Shona Thomson has completed the  remarkable feat of running marathons in each continent of the world.

SHONA THOMSON is one of the most inspirational female runners you will read about. The first female Scot to run a marathon on every continent, she has just returned from Outer Mongolia where she competed completed the first Genghis Khan Ice Marathon in minus 40 degrees – the second time she has ran a marathon in such temperatures.

What makes Shona such a role model for not only women but anyone with a passion to succeed in life is that she balances her passion for running with a demanding full-time job in the city of London. She runs not for the competition or with the intention to break records but to keep fit, see the world and support the charities which benefit from her efforts.

We were delighted that Shona took the time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her running adventures as well as her plans and goals for the future. Her passion for life and way with words are sure to evoke feeling in anyone with an interest in sport and leave you feeling inspired and eager to learn more about this very inspirational lady.

Where did you grow up and when did you first realise you had a passion for the outdoors and adventure?

I was brought up on the West Coast of Scotland. I come from a very outdoorsy family and my parents made me walk all 98 miles of the West Highland Way aged six as a family holiday!

I climbed a few munros as a kid and competed in Scottish Schools Cross Country.

I don’t think there was ever a lightbulb moment when I realised I loved the outdoors, it’s always just been part of my life. I suppose the slightly more adventurous stuff like running in Antarctica and at the North Pole are just a natural progression of that.

Shona’s work ethic and determination to succeed in whatever she does have seen her become an inspiration to thousands around the world.

Who have been your biggest supporters and those offering you most encouragement on your journey?

Without a doubt my family. Doing a lot of running and adventure is full of highlights but also some very dark frustrating times for example when injury strikes or burnout pops out the woodwork. Having a strong support network to see you through the rough times is so important. The races and training are the easy part, the hard part is the setbacks, injury and illness.

Tell us about some of your achievements in running and what it felt like to join the Seven Marathons Continents Club?

I’m the first female Scot to run a marathon on every continent, and join the Seven Marathons Continents Club. There are fewer than 20 female members of the club, or there were when I joined.

In 2014, I went on to join the Grand Slam Marathon Club by completing the North Pole Marathon. It was a great feeling to complete this goal.

The thing I love about endurance and distance running is that there are endless ways to challenge yourself.

Several factors drew me to complete seven marathons on seven continents.

First, it provided the opportunity to test myself in a huge variety of conditions and environments, from the katabatic winds and minus 40 degree conditions of Antarctica to the stifling humidity of the Vietnamese summer.

Second, I don’t view myself as a very good runner. I run for my physical and mental well-being and as a way to see the world. Running the continents certainly provided that!

Keeping fit and getting outside are Shona’s fundamental reasons for running.

When did you decide to take on the challenge of running the North Pole Marathon. Could you tell us more about it and what it was like running in temperatures of -40?

After Antarctica, I always wanted to run at the North Pole. Running in those conditions is pretty hard going. There are so many potential risks from polar bears to frostbite and hypothermia. The time taken to complete polar runs is also much longer due to the challenging underground terrain of snow and ice. The other major challenge is fuelling correctly as water and gels tend to freeze! It’s also much harder to breathe in the minus 40 degrees so everything feels twice as hard.

This run was in every respect mercilessly beautiful. She was the true Ice Queen of all the races I have ever done. The North Pole is a hostile, brutal and unforgiving environment to run in, yet at the same time, it rewarded with the most spectacular scenery. As the course got churned up, you could see the ice surface and the deep navy of the Arctic Ocean below. Suddenly, a giant clear blue ice cube would emerge from beneath the snow. Never before have I seen the sun shine in such a glorious soft yellow haze, yet it provided no warmth against the bitterly chilling air. It was a true honour to be able to run at the North Pole. Nowhere on earth do you get Russian paratroopers with polar bear guns as race stewards. No other run allows you to run on 6feet of frozen ice on a floating ice floe.

Shona has worked as a running ‘mentor’ and is also available for speaking engagements.

How long have you been working as a running mentor, who are some of the people you work with and what is the message you try to instil them?

I only do a little bit of this as I juggle a City career in London with adventure running. My main message is don’t compare yourself to anyone else! Find a distance and terrain you enjoy whether that’s 100m in the park or 100 miles over hills. Both are equally valid and it’s getting outside that counts, not the distance or speed!

What are your biggest passions outside of running and are your passionate about any other sports?

I love hillwalking in Scotland, probably because I have a lot of childhood memories.

I also love riding. I competed quite a lot as a child and any excuse to get on a horse, I’ll find it. Animals are beautifully therapeutic and a wonderful way to reconnect with life.

To find out more about Shona and to watch her videos visit www.slowtwitch.co.uk.

What exciting projects or challenges do you have planned for the rest of 2016 and beyond?

I’m just back from Outer Mongolia where I completed the first Genghis Khan Ice Marathon in minus 40 degrees again! This was another great adventure. Imagine waking up in Ger in the Mongolian wilderness. The temperature outside is minus 40 degrees Celsius, the winds are bracing, the ground hard with ice, yet the sun shines, reflecting off snow-capped mountains and sparkling on the frozen river. It is bleak but it is beautiful. This was the backdrop of our 26.2 mile run along the frozen river Tuul and winter wonderland of wooded trails. Markers in the form of orange ribbons were laid out as conspicuously as possible but this still required certain amount of orienteering skills from the runners, so this was absolutely not a race for the inexperienced. My breath froze on my balaclava and formed a frozen armour against my face. My eyes watered, creating crystal visors on my eyelashes. At times, I thought I was passing through Dante’s ninth circle of hell, frozen in the ice lake of Cocytus, as I became progressively encased in ice!

We were supported by huskies patrolling the course to ward off the wolves and bears in the area. I took a wrong turn at one point and headed out onto the vast plains. I felt the complete isolation and remoteness of the area. I’m not sure how much further I ended up running. Of course, taking a wrong turn is always frustrating but nearly half the runners went wrong and at least I saw more of the breathtaking scenery!

After several hours out in the Mongolian wilderness, I made it to the finishing point, at a local Nomad’s Ger. I was a bit bruised from taking a few tumbles on the ice. Probably the greatest damage was to my earlobes as I stupidly forgot to remove my earrings. They got quite severe frostbite which began to blister, bleed and turn black. However, the medics were top class so hopefully I won’t lose it!

I’m off to Tokyo at the end of February to run the Marathon in my goal to run the six world majors. I’ve ticked off three and hope to do Berlin and Boston in the near future too.

To get in touch with Shona find her on Twitter at @Shona_D_Thomson or visit www.slowtwitch.co.uk.