How running 1,000 miles made me a nicer person
16 October 2025
Earlier this year we told you about Bob Yates who, at the time, was planning on running from Land’s End to John O’Groats for his 60th birthday in support of charity Humanity Direct. Now with the support of his running club, plus family and friends, he has completed his challenge.
He joined Handy Cross Runners after deciding to change his sedentary lifestyle over a decade ago - and did some parkruns, working up to a London marathon. Through the club, he’s gained a LiRF (Leadership in Running Fitness) qualification and the opportunity to support others through their Couch to 5k programme.
"Joining Handy Cross Runners was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It’s incredible value for money and has massively expanded my social circle."
Running has been transformative to his outlook on life and mental health, and each completed challenge has boosted his confidence.
"When I first started, my wife asked me why I ran. After some thought, I told her, ‘It makes me a nicer person.’ It’s a stress reliever, a source of exercise, and a way to clear my head. I’ve never been one for traditional meditation, but through running, I’ve discovered a meditative state that brings clarity and calm."
Enduring or enjoying?
The Run Britannia event is over 1000 miles of hills, mountains, moor and valleys from Cornwall to John O’Groats that takes over a month to complete. We asked him about the whole run, how he coped physically and mentally.
"The routine played a big part in getting through the days. Alarm at 4:45am, shower and dress for the day, get taped if injured, attend to blisters, pack overnight bag, get breakfast, travel to start and then run (or power walk if injured)."
Doing this daily left little consideration for anything else and created the mindset required to achieve the set distance every day.
"With most big challenges, the key is to break it down. In this instance the task was to get to the next aid station (usually around 8 or 10 miles away). I usually only thought about the finish once I'd left the final aid point."
Keeping his mind occupied helped him stay focused and push through when things got tough.
"Commitment and distraction were key. On bright days with beautiful scenery, it felt almost easy. But on the tougher days - wet, windy, and long - I leaned heavily on my bone-conducting headphones; audiobooks, podcasts, and music were lifelines."
And once he’d finished, how did he feel?
"At first, I felt quite numb. I’d been so focused on reaching the goal that I hadn’t really thought about how I’d feel once I got there. The sheer exhaustion from running such long distances, day after day, made it hard to fully process the moment."
He explained that even a couple of weeks later, he’s still physically drained - but starting to grasp the magnitude of what he’s achieved.
"Quietly, I’m proud and deeply satisfied."
Tips, advice and inspiration
Bob has of course inspired many people so we asked him for some advice and top tips! They can be related to all levels of runners setting out to achieve diverse goals.
- Don’t focus on the reasons you can’t - focus on how you can.
Too often we underestimate what we’re capable of, and we talk ourselves out of even trying. - Create a plan.
Break your goal into manageable steps. Whether it’s your first 5K or something bigger, with enough preparation and belief, you’ll discover you can achieve far more than you ever imagined. - Run with a group.
There’s always a wide range of abilities, so you’ll always find someone at your pace. Give it a go. In a few weeks, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Bob has finally reached his £10,000 charity target too! But if you'd like to learn more about Humanity Direct, and donate, or just read Bob's blogs and browse his photos to get YOUR inspiration please feel free to do so!
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