Kiwi ultra runner Ruth Croft started 2020 on a massive high. In February, she crushed the male and female fields in the Old Ghost Ultra, winning the 85km event outright and setting a new women’s course record of 7 hours, 31 minutes and 8 seconds. But then COVID-19 hit, and New Zealand was thrown into lockdown. Although her race plans for the year were turned upside down, Ruth didn’t let it get the better of her – in fact, she found many positives in the “new normal”, as she continued to run around her home base of Wanaka. I had a chat with Ruth about the lockdown, her race plans, and the launch of her new training program with Vert.run, a running plan tailored for runners who live in cities
You blitzed the men’s and women’s fields at Old Ghost Ultra this year. What was your experience at that event like?
It was awesome. Old Ghost is in the area that I grew up in, and I think it’s my favourite race I’ve done in New Zealand, actually. The race director, Phil Rossiter, has done an amazing job. He’s really passionate, and he’s got a great support team behind him. The race was so well organised. It’s not a massive event like
