Lived all around the world.

I used to be a sprinter at quite a high level, with Ballymena and Antrim Athletics Club. Endurance didn’t come naturally to me, so I jogged a bit.

When I had my son, Ballymena Runners were quite active around Ballymena, and I gathered up the courage to go along and they were such a group of encouraging people.

I was born in Ballymena. When I was five, my parents moved to America and I lived in Wisconsin for quite a few years. Then we came back to Ballymena for a while, before moving to Thailand where I was brought up with a tribe, my parents are missionaries.

When I was in Thailand I didn’t really fit in, as I was a white kid among tribal children. Back home, I was very swarthy and skinny, with an American accent, and didn’t really fit in here, either.

Then I joined the Ballymena Runners, and very quickly found the mountain runners, where everyone is so different, quirky and has their own little ways, and everyone is accepted.

And that’s where I became myself. I love the open outlook of fell and mountain runners, who appreciate what’s around them.

I have a five year old child, Jacob, and I hope that he will grow up to be kind and supportive and, I guess, that would be my mark on the world.

Ruth (Cullybackey)

At Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland.

Story by Bout Yeh photographers Belfast