#challengedementia #womeninsport #WomenOver50 #GO100 #MemoryRun

What is the Global Odyssey

In a nutshell:  7  extreme 100k ultra marathons on 7 continents

An extreme global ultra-marathon challenge that pushes the limits of mental & physical strength and endurance.

• 7 x 100k extreme ultra-marathons on the 7 continents
• Antarctica (completed in 2013), South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania
• The aim is to run the remaining 6 in as short a period as possible.
• Each 100k will trail blaze new routes, each challenging in a different way, and a different extreme; hot, cold, desert, altitude, mountains, jungle; testing my strength and ability to the maximum and beyond
• Temperatures ranging from -30 to +30
• 600k / 372 miles in 21 days

Where has it come from?

When asked 3 years ago if I wanted to run a marathon on every continent I said no. Trotting round the world doing big city marathons did not excite me. However once the thought was there in my head it was only a matter of time before a challenge took form. I am at heart an ultra-marathon runner and so why not run  an extreme 100k ultra-marathon on every continent and pick new tough routes and a variety of extreme conditions whilst doing it. It will test my strength, stamina, mental strength and determination to the full. This is an extreme challenge.

This is a true Odyssey focussed on the journey, the challenge and the knowledge that brings rather than it being purely a ‘numbers game’. I want it to have meaning and purpose and, importantly, I want it to connect with the charity that I support: Alzheimer Scotland.  Our strongest memories come from the greatest adventures we have. These will be Memory Runs, creating memories that I will hopefully hold onto for the rest of my life.

Why

There are a number of reasons why including the personal challenge and achievement but here are the main ones:

Since 2013 I have been raising funds for Alzheimer Scotland and it is my aim to raise at least £50k more.

There are 850 thousand people suffering from dementia in the UK, (86 thousand in Scotland), and that will rise to 1m by 2025. Two thirds of sufferers are women. There are 670 thousand carers in the UK. Two thirds of sufferers live in the community. The funds that I raise for Alzheimer Scotland are allocated to community based project that provide much needed support to sufferers and just as importantly their carers.

I aim to link up with worldwide dementia organisations en route and to carry the message of support round the globe to support those suffering from dementia.

Additionally, I want to show that gender and age should not be, and are not barriers to setting and achieving challenges. I aim to inspire women not only to see what they can achieve, but also to encourage them to take up sport; to see the benefits of a healthy life style. Running or walking on a regular basis protects memory retention and brain growth. Exercise improves bone density too.

How the money is spent

My previous challenges have all be self-funded, but for a project of this scale I need support.

This campaign is to raise £20k which will enable me to undertake the Global Odyssey 100 with a basic support crew.

• Race set up, support and logistics 70%
• Air & road travel 20%
• Location support 5%
• Kit (shoes, clothing, specialist nutrition) 5%

Who am I?

I may not look like your image of an ultra-marathon runner and yes I am an ordinary woman fitting training and racing around full-time work and family life; but I am an ordinary woman with an extraordinary passion for running, adventure, pushing the limits, breaking down barriers and defying stereotypes.  I am a proud wife and mother.
I works full-time as a freelance Business Consultant and Project Manager so have the skills to organise this. I fly the flag for the older woman and the older runner.

Coming to running late, in my mid thirties, I started with a 10k with aim of raising funds for my local hospital. Training for a 10k was all that I could fit into my life back then. As my children grew older and more independent I began to stretch my wings, upping the training time and distance gradually moving up to half marathon and marathon when I turned 40 after saying that only lunatics ran marathons. An ultra-marathon in 2010 and then in 2013 as I turned 50 more ultra-marathons and what then seemed like the ultimate challenge a marathon and an ultra-marathon in Antarctica.

Here are some highlights from my running track record:

2017

• The Namibian Sand Marathon & Genghis Khan Ice Marathon, 1st woman in both races and 1st person to complete the double event.

2015

• North Pole Marathon run in -41, 4^th woman
• West Highland Way Race, 95 miles from Milngavie (Glasgow) to Fort William
• Glenmore 24 hr Trail Race where I ran 100 miles

2014

• Volcano Marathon 3rd woman
• Glenmore 24 hr Trail Race where I ran 95.6 miles

2013

• Antarctic Ice Marathon 4th Woman
• Antarctic Ice 100k 1st woman, 3rd overall

My next step

Is to continue the planning and also my training to prepare my body for the challenges to come; to be able to run long distances close together and in mixed and extreme environments.