My 10in10 Challenge: 10 Windermere Marathons in 10 Years by Graham Grout

10 marathons in 10 consecutive days? Not for me! I’m full of admiration for those who take on the 10 in 10, and for all the fund-raising they do, but for me doing just one marathon is a big enough challenge! Having said that, all being well, this year will see the conclusion of what became my own personal challenge to complete 10 Brathay marathons… in 10 years! My efforts have been motivated by my dear friend Sue - starting with my first ever marathon in 2015 when she was diagnosed with cancer. Throughout her treatment, her positivity, amazing sense of humour, and unrelenting focus on what she could do rather than what she couldn’t do, have been inspirational to me in returning to Brathay each year. Sue sadly passed away a couple of days after I entered for this year’s event, my tenth.

So this one is particularly special.

Brathay meant a lot to Sue, and to her husband Paul, who once again will be part of the crew supporting the event. I’m sure everyone who takes part will appreciate what a great job everyone at Brathay do in organising the event. And special thanks from me to Scott Umpleby, Race Director, for setting me off and checking me back in for my solo run in the Covid year of 2020 when the mass event had to be cancelled.

So this one’s for Sue, and to mark the occasion I’m looking to raise a few pounds for Brathay Trust, a registered charity, to support the positive impact they have in giving thousands of young people new development opportunities to make the best of life.

Donate here: www.justgiving.com/page/graham-grout-10in10

And for all those running this year I’ll share the words of encouragement from the last birthday card that Sue sent me:

Run like hell and get the agony over with.

Donate to Graham's fundraiser at: www.justgiving.com/page/graham-grout-10in10