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ROB’S STORY SO FAR

In 2016 Rob Pope embarked on an enormous journey, running across the United States (and beyond) to raise both funds and awareness for causes he really believes in - Peace Direct and the World Wildlife Fund.  His journey took him across the nation FIVE TIMES, covering over 15,700 miles and resulting in several records (including a Guinness World Record) and many, many more significant milestones.

Now this story is told in the Harper North release “Becoming Forrest” - available from all book outlets NOW

CLICK ON THE COVER PHOTO ON THE LEFT TO BUY!! (FOR USA CLICK ON LINK BELOW). INDEPENDENT* REVIEWS DECLARE IT THE BEST BOOK EVER AND RECOMMEND YOU BUY COPIES FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Since then he has taken his charity fundraising to almost £100,000 with more long distance runs between two of the UK’s highest summits - Snowdon and Scafell for the Stroke Association and making a pilgrimage called “The Long and Winding Road” from Liverpool to Glastonbury festival, running over 100km daily, for Oxfam.

In 2022, he became the first person to run the width of Ireland in a day, with his journey taking him from Galway to Dublin, with a pint of Guinness at the start and the end!

He has also finished 14th and as top Northern European in one of the few races that lay claim to “The World’s Toughest Footrace” - the 6 day, self-sufficient Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert, despite developing pneumonia during the penultimate stage.

Rob is also the host of the Red Bull podcast called “How to be Superhuman”, where Rob chats to endurance athletes of all backgrounds to hear what makes them “superhuman”.

Now, Rob’s next challenge awaits:

I’m a little bit excited by this - there’s actually two big…potentially three big things on the cards…oh and that forgets…make it four. I’m looking forward to sharing them with you.


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Image: Athletics Australia

Image: Athletics Australia

About ROb

Rob Pope is one of Britain’s best known ultrarunners - the term used for those who find their fun beyond the marathon distance. He’s not too bad as a marathon runner either, Rob became the Australian Marathon Champion at the Australian Marathon Championships in 2015, won the Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 2015 and 2016, where he ran a personal best of 2:27:13.

He also now holds a Guinness World Records for the fastest marathon completed while dressed as a film character.

As well as being a vet and a proud dad, he is also the host of Red Bull’s “How to be Superhuman” podcast - a link to which you can find above.

And now, he is the author of what is set to be one of the classic running books of all time - “Becoming Forrest”, published Oct ober 14th by Harper North. Available from all your regular book outlets and available in digital and audio versions. What’s it all about? Well, the journey you see below. Check out the link in the toolbar for more information and to see how you can get hold of a copy!

THE USA FORREST GUMP JOURNEY

Rob first ran him from Mobile, Alabama all the way to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California.  He then turned around and ran even further back across some 18 states to the Marshall Point Lighthouse in Maine.  When he got there, he turned around and kept on running! He then became the first person ever to run across the United States of America THREE TIMES in a year since completing his third crossing in September 2017. 

Rob ran over 15,700 miles, finishing the FIFTH leg of his run in Monument Valley, where he became the first person EVER to complete the run that Forrest Gump did in the film. It's a huge distance - the greatest distance anyone from the UK has ever run in a year - and Rob, the WWF and Peace Direct need your support, so please check out the charities and see how you can help.

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Rob is running Summit2Summit to raise funds for the Stroke Association

The Stroke Association provides support to stroke survivors and their families in key areas such as:

  • Emotional support, communication support and rehabilitation services

  • Up-to-date evidence and information

  • Research to improve treatment, care and rehabilitation

  • Fundraising

  • Campaigning and advocacy

  • Volunteering

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund is the world's leading conservation organisation, working in 100 countries and with close to 5 million members globally.

WWF's initiatives:

  • Forests - Conserve the world's most important forests

  • Oceans - Safeguard healthy oceans and marine livelihoods

  • Fresh water - Secure water for people and nature

  • Wildlife - Protect the world's most important species

  • Food - Double net food availability; freeze its footprint

  • Climate - Create a climate-resilient and zero-carbon world, powered by renewable energy

Peace Direct

Peace Direct believe that local people have the power to find their own solutions to conflict – and to build their own better futures.

