My Ultra Marathon Journey: Lessons from 95 Miles on the West Highland Way

Ultra Marathon Inspiration: Mark’s West Highland Way Challenge Ten years after losing his son, Mark completed the 150km West Highland Way ultra marathon, raising over £9,000 for charity. Listen to his inspirational running story and discover how he conquered this gruelling endurance challenge from start to finish.

If you'd like to support Mark here's his fundraising page

This is the charity that he is supporting sands.org.uk

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PODCAST NOTES

Keywords

running, fundraising, West Highland Way Race, marathon, endurance, charity, community support, recovery, training, personal journey

Summary

In this episode, Tim Rogers interviews Mark Doris, who shares his inspiring journey of running and fundraising for the charity Sands in memory of his stillborn son. Mark recounts his experience in the challenging West Highland Way Race, discussing the physical and mental hurdles he faced, including extreme heat and fatigue. He reflects on the importance of community support in his fundraising efforts, which raised over £9,000, and shares his plans for future races, including the London Marathon. Mark emphasises the significance of raising awareness for baby loss and the impact of his journey on others.

Takeaways

Mark has been running seriously for 10 years to fundraise for Sands. The West Highland Way Race had a high dropout rate due to heat and fatigue. Mark lost over 14 litres of fluid during the race. He faced challenges with appetite and fuelling in the heat. Community support played a crucial role in his fundraising success. Mark raised over £9,000 for Sands, totalling nearly £27,000 over 10 years. He plans to organise a local ribbon run for Baby Loss Awareness Week. Mark's recovery was surprisingly quick after the race. He aims to complete the London Marathon in under 3 hours 30 minutes. Mark emphasises the importance of raising awareness for baby loss. 

Titles

Running for a Cause: Mark's Inspiring Journey The Trials of the West Highland Way Race

Sound bites

"I was literally sleeping on my feet." "I raised over £9,000 this time." "The shy children don't get sweets."

Chapters

00:00 Mark's Journey into Running and Fundraising 02:19 The Challenge of the West Highland Way Race 08:33 Navigating the Race: Strategies and Struggles 10:45 Crossing the Finish Line: A Hard-Earned Victory 12:03 Fundraising Success and Community Support 17:14 Recovery and Future Aspirations 21:44 Planning for the London Marathon and Beyond