After leaving Alston, Nikki seemed to be struggling with motivation. Spending so much time alone can make it easy to fall into a slower rhythm. I gave her a quick call as she approached Hadrian’s Wall to update her on her position and what was happening with other competitors. It seemed to give her a boost, as she started moving with renewed energy, passing runners from both the North Challenger and the full race.

She eventually teamed up with two guys; Simon Dicks and Chris Brooknam, and they made steady progress together. They crossed Hadrian’s Wall and headed toward Horneystead Farm, a small but welcoming spot for food and water. Leaving the farm was tricky—navigation in that area isn’t straightforward—but she managed to regroup with Simon and Chris, and they all headed to Bellingham, the final official checkpoint.

At Bellingham, Nikki rested briefly but couldn’t settle. She decided to move on with Chris, leaving Simon to catch up later. The stretch to Bryness was tough. Nikki and Chris were clearly battling fatigue, even taking a quick nap on the trail to keep going. Simon rejoined them just before they reached Bryness.

At Bryness, they only had 30 minutes to refuel and rest. Afterward, Nikki set off again, climbing strongly out of the checkpoint. When I spoke to her later, the wind was so loud I could barely hear her. She didn’t say much—just that it was tough—before hanging up to focus.

From there, she pressed on, passing runners and making her way through the Cheviots. By the time she reached the finish, she was charging down the hill, looking completely transformed by the ordeal.

She crossed the line in 103 hours and 36 minutes, finishing 15th overall and 3rd female. An incredible achievement in one of the toughest races out there.