There are runs, then there are runs

Above: The Nixons at Hyde Park Corner in their 1903 Darracq on the London to Brighton run.

Steve Nixon enjoys going for a relaxing run – whether driving his veteran car or wearing running shoes.

He will need to go the extra mile when he attempts to run the length of Hadrian’s Wall in aid of East Cheshire Hospice in June.

The gruelling 70-mile adventure will be the toughest challenge yet for Steve who warmed up last weekend by competing in the Madrid marathon.

Steve and wife Beverley often enjoy driving through Macclesfield in their dark green 1913 Model T Ford and their 1903 Darracq which has been used by the Tytherington couple for the London to Brighton Run. However, the two motoring masterpieces will stay in the garage when Steve undertakes his epic run from Carlisle Castle to Newcastle.

Instead, Beverley will drive their Ford Fiesta as support vehicle, aiming to call at five pit stops along the way.

Steve said: “I’ll need some moral support, plus new socks no doubt! The route is a mixture of roads, paths and cross-country. It starts at 7am with a 26-hour limit and I aim to complete the course in under 18 hours, hopefully with a westerly wind to push me along.”

Steve, a semi-retired business executive, has run marathons in 10 different locations, including Paris and Athens. The Lisbon race is on his schedule for October, while his first was in London in 2013.

He said: “I’ve had a few relatives and friends pass through the Hospice which is why my Hadrian’s Wall run is for them. They’re a local charity and gave me my first entry to the London marathon so I’ve always felt a certain allegiance to the Hospice.

“A lot of those supporting me also have some connection to the charity. The furthest I’ve run before is 35 miles over the hilly Gritstone Trail. The Wall, as it is known, is twice as far with a total climb of almost 4,000 feet.

“I wanted to do something big for my next challenge. Like any marathon, it’ll be more mental than physical. Keeping moving and staying focused will be hard work.

“Unlike the city marathons the 1,500 runners will be spread out so I may run many miles on my own before reaching the next pit stop.”

* To sponsor Steve visit https://shorturl.at/htwCR