering. While it is impossible to list every personal best and gutsy finish, here's a roundup of the standout performances that defined the 2025 ultrarunning calendar.
Key Takeaways
- UTMB Glory: Tom Evans wins 1st place and Josh Wade takes 3rd in a historic day for British men in Chamonix.
- World Record Breaker: Sarah Perry sets a new Women's World Record at the Backyard Ultra (95 yards) and becomes the sole finisher of "The Hill" in Shropshire.
- Domestic Dominance: Kim Collison and Lucy Gossage tame the Winter Spine; Damian Hall and Anna Llewellyn conquer the Lakeland 100.
- Course Records Smashed: Holly Wootten obliterates the Dragon’s Back Race record; Alex Welch crushes the Desert Ultra course time.
- Endurance Feats: Sam King runs 79 ultramarathons in 79 days.
Winter Spine Race
The domestic calendar kicked off in typically brutal fashion along the Pennine Way. Known as "Britain's Most Brutal," the 2025 edition of the Montane Winter Spine saw two standout British performances that tamed the beast.
Kim Collison - Winter Spine Race men's 1st place finish
Kim Collison put on a masterclass of winter endurance, claiming the Men's title with a remarkable time of 82 hours, 46 minutes, and 32 seconds. Navigating the sleep deprivation and harsh conditions, Collison proved untouchable at the front of the pack.
🥇 Kim Collison (GBR) – 82:46:32
Lucy Gossage - Winter Spine Race women's 1st place finish
In the Women's race, Ironman legend turned ultra-runner Lucy Gossage cemented her status in the sport. Gossage battled the elements to take the win in 87 hours, 41 minutes, and 38 seconds, a gritty performance that highlights her incredible transition to extreme endurance distances.
🥇 Lucy Gossage (GBR) – 87:41:38
Dragon’s Back Race
Widely considered the world's toughest mountain race, the Dragon’s Back Race is a six-day journey down the mountainous spine of Wales. It breaks even the strongest runners, but in 2025, Holly Wootten made it look like her playground.
Holly Wootten - Dragon’s Back Race women's 1st place finish
Wootten produced an incredible performance, leading the women's field from day one. She didn't just hold onto her lead; she extended it, eventually smashing the women’s course record. Her dominance over the technical Welsh terrain was a masterclass in multi-stage mountain running.
🥇 Holly Wootten (GBR) – 50:46:16
David Parrish - Dragon’s Back Race men's 1st place finish
Photo: No Limits Photography
David Parrish was the first to cross the finish line, maintaining a steady lead throughout the six-day men's race. He completed the race in 48:40:14, looking strong and composed the entire way, securing yet another impressive victory to his name.
🥇 David Parish (SCT) – 48:40:14
Lakeland 100
Widely regarded as the "Ultra Tour of the Lake District," the Lakeland 100 is a true bucket-list event that demands respect. Encompassing 104 miles and roughly 6,300m of ascent, the circular route takes runners through some of the most stunning, and unforgiving terrain in the UK. The 2025 edition did not disappoint, delivering high drama and historic times on the fells.
Damian Hall - Lakeland 100 men's 1st place finish
Photo: No Limits Photography
Damian Hall cemented his legacy in the Lake District fells. He returned to top form to take the win at the prestigious Lakeland 100, demonstrating incredible consistency across varied terrains and seasons.
🥇 Damian Hall (GBR) – 19:33:33
Anna Llewellyn - Lakeland 100 wommen's 1st place finish
It was Anna Llewellyn who stole the show for the women. Llewellyn executed a brilliant race to secure 1st place, crossing the finish line in an outstanding time of 22:20:29. Her performance on the fells was commanding, adding her name to the illustrious list of Lakeland legends.
🥇 Anna Llewellyn (GBR) – 22:20:29
UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc)
The biggest stage in trail running, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), has often proved a fickle challenge for British runners. This year, however, the narrative changed dramatically!
Tom Evans - UTMB men's 1st place finish
Photo: David Miller
All eyes were on Tom Evans. After consecutive, heartbreaking DNFs in 2023 and 2024, many wondered if his moment had passed. Evans silenced the doubters in spectacular fashion. Executing a tactically flawless race, he conquered the demons of previous years to take the top step of the podium in Chamonix, a career-defining victory that showcased immense mental resilience under difficult conditions.
