(Image: Naxos)
A North East surgeon has become the first woman to run the entire length of the Tyne and Wear Metro system - completing the gruelling 65-mile challenge in less than 24 hours while raising awareness of women's safety.
Alice Townend, a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, finished the route in 21 hours and 55 minutes on Sunday, August 9.
She completed the run in support of Women’s Street Watch, a volunteer network dedicated to keeping women safe on the streets of Newcastle.
Northumbria Healthcare surgeon Alice Townend has become the first woman to run the entire Tyne and Wear Metro network, completing the 65-mile route in 21 hours and 55 minutes
(Image: Naxos)
Ms Townend, 53, who lives in Great Park, said: "I’m really proud and emotional to have completed this run.
"I’m absolutely shattered. It was really hard. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
"I’ve done long distances before, but this was harder.
"The first day it was really hot, and I went through some tough moments early on Sunday morning, but I managed to get through it with the help of my amazing support team."
Her journey covered both the Metro’s yellow and green lines and took just under 22 hours to complete.
Northumbria Healthcare surgeon Alice Townend has become the first woman to run the entire Tyne and Wear Metro network, completing the 65-mile route in 21 hours and 55 minutes
(Image: Naxos)
She said: "It was an incredible feeling to cross that finish line with my friends and family there.
"I’m particularly proud to be the first women to run the Metro marathon.
"I have been running in support of Women’s Street Watch.
"I want to highlight women’s safety, because ordinarily we can’t do runs like this late at night on our own.
"I also wanted to show that women of my age, in their 50s, should not be written off.
"We can do tough things, we just have to be brave enough to try."
The run was inspired by Paul McDougal from Cramlington, who completed the Metro route in 18 hours earlier this year.
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Lynne Dickinson, station delivery manager at Nexus, praised Ms Townend’s achievement.
She said: "Our congratulations go to Alice for completing this epic challenge.
"It’s an incredible feat of endurance to track both Metro lines in single day.
"We were delighted to welcome her at the finish line in Newcastle. She is supporting a realty worthwhile cause.
"She can now take a well-earned rest."