The Synopsis
In 2017, Nikki Love ran 63 marathons in 63 days across the UK. One of the places she didn’t get to was Ireland. So what better way to make up for it than to run it. 750 miles. 30 days. #runaroundireland
After visiting over 20 primary schools during her 63 marathons, Nikki wants to build on this and will be working with primary schools in the UK and Ireland. She will be encouraging activity with a virtual running event and getting the children to think about 10 key Superpowers” that Nikki calls upon when undertaking her adventures.
About Nikki
I’m a 50-something year old woman who likes to go chasing extraordinary and encouraging others to push their own boundaries and find their own levels of extraordinary.
Since completing my first marathon at the age of 34, which was six months after the disappointment of not finishing my first attempt at a marathon, I’ve pushed my boundaries on what I think I can do. I’ve since ran 7 marathons in 7 days, a self-supported 5 day ultra in the Peruvian Jungle along the Amazon and in 2017, the year I turned 50, I ran 63 marathons in 63 days all across the UK.
Me Determined
I appreciate the commitment that people make when they support me and I’m very privileged to be a brand ambassador for Runderwear, Likey’s, Go Faster Foods and Nutripouch.
Inspiring others
During my 63 marathons, as well as hitting my own new levels, I was privileged to help others to run their very first marathon with me and many more to run distances they’d never reached before. I was also invited to speak at primary schools in the areas that I ran. I chatted to pupils about goals and ambitions, the benefits of being active and we then had a little runabout on the school grounds.
Talking
I love to talk about what I do and how I do it – more specifically I talk at schools, clubs and corporate events about how, as a fun-runner, I’ve gone on to complete some pretty extraordinary adventures and how they can achieve their extraordinary as well. I was a speaker on the Towpath Challenge panel at the National Running Show in 2018 and will be a main speaker at the 2019 show.
Writing
I am a published author with my first book, Chasing Extraordinary: A ‘How To’ Guide for Newbie Marathon Runners, available now and my second book, about my epic adventure running 63 marathons in 63 days, currently in progress. I will have my first article published in the September 2018 issue of Intrepid Magazine, and I also write about my adventures, in running and my life out of shorts, on Instagram and my blog.
The Adventure
Why?
This is often the first question Nikki gets asked when talking about her adventures, and her run around Ireland is no exception.
Charity
Nikki is very passionate about the causes that she is representing on this adventure. Raising money for a charity that she believes in and encouraging people to be active are her main whys to motivate her as she runs around Ireland.
Schools
Nikki puts a huge emphasis on being active to have a healthy mind and body. She is especially keen to promote this in children and teach them the importance of an active lifestyle. This adventure is a way to encourage children, and adults, through a virtual event to run regularly over a sustained period of time to show them the benefits.
The Physical Event
For 36 days Nikki will be running a route counter-clockwise around Ireland. This circular route will start and finish in Belfast. The route will take in 27 ‘minor’ pit-stops and 9 ‘major’ rest stops. At each of the minor pit-stops Nikki will start her adventure each day from the local town primary school, where she will talk to the pupils in the morning assembly before setting off for the day. At the ‘major’ rest stops Nikki will have a rest day after arriving and on this day will conduct a school talk during the day and an adventure talk to local running groups in the evening.
The Virtual event
The virtual event will be provided by Run Around Europe as a special event map and will be available for schools to participate free of charge and for individuals to enter after making a donation to The 401 Foundation. The pupils will run in teams for 15 minutes a day, be encouraged to work together and will be able to “run” with Nikki by seeing their team icon move around the virtual map with Nikki’s icon.
The Fundraising
As well as participating in the virtual event, pupils at the schools will be encouraged to raise just £2 each. Not only will this raise money for The 401 Foundation but it will demonstrate to the pupils that a small contribution to a larger project can lead to big results. The pupils will also be encouraged to hold events, such as cake sales, to further fund raise.
The Workbook
Each week the pupils will be asked to think about 2 of the 10 superpowers that Nikki calls upon when undertaking her adventures: Ambitious, Brave, Committed, Adaptable, Determined, Persistent, Resilient, Proud, Happy, Love.
They will be asked to put their thoughts in a workbook that will be supplied to each pupil.
