News - 22/07/15

Taking on one of Europe’s most difficult 50 mile running and walking trail courses is not everyone’s idea of marking their 50th year. 

CHC Berthing Master and Cowes RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Dave Lewis had a simple explanation for undertaking such a testing undertaking: “I wanted to do something that would really challenge me.” 

This Saturday and Sunday (25th and 26th July) he will be participating in the Lakeland 50 run over a truly arduous course in the Lake District. An indication of just how challenging the event is, is that he will have to contend with approximately 3.100 metres of ascent over rough terrain, sometimes in the dark.

“The course is not marked, so I will have to navigate myself,” said Dave, who lives in Cowes. “Because there is a 24 hour time limit I will have to run through the night which means having a light on my head.

“I am a keen runner but I have not run a marathon since I was 20, so double the distance will really test me, both mentally and physically. I have, though, been preparing by running 30 miles or so a week since last December.”

Travelling with Dave to the Lake District to give him support, and be at the finish at Lake Coniston on Sunday, are wife Helen, and mother and father-in-law, Anne and Hugh Robotham.

Dave is being sponsored through JustGiving, with the money raised to go to the RNLI. As well as having a day job as Berthing Master for Cowes Harbour Authority, he is also a Deputy Launch Authority for Cowes Lifeboat Station.

Anyone wanting to sponsor is asked to do so through justgiving.com/dave-lewis50/ or text Tral50 to 70070.

The organisers of the Lakeland 50 state: “There is nothing ‘easy’ about the event, no matter how well you prepare, but ‘easy’ and ‘achievement’ are rarely part of the same sentence!”

Photo: Dave Lewis on HM1. Credit Nick Edwards