1095miles – running blog

JAMES ELLIS – September 21, 2009-September 22, 2010

James Ellis makes a mean cup of tea but is also a journalist, photographer, trainer and consultant who specialises in the travel industry.

Born in a pub in South Yorkshire mining town in the late Sixties, he caught the travel bug at an early age when his mother, Audrey, decided to pre-empt Shirley Valentine by moving to Greece when he was ten.

She did this by buying a car and caravan and driving the length of Europe with two young kids and her 20-year-old niece in tow. Thanks to a crash in France, an aborted attempt to drive up the Wurzon Pass in Austria (where caravans are banned) and deciding to navigate the pock marked roads of what was Yugoslavia rather than getting a ferry from Italy, the four-day journey took four weeks.

James has now travelled to more than 80 countries and is the former travel editor and deputy features editor of Metro. He has co-authored a number of travel guides but this blog allows him to give his un-edited views on travel and the travel industry.

He lives in South London with his wife Laura and their two kittens Mini and Uma.

He was the instigator of the 1095 Miles Challenge and the first person to complete a year.

You can contact James by clicking here

ANDY RATCLIFFE – September 20, 2010 – September 20, 2011

Andy Ratcliffe lives in (and runs around) Harrow, North West London.

He describes himself as a cyclist of some 20 years experience. That and a plodder, certainly not a runner!

Andy first met James for his 1095th mile run earlier this year and has since convinced himself that 3 miles a day isn’t all that much

At the ripe old age of 32 Andy ran a marathon, Brighton, in April 2010. He’s now got the running bug. And a pair of chicken legs…

His intention is, through the daily blog, to prove the 1095miles challenge is harder than it looks and to raise funds for, and awareness of, a charity program he has supported for the last 8 years; the Sense Holiday program (Sense Holidays Link). Wish him luck!

Please support my fundraising efforts for Sense here - VirginMoneyGiving
Thanks, it’s appreciated!

You can contact Andy by clicking here