A SAMARITANS of Solihull volunteer will be under starters orders at the London Marathon but unlike many she has been soaking up the sunshine during her training schedule.
Orla Murphy has been clocking up the miles ahead of the 26.2-mile race on April 27 through a rigorous training regime that has included day trips to Alicante and Malaga in Spain to feed her passion for running in the sun.
She was inspired by social media to take an extreme day trip – where people typically fly to another country and back for the day.
The 55-year-old said: “I had the crazy idea to travel to Spain to train for the day as I realised on holidays, I love running in the sun, by the coast taking in the beautiful views and just thinking.
“I’d been part of a Facebook group for a few months called Extreme Day Trips.
“It’s all about day trips to another country instead of in the UK. Early flight out, late flight back – a wonderful day exploring and no hotel costs.
“I’ve been to Alicante and Málaga twice each in the last three months.
“Each time I’ve run 10 to 20 miles, then used a hotel spa or facilities and traveled home after a bite to eat and a glass of wine.”
Orla was inspired by her role at the Samaritans to take on the marathon and help boost funds for the Solihull branch.
The fitness, health and wellness coach is a listening volunteer at Samaritans of Solihull and dedicates three hours a week to taking calls from people in need.
She said: “I usually taking calls which range from the lonely to the actively suicidal.
Its a privilege to do this – to be there for someone during their difficult moments. We all have them and hopefully we have people we can call on at those times, if not – or as well as – the Samaritans are there.
We also communicate by email, live chat and post.”
Orla is hoping to raise £1,500 to help cover the building costs for Samaritans of Solihull’s base.
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