- Select staffer embarking on 'epic' 1,000-mile charity run
- Land's End to John O'Groats in five weeks
- 70,000ft of ascent
- David Clyde is taking on the challenge in memory of late mum, Joan
- Sponsor him here via Just Giving!
A determined member of the Select Car Leasing team is taking-on a gruelling 1,000-mile run from Land’s End to John O’Groats - in memory of his mum.
David Clyde is a Customer Account Executive in the Admin team at Select’s HQ in Reading, Berks, having joined the company in 2024
The 57-year-old also happens to be a seasoned ultra marathon runner with a string of events already under his belt.
David, from Thatcham, Berks, got his love of running from his mother Joan, herself a keen athlete and former international Lacrosse player. It was with Joan that David ran his first half marathon - the Wokingham half in 1985 - when David was just 17.
When Joan passed away in December 2022 with cancer, David wanted to celebrate his mum’s life through their shared passion.
He’s signed up to the ‘Rule Britannia’ event, organised by UK adventure company Rat Race, which begins 30th May and lasts a whopping 37 days (with one day off per week).
It’s described as an ‘epic’ off-road journey and a ‘pinnacle running challenge’ that’ll see David running an average 33 miles a day while ascending a combined 70,000 ft through some of the most picturesque locations in Britain.
So, why has David taken up this particular challenge?
He says: “I’m no stranger to ultra marathons but this is a tall order. I am looking forward to it but I can’t be blase about the distance. What am I most worried about? Injuries are going to be a big thing - I already need surgery to repair a labral tear on my hip and I’ve also got a bone spur on my left big toe that needs removing. But when you’re doing these sorts of distances, everything hurts, so my existing injuries are probably going to be the least of my worries! I just don’t want to pick up any issues that stop me from running the next day.”
David first began running ultra marathons - ie, any race longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon - back in 2019 and typically runs around three or four ultras every year.
He’s completed the famous 61-mile ‘Race to the Stones’ competition, which sees competitors slogging towards the 5000-year-old Avebury Standing Stones in Wiltshire.
And now he’s taking on the Land’s End to John O’Groats mission to raise money for the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, located in Southcote, Berks, who cared so diligently for his mum Joan (below).
He says: “My mum was a physio, she was very sporty and played Lacrosse at international level, and we really enjoyed running together - I’ve still got all of our old medals. Sadly, my mum developed an aggressive form of skin cancer that ultimately claimed her life. The Sue Ryder hospice cared for her, controlled the pain, and just created a pleasant environment for her despite the situation that she found herself in. I always felt like I had to give something back to Sue Ryder, which is why this run is important to me.”
To donate to David’s cause, visit his Just Giving page.
Sue Ryder is a charity that Select has long supported, too. In September 2022, Select donated three Audi A1 cars to Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire, based in Wallingford, to enable Sue Ryder nurses to make essential visits to patients out in the community.
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