Run Geordie Run
On the 8th August 2011 our client Mark Allison, ‘Run Geordie Run’, completed the awesome challenge of running 3100 miles across America in just 100 days.
It was the most incredible journey where he witnessed so much pain, extreme mental and physical exhaustion, temperatures over 115f, running through terrain including the Rocky mountains and the Mojave Desert and regularly exceeding 40 miles a day. Yet he found a sheer will and determination to drive his body way beyond any boundaries of what the body is meant to be capable of. This self confessed non-athlete is now a true hero.
Since he lost his Mum, Dad and brother he has set his sights on raising as much money as possible for St Benedict's Hospice, who looked after his mum in her final days, and for the Children’s foundation. In 2007 Mark ran from John O'Groats to Lands End (874 miles), in 37 days, raising over £34,000 before embarking on his American journey.
With the help of my colleague, Mark Fleming, I mentored Mark for three years leading up to his run and we travelled twice to America to run with him and witness first hand what it actually takes to complete such a mind-blowing task.
Mark Allison is quite simply my hero. What I witnessed him endure, during my time in America, is difficult to put in to words. Mentally he is the toughest person I have ever met, running vast distances every day for 100 days. On day 67 I witnessed Mark complete a 40 mile run in temperatures of 115f - recorded as the hottest day in Indianapolis for 22 years - incredible! Then he continued to run over 40 miles a day for the following two days as well.
Even through all this pain he never lost his sense of humour - always laughing, joking and staying positive. He also felt an obligation to keep a detailed blog up to date because he knew this was where most of his sponsorship would come from. He also kept in touch with thousands via Twitter. On this run alone, Mark raised over £102,000.
An incredible man who completed an awesome journey, demonstrating that any dream is possible.
Here is a link to his blog www.rungeordierun.com
