What did you do? 😲
In 2019, I ran 2,352 miles (the equivalent of 90 marathons) across Britain – completely barefoot 🏃♀️✨
I started in the Shetland Islands and finished five months later in London, weaving my way along rugged coastlines, small villages, moors, beaches, farmland, and even the occasional beautiful A-road 🌊🏞️
I faced many challenges and setbacks along the way, but what kept me going through the tough moments was my mission to deliver motivational talks to over 1,700 young women 💪🎤
And I was also joined by more than 2,500 local runners over 148 days on the road, while the kind British public passed my kit bag along like a giant baton 🔥
It was a story that reached over 100 million people through international media, and without a doubt, the toughest and most incredible journey of my life 🌟
“I had no idea if it was even possible 😅 Perhaps it was the most ridiculous idea I’d ever had. No one could have predicted what would happen to my body or where I would hit my limit” 💭
Why on earth? 🌍
I believe there’s more magic inside every one of us than we could ever imagine ✨
Adventures are my personal way of unlocking that magic. I knew I had to stand on the start line of this journey feeling 50% terrified and 50% excited 😬💪
There had to be a chance of failure, because when you feel that way, something truly awesome is about to happen 🎯
As always, the barefoot run was a huge experiment – and I shared it as openly as possible with young people and adults along the way. The story spread widely across local, national, and international media, culminating in an interview on BBC Breakfast 📺
Questions ❓
“Adventures are all about a quest for growth 🌱
I figured that if I was going to stand in front of young girls across the UK and encourage them to take on challenges they thought were just beyond their reach – then I had to be on that journey too” 💫
Did you run a barefoot marathon every day? 🏃♀️
The total distance was equivalent to 90 barefoot marathons, but to keep it realistic, I started steady and gradually built up my daily mileage. Sometimes I ran a full marathon in a day, and sometimes less. On average, I ran about 21 miles on running days.
Where did you sleep? 🏠
All along the way, the kind people of the UK welcomed me and looked after me. Strangers became friends, they hosted me, fed me (and washed me 😅), and helped pass my main bag from place to place. I got to know the people of the UK as well as I did the landscape.
How fast did you run? ⏱️
Each marathon took me around 6 hours to complete. On flat, beautiful ground, I could finish in 4 hours, but if I hit gravel and was tired (which was often), it slowed me down a lot. I ran at what’s called “adventure pace,” so people of all abilities could join in. And honestly? I loved stopping for tea and cake 😌
Did you have any injuries? 🩹
LOADS. Dozens of tiny nicks and scrapes on my feet – I got used to those. But at 1,000 miles, I had a really serious injury that put me off my feet for two weeks and on antibiotics. It was a terrifying time. Even so, just one major injury over more than 2,300 miles? Well done, human body 👏
Were you raising money?
Honestly, I’m not great at fundraising. I’ve done it before, but I feel I can give back in better ways. I work as a motivational speaker and author, so I decided to give back through stories and talks and raise awareness for Girlguiding instead, since they’re always in need of volunteers.
If even one girl felt empowered by my stories and decided to take on her own challenge, then all the effort was worth it. The campaign reached over 100 million people, so the mission was accomplished 🎯
Are you going to write a book about the experience? 📖
Hell yes. Absolutely. Adventure. Write. Adventure. Repeat. That’s me.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and sign up to the mailing list to be among the first to know when the book is released.
How did you prepare to run 90 barefoot marathons?
I don’t think anyone can fully prepare for something like that – it would be madness 😅
But I was as ready as I could be. I’d been running in minimalist shoes for four years, and in the 18 months leading up to the run, I gradually transitioned to thin socks, then completely barefoot. Even then, the challenge was huge, and some terrains like gravel were pure hell. But in the end? My feet were strong like panther paws 🐆
Did you think it was possible? 🌙
Yes, I believed it was possible. But I also knew there was a huge chance of failure. My goal was 100 marathons, and I reached 90. From my perspective? I aimed for the stars and landed on the moon ✨
What was your mum’s reaction? 👩👧
She thinks I’m crazy. But honestly? She’s crazy too, and she raised me to believe in what’s possible instead of focusing on what’s not. So in the end… it’s all because of her 😄
Barefoot Britain Gallery 🇬🇧🏃♀️
Comment (0)