A senior Royal Marine has completed a tough challenge - running ten marathon distances in ten days this week – culminating in the London Virgin Marathon.
Colonel Simon Chapman, Captain of the Base, at Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth, finished his tenth 26-mile run in London (the only race in his programme) in 3 hours and 16 minutes – the fastest of his charity fund-raising challenge.
He said: “What a way to finish a gruelling week. My fastest time and all the more special, given an epic longer than planned trek of 29 miles up the Thames the day before, not the ideal preparation for a marathon race today. But all my training came together when it mattered.’’
He said he could not have done it without his support team of Royal Naval personnel Jason Jay, Kriss Young and Rhys Tanner.
He also thanked all of his other supporters: “I am very grateful to the support from friends, family and colleagues across the Navy and Devonport Naval Base and the well-wishers who supported me en-route or on-line. It was a huge boon to know so many people were backing me.
"They have also helped me raise a lot of money for two good causes.’’
Colonel Chapman is raising funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and The Brain Tumour Charity – in memory of a family member who died from a brain tumour. Staff at HMS Drake, Devonport, boosted his fundraising to over £6,000 and he is on course to raise £10,000.
He explained: “I was looking for a personal challenge, something that would test me as well as perhaps encouraging others to get involved and help me raise some money for charity at the same time.
"I have a strong personal motive - my sister-in-law died from a Brain Tumour aged 33 and I thought raising some funds for brain tumour research would be a fitting tribute.’’
Personal military fitness training and Royal Marines ethos got him through the gruelling challenge.
He said: “Being a Marine certainly helps with the mental and physical extremes. I’ve been training since September last year and I’ve needed to draw on some of my military training to help me get through the wettest winter for years.
"I’ve seen Dartmoor, where I train, at its worst, particularly during the snow in March.
“In some ways running the actual challenge is easier - most of the ground is new to me (rather than the monotony of running the same old training routes) and the landscape and some of the views in Devon and Dorset have been glorious. People I’ve passed on the way have been very supportive.’’
Si trained over 30 weeks, building up the distances and the intensity.
From Christmas onwards he sustained 60-70 miles/week, regularly completing 20+ miles training runs and culminating with 10 half marathons over 10 days at the end of March.
Donations can be made to UK.virginmoneygiving.com
