You may have seen on our social media that Gillian is taking on a staggering challenge by running the equivalent distance of Lands’ End to John O’Groats over the course of 2021. If your keen to complete a challenge or need some ideas to keep you motivated please have a read …

We asked Gillian why she was so keen to complete this challenge.

Why trailblazers?

I’ve long been interested in the criminal justice system and its actual purpose and outcomes. I’ve mentored more junior colleagues throughout my career (30 years in Financial Services, 20 of which with Lloyds Banking Group) and have helped young people experiencing difficulties in their lives with schooling. Trailblazers works with young people to get them in the best position possible to fulfil their potential. I’ve been talking to John Shepherd (Trailblazers CEO) about how I can use my skills to help so they seemed the obvious charity to raise funds for with this challenge.

How do you stay motivated?

Knowing that I’m raising funds and that people have sponsored me gives me the sense of duty I need to get me going on days I don’t feel like it! I have to average 17 miles per week to stay on track and that weekly goal keeps me focused. I won’t like the feeling of falling behind!  I’m also lucky enough to have a treadmill which helps in the snow!

Any advice for runners wanting to complete a challenge?

No real advice for runners other than to anyone who has never done it before. I’m 50 now but didn’t start running until my early 40s. At that stage I could not run to the next lamp post but within 14 weeks using Couch to 10k, I ran my first 10k in under an hour. It does work.

Any podcast recommendations?

I’m a big podcast fan. Most recently, I have been listening to a Chris Atkin’s podcast, Bit of a Stretch, based on his experience of incarceration. I also enjoyed The Fornesic Psychology podcast as a Forensic Psychology student. But I’m a big politics geek and listen to lots of journalists and news too. And I’ll also admit to watching “Married At First Sight – Australia” at the minute when I’m on the treadmill. Ines’s shenanigans definitely get my adrenalin pumping. (If you know, you know)!

To donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gillian-sephton2