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Charity runner Mark Allison to take on Australian outback | Charity runner Mark Allison to take on Australian outback |
(2 days later) | |
Last year was a quiet year for Geordie Marathon man Mark Allison, compared to 2011 when he ran 3,100 miles across America. | Last year was a quiet year for Geordie Marathon man Mark Allison, compared to 2011 when he ran 3,100 miles across America. |
More than a year on, the 41-year-old is still paying the price for his gruelling endurance test which raised more than £100,000 for charity. | More than a year on, the 41-year-old is still paying the price for his gruelling endurance test which raised more than £100,000 for charity. |
Many of the nerves endings in his feet "died" or were severely damaged. | Many of the nerves endings in his feet "died" or were severely damaged. |
He now has to tread carefully in bare feet because he may not even feel it if he stepped on glass. | He now has to tread carefully in bare feet because he may not even feel it if he stepped on glass. |
Mark, who uses the fund-raising moniker Run Geordie Run, was away from his son Jack, now 10, for more than 100 days. | |
This time his challenge will be shorter in duration, 70 days, but is no less extreme and, some may say, foolhardy. | This time his challenge will be shorter in duration, 70 days, but is no less extreme and, some may say, foolhardy. |
'Blisteringly hot' | 'Blisteringly hot' |
In October he will set off on a 2,600-mile route across the snake and spider-filled, blisteringly hot Australian outback. | |
Once more the motivation for Mr Allison is charity and to honour the memories of loved ones - his mother who died in 1995, father Terry, who died of cancer in 1988, and his brother David, who died from a brain haemorrhage in 1998. | Once more the motivation for Mr Allison is charity and to honour the memories of loved ones - his mother who died in 1995, father Terry, who died of cancer in 1988, and his brother David, who died from a brain haemorrhage in 1998. |
By his own admission he used to be an "18st obese Geordie who loved bacon sandwiches, football and pies", before becoming a charity runner bitten by the running bug. | By his own admission he used to be an "18st obese Geordie who loved bacon sandwiches, football and pies", before becoming a charity runner bitten by the running bug. |
He will begin his journey in Perth, Western Australia, on 16 October and hopes to end it by running into the Pacific Ocean at Bondi Beach in Sydney on 24 December. | He will begin his journey in Perth, Western Australia, on 16 October and hopes to end it by running into the Pacific Ocean at Bondi Beach in Sydney on 24 December. |
He is so confident in his ability he even has a target time and hopes to be running into the water at 07:30 GMT. | He is so confident in his ability he even has a target time and hopes to be running into the water at 07:30 GMT. |
To do it he will have to clock up at least 41 miles a day. | To do it he will have to clock up at least 41 miles a day. |
He said: "I know this is risky. The heat will be incredible and I will probably lose about four-and-a-half stone doing it. | He said: "I know this is risky. The heat will be incredible and I will probably lose about four-and-a-half stone doing it. |
"We will have to take anti-venom medicine in case of snakebites. I will also be burning about 8,000 calories a day so will have to eat regularly. | |
"But I'm not frightened of beasts or creepy crawlies - there will be adventures on the way - I'm afraid of letting people down. The charities are my motivation." | "But I'm not frightened of beasts or creepy crawlies - there will be adventures on the way - I'm afraid of letting people down. The charities are my motivation." |
He will have to quit his job as an engineer and will take a "leap of faith" in the hope of finding another when he gets back to the UK. | He will have to quit his job as an engineer and will take a "leap of faith" in the hope of finding another when he gets back to the UK. |
So far he has pledges of more than £11,000 and hopes to raise at least £50,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Children's Foundation. | So far he has pledges of more than £11,000 and hopes to raise at least £50,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Children's Foundation. |
He also does not dare see his doctor - he has not seen him for years. | |
He said: "He would not recommend me going ahead with this." | He said: "He would not recommend me going ahead with this." |
Mr Allison's personal trainer David Fairlamb is also seriously worried. | Mr Allison's personal trainer David Fairlamb is also seriously worried. |
He said: "Mark is mentally the strongest person I have ever met, but I'm having sleepless nights. | |
"This is basically a marathon, then a half marathon then a few miles - but every day for 70 days. | "This is basically a marathon, then a half marathon then a few miles - but every day for 70 days. |
"I saw how much Mark suffered during the America run. When he said 41 miles a day I thought he was crackers and it scares me. I've had sleepless nights. | "I saw how much Mark suffered during the America run. When he said 41 miles a day I thought he was crackers and it scares me. I've had sleepless nights. |
"To those who are not athletes it is just a number, but runners know to do this in Australia in its summer is outrageous. Mark has to be in peak condition." | "To those who are not athletes it is just a number, but runners know to do this in Australia in its summer is outrageous. Mark has to be in peak condition." |
Mr Allison and his team of four will stay in a cramped motorhome during the challenge. | |
Every morning he will bulk up on two bowls of porridge before running more than eight hours, stopping for meals and snacking on energy bars. | |
He will also have to stop to Skype his son and keep fans up to date with his blog. | |
He added: "I've still got to lose a bit more weight and find more sponsorship. So I'm trying to focus on these priorities, rather than what is ahead." | He added: "I've still got to lose a bit more weight and find more sponsorship. So I'm trying to focus on these priorities, rather than what is ahead." |
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