21-05-2025
Record-breaking Northland runner Shannon-Leigh Litt surpasses 500 ultramarathons
'I still have speed in my legs. My body is holding up pretty well.
'Probably at the 450 to 500 [ultramarathon] mark, I struggled a lot ... but that was more of an emotional mindset. Now I'm more positive.
'Some days you feel really good and other days you don't.
'Whenever I'm running with others, it helps me get through.'
The criminal defence lawyer, who works out of Whangārei and Kaikohe courts, set out on her epic mission on January 1 with the aim of beating previous world record holder Candice Burt, from Colorado, who ran 200 ultramarathons in 200 days, finishing in May 2023.
She quickly accomplished that; by September, she had unofficially smashed the Guinness World Record for running the most consecutive ultramarathons.
Litt now plans to submit the data and video footage of her remarkable feat on the day she finishes, to make the record official.
When that will be, however, is a mystery.
Though completing 600 ultras is her next goal, Litt is remaining tight-lipped on her ultimate goal and exactly when she will have a well-earned rest from running.
'I have a specific date in mind, but I'm not saying.
'All I will say is that I'm well over halfway.
'I've committed to a number; I've got a specific day I'm going to finish, and that'll be it.'
Since she began, Litt has completed runs in Kerikeri, Rotorua, Hamilton, Mount Maunganui, and the Dome Valley trail in Warkworth.
She ran the Tarawera ultra trail in Rotorua and overseas ultras in Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Dubai, and Austria.
Though she doesn't have a specific routine, Litt will often get up about 2am to fit running into her schedule if she has to appear in court.
She runs for five to six hours each day to complete each ultramarathon, defined as any running event longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195km.
Common ultra distances include 50km, and Litt is doing at least 51km a day.
The Paihia resident then works into the night considering applications from lawyers and does some work online.
She recently downloaded an app that allows her to upload documents she can listen to anywhere, at any time.
'You can listen to them while you're running.
'I'm often listening to legal documents for four hours a day when I'm running.'
Litt began running for fitness as a teenager.
She got involved in half-marathons and marathons in her 20s and, by her early 30s, was running ultras because she found it beneficial for her mental health.
Running long distances was a 'personal challenge', which has inspired many people along the way, she said.
Some who have seen her out running have decided 'to get out and do a bit of exercise each day'.
'It allows me to connect with other people,' she said.
'And it's motivated a lot of others ... to take on an ultra-challenge or a different goal, not necessarily running or sport.
'It shows people, if you work hard at it, they can do it.'
