7 Weeks To GO

Weekly Countdown Update
7 Weeks (49 Days) to Go – North Coast 500

Back by popular request: the weekly summary and countdown to the big run! With just seven weeks remaining until I take on the North Coast 500, everything is beginning to feel very real.

When I use “we,” it’s a conscious choice—while I may be the one doing the running, this challenge is very much a team effort. I couldn’t do it without the support around me.

This past week brought a major milestone: we’ve received official confirmation that the run will be recognised as both a Guinness World Record attempt and a Fastest Known Time (FKT) challenge. I’ve been working on the Guinness World Records approval since September, and honestly, I’d nearly given up on it—so to have that finally come through is incredible.

Training-wise, my long run this week was much more strategic and tailored to the demands of the North Coast 500. We trialled a structure of 25 minutes jogging followed by 5 minutes power walking. It was mentally challenging—not being able to settle into my usual flow, and knowing I wouldn’t cover the same distance or pace as I typically would. But this isn’t about a “normal” run; this is about preparing for something entirely different.

I also began testing the fuelling strategy I plan to use during the attempt: consuming 400 calories per hour. Mentally, that’s been tough to get used to—especially trying it out on a four-hour Monday morning run—but I know it’s essential for endurance over five and a half days.

In other news, because I clearly didn’t have enough on my plate, I completed a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences this week—something I’m incredibly passionate about.

On the logistical side, I’ve been working on delegating more of my ever-growing to-do list to my amazing team. Letting go of some of that control has proven harder than I expected. We also had some media plans fall through, which was more disappointing than I anticipated. Unfortunately, hiring a dedicated media team for the full attempt isn’t financially feasible right now—but the priority remains getting the run done.

As the start date approaches, it’s getting harder to visualise what this challenge will actually feel like. On paper, five and a half days looks tough but doable. I know, though, that the reality will be far more intense. I can’t yet imagine what state I’ll be in—physically or mentally—by the end of it, but I know this will be one hell of a journey.