Taking Stock: Haslers’ marathon man avoids comfort break

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.

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource