Why am I running back to Leeds ?
I’m going to be running from my home in Birmingham, back to Leeds, in memory of my good friend, Colin Morath. Colin was the inspiration of my early running days, when we were both members of Abbey Runners. He died in August after a long illness. To raise funds in his memory, I have devised a challenge which I hope is worthy of our mutual love of off-road running, and the sort of challenge which he, himself, might easily have come up with.
When am I running ?
My route, which is almost all off-road, will take me on long distance footpaths across Staffordshire, the Peak District, and the beginning of the Pennine Way, and leave Birmingham, and enter Leeds on canal towpaths. I’ll be be taking 6 days to run the 180 or more miles, beginning on Monday 14th November, and I will arrive in Leeds on Saturday 19th November. The following morning I will take part in the Abbey Dash, the 10k race which Colin founded, and of which he was race director for most of its 27 years.
Who am I ?
I’m Margaret Ehrenberg, and I’ve been running lots and lots for years and years. I live in Birmingham, but began my running career 27 years ago in Leeds. I 
am now a member of Sparkhill Harriers, and take part in all aspects of running, from track to road races to cross country, but my forte is definately in long distance events of marathon distance and over, both on road and off road. I rate my biggest achievements as my marathon PB of 3:08, at the London Marathon in 1989, when I was still an member of Abbey Runners, Leeds, a bronze medal for my age-group in the marathon at the World Masters Championships in Finland in 2009, and winning (1st woman) the Country to Capital Ultra, 45 miles off road, in 2010
When I am not running, I work as a Sports Massage Therapist, and practise traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture at Birmingham Centre for Chinese Medicine.
What is this blog about ?
In my blog I will recall memories of days running in the hills with Colin, describe my training and preparation, and then as I Run Back to Leeds I will give a day by day account of my journey.
How can you contribute ?
I will be raising funds for the two charities which helped Colin and Hetta over the last two years, Brain Tumour Reseach and Support across Yorkshire, and St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds.
If you would like to sponsor me, I have opened a page on Justgiving, Running Back to Leeds
Running Back to Leeds 
Hi Margaret,
Just wanted to say what a brilliant challenge and best of luck next month. We (family) are so proud of Colin in how he inspired so many people over the years ( including me).
JUST DO IT!
Kindest regards
Sara (Colins Niece)
Dear Margaret,
Did I see that you’re running the Abingdon Marathon too? Not leaving yourself any taper?!
Hope to see you at Abingdon!
Good luck with “Running Back”.
Iain – Abbey Runners.
Abingdon marathon was in my original plans for the autumn, and I thought I’d be able to combine it nicely with Running Back to Leeds, but I now think if I taper next week I won’t be able to do enough training for the big run, and if I don’t taper for Abingdon I won’t be happy with my perfomance there, so I’m now almost certain that I’ll give it a miss.
Hi Margaret.
My name is Stephen Burke I am a Photography student at the University College Falmouth but I am originally from Birmingham, at the moment I am trying to create a photo project about different people in Birmingham,
I think what you are doing and what you have done in the past is really interesting and I was wondering if you would like to take part in the project,
it would be great to here from you, if you would like to contact me and talk more about the project then you can email me on stephenpatrickburke@gmail.com
hope to here from you soon, thanks a lot
Stephen
Wonderful to see you are under way. Looking forward to seeing you on saturday. Have a great run. Hetta