Valiant friends stride out in women’s ultra-marathon challenge
MORE than 500 women from all over the world will be taking part in a female-only 50km ultra-marathon on the Llyn Peninsula this weekend.
The She-Ultra is the first of its kind globally.
The race is just under 32 miles long and has been organised to raise money for various women’s cancer charities. It was set up by race director Huw Williams, who has stage four inoperable neuroendocrine cancer.
The aim is to raise £1m over a five-year period.
Mum-of-two Amelia Shaw, 31, from Pwllheli, will be taking part in the event alongside her childhood friend, Jennie Roberts.
Amelia said: “I never thought in a million years I’d be taking part in something like this. I was never a keen walker, it was always a running joke between Jennie and I that I hated it, whereas she’s always been really into hiking.
“It wasn’t until I set myself a challenge of doing 100 Miles in March last year to raise money for Mind that I realised just how much I did enjoy it, and that I wanted to keep it up.
“We’ve been training by going walking for up to 15 miles at a time and we’ve really enjoyed it. It can be hard to fit training around family life and work, but we’ve found that merging it into our social life has worked. So we’ll go for a long walk and make sure there’s a pub at the end!
“There is no time limit on the race, so it doesn’t matter how long it takes us to complete it. We’ve said we don’t care about the time – it’s a huge achievement for us personally, whether we do it in eight hours or 12 hours.
“There’s celebratory Prosecco at the end too, so I’m sure that will help push us through the pain!”
Jennie, 32, of Morfa Nefyn, added: “It’s a women-only event, which I find really motivating, it’s not about winning, it’s a real personal challenge and chance to empower women to do amazing things for an important cause.
“Being able to do this in my local area, which is undoubtedly beautiful, is an extra bonus.”
Starting in Pwllheli, the women will walk, jog or run towards Llanbedrog, over to Garn Fadryn and then to Botwnnog before finishing in Abersoch. Organiser Huw Williams said: “The whole idea of the She Ultra is that it’s open to all women of all fitness levels.
“We want to encourage, support and break down any preconceived barriers stopping women showing what they are truly capable of. She Ultra believes in supporting one another and that is why this is a fundraiser for women with cancer, women who have a loved one with cancer, and those who have lost someone to it.”