Elise Downing on the Ridgeway: Britain's Oldest Road, in Three Days

Elise Downing ran 87 miles of the Ridgeway in three days in 2020, between lockdowns, with her friend Sophie. Their two friends, Ange and Oscar, walked the same daily distances - the same format the four had tried on the West Highland Way two years earlier, when Ange and Oscar bailed after day two.

We talk about why running suits the less-scenic sections, the feeling of walking an ancient road, a chance meeting on a footpath, finishing at an empty Avebury Stone Circle, and whether the running-and-walking format worked any better the second time round.

About Elise Downing

Elise is part of our team at Big Trail Adventures, where she runs our social media. She's also one of Britain's best-known long-distance runners. A few years before this trip she ran 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain on her own with her kit on her back. She's written about it in a book and a newsletter.

What we talk about

• The Ridgeway as a "gateway" first trail
• Walking and running on Britain's oldest road
• 29 and 33 mile days, and how miles reframe themselves
• The running-and-walking format, tried for the second time
• The day-two overtake and the frosty reception
• The empty Avebury Stone Circle at the end
• A chance meeting on the trail

If listening to this has got you thinking about your own adventure, head to bigtrailadventures.com.