in association with

presents a 24hr 105mile Ultra  charity Run

in aid of Jonathon Brough

on the 24th/25th May 2008

Stroud runners attempt four marathons in one day
 Click to sponsor at www.justgiving.com/cotswoldwayultra or download a sponsorship form here

Cotswold Way Ultra – Four marathons in a day!!

Inspired by last years successful accomplishment by Martin Humphries, three more Stroud club runners will be attempting to complete the entire Cotswold Way in under 24 hours for local charities. 

Starting in Chipping Campden at 10pm on Saturday 24th May, Kevin Stroud, Dave Burton, and Martin Beale will run 105 miles (the equivalent of four back-to-back marathons) while ascending over 14,000 feet of hills.  Kevin has flown especially over from Illinois, USA to take part in this challenge. 

The trio will be joined and supported by other club runners at various stages enroute to Bath during the following 24 hours.  Three less experienced club runners will also be attempting to cover half of the route (Chipping Campden to Stroud) in less than 12 hours. 

Stroud and District AC are organising this event to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust, and for Jonathan Brough, a 20 year old club member who has been left paralysed after contracting Meningitis last year.

The Meningitis Trust is a registered charity that provides support for around 20,000 people each year through a 24 hour helpline (0800 0281828), professional counselling service, financial grants, home visits, one-to-one contact and community support that improves the quality of life.

Stroud AC are looking for corporate and individual sponsors who would like to give to this worthy cause.  You can sponsor the runners by visiting their online fundraising page www.justgiving.com/cotswoldwayultra, or contact Kenny Roberts on 01453 762626 for further details.

 

Who are these runners - the mad ones to attempt 105miles??

Kevin Stroud

Kevin Stroud, age 42, joins us from Danville, Illinois and is an avid runner for more than 25 years – having finished more than 20 marathons and ultra-marathons, including multiple appearances at The Boston Marathon and a 100 miles fell race in less than 24 hours through the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. 

Kevin has traced his genealogy to the Gloucestershire area more than 400 years ago and, through the magic of the Internet, found and joined the Stroud and District Athletic Club.  He will be accompanied by his 11 year old daughter, Sarah, and they are looking forward to experiencing The Cotswold Way and their ancestral homeland.

more photos of Kevin

Martin Beale

Martin is  a keen fell runner and trail runner (as well as being a climber and a caver)

He has completed the Bob Graham round (Lake District: 65 miles, 9000m) in under 19 hours and 8 Mountain Marathons (Karrimor & OMM)

- He has  ran the Ultra Trail Tour du Mont Blanc race in 2007 (100 miles, 9000m ascent) and am entered in 2008

Also is a member of Team Vasque and running in the Vasque UK ultra trail running series (www.runfurther.com). In which he was runner-up in the series last year

Dave Burton

Dave was originally a member of Dursley & District AC, but joined Stroud in 2006.

Although, now residing in The Lake District, he is still a member of Stroud & District AC (Cumbrian Branch).

He has competed in 6 ultra marathons, with a 50k PB of 3 hours 39 minutes, 2.58 at London & 3.03 for the Snowdonia Marathon. The latter I consider my best ever marathon. Although it's a road race there's about 1800ft of ascent over the course & it's graded as a +8 minutes marathon course by BARR (British Association of Road Races). In 2007 he ran, together with 5 members of Gloucester AC,  the 85 mile route of Hadrians Wall within 24 hours.

He is now living in the Lake district and this race will be ideal preparation for his first Bob Graham Fell running round  attempt!