Nikki Love came to talk to us in assembly today and inspire us to run!

She is about to embark on her biggest adventure yet, to run from Perth to Sydney in 63 days and break the world record that has stood for 17 years.

You may know Nikki from her previous adventures:

• 2017 Nikki ran 63 marathons and 63 days all over the UK. A total of 1,650.6 miles!
• 2018 had Nikki running around the island of Ireland. 750 miles in 32 days taking the long route from North Belfast to South Belfast!

• The Run Across Australia represents the next level of Nikki chasing her extraordinary.  Starting in Perth on 25^th August 2019, Nikki is planning on running approximately 40 miles a day, until she reaches Sydney on 26^th October 2019*.  Nikki will be supported by her trusty support crew who will keep her fed, watered, and patched up, while also driving the motorhome that she will be living out of for the 9 weeks.

  Each day Nikki is expecting to run for about 8 hours, dealing with heat, sand, heavy goods traffic, her thoughts, and the array of giant killer animals that exist in Australia, before reaching her daily finish line where she will sleep in the motorhome, before setting off the next morning to repeat it all again!

  Nikki is a huge believer in encouraging children to be active and came to speak to us today where she told the children about where her feet have taken her, to inspire them to chase their own extraordinary, and show them they can do anything that they set their minds to.

  As part of her Run Around Ireland, Nikki introduced her Love Running Adventures Schools Programme, which over 2,000 pupils took part in.  The purpose of the programme was to get children active and show that running can improve their mental and physical health.  And it certainly did!  Some amazing stories from teachers about how pupils were stepping outside of their comfort zones and growing in confidence kept her motivated during some tough days.

  The Love Running Adventures Schools Programme will be even bigger for the Run Across Australia, with a target of 10,000 pupils from all over the world!  The children will be able to track their progress on a large wall map and will get regular video updates from Nikki

  During the adventure Nikki will be raising awareness and money for several charities, sharing the charities ethos’s and encouraging her followers to donate to one or more of them.  The charities that Nikki will be supporting are:

  Cornerstone who help people sleeping rough into housing and then off benefits

  The 401 Foundation who help people build confidence and self esteem, tackle mental health and self development issues throughout the UK

  Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland creating a community to help and support those affected by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in Ireland

  The Royal Flying Doctor Service providing excellence in aeromedical and primary health care across Australia

  You can follow Nikki’s adventure, and the build up to it, at @nikkiloveruns on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.