In May I am planning to run a marathon in the
Lake District. The 26 mile course, voted the most scenic marathon route
in the UK, takes in Lake Windermere and many of the Lakes' famous
sights, and has inspired me to attempt possibly the most scenic
training plan ever in my preparation: I have decided to try and run the
length of the South West Coast Path as it hugs the coastline of North
Devon all the way from Exmoor to the border with Cornwall. This is a
total distance of over 150 miles, with sheer cliffs, steep hills,
isolated rocky paths and leg-dragging sand dunes to contend with. I
plan to tackle the route in stages over the next 14 weeks, running
10-20 miles along the Coast Path every Sunday until I have left Devon
behind and am (hopefully!) fit and ready to turn from the sea to the
Lakes and tackle the marathon itself. You can see from the highlighted
route on the map that the coastline of North Devon is long and jagged,
and as far as I can work out from researching on the web I may be the
first person to attempt the challenge of running its length, so I need
all the help I can get!
I will be recording my progress on my blog (the Running Explorer ) each week and also uploading any pictures I manage to take along the way as evidence, so you can keep track of where I have got to. The blog can be found here: http://runningexplorer.blogspot.com
So
why am I attempting this crazy coastal run? I am trying to raise money
for Brathay Trust, a charity which works to improve the lives of
disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, and organises
the Lake Windermere Marathon. You can find out more about their
wonderful work at http://www.brathay.org.uk/
I
would really appreciate your support, whether by digging in your pocket
to help Brathay or following my blog to help keep me motivated, or even
by bringing your running shoes/hiking boots down to Devon to join me
for part of the route; Your company, whether virtual or actual will be
much appreciated on this long journey!
Thanks for taking the time to visit my page and read about my challenge.
Laura
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
