I'm hoping to run an actual ULTRA MARATHON on 13th April 2024 - the day before my birthday.

My ULTRA is 50km, or 34miles. It’s off road. Up and around the Yorkshire Dales. It’s called the Skipton Skedaddle. It will be hilly, and hard and the views will be spectacular . I’ll likely cry a bit and I don’t think I’ve trained enough/ properly for it. I’ll show up though and give it my all and it would mean a lot if you could support me.

I am lucky, I have more than one place I call home. My homes are places filled with love and laughter, not abuse and control. I have the freedom to be myself, go where I want and do the things that make me happy.

In March 2023 my Mam died and my homes were changed forever, they are now missing something, but they are still safe and full of kindness and compassion and love. My Mam (and Dad!) masterfully created a safe home for me. What a privilege.

For people who don't have happy and safe homes, people experiencing domestic abuse, it is hard to be hopeful. Organisations such as IDAS are therefore essential. IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting anyone experiencing or affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence. I will be fundraising for them as part of my ULTRA challenge. They provide refuge support, access to a free, confidential out-of-hours helpline, outreach services and specialist support through the criminal justice system.

A little running backstory: I started running in 2021. Prior to this I had been advised not to run given that it would likely be too painful because I have a chronic neurological condition. It does hurt a bit sometimes, but I’m good at managing the pain and in that first month of proper running back in 2021, I completed a challenge to run the virtual distance between my homes (81 miles) across the month of January. I somehow smashed it, did over one hundred miles, and raised £1400 - my mam was incredibly proud. Since then I’ve ran quite a few half marathons and one real life road marathon of 26miles, and that was proper git hard!! I’ve no idea how I take on 34 miles if I’m honest!

I’ll be sharing it all on my insta - @miles_up_north - if you like that kinda thing

I love nowt more than a joint playlist - whack a couple on here if you fancy, or none Spotify users tell me a couple of tracks and I’ll add on your behalf:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mrQ6qesfDeBwErGf4RYep?si=NLs8cavSTge7F0P9Fb9duw&pi=e--PtM66q1TFGE

🧡