Running Crazy - Imagine Running a Marathon. Now Imagine Running Over 100 of Them. Incredible True Stories from the World's Most Fanatical Runners. Helen Summer

       DEDICATION

      I have always considered myself a lucky person – not because everything in my life has always been rosy – I reckon I’ve had my fair share of thorns, but because every now and again something rather special happens unexpectedly.

      Being given the opportunity to write this book was one of them. Meeting the gals and guys from the 100 Marathon Club was another. The two are, of course, inextricably linked and both have given me immense pleasure.

      The first because it has long been my dream to be published; the second because occasionally we come across a person who is so uniquely special that we feel our lives have been enriched merely by meeting them. To meet over 30 such people within the space of nine short months as I have through the 100 Marathon Club, is more than lucky, it is a privilege and an honour.

      It has also been humbling. Not least because these people are ordinary, every day people who have not been given any special privileges, in some cases quite the opposite – some have even had to fight quite literally for their lives, and yet they have achieved so much. And what is most admirable is that they have done it all by themselves.

      For each of them set their own challenges – whether to raise money for charity, run faster or further or simply to add another marathon to their numbers, and each of them works hard to achieve them. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they don’t, but they never give up. They have the courage and determination to keep on trying, no matter what.

      But it doesn’t end with what they want to achieve for themselves. They also support and encourage each other in their endeavours and there is always a shoulder to cry on when things don’t go to plan. Through their sport, they demonstrate all that is good in the human spirit and the most positive aspects of man’s innate nature. They are also friendly, fun and a joy to know and I cannot thank them enough for the willingness and warmth with which they welcomed me into their remarkable ‘family’ and shared their stories and their lives with me.

      I stand in awe.

      Helen Summer

      CONTENTS

      Title Page

      Dedication

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      FOREWORD BY STEVE EDWARDS

       INTRODUCTION

      MILE 1 – A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, PLUS SOME OTHER STUFF

      MILE 2 – VIRGINS AND SLUTS

      MILE 3 – VITAL STATISTICS, CONTACT LENSES AND A HANDKERCHIEF

      MILE 4 – BUTTERFLIES AND BASHFULNESS

      MILE 5 – FROM ANOREXIC TO UK/WORLD NO. 1

      MILE 6 – OUT OF AFRICA

      MILE 7 – AN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE

      MILE 8 – 76 NOT OUT!

      MILE 9 – SO, HOW FAR IS A WHEELCHAIR MARATHON?

      MILE 10 – LONG GRASS AND DIRTY CARS

      MILE 11 – RUNNING IN THE DARK

      MILE 12 – FAGS, FRY-UPS AND FITNESS

      MILE 13 – HALFWAY THERE!

      MILE 14 – GIVE ME YOUR MONEY, OR GET OUT OF MY TOILET!

      MILE 15 – IT’S COOL BEING NO. 1 IN THE WORLD

      MILE 16 – THE STREAKER

      MILE 17 – AUTOMAN

      MILE 18 – TO LOVE, HONOUR AND RUN MARATHONS WITH…

      MILE 19 – THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

      MILE 20 – BEER, BABES AND THE PERFECT PRE-RACE HANGOVER CURE

      MILE 21 – BOG TROTTING IN IRELAND

      MILE 22 – NAKED MEN AND CAKEWALKS

      MILE 23 – BIN LINERS, NOSEBLEEDS AND MARITAL DISHARMONY

      MILE 24 – CAMEL DUNG, BEAUTY CONTESTS AND AND FUNDRAISING

      MILE 25 – THROWING STONES

      MILE 26 – CRAZY RACES IN CRAZY PLACES

      MILE 26.1 – MEETING IN MALTA

      MILE 26.2 – SUMMER’S END

      Copyright

       ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      I have to thank the following contributors who gave so generously of their time and their stories, even though they were out running marathons most weekends and in some cases, even training in between – and without whom there would be no book.

      Roger Biggs, Martin Bush, John Dawson, Peter Dennett, Steve Edwards, Jerry Forde, Richard Fulford, Chris Heaton, Ron Hill, Adam Holland, David King, Gina Little, Dave Major, Linda Major, Jim Manford, Mike Marten, Brian Mills, Dave Moles, Janet Moles, Chris Monsey, Kay O’Regan, David Phillips, Naomi Prasad, Steve Price, David Ross, Mel Ross, Allan Rumble, Jill Rumble, Kio Vejdani, Paul Watts, Osy Waye and Sid Wheeler.

      With special thanks to: Malcolm Hargraves of Running Crazy Limited, without whom none of this would have happened; my publisher, John Blake (whose brilliant idea this book was in the first place) for having such faith in me and making my writing dreams come true; my editors, Lucian Randall, Allie Collins and Jane Donovan, who turned this book into something so much better than it would otherwise have been; Envy Design for coming up with such a fantastic cover; Gerry North for putting me in touch with one of the world’s greatest athletes; my family and friends for listening and never once telling me to shut up and my son, Jack Matthew Archer, who brought summer back into my life and whose brilliant idea it was to divide the book into 26.2 chapters.

      I dedicate this book to my son Jack, who never stopped believing this day would come and who is without doubt the best thing that ever happened to me. Also in memory of my beloved mum and aunt, who taught me how to be just a little bit naughty.

       FOREWORD BY STEVE EDWARDS

      Looking back through my childhood I have vivid memories of being bullied because of my deformed hand and forever being told that I would find many things impossible. I could, therefore, perhaps be forgiven for not having achieved my potential by the time I left school in 1979. Not that I cared too much at the time; I found a job, discovered beer, clubs and, of course, girls. The world was my oyster. Or was it? Despite being a naive young man, I started to question where my life was going.

      Two years later, I was drawn to a poster advertising the inaugural Coventry Marathon (my home town). Although I was only 18 and hadn’t run since school, it was one of those special moments when something sparked in my mind. I couldn’t really explain the feeling, not only did it seem the right thing to do, but it somehow seemed to suggest an opportunity to take a new path in life which could possibly lead to better things. After a bet with some mates, my decision was made.

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