How Mel Sykes Ran 268 Miles After Brain Surgery || RUNcensored EP22

How Mel Sykes Ran 268 Miles After Brain Surgery || RUNcensored EP22
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Running 268 miles is an extraordinary feat for any athlete — but doing it after undergoing brain surgery is nothing short of remarkable. In this inspiring episode of RUNcensored, we sit down with Mel Sykes to hear the incredible story of her journey from hospital recovery to the finish line of one of the UK’s toughest endurance races.

If you came for a pint of Bodingtons with a flake in it, sorry, wrong Mel Sykes.

Mel takes us inside the Spine Race, a gruelling 268-mile winter ultra along the Pennine Way, battling brutal weather, treacherous terrain, and relentless fatigue. But her story goes far beyond the miles — it’s about resilience, determination, and proving what’s possible when you refuse to let a diagnosis define your limits.

We explore Mel’s recovery journey, from the physical challenges of rebuilding strength to the mental battles of trusting her body again after surgery. She shares the strategies that kept her moving forward, including careful pacing, nutrition management, and the mindset shifts that helped her stay positive during the lowest points of the race.
Along the way, Mel opens up about:
The emotional impact of brain surgery and recovery
How she adapted her training to rebuild endurance safely
Navigating the Spine Race’s notorious sleep deprivation and isolation
Finding motivation when the finish line feels impossibly far away
The power of community and crew support in ultra running




📌 Chapters & Highlights:
0:00 – Intro and Meet Mel Sykes
5:00 – Discovering the Symptoms: Headaches, Blurred Vision & Balance Issues
11:30 – The Diagnosis: Chiari Malformation and the Road to Brain Surgery
19:45 – Facing the Surgery: Risks, Reality, and Mental Strength
27:20 – The Long Road to Recovery: Learning to Walk and Run Again
36:00 – Returning to the Trails: First Steps Back into Running
43:50 – Entering the Spine Race: 268 Miles of Brutality
53:15 – Training for Ultras Post-Surgery: Lessons Learned
1:01:40 – Facing Adversity: Running Through Pain and Pushing Limits
1:11:20 – Cheating Scandals in Ultra Running: Integrity and Fair Play
1:20:50 – Mel’s Mindset: How Brain Surgery Changed Her Approach
1:29:10 – Future Races and Plans: What’s Next for Mel?
1:36:30 – Outro and Final Reflections

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and everywhere you get your podcasts:
https://linktr.ee/runcensored
▶️ Watch the full playlist here:
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💬 Drop a comment: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done after an injury? We might just read it out on the next episode!

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