Historic ultrarunner Jasmin Paris hailed the importance of female role models in sport, saying “you have to see it to believe it’s possible” as she collected her MBE.
Speaking after the ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Dr Paris said she felt “very honoured” and “grateful” to receive the honor from the Prince of Wales.
The 40-year-old Scot, from Gorebridge in Midlothian, has completed some of the toughest races in the world.
In March this year, the veterinary speaker made history by becoming the first woman to complete the 100-mile Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, crossing the finish line with 99 seconds to spare before the 60-hour cutoff .
Regarding the MBE, awarded for services to Falls and long-distance running, Dr Paris said: “I feel like I received it partly because of the Barkley Marathons and the fact that I’m became the first woman to complete it.
“Even at that time, I felt like I did it for women around the world, becoming the first woman to complete it. So I feel like I’m receiving the award on behalf of all those women who try new things and break through glass ceilings everywhere.
Dr Paris said she believed having female role models and equal media coverage of women’s sport was a crucial part of encouraging young girls to take part in PE classes and take up sport.
She continues: “There are lots of practical things that make it easier for girls to stay in sport and even for women to run marathons or take part in trial races etc.
“Making sure they have the appropriate training facilities, making sure there are products for periods, for women who have children – making sure you can postpone pregnancy while racing.
“It’s about both having role models and celebrating them, giving women’s sport proper coverage on all channels in the same way that men’s sport is covered, and giving women’s sport the same type sponsorship and financing.
“But starting from the ground up, you have to see it to believe it’s possible.”
Dr Paris said she discussed running with William when she got her honor back and he asked her if running such long distances caused knee pain.
The runner continued: “I encouraged him to give it a go and he asked me which race I would recommend in the UK.
“I recommended the Wasdale Horseshoe Fell Race which is a fairly classic race, quite long.
“He asked me how long it was and I said, ‘I think it’s about 23 miles,’ and he said, ‘It’s still a long way’.”
When it comes to his advice for beginner runners, Dr. Paris said it’s all about “baby steps.”
She continued: “So even when I’m running a 100-mile race, I’m not thinking about all that, I’m just thinking about the next hill I’ll go up or the next downhill I’ll take – so you never overwhelm yourself of the picture as a whole.
“For the person just starting out, I would say just jump in and start: if you walk, then run a few steps and walk some more, you will gradually find that you run more. »
She said she thought running with friends and discovering communities such as local parkruns were great ways to inspire amateur joggers.
Dr Paris won the British Fell Running Championships in 2015 and again in 2018.
She previously held the record for the Bob Graham Round, a running challenge in the Lake District, and the Ramsay Round near Fort William.
Outside of running, Dr Paris is a lecturer in small animal medicine at the University of Edinburgh and a mother of two.