In this episode of the RunThrough Trails Podcast, host James is joined by Gemma and Lewis to break down Gemma’s impressive win at the ARC 50.

Facing brutal winds, heavy mud, and constantly changing conditions, the race became as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Gemma shares how experience helped her stay patient early on, adjust her pacing to match the conditions, and focus on what she could control throughout the day. Feeling strong in the latter stages of the race was a clear sign that her fueling, pacing, and preparation all came together when it mattered most.

The conversation also explores the overall competitiveness of the field, the impact of the tough conditions across the race, and why preparation — from mindset to shoe choice — can make or break performance on a demanding course.

To close, they look ahead to what’s next for Gemma, discussing upcoming goals, lessons taken from this race, and how she plans to build on this result as she continues to develop as an ultra runner.