A few weeks ago, whilst out on a run near home, I started to hatch a plan. It may have been the cold affecting my brain, but I thought about it for almost 6 miles of running, then did a bit of research when I got home. I asked a few of my running friends what they thought, and was amazed at how supportive everyone was for what I initially thought was a bit of a mad idea.
I think I would like to run all the way around Wales. Not all at once, bit by bit. Along the Wales Coastal Path (it goes past my house) and then Offa's Dyke.
It would be a long-term 'project' - over a year and quite likely a whole lot more. A day here and a weekend there.
All the routes are online, broken into manageable chunks with easily accessible start and finish points. I've walked many of them with my hubby and the kids.
Lots of people have offered to run bits with me, drop me off and pick me up again at various points, and have given me lots of helpful advice and ideas.
It's over 1000 miles altogether, so I'd like to try and raise £1000 for charity (still narrowing down which charity to raise money for).
I plan to start at the beginning of the Wales Coast Path (in Chester!!!) at the beginning of 2015, and have a rough plan for the first year or so.
I'm going to try to incorporate some races into my journey, the first being Anglesey Half Marathon on March 1st. I also have my eye on the Vale of Glamorgan Coastal Challenge when I'm down that end of the country. Hopefully there'll be a few more races I can combine with my challenge (and get some extra bling!)
It's not a new challenge. On the Wales Coast Path website, I read about an amazing lady, Arry Beresford-Web who ran both paths around Wales in 2012 - in 41 consecutive days. Wow! What an inspiration!
I'll post after each section I run, with photos, distances and a bit of a write up, maybe a bit of video as well.
I'm not sure if I'll ever make it all the way around Wales, but even the longest journey had got to start somewhere.
Wish me luck...
