The husband-and-wife team of Rob and Katie Harrison from Ripon have completed 10 marathons in 10 days amidst the stunning Cumbrian surroundings of Lake Windermere. Established in 2007, the Brathay 10-in-10 was the world's first 10-marathon stage race of its type, comprising 10 laps of the Windermere Marathon course. This year, the event took place between 1st and 10th May, and the couple's participation has so far raised almost £7,000 for the Brathay Trust, which supports disadvantaged children and young people facing inequality and adversity.
With three children and their own local business, Picture News – a weekly news resource aimed at inspiring children and helping them make sense of the world around them – the couple's passion for long-distance running serves as a valuable way of keeping themselves grounded and finding balance in their busy lives. Dividing their time between homes in Ripon and Spain, Rob and Katie are both proud members of Ripon Runners, representing the club in all the events they participate in.
Katie said: "We both love the marathon distance as it's long enough to really test endurance, but not so long that you can't run again the next day. It always feels like such an incredible achievement. We're not sure of the exact number but we think we've run around 40 to 50 marathons in total."
The couple first became aware of the 10-in-10 event after running the individual Windermere Marathon back in 2017. She added: "This year, as it was the 10th anniversary of founding Picture News – and my 40th birthday too – it felt like a great way to mark the occasion." Working with coach Joe Baker, Rob and Katie gradually built up to running 100 miles a week as the event approached. Katie explains: "Our training included lots of hills, given the undulation of the Windermere Marathon route, and fuelling was really important. We both did a lot of training with gels and other energy sources, so our stomachs could handle it over the 10 days."
Just 19 runners entered for all 10 races, with five of those entrants having to retire through injury part way through – highlighting just how physically gruelling the event is. Katie added: "It felt like being part of a family, given the circumstances and the daunting challenge ahead, and we all bonded very quickly. We ate all our meals together and supported each other before, during and after each of the marathons." To help keep the runners in top condition throughout all 10 races, the event was supported by the University of Cumbria, with each runner paired with a Sports Rehab student for twice-daily massages plus lots of blister taping as the days progressed.
All the careful preparation and training paid off, as Rob and Katie's race results were stunning. The overall event winner, Rob broke the course record by around five minutes, while Katie was the first female finisher, coming third overall and achieving the Vet 40 course record for women aged 40 to 49. Amazingly, the couple completed the 10th marathon in a faster time than the first. Katie said: "The last marathon was very emotional. We all took a victory walk past our families, friends and the support team who were all cheering for us. As a group, we're already planning a potential reunion race in the autumn."
The funds raised by Rob and Katie so far are part of more than £60,000 of race donations to the Brathay Trust, which works to improve the life chances of young people from across the UK, from their school years through to their early careers. The Trust offers residential experiences in the heart of the Lake District, in addition to working within community settings in Bradford and Cumbria.
Looking back on the event, Katie reflected on the true spirit of running: "When you're really tested to your limits and going through lots of highs and lows – the support and kindness of others is often the only thing that will get you through. While running is often seen as a solitary sport, this challenge showed just how connected and supportive the running community really is."
