Grantham Running Club’s Paul Rushworth accomplished a long held ambition by completing the Long Distance Walkers Association’s flagship 100 mile event.
The ‘Elephant Bear and Bull 100’ began in south Birmingham and visited Stratford Upon Avon, Warwick, Kenilworth, Coventry and Meridan in the heart of England, before returning back to Birmingham via the Grand Union Canal.
It was Paul’s 4th attempt at the Distance after he retired from the event in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The event took place on a humid Bank Holiday weekend making the trails dry which caused blisters and mild dehydration from the 50 mile point. Paul maintained a good pace through the coolness of the night but began to struggle after the sun rose on the second day.
Paul was reduced to a walk which got increasingly slower in the final 20 miles, but was elated to cross the finish line in 28 hours and 4 minutes.