Some people are just gluttons for punishment, but you know what, if it inspires and motivates people, and raises money for a very good charity, then hey what's the big deal! But, and here's the but, what if that punishment involves fifty marathons on fifty consecutive days, surely that's too much to ask of the human body? Not so if your Hugh Williams-Preece, because that's exactly what he's planning to do! Hugh, who's being compared to a real life Forest Gump, plans to leave his wife's home in Portugal, on 3rd March 2010 and run 1300 miles home to Trafalgar Square.
Many question whether it's possible, but those who know Hugh well, think he might just be 'madly motivated enough to pull it off'. His reasons for doing it are simple; he wants to raise as much money as possible for Marie Curie's Cancer Care and he's desperately driven and intrigued, to find out just how far we can push ourselves, both physically and mentally.
Hugh has already received a huge amount of support, from authors to world record holders, but that said he's still very much on the look out for anyone who wants to be involved, either by way of sponsorship, or by accompanying him on one of his fifty marathons.
I briefly caught up with Hugh, in between business meetings and three hour runs, and decided that Bear Grylls quote pretty much summed it up; 'an epic challenge, for an epic charity, by an epic man'.
AE Hugh, for someone who's actually never even run a marathon you've set yourself a pretty serious challenge?
HWP I have indeed, but life is an adventure. It’s about pushing boundaries and in reality we all just want to realise our limits. This is an opportunity to do something extremely fulfilling and extraordinary. I don’t want to look back in five years feeling unfulfilled, thinking, what exactly have I achieved!?
At the end of the day, I am an ordinary guy who has taken every step to make sure that I am as prepared as I can be. I have been directed by the best guys in the business. I certainly have the determination and have completed a very aggressive training program so far. Unless I get injured, I have every chance of completing this challenge.
AE You've done a few crazy things in your life so far - Ascended Aconcagua, summit ed Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and raced the Marathon des Sables - but your next challenge is surely, by far, the most challenging?
HWP It will no doubt be the most challenging task of my life. It really will test my physical and mental boundaries to the absolute limits. The uncertainty of the outcome, in a bizarre way, is what motivates me!
AE How on earth does someone train to run 50 marathons in 50 days?
HWP Firstly, there is the preparation side. I have a great team helping with everything from physiotherapy, PR, Sponsorship, logistics etc. It’s all about the planning and preparation.
Secondly regarding the physical side, I am following a very strict training program set by Greg Whyte (the former Olympic Pentathlete). Greg was responsible for helping Eddie Izzard’s ultra marathons last summer and David Walliams’s swim across the channel. I have been training for three months and each month gets more and more intense and punishing, as you would expect!
AE What's going to be the toughest challenge for you in the 50 days you plan to run 50 marathons?
HWP Assuming that I remain injury free, the mental side will be the hardest to deal with I think. It will come down to ‘mind over matter.’
When it’s chucking down with rain on Day 27, and I am constantly running up hill to another blind summit and still have ten miles to go, I will have to find a way to keep motivated and focused. There will no doubt be plenty of lows, however LPP Consultants are on board to help with mental resilience.
AE The question on a lot of runners lips will be, 'what are your nutritional plans for running 50 back-to-back marathons?'
HWP I will be taking gels and body fuel (carbohydrate and electrolyte powder). I have also been sponsored by Optimum Nutrition who have been and will continue to provide me with daily protein and carbohydrate supplements, glyco-maize and Provon Revive recovery drink at the finish line.
I will munch on jelly babies, jaffa cakes etc during the day too and consume a vast meal in the evening (plenty of protein and carbs!).
AE With just five weeks to go before you start your marathons are you finding that your life is consumed by running, and that you even dream about it at night?
HWP The training is very intense and does take up half to two-thirds of each day now. It has to be done, so I am motivated (even quite enjoy the monotony of it now!) but it does put pressure on family life and my day job which is organising Corporate Events (www.dragon-events.co.uk).
Fortunately however, the training is never the same each day, it varies in intensity and duration and once per week I run at Battersea athletics track doing interval training, and the occasional visit to the gym for strength training. I also do core strength exercises once per week - normally infront of the TV on a Sunday night slurping a beer!
AE What will you most crave when you're out there on the road?
HWP My own bed, wife and kids and Sunday roasts!
AE Fast forward to April 22nd (the day after Hugh finishes) what will you be doing?
HWP Good question. I will probably have a few pints of Guinness then hibernate and catch up on sleep, although my legs will be confused and want to push on……maybe!?
AE You've got quotes on your website from several famous, very sporty people, including: Paula Radcliffe, Tim Henman, Martin Johnson, Bear Grylls and Micheal Palin - out of those five, who's will power would you most like to have to help you get through your fifty marathons, and why?
HWP Another good question: firstly they are all inspiring and successful in their own right but I think Paula Radcliffe for her sheer determination and courage.
AE You've mentioned in the past that you'd like to climb Everest, so is that next on the agenda?
HWP No not really. I honestly think I would find it terrifying and I would need a very good guide to drag me up! I think I will stick to the Lake District or occasional trip to the Alps, one things for sure though, I know am getting quite hooked on extreme endurance events!
For more information go to: www.50in50.co.uk
