Scottish Ultra-Runner Anna Rutherford Shatters Course Record in Inaugural Castle-to-Castle Race
A Scottish ultra-runner achieved a stunning victory in the inaugural Rat Race between Bamburgh Castle and Edinburgh Castle, finishing over two hours ahead of the competition and returning home before many rivals even reached the finish line.
Anna Rutherford, a 43-year-old lawyer and mother of three, completed the grueling 100-mile race in 17 hours and 23 minutes, a performance that has quickly become a talking point in the endurance sports world. The race, which began at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland on Saturday, followed the east coast through Berwickshire, the Borders, and East Lothian, culminating at the Ross Bandstand in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens.
A Dominating Performance from the Start
Rutherford’s performance was remarkable not only for its speed but also for its dominance. She recounted overtaking the previous race leader around the halfway point, after which she ran the remaining 50 miles largely alone. “I only overtook the man leading the race before me about half-way through, meaning I ran the final 50 miles by myself,” she explained to BBC Scotland News. Her final time was two hours faster than the first male competitor and a staggering five hours ahead of the leading female runner.
The victory wasn’t without its lighter moments. Rutherford shared how she maintained her spirits during the arduous run by singing Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” “I was singing 9 to 5 running up the Royal Mile and everyone was singing along with me,” she said, adding that the festive atmosphere helped propel her towards the finish. She even paused her race to check on a man lying on a golf course near Gullane, East Lothian, who assured her he was simply “looking at the stars.”
From Training Challenges to Record-Breaking Success
Rutherford’s journey to the finish line wasn’t without its hurdles. She revealed a demanding training schedule, peaking at approximately 120 miles (193km) per week, which led to a hospital visit due to headaches and faintness. Despite these challenges, she persevered, drawing inspiration from fellow ultra-runner Jasmine Paris, known for her mental fortitude during extreme endurance events. “Someone like Jasmine Paris, her saying ‘just watch me’ before she did the Barkley Marathons, I found that very humbling,” Rutherford stated.
Her fueling strategy also played a key role. Building on her success at the 2021 Southern Upland Way – where she shattered the women’s record in 62 hours and 34 minutes with the help of stock cubes – Rutherford combined stock powder with pretzels, gels, and hydration at regular intervals.
Championing Female Needs in Endurance Sports
Beyond her athletic achievement, Rutherford used her platform to advocate for greater inclusivity in endurance sports. She highlighted the importance of catering to the specific needs of female athletes, noting the provision of female-specific toilets with sanitary products at each checkpoint. “I think it just shows women do these things too. Women are not just little men. They have their own specific needs, but they were being catered to and I really loved that,” she said.
Rutherford openly discussed her experience as a perimenopausal athlete on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), emphasizing the significant impact hormonal changes can have on performance. She hopes her success will encourage more women to participate in endurance events and demonstrate that they can “close the gap” in the sport.
After crossing the finish line shortly after 00:30 on Sunday, Rutherford was met by her parents, who drove her home to Peebles while other competitors were still making their way to Edinburgh. “It was beyond my wildest dreams to run 100 miles in that time. But I just went home and went straight to bed,” she concluded.
