Every ultra runner has an origin story, a moment when a scroll through social media or a friend’s offhand comment turns into a start line, a finish line, and eventually, a lifelong love of the trails. For 13 Valleys Ultra series runner Beth Fell, that story began in 2023 with the 2 Valleys race, and it’s been building into something wonderful ever since. Three years on, she’s stepping up to the 5 Valleys, proof of just how far consistent effort and a willingness to try can take you. We sat down with Beth to talk about pacing lessons, breathtaking scenery, and the mindset shift that’s brought the joy back into running.

How Beth Fell Discovered the 13 Valleys Ultra Series

It started, as so many great adventures do, with a bit of curiosity and a scroll through social media.

“I first saw it advertised on social media and thought it looked like a really good event,” Beth explained. “My first time running at the 13 Valleys event was in 2023 doing the 2 Valleys, so it was a great introduction to running trail over a longer distance than what I was used to.”

Beth wasn’t starting entirely from scratch, she’d already built up a solid base in shorter trail races, but the 2 Valleys marked an exciting new chapter. “I had previously done a few trail races up to 10k in distance, but this was my first half marathon.”

First Half Marathon Nerves: What to Expect from the 2 Valleys Race

Heading into that first big race, Beth kept things refreshingly simple. “I wouldn’t say I had too many expectations beyond what little experience I already had at the time, although I will say the downhills are always more of a killer than the uphills, which definitely caught me out at the end.”

That’s the beauty of a first big trail race, every challenge becomes a lesson banked for next time. “I’ve learnt a few lessons around pacing since, so if anything, it was all good experience!”

Lake District Trail Running Scenery That Sticks With You

Ask any Lake District trail runner about the views, and you’ll usually see their face light up. Beth is no exception.

“The scenery on the 2 Valleys is something I still think about and remember to this day! Breathtakingly beautiful.”

Crossing Her First Ultra Series Finish Line

That first finish line brought a familiar mix of emotions, and, most importantly, a spark that would carry her forward. “Tired and relieved, but glad I’d completed it. Distance is not my forte, and unlike speed, endurance isn’t something that comes naturally to me, but it made me want to improve and do better.”

Why Beth Chose the 5 Valleys for Her First Ultra Marathon

For Beth, stepping up from the 2 Valleys to the 5 Valleys wasn’t part of some grand master plan, it grew naturally, one confident training block at a time.

“It definitely wasn’t always the plan. I never thought I’d be running these distances, but I’ve been training a lot over the last three years and have been slowly getting more confident and comfortable over long distance. At the end of last year, I realised that an ultra probably wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility, and I’d been debating over trying one for a while, it was just a matter of time.”

And when the moment came, the choice of race felt like a genuinely happy full-circle moment. “The 5 Valleys seemed like a good (and realistic) goal to work towards, giving me enough time to prepare, and having already done the 2 Valleys, it seemed very fitting to return, this time on the 55k start line to complete my first marathon (and ultra marathon!)”

Ultra Marathon Training: Fuelling, Recovery, and Mindset Shifts

Preparing for an ultra is a different beast entirely, and Beth has embraced the challenge with real intention. “It takes up a lot more of my time and requires a lot more thought and preparation, especially around prehab, fuelling and recovery. If there’s one thing that distance running does, it’s highlight any weaknesses! So taking that seriously has been key.”

Balancing it all hasn’t always been easy, but it’s brought some genuinely lovely rewards. “It can be hard juggling training around work and other commitments, but it’s become a much bigger part of my life and I have made new friends and found a community through it that I’m very grateful for.”

Perhaps most rewarding of all has been a real shift in mindset, one that’s given her a happier, more sustainable relationship with the sport. “I’ve also had a huge shift in mindset when it comes to doing ‘well’ in a race and putting pressure on myself. None of that matters to me as much anymore, as completion is the goal here, so I’ve found myself enjoying the training process more, which in turn has brought back the ‘joy’ of running which I realise I had lost at some point along the way.”

Race Day Nerves: Hills, Elevation, and the 5 Valleys Route

With the 5 Valleys on the horizon, the excitement is impossible to hide. “Definitely most excited about the route itself, the scenery, and the overall challenge. Most nervous about the hills and overall elevation (and my legs potentially dropping off).” A few nerves are only natural before a first ultra marathon, but they’re the good kind, the sort that come from knowing something special is just around the corner.

Why the 13 Valleys Ultra Series Is Built for Working Your Way Up in Distance

Part of what makes Beth’s journey possible is the structure of the 13 Valleys Ultra series itself. Rather than a single all-or-nothing event, the series offers four distances within the same course family: the 21km 2 Valleys, the 55km 5 Valleys, the 110km 7 Valleys, and the full 180km 13 Valleys, each one linking together the 13 valleys of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

That tiered format is exactly what makes it such a natural fit for runners looking to progress at their own pace. You can start with the 2 Valleys as an introduction to trail running, get a feel for the terrain, the climbs, and the logistics of a longer event, then return year after year and step up the ladder as your training and confidence grow, just as Beth has done in moving from the 2 Valleys to the 55k start line of the 5 Valleys. Each distance is designed with its own cut-off times, feed stations, and elevation profile, so the challenge scales sensibly rather than throwing newer trail runners in at the deep end.

It’s not just the route design that stands out, though, it’s the team behind it. The event is run in partnership with the Lake District National Park, is registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and brings together a wide network of partners and sponsors supporting everything from route safety to sustainability.

Five percent of every entry fee goes to the Lake District Foundation to fund environmental projects protecting the very landscape runners are racing through, and a dedicated volunteer team helps keep each edition running smoothly on race weekend. For anyone thinking about starting their own journey through the valleys, that combination of a well-organised, values-driven event and a genuine pathway between distances is hard to beat.

Thinking About Signing Up for the 2 Valleys? Beth’s Advice for First-Timers

For anyone hovering over the sign-up button for the 2 Valleys, Beth’s message is a simple, joyful one: just go for it.

“Go for it! Great transition to trail, especially if you’re more of a road runner, but even if you’re not and just want to try your hand at it, you won’t regret it. It’s just an all-round great day out on some of the finest trails in the Lake District.”

From a first half marathon on the trails to an ultra marathon debut, Beth Fell’s journey through the 13 Valleys series is a genuinely uplifting reminder that big goals often start with small, curious steps, and that the real reward is the joy, the community, and the confidence you build along the way. Here’s to the next valley.