In the world’s most fragile countries, Peace Direct seek out local peace-builders who are making a real difference – building peace from the grassroots up, preventing conflict in the places where it starts – locally - by disarming rebels, resettling refugees, healing communities, reviving economies. They work at great personal risk on crucial problems like child soldiers, women and conflict, youth and peace, political violence. They are the key to preventing conflicts and creating a lasting peace.

Peace Direct find them, fund them, and promote their work to those in the wider world who can help with finance or influence.

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the Latest from social media

INSTAGRAM

So...a week on from the finish of #Summit2Summit. That foot is still sore, the ankle is still twisted, but I'm feeling pretty decent. I'd like to say a final thank you to everyone who donated, sent words of encouragement and especially those who were
I've done the tale of the run, my Instabuddies. If you go to my bio, click on the goingthedistancerun.com link and click blog you're there. #Simples. Hope you enjoy it! If you do...and you liked the run...and stuff...and you haven't donated to @thest
It seems a little strange not eating quickly, packing a rucksack, frowning at putting on still wet kit and trying to work out a route for the day, but I enjoyed making little Bee breakfast just as much 😍. On the subject of beauty, I think you guys n
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. 180 miles and a HARD day today - a marathon up and down Scafell. I have no mountain skills. #Scafell is a proper mountain as well. It makes #Snowdon look like an escalator! My left foot was bust to start
Well that was a much better day all round...Am I getting used to this again? Felt I could smell the daisies a bit today. Time on my side and so many friendly faces on the road (they get a separate post soon). Just getting my head down, hope you're re
Some stats from the last two days. Been really tough coming into this untrained, but that's what happens to stroke patients. They don't get to prep for the event. They have to deal with it and give their recovery everything they've got. To be honest,
First half highlights! I think I feel better... Not having the same issues today, but feeling the effects of yesterday's, I'd say. I'm starting to get into a bit of a better rhythm running wise, though my quads are pretty shot from yesterday's pound
So...not sure "highlights" is a word that can accurately be used for the second 42 miles of the day. Just before 30 miles on the total for the day I started to become.increasingly nauseous and became reacquainted with that potato. After tha
 
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Talks and visits

Not your typical motivational speaker perhaps, but who actually believes those guys anyway?

Rob(la) is able to hold any audience large or small, young or old in the palm of his often sweaty hand and amaze, amuse and a-motivate in a real way that doesn't have you reaching for the sick bag, which will should hopefully result in...results.

Whether you're a company, conference, community organisation, sports club or educational establishment, Rob guarantees to make your day 86.4% better, so if you would like a talk, a visit, group run or Q&A, email goingthedistancerun@gmail.com for an informal chat and we'll work on the remaining 13.6%.

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How you can help

Sure running's great for getting from A to B (or AL to CA) but in this case it's serving a much more important purpose, and that's where you come in.

Rob has represented the WWF and Peace Direct on his Trans-USA runs and recently has raised over £15,000 for The Stroke Association and Oxfam on some new adventures.  Every little bit helps.

So what can you do to help?

1. Share

With everyone! And often!

2. Donate

Everything helps and is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

3. GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch here or via social media to show your support. If you’re interested in supporting Rob’s continued journeys in another way such as sponsorship, you can get in touch below.

Image: World Wildlife Fund

Image: World Wildlife Fund

Image: Peace Direct

Image: Peace Direct

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red bull: how to be superhuman

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to travel to the very limits of human endurance? To do things most mortals couldn’t even dream of? To become superhuman?

Red Bull's unmissable new podcast sets out to examine exactly that. Every Monday, host Rob Pope speaks to athletes who have undertaken seemingly superhuman feats of endurance – from Mark Beaumont, who cycled 18,000 miles around the world in 73 days, to ultra runner Jasmine Paris, who carved 12 hours off the men’s record at the 268-mile Spine Race.

Find out how these athletes found the strength to push themselves to the limits of their physical and mental potential – and prepare to feel inspired to go out and discover your own limits.