Post by neil6147 on Mar 17, 2007 0:48:00 GMT 10
RUNNING a marathon and a half would be enough of a challenge for most people.
But Edinburgh man Stuart Christie is planning to do it every day for three weeks in a bid to jog from Land's End to John O' Groats.
He aims to cover up to 40 miles a day in his epic trek from one end of the country to the other, raising £10,000 for charity in the process.
The Edinburgh University porter is a keen runner but has no prior experience of ultra-long distance events - although he did complete the same route on two wheels in 1995.
"It was horrendous on a bike - God knows what it will be like running," he said.
"I've done a couple of marathons and about 16 half-marathons, but nothing like this.
"I've been running for about 20 years and I've always aspired to do this. When I started running people said I would never be able to complete it, but that just made me want to do it more.
"Only 100 people, at most, in the world have run from Land's End to John O' Groats."
If all goes well, Stuart will complete his 837-mile run on June 30, ten days before celebrating his 40th birthday at home in Clermiston. The money he raises will go to Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer Scotland, Enable Scotland, and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association.
He has been completing marathon-length training runs around the Capital in preparation for his long and lonely slog through England and Scotland.
He plans to have two or three volunteers follow him in a car and caravan, in which he will sleep each night.
But he is hoping somebody will be willing to lend him the caravan, as food, petrol and missed wages mean his own costs are already running into thousands of pounds.
Two years ago, when he was cycling in aid of Cancer Research UK, his back-up team proved invaluable when they stopped him taking a wrong turn and ending up on a motorway.
"I was going down the approach road when my mate shouted, 'Stuart!' I realised what was happening just in time and turned back up the approach road," he said.
He plans to follow a similar route this time - hopefully steering clear of the M6.
From Lands End he will head to Taunton; skirt the Welsh border; head north to Preston; go through the Lake District; into Scotland and to Lockerbie; to Penicuik and on to Carnoustie; before the final leg up to John O' Groats.
Stuart, who has been struggling with a minor Achilles injury but expects to be running again tomorrow, said: "I think the hardest part will be Devon and Cornwall. There are massive hills there -when I cycled it, it was a nightmare.
"The bike ride was easy compared to what this will be like. Mentally its going to be tough. I can imagine having run 300 miles and thinking I've got another 537 still to go.
"I will be missing my home comforts, living in a caravan, I can't imagine how I'll be feeling.
"Physically, blisters should not be a problem, I've been running up to 170 miles a week in training, so the soles of my feet have toughened up.
"But there's knee injuries, shin splints and ankle problems, and the possibility of sun burn - I will have to spend a fortune on protection.
"But I believe when I reach John O' Groats it will be one of the greatest feelings of my life."
Three of the four charities are of particular significance to Stuart. One of his grandmothers had Alzheimer's, another died of cancer and almost exactly a year ago he lost a close friend to heart disease.
Please check out the following websites for more information.
stuartsbigrun.wetpaint.com
www.justgiving.com/STUARTSBIGRUN
When I know the day Stuart Christie is in my area I shall do my best to get out and support him and get photos for you all.
Neil
But Edinburgh man Stuart Christie is planning to do it every day for three weeks in a bid to jog from Land's End to John O' Groats.
He aims to cover up to 40 miles a day in his epic trek from one end of the country to the other, raising £10,000 for charity in the process.
The Edinburgh University porter is a keen runner but has no prior experience of ultra-long distance events - although he did complete the same route on two wheels in 1995.
"It was horrendous on a bike - God knows what it will be like running," he said.
"I've done a couple of marathons and about 16 half-marathons, but nothing like this.
"I've been running for about 20 years and I've always aspired to do this. When I started running people said I would never be able to complete it, but that just made me want to do it more.
"Only 100 people, at most, in the world have run from Land's End to John O' Groats."
If all goes well, Stuart will complete his 837-mile run on June 30, ten days before celebrating his 40th birthday at home in Clermiston. The money he raises will go to Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer Scotland, Enable Scotland, and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association.
He has been completing marathon-length training runs around the Capital in preparation for his long and lonely slog through England and Scotland.
He plans to have two or three volunteers follow him in a car and caravan, in which he will sleep each night.
But he is hoping somebody will be willing to lend him the caravan, as food, petrol and missed wages mean his own costs are already running into thousands of pounds.
Two years ago, when he was cycling in aid of Cancer Research UK, his back-up team proved invaluable when they stopped him taking a wrong turn and ending up on a motorway.
"I was going down the approach road when my mate shouted, 'Stuart!' I realised what was happening just in time and turned back up the approach road," he said.
He plans to follow a similar route this time - hopefully steering clear of the M6.
From Lands End he will head to Taunton; skirt the Welsh border; head north to Preston; go through the Lake District; into Scotland and to Lockerbie; to Penicuik and on to Carnoustie; before the final leg up to John O' Groats.
Stuart, who has been struggling with a minor Achilles injury but expects to be running again tomorrow, said: "I think the hardest part will be Devon and Cornwall. There are massive hills there -when I cycled it, it was a nightmare.
"The bike ride was easy compared to what this will be like. Mentally its going to be tough. I can imagine having run 300 miles and thinking I've got another 537 still to go.
"I will be missing my home comforts, living in a caravan, I can't imagine how I'll be feeling.
"Physically, blisters should not be a problem, I've been running up to 170 miles a week in training, so the soles of my feet have toughened up.
"But there's knee injuries, shin splints and ankle problems, and the possibility of sun burn - I will have to spend a fortune on protection.
"But I believe when I reach John O' Groats it will be one of the greatest feelings of my life."
Three of the four charities are of particular significance to Stuart. One of his grandmothers had Alzheimer's, another died of cancer and almost exactly a year ago he lost a close friend to heart disease.
Please check out the following websites for more information.
stuartsbigrun.wetpaint.com
www.justgiving.com/STUARTSBIGRUN
When I know the day Stuart Christie is in my area I shall do my best to get out and support him and get photos for you all.
Neil