Northumberland teacher conquers some of the toughest ultra-running challenges across the UK
A Northumberland teacher has enjoyed a remarkable year of trail running, racking up victories at some of the toughest events in the country.
Rachel Malthouse is a mum from Belford who, during her spare time from teaching maths at Berwick Academy, has taken up the unlikely hobby of endurance racing.
Many of these races take place through the night and in the depths of winter, requiring plenty of motivation and grit.
However, Rachel is not one to shy away from a challenge – from running from Bamburgh to Edinburgh in 24 hours to placing first female at the Holy Island Marathon.
She explained: “I genuinely enjoy just that challenge of doing hard things and having my children see me do them.
"I have quite a stressful job and I don't really think about anything else when I am running. All I have to do is just run and I really like that.”
Currently, Rachel is taking part in the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series – a series of six races across Kielder, Rothbury and Simonside.
Rachel has placed first female in the first three, and is using the series as part of her training to complete The Montane Summer Spine Challenger North, a 160 mile race from Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm.
“It's now such a habit, I don't even think of it as hard work anymore,” she added. “Everyone is so supportive of everyone else too, regardless of what you're aiming for. It’s just really nice, that sense of community.”
Not only has Rachel won many of these races, she has set new records.
In November, she completed the Trail Outlaws ‘Wooler Double’ – a 28.5 mile ‘marathon’ with 7000ft of elevation including going up the Cheviot Hills, followed by a half marathon the following day – becoming the first female to win both in one weekend.
"The weekend in Wooler is probably the one I am most proud of,” she said.
“I didn't go into that weekend thinking I could win either of them at all so it was a big, big surprise to me when it happened.”
Rachel’s students are proud of her too, and the school held a non-uniform day to help her raise an extra £500 for Tiny Lives Trust at the RVI during her 100-mile Bamburgh to Edinburgh race.