South Shields ultrarunner completes 100 miles in under 24 hours and smashes fundraising target to support North East guide dog charity
Manager of Jarrow’s Lakeside Inn, Carl Mowatt, 57, from South Shields, ran the 100-mile route around the North East in 22 hours and 29 minutes, raising a total £10,421 for The Newcastle Guide Dogs Mobility Unit.
The run saw Carl start in South Shields before working his way round South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, County Durham and Sunderland.
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Hide AdThis is Carl’s second 100-mile run in five months as he continues his support for blind and partially sighted people in the North East, having completed the challenge in October 2020.
Speaking after the grueling challenge, he said: “There were a couple of moments where I struggled and found it difficult but you’ve just got to keep going and be strong enough to get through it.
“I had fantastic support throughout the whole thing, I’ve never known anything like it. The support team I had around me was amazing from start to finish.”
Runners from his various clubs, including Shields Harriers, Jarrow and Hebburn Athletic, and Vegan Runners UK, all joined him for stages of the event.
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Hide AdCarl is also hoping to make the mammoth challenge an annual event from next year, with plans to get more people involved when coronavirus restrictions are eased.
Together, the two runs have raised enough money to fund the training of two guide dogs for people in need, with the first, Andy, already undergoing guide dog training.
The Newcastle Guide Dogs Mobility Unit supports blind and partially sighted people across the North East and currently have around 250 guide dogs supporting residents.
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Hide AdIn the past, Carl’s charity efforts have seen him run the length of the Roman Wall, completed challenges in the Swiss Alps, and taken on the Cheviot Goat winter ultramarathon in Northumberland.
He has helped a number of charities, including other fundraisers for Guide Dogs, and raising money for Cancer Connections.