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| Northern Traverse: Runner makes 'friend for life' on 300km route | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| (L-R) Luke Elliot and Sarah Francis said they dragged each other to the finish line | (L-R) Luke Elliot and Sarah Francis said they dragged each other to the finish line |
| A woman battled freezing overnight temperatures, burning sunshine and sleep deprivation to complete a 300km (186 miles) run. | A woman battled freezing overnight temperatures, burning sunshine and sleep deprivation to complete a 300km (186 miles) run. |
| Sarah Francis, 57, from Fleet in Hampshire, successfully ran almost non-stop from the west to the east coast of Britain, taking in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors in a race known as the Northern Traverse. | Sarah Francis, 57, from Fleet in Hampshire, successfully ran almost non-stop from the west to the east coast of Britain, taking in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors in a race known as the Northern Traverse. |
| She met up with Luke Elliot two thirds of the way across and they credited their fast-formed friendship for getting them to the finish line. | She met up with Luke Elliot two thirds of the way across and they credited their fast-formed friendship for getting them to the finish line. |
| Ms Francis said she "lives for a challenge" and this was "an amazing adventure". | Ms Francis said she "lives for a challenge" and this was "an amazing adventure". |
| After meeting each other on the challenge they said they would now be "friends for life" | After meeting each other on the challenge they said they would now be "friends for life" |
| She said: " I like a big challenge and I like standing on a start line thinking, 'oh I don't know if I can do this'. | She said: " I like a big challenge and I like standing on a start line thinking, 'oh I don't know if I can do this'. |
| "I've done other long-distance stuff that I've just really enjoyed. | "I've done other long-distance stuff that I've just really enjoyed. |
| "I love getting out there and meeting fabulous people along the way." | "I love getting out there and meeting fabulous people along the way." |
| She and Mr Elliot stayed together from Richmond to the end of the race. | She and Mr Elliot stayed together from Richmond to the end of the race. |
| Ms Francis explained she was falling asleep when he stopped to ask how she was doing and they just got talking. | Ms Francis explained she was falling asleep when he stopped to ask how she was doing and they just got talking. |
| They said they would now be "friends for life". | They said they would now be "friends for life". |
| Ms Francis explained she was falling asleep when Mr Elliot stopped to ask how she was doing and they just got talking | Ms Francis explained she was falling asleep when Mr Elliot stopped to ask how she was doing and they just got talking |
| Mr Elliot, 35, from Plymouth, said: "It's quite entertaining standing on a start line wondering if you can even get to the end." | Mr Elliot, 35, from Plymouth, said: "It's quite entertaining standing on a start line wondering if you can even get to the end." |
| He said he was not sure whether it was because he was stubborn or head strong but he "rarely doesn't get to the end". | He said he was not sure whether it was because he was stubborn or head strong but he "rarely doesn't get to the end". |
| He said: "The beauty of being at the back is that you are constantly picking people up. | He said: "The beauty of being at the back is that you are constantly picking people up. |
| "My aim is to find people along the way and I found Sarah, we got on and dragged each other to the finish line." | "My aim is to find people along the way and I found Sarah, we got on and dragged each other to the finish line." |
| The pair said they put the world to rights along the journey and laughed a lot | The pair said they put the world to rights along the journey and laughed a lot |
| Ms Francis said barring a few short rests, it really was a "non-stop run" where she explained "you can sleep where you fancy". | Ms Francis said barring a few short rests, it really was a "non-stop run" where she explained "you can sleep where you fancy". |
| She said: " I got a total of five and a half hours sleep, it took four and a half days, so there was a bit of sleep deprivation. | She said: " I got a total of five and a half hours sleep, it took four and a half days, so there was a bit of sleep deprivation. |
| "Definitely some sleep walking and some absolute rubbish coming out of my mouth at times." | "Definitely some sleep walking and some absolute rubbish coming out of my mouth at times." |
| After 106 hours walking and five hours of sleep, the pair skipped to the finish line. | After 106 hours walking and five hours of sleep, the pair skipped to the finish line. |
| She said: "It was an amazing adventure." | She said: "It was an amazing adventure." |
| They skipped to the finish line of the 300km race together | They skipped to the finish line of the 300km race together |
| You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. |