We Attempted An Ultramarathon Relay Across The UK

Sarah and Jess take on the challenge of running the length of Hadrian’s Wall - that’s 137km and over 2000m! But they are not alone. 5 of them will take on the challenge together to see how fast they can run the width of the UK as a relay team. But will they complete it or will the epic World Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall defeat them?

↓↓ Do you think they can complete the Wall? Show them your support in the comments below ↓↓

Meet the team:
Jess Furness - IG @jessecafurness
Sarah Hartley - IG @sarah_adventures
Mae Thompson - IG @runwithmae
Sophie Power - IG @ultra_sophie

What’s in this video?
00:00:00 - Taking on the Wall: A Relay Record Attempt
00:03:29 - Sophie Power: From Non-Runner to Ultra Marathon Queen
00:06:43 - Overcoming obstacles while running
00:09:41 - Running along the Wall
00:13:17 - Considerations for Menstrual Cycle in Endurance Sports
00:16:36 - A Joyful Run with Friends
00:19:55 - Running in the Dark
00:23:15 - Running Safety Concerns
00:26:40 - The Challenges of Anticipating Danger
00:27:40 - Can They Do It?

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Read this far? Thanks! Please like this video, SUBSCRIBE and share with your running friends. We would really appreciate it!

[tilda]

I've been harassed on my runs and it's mortifying
A lot of guys are like "just tell them to f off" or to flip them off, but pretty much every woman knows that it could lead to a violent situation where we're bound to lose
It steals our joy, some of it is hard to forget because it intrudes on our private space and our peace
I have a lot of male friends who support my running and who would never act like that towards anyone
We need to stick together and combat the culture of harassing women, telling men who do it that it's making women feel unsafe and that it's not just "a joke"

[robertfarris]

I belong to a running club and we run 10 to 12 races every year. I signed up for an 8 mile run this year that wasn't part of the club. It was hands down the most emotional run I've ever done. Finish Liza's run. Liza was a mother, teacher and avid runner. She was running her home training route and was abducted and murdered. We met up at 4am on a Monday morning and finished her run. Everyone should be able to go for a run, wear what you want and feel free from fear. My hat is off to you.

[chanelcoppard]

One of my favourite videos all year.

You were all outstanding, but it's the stories behind it that do it for me. They just have you nodding along because it's so easy to relate to the being afraid of the dark, or the lack of access to facilities, the harassment.

You've highlighted so many important things whilst doing something difficult at the same time. This is feminism in action - showcasing how women can support women whilst opening important conversations at the same time.

[xxmorancxx]

Hands down my favourite RC video to date! Such a great achievement and the stories that came along with it. On my last run at night, a car passed me 5 times within 20 minutes and sped up each time, I’m sure to intimidate me. I’m scared to run at night again. It only takes one experience to ruin it. Thanks for a great video.

[syeQ]

"Am I running? Does it look like I'm running? I think I'm running."
-That's me every run. 😂

[helenfisher]

I cried 🥹 loved it! I still remember to this day when I was running in broad daylight and a group of lads shouted “check out the a*se on that” and that was 6 years ago. These things stay with you. I truly hope things will change x

[estelleblake]

This video gave me all the necessary motivation and feels for a 54 year old overweight slow runner who will be out in the dark morning tomorrow to compete a training run for me. Thanks ladies for inspiring this older woman.

[thehalfwaypoint]

This was an amazing video for multiple reasons. As women we have this joint understanding and experience of the world and I think it unites us in a way. Although men likely cannot completely understand this experience it still means a lot to have those that do their best to help us feel safe. I was running along a path one afternoon with nobody in sight in either direction except a man walking towards me. The path was very wide and we would have passed each other easily, but he instead chose to step a fair few metres off the path before I got to him to add distance between us, I'm assuming to help me feel at ease/show he wasn't threatening. It's small, but the gesture meant a lot

[morgandoerflein]

I had a man once follow me on his bike for about a km once. I no longer run that route. Thank you for sharing your stories.

[DaveG]

Thank you for an amazing video. I always enjoy these, but I didn’t anticipate the stories shared between the running. So good to hear these experiences and as a male runner it was good for me to learn how others feel. I don’t enjoy running at night myself, but I don’t have to think of the fraction of what is talked about here.

[LadySkyhook]

Ahh, Wonderful Women, thank you so much for this video! First congratulations on your epic run, but second, thank you so much for talking about all of that stuff in your own voices. I can't tell you how long I've been searching for a video just like this. I also feel so much less alone after hearing you tell your own stories. I'm a solo runner (not many running groups where I am) and often need to run in the dark due to work, and winter coming in. It might seem odd that that voices of people I've never met can make me feel like my experiences, doubts and feelings about being a woman runner are valid, but you have. Thank you for being wonderful, and for being honest.

[michellet]

This is such a wonderful video. I loved that everyone got a segment. It was also nice to see everyone cheer each other on while tackling quite a difficult challenge. There was so much joy in a lot of the video while also speaking about the challenges of running and running as a woman especially. The honesty about safety, fear, injury, was something I quite appreciated. Also, love the diversity in everyone's experiences and backgrounds. Personally, the fact that Kalia was there was great. I was inspired and loved all of you but as an Asian woman, I appreciated that.

[dagma]

What an epic video. What beautiful personalities. As a father of a four year old girl this makes me a bit concerned. But thank you for sharing your experiences and bringing to light some of the struggles of being a female athlete. For what it's worth, you will always have an ally in me.

[aroberge]

This is probably my favourite video from The Running Channel. Congratulations to five wonderful women: may you always be safe and enjoy running.

[daynajeffrey]

What a meaningful and important video. Thank you all so much for being brave and sharing your stories. Congrats on the relay achievement too. @TheRunningChannel, please keep making content like this!

[Foxtonked]

I think this is some of the best content youve ever produced! The production values, the story and the human element were a fantastic watch. I also probably learnt somethings as a male runner being able to run whenever/wherever i want within reason

[nataliamartinkova]

Having listened to your stories about assaults on your runs, being physical or verbal, I salute you, city girls. Running is so much harder for you, yet you find the strength and courage to go out on the streets.

[rmjames]

Thankyou SO much for sharing your stories, & for shedding more light on the issues so many women, if not all women face in running (& sport for that matter).🙏🏼 Where I am, it’s rare for me to get even just a couple days of running in without being honked at, yelled at, cat called, jeered etc. I’ve had to change up my routes cause I had a creeper show up on a route that I’d been doing (obviously too) regularly a couple months back. As you said it so well Sarah “we just want to go for a run”.
Not sure what the solution is, but I would hope that with more of us talking about these things, it will eventually change. I related 1 of my experiences to a fellow male runner recently & he was oblivious to this sort of stuff. Of course, he hasn’t had any of the negative experiences I’ve had, & we run in the exact SAME neighbourhood, on the same routes. He was surprised, shocked & horrified.

[TheAnatous]

Congratulations ladies!!! Thank you so much for sharing your stories 
we are not alone.
🦾💪🦾 Bravo!! 💗

[notthatgoodreally]

Quite easily the best Running Channel video so far.
Apart from the obvious fantastic challenge, it was well filmed and very thought provoking.
It’s such a shame that women in sport face so many barriers when all they want to do is train and enjoy themselves.