On Thursday 8th April 2021 at the stroke of midnight, I will begin my solo race around Wales.

The course will start at Saltney/ near Chester by the River Dee on the Welsh/English border and will follow the entire Wales Coast Path (870 miles) to Chepstow, the journey will not end there though as I will continue my solo race from Chepstow along The Offas Dyke Path (177 miles) back to Prestatyn, making a full route around Wales covering around 1,050 miles. The route, will cover pavements, tracks, beaches, trails, hills and mountains, It will be tough underfoot and will also accumulate around 100,000 feet of elevation. This will be the toughest test of endurance and strength that I have ever faced.

In May 2020 we tragically and very suddenly lost my younger Brother Paul to a heart attack. He was just 34 years old, losing him left the whole family and everyone that knew him shocked and heartbroken. Anyone and everyone that knew him knew he had a heart of gold, helping people feel great about themselves and doing the best that he could. The run, this race around Wales, all the miles are for Paul.

Paul had only just begun his running journey and finding his love for running by attending the local Parkruns at Bodelwyddan Castle and then at The Prestayn Nova with myself. You would see him smiling and at The Nova we often stayed for a hot chocolate as well, I had often joked with him about running an ultra with me, The Chester 50 race in particular.

In the last Birthday Card that I received from Paul he wrote:

'To Craig, Run to your hearts content! Love Paul' The card and those words will stay with me for the rest of my life

I'm running Around Wales in Loving Memory of Paul, a loving brother, family member, and friend to so many.

The run is being done for 5 charities which are close to the family and have helped us not only in these hard times but with things in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

The 5 charities are:

The British Heart Foundation,

Alder Hey Childrens Charity,

RAF Association Wings Appeal 2021,

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Cuddles (Special Care Baby Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital)

You can follow my progress and updates with the links below

Tracker Page supplied by GBultras: https://map.racetracker.no/?race=race_around_wales

Facebook: Redtrouserrunner or Craig Mitchley

Instagram: @redtrouserrunner