REDDITCH running enthusiast Paul Sutherland has celebrated his fifth decade with the ultimate endurance test whilst raising cash for a good cause.
The Redditch Stars club member who turns 50 today (Friday, August 23) has generated £1,100 for the Primrose Hospice by completing his first ultramarathon in July.
An experienced runner who has previously ran six marathons, Paul decided to challenge himself by completing the Pen Llyn Ultra in North Wales in July in 13 hours and 45 mins.
The gruelling 50-mile route sets off at 10pm and follows the Welsh Coastal path and tracks along beaches, coves and villages around the headland of the Llyn Peninsula.
He told the Standard he wanted to mark his milestone birthday by doing something special for a local good cause that had helped many of his fellow runners at Redditch Stars, including one who now works for the charity.
However, the experience was far tougher than the engineer – who works at Jaguar Land Rover – expected.
He said: “I ran in the dark until sunrise and it was torrential rain for 90 per cent of the time. There were also 25 mph coastal winds to contend with.
“The route was over rough, coastal terrain with steep nasty hills – it was fairly treacherous.”
Despite the testing nature of the trial he still thought it was a good challenge as it pushed his boundaries.
“The best place to be is outside your comfort zone. It makes you feel alive,” he added.
And it certainly hasn’t put off Paul from running.
He said within 24 hours of completing it he decided to sign up for ‘The Wall’ – 70-mile classic run along Hadrian’s Wall in June 2025.
