The Limitless story and our Guiding Principles
Getting to know Ellen Wood, Founder of Limitless Trails – what drives her and what sets us apart
Hi Ellen, great to chat to you today. Our first blog post has to start with you and where it all began. So tell us a bit about your early life, and what led you to set up Limitless.
“I guess that I have always had a passion for the outdoors, being born and bred in the Brecon Beacons.
I have always hiked, cycled and ran, although only really as hobbies when I was a young girl.
The passion began when I returned home, 22 years ago. I was a busy single mum with two kids, and their own sporting activities took up all our time! Eventually life settled, and they were at my side during most of my ever-increasing distance runs, as I attempted many new challenges to raise funds for charity.
Little did I know that one day I would embark on a 200 mile run, and set up a trail-running company!”
Wow, tell us more about the 200 ultra!
“So, signing up to a 200 ultra was a huge challenge. With my brother Mike, we embarked on a fundraising journey in memory of our young brother who died from Adrenoleukodystrophy aged 14.
We raised £6k for Ty Hafan Hospice and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
It was during the many highs and lows of 6 months of training that I started to imagine organising an event of my own. Each month we took on an organised ultra, and I noticed that each company ran their event in very different ways. So, I gained a decent understanding of the good and bad points of each event.
Eventually after the 200 Ultra, which was a huge learning experience in respect of organising such a feat, I started to work for a large trail-running company. Here I learnt more and more about what it takes.”
Can you give us some examples?
“I guess the first lesson I learnt is that trail running in the mountains has to be the Race Director’s passion! The RD needs to know what it is like to run ultras, know what is required to provide the best support and understand individual needs in order to support everyone involved, like nutrition for example. Most importantly, the RD must know every inch of the course, should be the one implementing changes leading up to, and on the day, and should always have the safety of his or her entrants and volunteers as the top priority.
We prioritise the race experience and safety over commercial gain. I truly believe this is the only way to build and run a successful trail events business.”
What about the importance of local knowledge?
“We host every one of our events in our own backyard – the glorious Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
We know the trails inside out, and engage personally with all the local farmers, landowners and support services, to get approval for all routes, and prepare for any eventuality.
We prep the course over the days and weeks leading up to an event. Our team head out to recce each part of a route, clearing any large obstacles and laying flags and markers. The same people clear the course in the days after, leaving nothing behind, and ensuring we protect our environment.”
You mentioned nutrition as an integral part of what you offer during a race – can you explain further?
“I’ve been to some events that offer the same sugary snacks at each checkpoint, and they often run out by the time the slower runners arrive, who are precisely those who often need new reserves of energy the most!
We provide certain fruit and protein offerings in the early stages of a race, and a different mix, more carb-heavy, towards the end – and we make sure we never run out!”
Looking back, how would you summarise the first two years of Limitless Trails?
“Starting the business was daunting. I was not a business- or tech-minded person, so I booked onto any freebie courses I could find to improve my knowledge. We launched in 2020, then Covid hit - not exactly conducive to putting on events for groups of people!
Happily, in 2021, our second year, we ran events for over 500 runners, and this year we are well on track to this number already.
I’m so pleased to see runners from a number of our races email and send messages, volunteering to be a part of the team at future races. It feels like we are building something special that people want to be a part of.
The journey has been a mix of trial & error, and blood, sweat & tears! Lots of fun too though!
None of this would have happened without the encouragement of my friends Stu, Dion and Ceri, my family, and too many others to mention! Everyone pushed me and believed in me, and we wouldn’t be here in our 3rd year without all their support, so thank you to you all!”
Onwards to our next Trail! 😊
Here are Ellen’s TOP TEN ESSENTIAL elements of what drives Limitless events:
EXPERIENCE, PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE OF A TRAIL RUNNER
COMMUNICATION – WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, MOUNTAIN RESCUE, & DIRECTLY WITH ALL ENTRANTS
EXPERIENCED LOCAL SUPPORT STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
NUTRITION – KEY TO ASSISTING EACH SECTION OF THE RUNNERS’ EXPERIENCE
KEEPING NUMBERS LOW – SMALL IS BEST = QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
MEDICS AND PHYSIOS ON HAND THROUGHOUT AN EVENT
BACK RUNNERS IN PAIRS OR THREES – FRESH BACK RUNNERS ON 40 & 50 MILE ROUTES – FRESH APPROACH
EFFICIENT AND SAFE REMOVAL OF SIGNS THE NEXT DAY (BACK RUNNERS DON’T COLLECT)
RACE KIT – HUGELY IMPORTANT – WE ARE ALWAYS STRICT ON THIS
EVERYONE IS A WINNER! NO ONE IS TREATED ANY DIFFERENT – INSPIRATIONAL AWARD IS MY FAVOURITE