In order for Nikki to achieve the desired outcome of running around Ireland and visiting schools in the areas that she passes through, the following things are required:
Food
Nikki is going to need a lot of energy to complete this adventure! Her food for each run will be prepared each morning and carried by Nikki and her support crew. Local food outlets will be the source of evening meals and breakfast.
Accommodation
Nikki will be staying overnight at each of her pit-stops either in a local hotel/B&B or camping.
Travel
While Nikki will be running between locations her support crew will be driving between them, as well as cycling with Nikki, to ensure she is fed and watered.
Route summary
– Nikki will start her adventure in Belfast on 21st September 2018
– From here she will run to Ballymena, for her first of 29 pit-stops
– It won’t be until day 5 that she will get to her first rest stop at Londonderry, one of 7 that she will have
– Nikki will run up to 50km a day
– Her routes will be plotted in Strava for her to follow and others to view
Tracking
– Each day Nikki will record her run using a GPS device and upload the data to Run Around Europe to update her progress on her Run Around Ireland map
– Followers will be able to follow her online thanks to a live tracker she will be carrying
Support Crew
– While Nikki is running between locations her support crew will drive head and meet her at the halfway point each day
– From here they will wait for Nikki to arrive, ready to feed and water her for the rest of her day
– There is also the option that they can cycle back to meet Nikki if she requires anything sooner
Start locations
DAY 01 – 21/9 Belfast
DAY 02 – 22/9 Ballymena
DAY 03 – 23/9 Giant’s Causeway
DAY 04 – 24/9 Coleraine
DAY 05 – 25/9 Londonderry (Rest stop)
DAY 06 – 26/9 Londonderry
DAY 07 – 27/9 Stranorlar
DAY 08 – 28/9 Donegal
DAY 09 – 29/9 Mullaghmore
DAY 10 – 30/9 Sligo (Rest stop)
DAY 11 – 01/10 Sligo
DAY 12 – 02/10 Tobercurry
DAY 25 – 15/10 Macroom
DAY 26 – 16/10 Cork (Rest stop)
DAY 27 – 17/10 Cork
DAY 28 – 18/10 Yougal
DAY 29 – 19/10 Kilmacthomas
DAY 30 – 20/10 New Ross
DAY 31 – 21/10 Enniscorthy
DAY 32 – 22/10 Arklow
DAY 33 – 23/10 Bray
DAY 34 – 24/10 Blackrock, Dublin
DAY 35 – 25/10 Drogheda
DAY 36 – 26/10 Dundalk
DAY 37 – 27/10 Banbridge
DAY 13 – 03/10 Knock
DAY 14 – 04/10 Tuam
DAY 15 – 05/10 Galway (Rest stop)
DAY 16 – 06/10 Galway
DAY 17 – 07/10 Gort
DAY 18 – 08/10 Limerick (Rest stop)
DAY 19 – 09/10 Limerick
DAY 20 – 10/10 Newcastle West
DAY 21 – 11/10 Castleisland
DAY 22 – 12/10 Dingle (Rest stop)
DAY 23 – 13/10 Inch Beach
DAY 24 – 14/10 Killarney
The Following
Nikki’s social media following has been growing consistently since her 63 in 63 adventure. There has also been a shift in her main platform from Facebook to Instagram. She saw great success in reaching out to her followers during the 63 in 63 with daily posts and live broadcasts. This has continued post 63 in 63, during her mini adventures and in training.
The Opportunity
There are a number of opportunities available to help Nikki achieve her goal to run around Ireland:
Financial Support
Contribute directly to help fund Nikki’s adventure. The benefits of doing this are shown below.
Shirt Sponsor
Have your logo displayed on Nikki’s running shirt and seen across
Ireland and the World! Options available are shown below.
Kit Sponsorship
Sponsor a bit of Nikki’s essential kit! See the Map of Nikki below for the available options.
Product Support
Have some equipment or kit that you want seen in use by Nikki?
Amazing opportunity for your product to be tested!
Please get in touch to discuss any of these opportunities or any custom ideas you may have
Contact details
Please get in touch with us in one of the ways below if you have any questions or ideas you want to discuss with us
Email – nikki@nikkilove.co.uk
Tel. – (07850) 328 426
Instagram – @nikkiloveruns
Twitter – @nikkiloveruns
Facebook – Nicola Love
Webpage – www.nikkilove.co.uk
