FEATURED ENTRY
Day ,
Around Britain
Anthony Taylor's account of his travels around the British coastline
Back in 1999 I was enthusiastic about ultra running. I'd completed the Marathon des Sables that year and wanted to keep fit enough to run other such events. I also hoped one day to complete the 145 mile Grand Union Canal Race within the 45 hour time limit. My training needed to be more interesting so that I'd do more of it. I decided to run along the coastline from Brighton heading eastwards.
Train services to all parts of the south east coast were excellent so I was able to do sections without having to stay away from my home in London. Apart from one night spent in a hotel in Dymchurch, Kent I never needed to stay away until I was into Norfolk. My then partner (now wife Polly) lived in Woodbridge, Suffolk which made this possible.
Once I reached Yorkshire the length of the journey made it essential that I found accommodation for at least one night and covered more ground each trip to justify travelling so far. By the time I reached north Scotland (beyond Inverness) I was taking up to a day and a half to reach my starting point. Then I was away for several days at a time.
Initially I kept a record of each outing just for my own reference. Later sections of Around Britain were published in Trailrunner magazine, the voice of the Trail Running Association. I then took trouble to edit the text and endeavoured to make my travels as interesting as I could. Inevitably there are days when not much happens. However, the reader who perseveres might find some of my experiences interesting and, perhaps, amusing.
Anthony Taylor
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