Taking Stock: Haslers' marathon man avoids comfort break
Better out than in for long-distance runner
TS WAS WRYLY amused and impressed – almost in equal measure – to discover that accountant and keen runner, Jon O’Shea, had completed a gruelling 50km ultra marathon around London on Sunday, just days after a major dose of the ‘runs’.
For the Loughton-based tax partner had stoically refused to let a case of norovirus floor his desire to pound the capital’s streets and finish the 2014 Royal Parks Ultra Marathon on Sunday.
When one considers that this nasty little virus, sometimes known as the winter vomiting bug’s symptoms typically include heavy vomiting and diarrhoea, the feat is even more humbling.
With virtually ‘nil-by-mouth’ ingested, but probably more evacuated (sorry – Ed), our intrepid post-‘runs’ runner armed himself with just a few headache tablets and energy bars to finish the long and winding route that took in a glittering array of sights such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben before ending in Bushey Park, near Hampton Court Palace.
Pushing himself through what must have involved numerous physical and psychological barriers was all good training for a far bigger challenge. For Jon is set to take part in the World Marathon Challenge next year.
This Herculean task involves running seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents.
Competitors begins on 17 January on Antartica’s Union followed by marathons in Punta Arenas (Chile), Miami (USA), Madrid (Spain), Marrakech (Morocco), Dubai (UAE) and Sydney (Australia).
Just a dozen take part, and should Jon be successful, he will have run 183 miles in a week, spending 59 hours in the air and flown some 38,000km. That’s some carbon footprint.
Jon, who trained at BDO Stoy Hayward is taking part in the extreme challenge in memory of two Haslers colleagues who died from cancer. He hopes to raise £50,000 for three charities – St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Haslers Foundation which supports many local charities and causes.
He is set to take part in the Chelmsford marathon on 19 October. Keep the electrolytes handy, Jon.