Louise gets set for an epic coastal run

ATayside personal trainer who saw an epic challenge knocked off course by coronavirus is back on track.

Mental health campaign er Louise Johnstone had planned to take part in this year’s Run North Sea challenge, a gargantuan 3,455-mile run over 100 days along the coasts of Britain, Europe and Scandinavia.

Unfortunately the event fell victim to the pandemic and has been rescheduled for May 2021.

Now Louise hopes her participation in the testing feat will inspire others in the area to get out and about and use fitness and exercise to improve their own wellbeing.

In 2017, Louise created the Heart Tay Heart Dundee mental health awareness week and had hoped this year ’s Run North Sea event would build on that.

“It is now #2021 runnorthsea for me,” she said. “But between now and then I’d really like to focus on bringing the community together while we are socially distant and there are so many ways local businesses, organisations and schools can get involved.”

Louise said: “I know what it ’s like to be struggling, to hit the depths of darkness and feel so alone – I’ve been there and continue to face my own struggles.

“It is so exciting to help others and be a part of something positive when many of us feel alone.

“I completely understand people’s reticence to get involved in exercise and activity, particularly if you have never done it before.

“But I want to help people to see just how exercise and being more active can change their lives. Not just on a physical level but also to our mental health.”

She hopes people will get in touch through her 2021runnorthsea Facebook page or email louisept4u@ yahoo. co. uk to become involved in the local campaign.

Louise added: “It is a lot of mileage and a huge demand on the body and one person.

“The mileage per day is actually being dictated by where cafés or food stops have been located and every seventh day I hope to take a rest day,” she said.

“Naturally, how these work out in reality may change on any given week.

“The terrain , from current research, appears to be very similar across the different countries which is very helpful.

“The biggest challenge will be in Norway with the increasing gradients over the fjords.”

IN TRAINING: Louise hopes her run can inspire others.