Kia ora Whanau. Imagine being able to run because someone told you that was something that you were allowed to do. That running was something that you could do, but only at a specific time, and never with company. The degree of freedom that running would give you would take on a whole new meaning. For many of us, running is a privilege that we take for granted but for Tanya Bottomley, this was her reality. Tanya was in a controlling, violent marriage, at this time, and her journey to where she is now had begun when she completed the Auckland Marathon at the encouragement of her sister in 2012. It would be so convenient, if life were a movie, to say that Tanya found running, quit smoking, over came depression, and ended the relationship with a snap of the fingers, but life is more nuanced and complicated than that. Tanya’s story is incredible, and whilst yes, all that has happened, the journey to get there was an ultra, not a sprint. We speak to Tanya from her new home of Nelson, at the top of the South Island. Tanya is the first woman aiming to finish the Southern Seasons Miler Challenge, having completed Great Nasbey, Hamner, and Krazie K’s. Tanya now has her sights set on Northburn 100 in March. This conversation with Tanya was such a privilege. We discuss her life now, her training, the journey to trail running, and how you train to run four 100 mile ultramarathons in a year whilst also having a “normal” life . Tanya is also fundraising for SHINE (Safer Homes In New Zealand Every day) whilst completing the challenge. Link is below. Enjoy.