Photography: Sarah Marshall.
At 1am, while most of Whangārei sleeps, criminal defence lawyer Shannon-Leigh Litt is often lacing up her shoes to run a 51km ultramarathon – just as she has for more than 800 days – and counting – in a row.
In a bid to set a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive ultramarathons run by a female, there are no days off. Just discipline, grit and an unshakeable belief that age is no barrier.
“Initially, I wasn’t sure how many days I would run,” admits Shannon-Leigh, 47, who started the record attempt on January 1, 2024.
“But as I got going, I decided to do 1000 marathons. My finish date is September 26.”
The current Guinness World Record is 200 days, which was set by Colorado’s Candice Burt. Committing to this has at times been a feat of sheer determination. Shannon-Leigh works as a criminal defence lawyer, carving out five- to 7.5 hours for each daily run, depending on the terrain and how much sleep she’s had.
“I have to be quite flexible,” she admits.
“I might think I have the morning to run, then someone’s arrested and I have to go to court. There’s never a dull moment!”
Focused and disciplined
But far from hindering her career, she says the challenge has sharpened her focus and performance.
“Having this goal to zero in on, I’ve become more disciplined in other areas too,” explains Shannon-Leigh, who often listens to pre-case research on an audio app while she runs.
Since starting the record attempt, Shannon-Leigh has travelled to nine countries, but to meet official requirements, every run must still take place within New Zealand Standard Time. One time, in Austria, she ran an unforgettable 80km mountain race.
Enduring extreme conditions
“The weather was really bad, there were tornadoes and I was very cold,” recalls Shannon-Leigh.
Then, taking time zones into account, she had just five hours’ recovery before heading out to run another 51km There have also been incredible highlights. On day 48, she came fourth in the Tarawera 100 Miler, an iconic 163km trail race through Rotorua. But there’s no place like home, she says.
“Running around Whangārei is my favourite and I often have people run with me, which is great for my morale,” smiles Shannon-Leigh.
Meticulous tracking for a world record
Every run must be meticulously tracked and verified through witnesses, video footage and a fitness watch for the Guinness World Record moderators. In Northland, she has a regular crew who witness her daily attempts, but while travelling in Europe, she once asked 11 strangers on the street before someone finally agreed to sign it off.
Shannon-Leigh reckons running has always been an important part of her life, but she only discovered ultramarathons at 31.
Running was in her heart
“It was always in my heart to run,” she tells.
In 2023, she ticked qualifying for the Ultramarathon World Championships off her bucket list, running 100km in just eight hours and 29 minutes, one of the fastest times ever recorded for a New Zealand woman.
For now, the world record attempt takes the priority, but she’s dreaming about representing the country on the world stage in the coming years.
The ultimate challenge awaits: Badwater 135
Another goal on the cards for next year is competing in the Badwater 135, a 217km race widely considered the toughest ultramarathon in the world, run through the extreme heat of Death Valley in California.
However, before that, Shannon-Leigh is looking forward to something far simpler – sleep.
“I don’t really have a plan for what I’ll do when I finish,” she shares.
“If I feel like going for a run the next day, I will. I don’t think I can go cold turkey, but I’m looking forward to sleeping a bit more.”
Shannon-Leigh says not everyone has been supportive online, with some strangers questioning if she’s really run 51km every day.
Handling skepticism with grace
“I know that comes with the territory,” she reflects.
“But it’s quite a far-fetched thing to believe. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I don’t let it stop me from doing what I’m doing.”
More than ever, she believes women should pursue what makes them feel purposeful, regardless of their age or other people’s opinions.
Mindset, confidence and lifelong running
“I think it comes down to your mindset and your attitude,” enthuses Shannon-Leigh.
“I’m a lot more confident, I know myself a lot better and I just think age shouldn’t be a barrier. It’s never too late to get fit or start on your goals. “Running isn’t for everyone, but do something you enjoy, that’s fun, where you can engage with other people. I plan to be doing ultras for the next 20 years!”
Search Shannon-Leigh Litt Public Figure on Facebook to follow her running journey.
