TAVISTOCK athlete Jo Meek conquered a gruelling 69 mile run along the formidable Hadrian's Wall in an 11 hour 'marathon.'

Jo, a member of Tavistock Athletic Club took part in the Ultra race from Carlisle Castle, Cumbria to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland on June 23 and raised £2,000 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

With just four 'pit stops' along the way, where she was met and supported by her husband Jon, she ran from city to city, coast to coast or castle to castle following the length of Hadrian's Wall. It started at 7.30am with a mass start from Carlisle Castle in the rain heading eastwards beside the River Eden, traversing flat rural landscapes past Brampton before climbing towards the first hills and forts of The Wall.

The first pit stop was at Lanercost Priory, after 15miles before the run then became hillier as it passed several forts and character crags past Birdoswald, Gilsland and Greenhead. Jo then reached pit stop number two at the massive fort of Vindolanda having climbed to around 750ft above sea level and passed Vindolanda Fort before Jo climbed (on hands and knees) to Barcombe hill, a Roman signal station, where she enjoyed a panoramic view stretching for miles.

She headed down for the first long descent to a pit stop near Hexham on the Tyne River.

On her arrival, after running 45 miles, Jon reassured her she had only had a marathon to go!

The next section was on to the final transition at Newburn/Tyne Riverside Country Park and affter the final pit stop the final stage took her over the bridges to the dramatic centre of Newcastle/Gateshead Baltic Quay after 10 hours and 49 minutess to become an excellent fourth overall.

Jo said a big thank you to her husband Jon for his 'unrelenting support' and to everyone who had sponsored her to raise money for Royal Marines Trust Fund.

If anyone wishes to donate after Jo's superb effort go to http://www.justgiving.com/jo-meek0">www.justgiving.com/jo-meek0