78 miles in 24 hours (From thisisoxfordshire)

78 miles in 24 hours

8:58am Thursday 11th March 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

HOT baths, saunas, and 45-mile jogs across the county are preparing this father-of-one for a gruelling African adventure.

Justin Bowyer, 39, of Madley Park, Witney, is gearing up to take his place in the 78-mile Namibia Ultra-Marathon in May.

The aim is to complete the mammoth run, which equates to three normal marathons, in 24 hours, and despite the sweltering conditions, which will see Mr Bowyer battling 38-degree heat, he is confident he will be successful.

He said: “At the moment I am doing around 70km runs, which is about 45 miles, in around eight hours. Once you are fit enough to run a marathon, I think it is more about having the right mentality to keep going.

“There’s a saying — pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

“I think that’s really true.

“Pain is a physical thing, but how you react to that pain is up to you.”

The Namibia 24-hour Ultra-Marathon is recognised as an ultimate endurance test for distance runners.

Competitors will race from Brandberg Mountain, the country’s highest, most rugged peak, to the Skeleton Coast, crossing the ancient Namib desert.

The keen runner has been advised to sit in hot baths, take scalding showers and long saunas, to acclimatise to the challenging conditions.

Mr Bowyer, a freelance journalist, will be running the ultra-marathon in order to raise money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, after being inspired by singer Jason Donovan, who has become the unofficial face of the hospital’s fundraising drive.

He will also donate money to SOS Children’s Villages, a charity which works with poor communities, in Windhoek, Namibia.

Mr Bowyer, father to seven-year-old son Callum, said: “I was interviewing Jason for a magazine, and I knew he is a big supporter of the Children’s Hospital, so it seemed like a good idea.

“And I wanted to give some money to SOS Children’s Villages, because I know they do great work. I wanted to make sure the charity I donated to definitely gave something back to Namibia.”

Penny Hambridge, children’s development officer at the hospital, said: “Every donation to the Oxford Children’s Hospital makes a huge difference to our young patients, paying for the very latest medical equipment and improving the facilities for the children and their parents.

“So we are always amazed and delighted by the lengths our supporters go to help, and have nothing but admiration for Justin and his Namibia ultra-marathon.”

To sponsor Mr Bowyer, who says he wants to raise as much cash as possible, visit boxfishmedia.co.uk/namibia

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)