017: Tom Boother on running from Land's End to John O'Groats

In 2016 Tom Boother ran (yes ran) from Land’s End to John O’Groats (for the non-Brits, that’s bottom left to top right of Great Britain). What is remarkable about Tom is that he classes himself as a non-athlete, and in fairness to his running speeds he isn’t going to threaten Mo Farah anytime soon. BUT for me that is the remarkable thing about Tom, that he has found a way, through his own tenacity, courage, resilience and search for understanding. Inspired to question, “There must be more to life than this”, when taking his law exams (probably enough to push anyone to question their existence), he set about entering the Tour du Mont Blanc and caught the bug and eventually set his sights on running the length of the country.

In this episode we hear about how he hatched the idea, the many trials and tribulation along the way, the serendipity of birthdays and blisters in Bristol, the joys of receiving random acts of kindness along the way and how he is making sense of what he has learned about life and business along the way. I hope you enjoy the listen it was fun to record full of insights.

Show notes

Episode #17
3:30 It was a very long run!
5:00 Racing driver ambitions
6:50 The lawyer and dyslexia combination
8:00 Chamonix Ultra trail inspiration
12:30 Don’t disqualify someone with a sports law degree!
14:07 Chamonix race, bad blisters and a police escort to hospital
16:15 The 2012 Grand Union Canal race
19:30 The beginning of a change, creating a change and pre-event planning
20:45 The appeal of working towards a long term goal
24:45 A nutter in need! Support from the Human Performance Unit, University of Essex
28:20 Beginning the Land’s End – John O’Groats journey
30:45 Statistics – target was 14 days it actually took 15 days, 18 hours and 18 minutes
Averaging 85 kilometers a day the total distance 1400 kilometers
32:30 Blisters…again!
33:30 Preparation, failing, nutrition problems and ramifications of small issues growing
35:00 A stroke of luck – the Queen’s birthday and a podiatrist!
38:00 The kindness of strangers and running through the pain
42:00 Headwind messing with Tom’s head
44:45 Worn through shoes at the Scottish borders
47:00 Sport psychologists, uncomfortable questions and making a commitment
51:50 Support from strangers. The charities Great Ormond Street and EACH East Anglia Children’s Hospices, creating a buzz for a wonderful cause
54:30 Crossing the line at John O’Groats and a cold shower!
56:00 Tom’s seven core principles: Do it, become it, reward and routine, endure the pain (contract of resilience), team, time to quit and desire
1:04:00 The Running Friend, if you can run 3 miles you can run a marathon
1:05:00 Running across America now the naivety has gone?!