This all started with a conversation between me and Kane in the gym and I wanted to challenge myself to see how hard I could push myself both mentally and physically. So, we set out to complete a Marathon Row, Marathon Bike Erg, Marathon Ski, Marathon Assault Bike and Marathon Run. Two more lads, Byron and Ashley from the gym jumped in on the challenge and we started training for it.
We set out to raise money for the great charity – Clatterbridge Cancer Centre with a target of £2,000 pound. The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading cancer centres providing highly specialist cancer care to a population of 2.4m people across Cheshire, Merseyside and the surrounding areas including the Isle of Man.
We set out training for the 5 Marathon Challenge. We trained throughout the week individually and came together every other Saturday to practice working for set periods of time on the machines. In week 1 we began with 5k on everything, and we built up the distance by 3k every other Saturday until we finished out last training session on 30k on every machine including a run.
Six months later it was reality, and we were starting our first marathon at 6am. I began on the rower and managed to complete the distance in 3hrs 40 minutes. I moved onto the Bike Erg and completed that comfortably and moved straight onto the Ski, which I complete in 3hrs and 35 minutes. With 3 Marathons down and 2 to go, I had the Assault Bike and Marathon Run to go. I managed to complete the Assault bike in 1hr and 20 minutes which just left me with the run to finish. I started my run just after 6pm after already completing 4 marathons with a long night ahead of me. Two miles into the run I felt a sharp pain in my knee which wouldn’t go so I had to come back to the gym after running 10k and take some pain killers to see if the pain would go. I managed to get some miles under my belt without feeling too much pain in my knee and got to 20 miles around 10.30pm. It ended up being a run/walk around the car park to get the last 6 miles in and I managed to complete the Marathon just before 12pm. So, in total I was working for around 18 hours but managed to complete the 5 Marathons which I was so pleased with.
I’m not one to big myself up or enjoy talking about myself but I just really wanted to write this to help people. If I’m completely honest I didn’t think it was possible to actually complete 5 Marathons back-to-back in one day. Going into the challenge I was so nervous because I didn’t want to let anyone down. However, the point of this for whoever is reading it is to tell you that anything you set your mind to you can achieve. I do truly believe that, and I know it’s cliche to say but if you truly set your mind to something it is possible.
Just like to say massively proud of the boys who all put in a massive effort. Huge thank you to my girlfriend Robyn for putting up with my mood swings for the past 6 months training for this. Also, just want to say a massive thank you to Lloyd for running the marathon at the end with me, as I wouldn’t have got it done without him there.
Lastly, a massive thank you to everyone who donated to the amazing charity as we managed to double our target and raise over £4,000 pound for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.