Frank Wainwright, 54 years old at the time, completed one of the most arduous multiday ultramarathons every undertaken in the UK – in July and August 2024. But that was only a part of the challenge he set himself.
Frank’s Big Tour of England -known as Frank’s Big TOE, a 1971 mile run completed in the 62 days of July and August 2024, covering an average 31 miles per day, no rest days. The route linked all 42 anglican cathedral cities with many national trails, national parks, tourism landmarks and national landscapes. It took on all terrains, mountains, beaches, suburbia, trails, country lanes and Sustrans routes. The route went to every English county. The four corners of it were Newcastle, Canterbury, Truro and Carlisle. (map via the links at the end)
It raised money, £25,000 for youth development charity Brathay Trust. It also promoted inclusivity, health, wellbeing and sustainabiity. It told a complete story of England, history, local cuisine, business, flora, fauna. The run left a lasting legacy of youth opportunity in the events industry with venues in support of future youth opportunity including Ascot Racecourse, Trafford Centre Manchester and Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent.
Every day had a unique storyline and mission – see day by day TikTok link below – running and the great outdoors discussed amongst a huge following. The run also tied in with the events and venues industry to leave a lasting legacy of businesses now committed to giving young people from challenged backgrounds a chance for work experience and mentoring in the events industry through Frank’s own scheme, called Yvent.
Participation was encouraged – directly joining Frank for any distance from half a mile – a boy with cerebral palsy in Harlow – through to whole days for ultra runners.
Direct participants could find Frank via his tracker and daily plan. There were 198 poeple who joined, mostly clustered around weekends – included a running priest in Exeter, an Olympic Torch bearer in Launceston, a colourful band of human fruit who joined Frank for a fancy dress parkrun at Street and an ascent of Glastonbury Tor, a blind runner who Frank once guided to marathon success in Chippenham, mountain rescue experts over the Wainwrights in the Lake District, and many parkrunner tourists who came to share the Saturday morning weekly ritual, where Frank would be asked to present his run.
There were indirect participants too who used the app Roamler to follow Frank and take on supportive tasks or healthy exercise routine from home.
The story captivated the media with 20 radio stations and media outlets following Frank’s progress, local radio and TV loving the focus as Frank reached their county. (see ITV and Sky links below)
Some event highlights:
Impromptu send off from the Bishop of Newcastle
Pease pudding amidst new graduates at Durham Cathedral
Viking helmet for York.
Youth celebration arrival into Bradford.
Multi terrain wheelchair demonstration at Wakefield.
Joined an inclusive dance performance mid run at Sheffield Winter Gardens
Lady Jane Grey experience, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire
A special permission Chariots of Fire run at the quad, Trinity College Cambridge
Fancy dress jockey attire for Frank as he ran through the July Festival at Newmarket
Fish and chips on the menu as the tour visited Great Yarmouth
‘Dad’s Army and Home Guard’ celebration run at Bressingham Steam
After finishing a day at St Paul’s, sushi dining in Covent Garden provided by Nissan Formula E
The Magna Carta, Faversham – later also seen at Salisbury Cathedral
A tour of Leeds Castle, Kent
An afternoon stop on the North Down’s Way for Bacchus wine with local businesses at England’s foremost vineyard, Denbies.
Through Winston Churchill’s family home
A homecoming midday party in Dewlish, Dorset, where Frank grew up together with a visit to his parent’s grave.
A midroute ascent of Golden Cap the highest peak on the South West Coastal Path at 35C.
Crossing Dartmoor.
Cornish pastry in the fishing village of Fowey.
A mayoral welcome in Launceston, carrying a 2012 Olympic Torch.
A spectacular fancy dress day of running in Somerset.
Running tours of Bristol and Bath.
A huge welcome through Chippenham for Chippenham Harrier Frank with a mayoral stop and a day that finished amongst the standing stones at Avebury.
A visit to Oxford University and Town Hall.
Crossing the Cotswolds.
A demonstration of AI and marketing on a Samsung promotional bus in Birmingham.
A 4am run from Chester to catch the most famous commute in the world – A ferry cross the Mersey.
A visit to Jurassic World, Trafford Centre to witness the birth of a dinosaur before running into Manchester during Manchester Pride.
A finish line day at Brathay Trust in Ambleside before a day in the mountains to Keswick including up and over Catbells fell.
Following Hadrian’s Wall Path into Hexham before day 62 finale into Newcastle with huge 22ft digital finish line poster above the shopping centre.
Links –
ITV Anglia report
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/writers-epic-62-day-ultramarathon-challenge/mcsf3rm
Sky News last day report
The day by day story on Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@tourofengland
The original plan and route map https://frankpublishing.com/franks-big-toe-tour-of-england/
Businesses suppiorting – of which 90% are onloing legacy supporters of Frank’s deprived youth opportunity scheme, Yvent. https://fieldmarketing.com/wall/
Further media samples easily found – search “Frank Wainwright” and hit the news tab!