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

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