Alastair Angus, owner of Thurston Butchers, to take on 100 miles challenge for St Nicholas Hospice Care

A Suffolk butcher is set to take on a 100-mile challenge in June for St Nicholas Hospice Care.

Alastair Angus, owner of Thurston Butchers, plans to run 100 times on a one-mile route, which he calls the ‘Skyliner loop’, on Rougham Industrial Estate

The challenge will see the butcher set off at 3pm on Saturday, June 29, running laps until he hits his target.

He said: “I had the idea one day whilst running around near Skyliner. There’s both beauty and torture in such a simple concept.

“On the one hand, you are only ever half a mile away from water, food or the loo, but on the flip side running the same loop 100 times is going to start messing with you psychologically – But I suppose that is part of the challenge.”

To help with the mental stress of the run Alastair plans to break the 100 miles in to sections; running 10 miles counter clockwise, then 10 miles clockwise and repeat.

This is not the first time he has taken on a big running challenge. In 2022 he ran 75 miles from Norton to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and back again for charity.

“This is undoubtedly going to be the hardest challenge I have ever set myself. To add on roughly a marathon to the end of my longest ever run seems unthinkable right now,” said Alastair.

“But I am very fortunate that I have some great people around me who are willing to support, keeping me focused, hydrated and safe.”

As well as raising awareness and money for St Nicholas Hospice, Alastair is also passionate about getting as many people out to join him as possible.

“Whether it is one lap, five laps or 26.2 laps, I would love to see as many people on the route as possible. Whether it’s walking, jogging, cycling or whatever; this is all about getting people together outdoors regardless of fitness ability.”

Alastair’s running club, Saint Edmund’s Pacers, will also be out in numbers to support the run and he hopes to complete the challenge in around 20-22 hours.

You can find out more about Alastair’s challenge via Instagram and Facebook (@thurstonbutchers), to ask about sponsorship, email thurstonbutchers@gmail.com and to donate go to justgiving.com and search Suffolk Park 100 Miler for St Nicholas Hospice.