https://cornwallmind.org/
https://youtu.be/WOzeXN2cd20

On 31st January and 1st February I'll be taking on Mudcrew's Arc of Attrition. This brutal race is run on the South West Coast Path from Coverack to Porthtowan. With a cut-off time of 36 hours and periodic cut-offs along the route, it is the toughest ultramarathon in the South West. It has an average DNF rate of 54%, although it has been as high as 75% in years with bad weather.

It won't be my first attempt at the Arc. Last year after 21 hours and 68 miles I was forced to stop with an ankle injury. I was in a right state both physically and emotionally! This year I'm hoping to go 32 miles further to the end. I still have no idea if it is possible for me to finish. I am currently training in the region of 40-50 miles a week and have completed four ultramarathons this year in preparation, including in Exmoor and Dorset. That said, I don't think you can really train to run 100 miles in one go or prepare yourself for the mental challenge that kicks in on such a demanding race. Luckily I will have my wife Chloe and brother in law Chris 'crewing' and without them it definitely would not be possible for me to contemplate achieving this. 

I run mainly to deal with anxiety and stress. I started running on trails and particularly on the coast path, where the emphasis is less on speed and more on connecting with the landscape and myself!  I am raising money for Cornwall Mind to increase mental health awareness, of the support available for mental health conditions in Cornwall and to encourage  interaction with nature and the outdoors, as a means of improving well-being. 

If you'd like to know more about what it's like to run the Arc and what I'm up against, you won't do better than this legendary 15 minute video by ultrarunner Stephen Cousins which he filmed during his 2017 attempt. This was a massive inspiration to me (and others) for taking up trail running and later entering the Arc itself. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_Q-F4I3LU

Thank you for supporting me, my crew and Cornwall Mind. It will help keep me motivated to train and keep us going through the darker moments of the event. You will be able to follow my progress by GPS tracker throughout and any support over the weekend will be hugely welcomed!