Ewan "Forest" Gordon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My JOGLE started off as a dream, a dream about what is possible if you push the ordinary human body to the limits. I hold down a normal job and am an every day Marathon runner just like everyone else, but something special happened to me when I started a campaign called Running for Thomas Laurie. Thomas passed away aged 9 in February 2014 from complications from Cockayne Syndrome and I have run for him since 2013, for four Charities. Dressed as Forrest Gump.

 

I first started distance training as a challenge doing 42 Marathons a day, back to back and covering 1,050 miles in the hottest part of the year. The timing was not mine, it was dictated by my employers as I was taking 6 weeks leave in one hit and this has an effect on other staff. One advantage of running at this time of year is sunlight, lots of it.

 

I started JOGLE with a 34 mile run south towards Wick and down the A9, which is well known as the fastest route South. It's a wide enough road but you will be tormented by many timber trucks, so please take it easy, run on the tight hand side and don't be afraid to step out of the way. You finally get off the notorious A9 at Dornoch, I remember ringing my Mum and telling her I was okay, it was a relief to get that far.

 

There is a cycle route number 1 to pick from Tain and this will take you onto side roads towards Inverness and off the even busier A9, well worth keeping an eye out for this. From Inverness I went cross country using the Great Glen Way towards Fort Augustus and Fort William. My advice to you is get a good guide of this route, every guidebook is written for walkers going the opposite way and the signposts are set up this way. Once you get to Fort Augustus it's very flat and easy to navigate.

 

The West Highland Way is a joy, I did it in 4 days, I would recommend either the Kingshouse Hotel and the Inversnaid Bunkhouse, which is above the Hotel (call the Bunkhouse from the Hotel, they will pick you up)

 

From Glasgow the route is the same for everyone, the cycle route south is swamped with LEJOG cyclists, who are so happy to meet and share stories.

 

Once over the border, the same route continues until you get close to Preston, at this point I diverted towards Liverpool and crossed on the ferry, but most Trekkers head towards Chester and travel south hugging the Welsh/English border. I crossed into Wales near Mold and travelled most of Offa’s Dyke Path towards Chepstow to cross the old Severn Bridge. In high winds this is closed, so be careful, but it's a nice run back into Blighty.

 

From Bristol I ran south to Burnham On Sea and headed towards Minehead, avoid the A39 into Minehead as its very unforgiving. From Minehead I took the South West Coast Path all the way to the finish.

 

My advice to any End to Ender on foot is this. The same advice I took from my friend Rob Young MarathonManUK. Split every day into two, smash out the first 2/3rds and use the last 1/3 to cool down, drop your speed and remember you have to run tomorrow at the same pace.

 

Do not worry about blisters, take compeeds and plasters, but your feet will acclimatise and you will be blister free at the end. Take a Tennis Ball with you, I drew a smiley face on mine and called him ‘Wilson’, always massage the soles of your feet every night and use the ball on your legs to iron out any knots.

 

When you arrive at Lands End there is apparently a book to sign at the monstrosity that is the Carnival at Lands End, I didn't sign it! I'm a Christian, God made the end to end, he knows I did it and so does the special little Angel, Thomas who inspired me all the way. No one owns JOGLE or LEJOG, it's is ours to conquer and ours to embrace.

 

Good Luck Rich, God speed to you and every blessing from Forrest Gump.