From Mud to the Sea: How One Dorset Bookkeeper Is Taking on 250km of Trails in a Year

What does it take to run 250 kilometres in a single year, balance the school run, manage a business, and still be at your desk by nine? For Katy Oxley, bookkeeper and member of Poole Pirates running club, the answer is simple: a very good reason to get out of bed at 5am.

This year, Katy has set herself one of her biggest personal challenges yet - completing five races totalling around 250 kilometres, including four events in the BigFeat Classic Element Trail Series and the iconic Run to the Sea Bournemouth 50k Ultra.

The BigFeat Series is a collection of four trail races across the South of England, each themed around one of the classic elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Whether that's clawing over muddy hills and rainy valleys, battling an ancient rugged coastline, pushing on under a relentless sun, or running beneath a never-ending sky, BigFeat Events has built a series designed to challenge, awaken, and inspire. The extra reward for completing all four? Finishers' medals from each race interlink to create one giant, cohesive award - the kind that earns its place on the wall. 

Katy has already completed the first event, BigMud (Earth), which took runners from Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the South Downs through the scenic Meon Valley on 23 February. Next up is BigSea (Water) on 8th June, starting and finishing on the golden sands of Knoll Beach at Studland, followed by BigFire (Fire) and BigSky (Air) - the final event in the series, taking place on 21 September from the spectacular viewpoint at Hyde Common, one of the highest points in the New Forest National Park. 

But it was an unexpected conversation at her running club that added the fifth race - and perhaps the most personal one - to the list. The Run to the Sea Bournemouth is a 50k Ultra on Saturday 4th October 2025, starting at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood and finishing at the historic Hengistbury Head. The route follows the Castleman Trailway for part of the way, passing through forest trails and coastal paths, making it one of the most scenic ultra routes in the South of England. 

Katy isn't running it alone. Her brother is by her side, and this year, he's running to raise money for his son's nursery, which provides vital support for children with additional needs.

"Running a business feels a lot like long-distance running," she says. "Both come down to how much you can handle and how well you adjust when things get tough. I'm using these five races - the Big Feat series and Run to the Sea - to bridge the gap between physical endurance and professional focus. Beyond the personal challenge, I'm honoured to be out there with my brother. Supporting his mission for his son reminds me that every step, and every success, is more meaningful when it's shared with a great community."

For Katy, this training happens in the early hours before the office opens, on Saturday "coffee shop runs" (run there, caffeine hit, run home), and on long dog walks to keep the legs ticking over. It's the kind of discipline that quietly reshapes a life - one early alarm at a time.

She's already imagining the finish line at Hengistbury Head, and the medals that will follow. "I've always loved hanging my medals at home," she says. "I'm looking forward to seeing that interlinked BigFeat medal on the wall, right next to the Run to the Sea finish."

Want to cheer Katy on or follow her progress Tiktok

Good Luck Katy from Team Total!