Poppea Bowie

Sport:

Athletics

Biography:

I did cross-country in high school and got my first pair of road running shoes when I was 17. But I stopped doing sport for a while and didn’t return to it until 2019, when I started doing Parkruns. My first Parkrun took 29 minutes and I couldn’t run 5K nonstop. Over time, my times steadily improved as I built healthier habits and found motivation through running.

In 2023, I joined Bellahouston Road Runners, which helped me take things to the next level. I shaved 9 minutes off my 5K time and started racing longer distances. I fell in love with long-distance running and began exploring trails in the Scottish countryside, including some munros. Long runs became the highlight of my week, and I’m grateful to have the stamina to do them.

I find women, especially mothers, who take on ultra trail challenges deeply inspiring. For example, Stephanie Case, who breastfed her six-month-old at feed stations in an ultra, really stands out. I want to be like her one day!

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