Meet the Leeds man taking on a brutal ultramarathon where most entrants don't make it to the finish line
“It’s going to be an experience I’ve never had before”
A Leeds man is set to take on a mammoth ultramarathon across the Lake District to raise money to support Martin House Children’s Hospice.
Ryan Morris will run over 180km in the Altra 13 Valleys Ultra, a multi-day event which begins in Keswick on September 25.
The endurance event ranks alongside some of the toughest ultra running tests in the world as it challenges participants to complete a 184.3km route in 46.5 hours or less.
Last year, 78 people completed the Altra 13 Valleys Ultra, just 40% of the race’s total participants.
Though it’s the hardest challenge he has ever taken on, Ryan is determined to make it to the end.
“Everybody on the start line has no idea if they’ll reach the finish or not,” Ryan told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“It’s exciting and I’m quite nervous as well. - It’s going to be an experience I’ve never had before.”
Ryan is running the ultramarathon to support Wetherby charity Martin House Children’s Hospice, which provides free family-led palliative care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
The 33-year-old’s connection to Martin House began with a chance supermarket encounter with a fundraiser who inspired him to raise £2,500 for the hospice through a backyard ultra endurance event last year.
“Spurred on” by the difference Martin House makes for children, young people, and their families, Ryan is now significantly increasing the difficulty to raise even more money.
He said: “If you’re going to do something, why not raise money for charity at the same time?”
“It takes a lot of money to run a place like Martin House and I know the money is going directly to that place.”
Training for the Altra 13 Valleys Ultra has so far involved six to eight hours of “painful” practice runs every week as Ryan tries to get his body race-ready.
He’s also preparing for the limited access to food and rest along the difficult route, which can take almost two full days to complete.
“I've got a seven-month-old child so I know what sleep deprivation is like but I've never had it where I'm out in the cold,” Ryan joked.
“I’m running through two nights and it’ll be a big challenge.”
The Altra 13 Valleys Ultra takes place across unmarked and rugged terrain, as participants rely on a map and GPX file to keep on course.
Cheering Ryan on will be his partner Beth and their two young daughters.
They’ve backed him every step of the way, and as race day soon approaches, Ryan hopes to make them proud.
He said: “A reason I can’t fail is because they all know I’m doing it.
“I’m excited to push myself and I’m excited to get it done and see my family at the finish line.”
To support Ryan’s 13 Valleys Ultra Marathon challenge, donate to his JustGiving fundraiser here.