Sara Willhoit

Name: Sara Willhoit

Hometown: Peak District

Sport: Running

The first time I went up a mountain, Snowdon, I was 25. Before then, they were daunting, dangerous, unknown places, where I felt out of place, and had no confidence in making it back in one piece. Things changed when, by accident, I started running.

I wasn’t particularly drawn to running, the reason I started is that it was a way to hang out with two friends, Annabel and Nadeem who were training for Conwy half marathon. They were heading out for 8 mile evening runs, which sounded very far, but went along with it, I managed about 3 and soon succumbed to sore shins. The following year they encouraged me to join them and enter the race too.

Like many others, I had no idea running on hills or in mountains existed. When I discovered this, it was a game changing.

Get to know Sara

Tell us about your successes so far?

1st Skyline Scotland 2023
8th Mountain Running World Cup 2023
English Mountain Running Champion 2023
Team Bronze World Mountain Running Championships Austria 2023
11th World Mountain Running Championship Argentina 2019

What are you working on? What are your goals for the future?

Working on making the team for the European Championships 2024

Why do you run? What do you love about running?

From the very beginning for me it’s been about being with friends, being part of the mountain and trail running community which is a particularly special one.

Sometimes it’s about getting outside to experience nature, spontaneous wild encounters, things that happen one moment and are gone the next. But ultimately for me, at the moment, it's about racing hard, this is often the strongest motivator for me to get outside in the wind and rain.

Which Scarpa shoe is your favourite?

Spin ST - precise, grippy, hardwearing

Tell us about your best day running?

Snowy winter sunrise mountains and flowy ridge running, topped off with a sunset lake dip with friends.

What do you do away from your sport?

I’m a Landscape Architect by trade with a particular love for the historic and natural environment. I am also very fond of most forms of running, cycling, sugar and lemon pancakes, and coffee.