“It is the 11 January 2025 and I am aware that on a day like today, I am pondering a run around the coastline of Britain through rose tinted spectacles.
We are on the Suffolk coast, where Shadow is helping me recover from a year which ended with a referral to the psychiatric crisis ward. I still have appointments in the diary during which doctors will attempt to understand what is wrong with my brain. But for now, we are in a place where we get to watch the sun rise over the sea every day and where we can run with uninterrupted views.
The coast is healing.
Which has got me thinking, what else can Britain’s coastline heal? “
A project 23 years in the making
When I was 10, my uncle, Tom Isaacs, walked around the coast of Britain. He was 33 years old and six years previously he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
I knew that both the Parkinson’s and the walk were unusual, because Uncle Tom was in the paper and he was invited to present the prizes at my school Prize Day. And although I was an incredibly proud ten year old, nothing about the situation was especially fantastic. Walking around the coast of Britain was just something that Uncle Tom did.
Tom and I got on very well. We shared the same passion for travel and adventure. Neither of us have taken the conventional path trodden by most 30-somethings.
Tom died in 2017 and I miss him terribly. Even more so now I turn 33 and the ember of an idea which, thanks to him, has lived in my head for the last 23 years becomes more of a reality. Because later this year, I am going to follow in his footsteps around the coastline of Britain, but I am going to run it.
Why now?
Because both Britain and I could do with something to celebrate.
In 2025, the economy is taking a bit of a beating. Mental health incidents are soaring. People are struggling.
And the negative headlines are always close at hand. It’s difficult to heal and recover, build and grow when we’re all downtrodden.
And through it all, our coastlines remain wonderful places, with nature, the people and industry which should all be celebrated. From my little haven on the Suffolk coast I can watch seals play while standing in the shadow of a nuclear power station. I can watch the fishing boat collecting its lobster pots every morning and can enjoy said lobster with a glass of locally brewed beer the same evening. I can walk the coast paths, brave an icy swim or join family members in a game of golf.
And all over our island, Britain’s coast is thriving. I want to celebrate that. And in doing so, help make a difference to anyone who, for whatever reason, might be struggling.
Run Britain
Run 5240 Miles
Celebrate Business
Samaritans Support
Run 5240 miles
The aim is to run 200 marathons in 200 days, starting on 21 October 2025 on Sizewell Beach, Suffolk and finishing on the same beach on 9 May.
I will be following the coast path, keeping the sea on my left hand side, for the full clockwise loop of the island. I’ll be making a handful of ferry crossings covering about 10 miles of waterway.
Sticking to this schedule will make me the fastest woman to run the coastline of Britain.
Celebrate business
As an investment journalist, I spend quite a lot of time writing about disappointing growth statistics.
Mainstream financial news is also quite depressing. We’ve got poor economic growth, inflation, high house prices, a continued crisis in the cost of living, and public sector cuts.
But there is so much good in Britain. There are so many people working hard and being productive. Grafting, creating, thriving. Surely, if we are going to turn the tide on all the negativity, we need to start celebrating these positives.
I am aiming to meet and interview as many of Britain’s businesses as I can as I complete my loop of the coastline. And by talking about these businesses, I hope to generate some of the positivity required to kickstart some much needed growth.
Samaritans support
It’s not just financially that Britain could do with some more positivity.
Now that I have started opening up about my own struggles with mental health, I am shocked at how many people have their own stories or experiences. Someone dies by suicide in Britain once every 90 minutes.
The Samaritans is an amazing charity which is helping to prevent that number from becoming much higher. Its volunteers pick up the phone to someone in need once every ten seconds.
In 2024, I made five calls to the charity (116 123). Their volunteers were there for me when the pain in my brain was so intense I couldn’t pick myself up off the floor. And on two occasions, their kind words and patient understanding helped me retreat from a literal edge.
I only wish I had picked up the phone to them sooner.
I hope that by talking more about my experiences with the Samaritans and raising some money while I circle the country, I can help anyone who might be struggling.
Support Run Britain
Run Britain is impossible without partners. Megan is keen to work with brands that align with the goals of her mission - to celebrate Britain and promote positivity.
Megan is a financial journalist and understands the importance of partnerships which are developed to ensure mutual benefits. She also has experience creating content to build an engaged, loyal audience.
To discuss a potential partnership please use the attached form or email megan@meganboxall.com to set up an initial call.