Interview with Stuart Mills, Ultrarunner

Stuart is an Ultrarunner and a Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at the Chelsea School, University of Brighton. He came 22nd in the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc race 2009 in a time of 26 and a half hours, and has just won the Beachy Head Marathon for the 6th time. In this interview, he tells us about his experiences during the Mont Blanc ultra race, as well as stories from his sporting journey prior to ultrarunning – including being knocked off his bike by a drunk driver during the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon. In March 2008 I received an e mail from my friend Rob – this is what it said: ‘Stuart has entered the inaugural London to Brighton cross country race – Jim and me have entered – what about you?’ I entered the race straight away! This was when I first really started to get to know Stuart – before that I knew him as a colleague of Jim and Rob’s at Brighton University – and that he regularly won the Beachy Head marathon. That summer we did some running together – Rob, Jim, Stu and I. I recognized in Stuart some of my own questing spirit– the desire to challenge himself, and set very high standards, a passion for endurance sport. A desire to dig deep to see what he can find within himself physically, and an awareness of the psychological preparation necessary to get the best out of himself – as well as loving being part of the elements and nature alongside it. He won the London to Brighton race – by miles! He then went on the run some more Ultra, accruing enough points to enter the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, which he talks about on our podcast. I was so inspired interviewing Stu! I now have the UTMB on my own list of Ultras I want to run!