El Camino Español: Aaron Sharples' 1,600km Coastline Challenge

In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks to Aaron Sharples about his ambitious project, El Camino Español, a 1,600km run along the entire east coast of Spain.

Starting in Portbou near the French border and finishing in La Línea at the gateway to Gibraltar, Aaron plans to complete the route in just 28 days, averaging around 80km a day. The challenge could set a Fastest Known Time and potentially be a world first.

But this isn’t just about distance or speed. Aaron shares how his running journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, how movement helped him through a difficult period of grief, and how his mindset has evolved from running through trauma to running with purpose.

We explore the logistics of the challenge, the importance of mindset and recovery, and how Aaron plans to connect with communities along the route, using movement as a tool for empowerment and connection.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Aaron went from non-runner to endurance athlete in 5 years
• The story behind El Camino Español
• What running 80km a day will involve
• Mindset, resilience, and learning from failure
• The role of journaling, meditation, and recovery
• Building community through movement
• Supporting charities including Healthier Heroes

Follow Aaron:

• Instagram: @MakeBoldChoices & @aaron__sharples__
• Website: https://givestar.io/gs/el-camino-espanyol