Phoenix Running

A little about us & our experience

Team Phoenix

At Phoenix Running we’re all about being inclusive; it’s about great routes, great medals and above else, great people. Having run in many hundreds of marathons all over the world we believe we’ve learnt a little about what it takes to put on a great race, whilst realising that if you really want to see a place, then you should soak it up through your feet.

We believe it’s all about encouraging and enabling runners to achieve things that perhaps they once thought were impossible, whether that’s your first 5km, 5 mile or 50 km run, we’ll support you to success. We realise that for many the thought of running one half-marathon or marathon can seem like an insurmountable goal, so to run multiple-marathons is just downright absurd. Or is it? Small steps lead to bigger things and everyone starts at the beginning. Who knows where the journey may take you?

Team Running Miles

In May 2022 Phoenix Running purchased Running Miles, a well established race company founded by Steve Hunt. Running Miles will continue to operate as its own brand, with its existing processes, and to the very high standards you’ve come to expect from this brilliant race organistaion. Steve Hunt, Race Director of Running Miles, will be focusing on other projects and so Phoenix Running are going to continue with the great running events and locations that Steve has developed over his 7 years at the helm whilst adding a splash of Phoenix into the mix.

The long stuff ...

The longer distances and more extreme stuff started back in 2010, not long before Louise and Rik Vercoe got married. In April of that year Rik ran in the North Pole Marathon and managed to finish 2nd out of 25 competitors from 10 different countries.

Great Wall ...

In May 2010, Louise and Rik ran in the Great Wall of China race, this time with Louise taking her turn to finish 2nd in the 5km race, whilst Rik finished, rather further back in the Marathon event.

Out of hand ...

Then in 2011 things began to get a little bit out of hand. After a conversation at work Rik decided to run 30 marathons in 30 weeks to raise money for the Elizabeth Foundation, a charity celebrating their 30th anniversary that year. At least, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Escalation ...

This rapidly escalated to more than a marathon a week for the year and ended up with 54 marathons run in 2011 followed by another 56 marathons in 2012.

Sandy ...

Then 2013 happened, pretty much by accident really ... 152 marathons in 365 days with some OK results and a couple of records to boot ... In April 2013 - Rik ran in the Marathon Des Sables (MDS), finishing 39th out of 1024 starters and earning their elite status.

Winning ways ...

In May 2013, winning the Brathay 10 Marathons in 10 days, followed by another win in July at the inaugural Irish 10 marathons in 10 days event.

California Cake ...

Then in December the year was finished with back-to-back 7 marathon in 7 days events in Long Beach California, where the icing on the cake was breaking the existing 10 marathons in 10 days record, on days 5 to 14, running 7 sub 3 hour marathons and setting an average time of 2:59:30 for each of the 10 marathons, the first ever sub 30 hour aggregate time.