A Ripon woman has joined an exclusive group of athletes after completing all six of the world's major marathons.
Becky Naylor crossed the finish line of the New York Marathon this month, earning her the coveted Six Star Finisher medal and becoming one of only 755 British women - and 1,376 men - to complete the global series.
The 50-year-old business owner and mother of two, who left Ripon Grammar School in 1993, has completed marathons in London, Berlin, Chicago, Boston, Tokyo and now New York between 2021 and 2025.
Since taking up running just eight years ago, she has raised over £8,000 for charities across the world and achieved a personal best time of three hours and 29 minutes.
Becky, who founded Ripon marketing agency Bronco, said the achievement was the result of years of determination and planning:
“This journey has been about discipline, planning, and resilience.
“Balancing marathon training with running Bronco has been tough, but I’ve always believed that personal goals and professional success can strengthen each other.
"I’m proud to have completed the Six Stars and to show that with the right focus, anything is possible.”
Becky’s route into running began unexpectedly in 2017 when she helped to reform the women’s Bluebelles rugby team at Ripon Rugby Club.
Increased fitness from rugby training soon led to a love of running, and in 2019 she completed the Great North Run for charity.
Her first full marathon was the 2021 London Marathon, originally delayed by the pandemic.
She went on to qualify for Boston, considered one of the most prestigious marathons due to its strict entry times, and continued to collect stars in Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and finally New York.
Her final race was not without setbacks. A hip injury earlier this year left her unsure if she would be able to compete, but after months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation she made it to the start line.
She said:
“It took patience, physiotherapy, osteopathy, and sheer determination to make it to that start line.
“Standing in Central Park with that final medal in hand was the icing on the cake.”
Globally, only 8,182 women have completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
For Becky, the experience has been life-changing. She said:
“Each city, each race, has left its mark. I’ve met incredible people, experienced moments of pure exhaustion and pure joy, and learned more about resilience than I knew possible.”
While her Six Star quest is now complete, Becky says her running journey is far from over.
She continues to take part in fitness events and trail races and is looking ahead to new challenges.
She added:
“New York may have marked the end of my Six Star chase, but it feels more like the start of something new.
"I’m ready for whatever comes next.”
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