Running Through Vulnerability: Staying Safe While Chasing 40,075km

Today I hit 1,942 consecutive days. This streak isn't just a number to me; it’s a daily commitment to a much larger mission: running 40,075km, a full lap of the world, to raise £1 million for children's causes. To date, I’ve covered thousands of kilometres across roughly 17 different countries, but today’s run in Hamilton, Scotland, brought a specific theme to the surface: vulnerability.

What I realised while navigating these streets is that no matter how experienced you are, there will be moments when you feel uneasy or even scared for your personal safety. Whether it's the threat of antisocial behaviour in an urban setting or the isolation of a remote wilderness trail, feeling vulnerable is a reality of the road.

For me, perspective matters because I cannot afford to let fear jeopardise the streak or the mission. Staying safe requires more than just grit; it requires a system.

The Strategy of Planning

The lesson for me has been that planning is the ultimate countermeasure to vulnerability. I use a few non-negotiable steps to manage risk:

• Route Verification: My first port of call is always Strava. I look at the mapping section to find routes others have successfully completed. If a runner started and finished a log, it gives me that baseline peace of mind.

• Time Selection: This is crucial. I ran this exact route in Hamilton yesterday evening just before dusk and felt incredibly uneasy due to quad bikes and antisocial activity nearby. Today, I chose to run at 8:45 AM. The difference is night and day; most trouble is either at school or still in bed.

• Live Tracking: I use the WorkOutDoors app because it offers a proper map on my watch. It allows me to zoom out and find an alternative path immediately if I sense a situation turning sour. Furthermore, I always ensure I have a "beacon" or live location shared via Strava or WhatsApp so someone knows exactly where I am.

Why We Run

I talk about these risks not to discourage anyone, but to ensure we can keep showing up. If you're in a new location and you don't feel safe, my advice is simple: don't do it. There is no shame in prioritising your safety to ensure you can run another day.

This mission to save children’s lives is a long-term play. It requires resilience, but it also requires being smart. Every kilometre brings me closer to that 40,075km goal, and every safe run ensures the fundraising continues.

Stay safe, stay consistent, and remember why we started.