🥇 Tom Evans (GBR) – 19:18:56
Josh Wade - UTMB men's 3rd place finish
Photo: The Adventure Bakery
Making it a truly historic day for British trail running, Josh Wade secured a magnificent 3rd place finish. To have two British athletes on the male podium at UTMB is a rare feat and a testament to the current strength of our mountain runners.
🥉 Josh Wade (GBR) – 20:05:06
Backyard Ultra World Record Sarah Perry
If there was an award for the most mind-bending performance of 2025, Sarah Perry’s effort at the Backyard Ultra (BYU) World Championship would be the clear winner. Her capacity for sheer endurance has been nothing short of revolutionary!
Photo: Jacob Zocherman
In this format, where runners must complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour, Perry completed an astounding 95 "yards" (loops). This effort totalled approximately 396 miles (637km). In doing so, she obliterated the previous women's world record of 87 yards (held by American Megan Eckert). More significantly, her 95 yards also broke the overall British record (previously 87 yards by Matt Blackburn), meaning Perry has now run further in the backyard format than any British person in history, male or female!
The Hill
Just to prove her versatility, Perry closed out the year in December at "The Hill" ultramarathon in Shropshire. A notoriously brutal event, it requires runners to run up and down The Wrekin (a steep hill) 56 times to accumulate 160 miles and approximately 14,325m (47,000ft) of elevation gain, more than 1.5 times the height of Everest.
Sarah Perry - The Hill 1st place finish
Photo: David Miller
The race is designed to break people, and in 2025, it nearly succeeded. However, Perry stood firm. She was not only the Overall Winner; she was the sole finisher of the event after every other runner DNF'd. It is also worth mentioning that Perry also finished this year's Winter Spine Race in 4th female position (115:07:52), showing what a truly incredible year of consistency and grit she has had.
🥇 Sarah Perry (GBR) – 47:01:00
Race Across Scotland
August saw the return of the gruelling Race Across Scotland, where runners tackled 215 miles along the Southern Upland Way from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. Iain Bethune delivered a masterclass in endurance, storming to victory with a winning time of 58:18:49.
Iain Bethune - Race Across Scotland men's 1st place finish
Bethune’s performance was dominant, seeing him finish nearly three hours clear of runner-up Ed Payne (61:08:11). The victory was particularly sweet for the Bethune family, adding a matching trophy to the cabinet after his wife, Julie, secured the first place female title at the 2024 edition of the race.
🥇 Iain Bethune (GBR) – 58:18:49
Desert Ultra
British success wasn't limited to single-stage races. At the Beyond the Ultimate Desert Ultra in Namibia, UK athlete Alex Welch produced a momentous performance across the multi-stage format.
Alex Welch - Beyond Ultimate Desert Ultra men's 1st place finish
Cheshire-based Alex Welch didn't just win the men's race; he dismantled it. Welch put in a commanding performance to win all five stages, crossing the finish line with a total time of 24 hours, 27 minutes, and 48 seconds. He smashed the previous course record, held since 2018 by American RD Adam Kimble, by nearly 40 minutes.
🥇 Alex Welch (GBR) – 24:27:48
World Record Streak
Finally, a special mention to Sam King, whose achievement in 2025 was less about speed and more about relentless forward motion. Running to raise money for the charity Headway UK, King set out to break the male world record for consecutive ultra marathons.
He successfully reached his initial goal of 74 ultra marathons in 74 days, officially securing the record. Not content to stop there, Sam continued pushing, extending his streak to an incredible 79 ultras in 79 days in a bid to reach his £74,000 fundraising target. It was a powerful demonstration of running for a cause greater than oneself. If you would like to make a donation to Sam's cause click here.
Final Words - Bring on 2026
Undoubtedly, there are dozens of other impressive performances from 2025 that have been missed in this roundup, such is the explosion of talent currently emerging from these shores. However, one thing is certain: Great Britain is lifting the bar when it comes to ultra running. Whether on the soggy fells of the Lake District or the technical trails of the Alps, British athletes are proving time and again that they are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. Roll on 2026!
