Marathon Man goes the extra 206 miles

20 April 2009

Charlie with the narrowboatFor most people, the gruelling London Marathon is enough of a challenge. But not for Charlie Pearson, 54 who is setting off to London on foot a week before the other competitors as he plans to run the 206 miles from his home in Altrincham, Manchester to London, nine days before the marathon starts.

Quantity surveyor Charlie, who is part of the Brain and Spine Foundation London Marathon team sponsored by law firm Simpson Millar LLP, will be using canal routes to arrive in London on 26 April ready to complete the final 26 miles of his epic journey with the rest of his team.

The journey will see Charlie stop over at nine different destinations along the way including; Wheelock, Sandon, Whittington, Hawksbury, Braunston, Cosgrove, Seabrook and Watford before eventually reaching London the day before the Marathon.

Charlie said of this extraordinary trip: “I’m feeling nervous but excited and I’ve been training for so long now that I’m ready to hit the canals. I will have valued support from a friend Pam Hanson who will follow in her canal boat, Lupin, and in which I’ll spend the nights resting. My friends and family have also promised to turning out along the route for what I suspect will be some much needed encouragement.

“I’ll be running the equivalent of the London Marathon every day so come 26 April I’ll either be super fit and raring to go or completely shattered,” Charlie laughed.

In order to get into shape for the run, Charlie has been training with the best to ensure he reaches that finish line: “I’ve attended the London Marathon training weekend, run by Full Potential, in which I was given expert advice on how to prepare a training programme, running methods, stretching and injury prevention, nutrition and lots more. I was advised by true experts in the field like Liz Yelling, who won bronze in the 2006 Commonwealth Games marathon.

“I feel inspired and motivated to achieve my goals; to cross the finish line at the London Marathon and raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation.”

As Charlie explained, the Brain and Spine Foundation is very close to his heart: “In 1995 my daughter and I were involved in a car accident. I was in hospital with a fractured skull for two weeks and my daughter was in a coma for two months. It was a difficult time but we both fought our way back to health and a normal life.

“The Brain and Spine Foundation has done so much for me and my family so this is my way of saying thank you.”

Peter Watson, managing partner of Simpson Millar said: “As a firm we are all happy to sponsor Charlie and the team at this year’s London Marathon - they are running for a very worthy cause and Charlie in particular is a true inspiration.

“If it wasn’t for the dedication and support of the Brain and Spine Foundation Charlie and others might struggle to find their way back to a normal life, let alone find the strength and inspiration to do something truly extraordinary.”

And what are Charlie’s plans after his ten days of pain are over?

“We’ll be having a big party in London when we complete the Marathon, and I must admit I’m looking forward to putting my feet up for a bit. However, I do love a challenge and have a feeling I’ll be back in training in no time - perhaps a run to Lands End will be next!”