Lakeland 500 Legend Jodie Gauld & Running The Roof
Interview & Film Review
Three friends make a drunken bet to run across Tajikistan, a country they know nothing about. Jodie, Gabe and Jody need to run ten marathons in ten days or they’ll miss the flight home. The multi award winning film Running The Roof captures their story as they experience mishaps, setbacks and victories along the way.
Jodie Gauld has done a lot more running since the film was released in 2021. Placing third in this summer’s Lakeland 100 and becoming a Lakeland Legend in the process, Jodie joins an exclusive club of runners that have completed the challenging 100 mile race an incredible five times. I caught up with her to chat about running with friends, inspiration, and being a Legend:
Running The Roof is about running a long way, but it’s also about having fun with friends, supporting each other and discovering new places. Does that reflect your approach to running in general?
“I love the long distance stuff and in a race I never plan to run with anyone, but I also love the organisation with friends, planning these big things and sharing the whole experience. I’ve made my best friends through running experiences and going on adventures. Like with Running the Roof, those friends make extreme things feel almost normal. It’s the best thing and from that first group of friends saying ‘let's do this’ it's shaped my lifestyle a lot.”
Congratulations on being 3rd woman at the Lakeland 100. At 105 miles with 6,300m ascent, it’s a tough race. Why do you keep going back?!
“To me Lakeland is a huge reunion. I look forward to that weekend more than the race in some respects. The Lakeland 50 was the first race I ever did beyond athletics. Some friends invited me and I just signed up to it - they gave me confidence that there was enough time to hike if I needed to. I crossed the finish line and said ‘never again,’ but within a few hours I was watching the ceremony and hearing all the stories. It doesn't just celebrate the top people, it celebrates the last runner, it tells stories of helping each other out on the course, it was really funny. I thought 'this is a great crowd, these are great people.
“That first year, some of my friends went off and did the 100. I saw them start and I just couldn't comprehend it, but they came back in one piece with great stories. It just seemed epic. [After two more years completing the 50] I felt ready. When I did the 100 I gave everything to get around that course, I wanted that finish so much. It took me nearly 38 hours. I was just determined. It was a great experience. I keep coming back because it's beautiful, the scenery is stunning and the people you meet are just amazing.”
By finishing this year’s race you became a member of the Lakeland 500 Legends club. In 2023 a total of 100 people have been awarded the slate including 94 men and just 6 women…
“It's been a big ambition of mine to reach that 500 mark. The seed was planted when I did that first 100 and found out that if you do it five times you can be a Lakeland Legend. The women that have done it in previous years reached out and welcomed me to the club. They’re very supportive and there isn't a competitiveness, they want more and more women. Being around these people is super inspiring.
“Normally you see all men at the front but I remember one year I was taking part in the 100. I was way back but I was getting word that Sabrina Verjee was winning it outright. A guy overtook her right at the end, but I felt that was powerful to see a woman leading this race. The finish rate is always higher for women, which we see across many races, and it's really celebrated at this event.
“I do like to remember the first time that I took part in the 50 and thought the people in the 100 weren’t going to come back alive! I’m now the person I was looking at - I just wanted to see if I could do it, and I like to approach it that way. I love running, but I don’t enjoy it all the time. Though I forget it afterwards there are really hard parts and I struggle through, but I definitely have determination and I think that's really captured in Running The Roof.”
Running The Roof is directed and edited by Alexis Tymon and Ben Crocker of Sourcy films, whose eye for detail and a humorous moment really captures the character of each of the runners. Great fun to watch with your running buddies and inspiration to plan your own adventures!