Growing up in West Auckland, Nancy spent her childhood exploring the Waitākere Ranges, where her love for running and the outdoors began. She ran track and cross-country through school and dabbled in road marathons, but it wasn’t until a season in the French Alps that she discovered mountain running. Chance encounter with Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) while biking the Haute Route changed everything.
Career milestone
Since then, she has spent extended periods in Europe, training and competing at an elite level. Her first major international race was the OCC at the 2018 UTMB, where she secured a 5th place finish. That same year, she proudly represented New Zealand at the World Mountain Running Championships, placing 15th.
She went on to complete her first 100km at CCC by UTMB and achieved a career milestone by winning the 2023 Tarawera Ultramarathon.
What once seemed impossible soon became reality. After watching friends take on ultramarathons, she never imagined running those distances herself. But "never say never" became a mantra, and she continues to push her limits on some of the world’s most challenging courses, including the World Trail Running Championships.
Inspiring others
Off the trails, Nancy works full-time as a structural engineer and is passionate about mountain biking and nurturing the growth of mountain running in New Zealand while also championing sustainability in outdoor recreation. She is committed to not only achieving personal success but also inspiring others by sharing her experiences as an athlete.
Nancy often speaks about the empowerment and confidence running has given her, particularly encouraging women to embrace outdoor sports.
