One lap, 400 miles, seven days: GP aims to set record on Cornwall perimeter run

Most runners are content with a lap of their local park. But for one Cornish woman that is not nearly enough: she is aiming to race around the perimeter of her home county and set the fastest known time for the route.

Elsey Davis, 36, a professional trail runner and GP, calculates she will run about 400 miles and tackle more than 18,000 metres of elevation – the equivalent of two Mount Everests.

She starts on Monday and plans to cover about 60 miles a day, which will mean beginning before dawn and keeping going for 16 hours or so.

“Physically, this may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Davis said. “The most I’ve ever run in one week is about 110 miles. The hope is to do it in less than seven days but I don’t know how I’m going to feel having never been in that position before. I’m not scared of the challenge – I’m excited.”

Davis’s attempt to set the fastest known time for a lap of Cornwall is intended to raise awareness of young-onset Alzheimer’s to honour her mother, Ann, who was diagnosed with the disease.

“Doing it for my mum is going to make it that bit easier,” she said. “Nothing’s as scary as my mum’s diagnosis. When the tough moments come on the run, and I am sure they will, I will remind myself of my ‘why’, and the fact that I am privileged to be able to do this.”

Davis switched from road running to trail running during the pandemic, discovering a love for trails as a stress reliever while working on Covid wards in Manchester. Since making the change she has won a string of races and set course records, including on the tough Bob Graham Round hill running challenge in the Lake District.

Elsey Davis and her mother, Ann, on the Cornish coast. Photograph: family handout

Davis will set off from Land’s End and head east along the rugged north coast of Cornwall. Davis said this was likely to be the toughest and most technical stretch. “The north coast is normally the most weather-beaten,” she said. “In places like Tintagel the path can be really steep. I’m hoping that the wind is behind me.

“It’s not smooth running. You’re always checking where your feet are. Some of it will be in the dark as well, because I’ll be starting at 5am every day. It’s more taxing on your brain, you can’t just run, you have to think about where your feet are going so you stay upright.”

Davis, who is raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, will then go from the north coast to the south on the newly created Tamara Coast to Coast Way, which broadly follows the River Tamar, and then turn west back to Land’s End. “The south coast will be more chilled and gentle in comparison to the north.”

She realises there will be low points, physically and mentally. “Sports psychologists encourage you to ask you for your ‘why’ – why are you doing it? Because that’s the strongest force that’s going to get you around. Doing it for my mum is definitely going to be the biggest thing that’s going to drive me forward,” she said.