The Incredible Feat (or is that Feet?) of the Man Who Ran the Paris Marathon in his Ski Boots

Q) Completing the 26.2 miles is hard enough so what made you decide to run the Paris Marathon in ski boots?

I've been doing challenges for the last year after my friend was diagnosed with MND. He's 36 with two kids and a wife and was given 2-5 years to live. I lost a close friend Carl, 7 years ago to the same awful disease, so upon hearing the heartbreaking news about Craig I wanted to do something to raise awareness and donations.

My first challenge was actually in Val Thorens because I was doing a ski season at the time. I skied from one of the highest points in the resort down to Les Menuires, where I put my skis on my back and boots around my neck and ran back to Val Thorens 5.6 miles all up hill.

I carried on with the challenges trying to raise the bar each time. After finishing an Ironman I realised I needed something special to raise more awareness and to stand out from the rest. So the next thing I'd brainstormed 30 marathons in 30 days in 30 different countries all while living and travelling in my van.

I then wanted to get my social media followers involved and started putting votes/polls for my challenges. The next one would be a bike ride from Hull to Val Thorens (the highest ski resort in Europe). And the vote was to choose which bike I would ride on. A mountain bike? A road bike? No, a Raleigh chopper was the vote so that's what I had to ride on. Fourteen days later I reached Val Thorens (after a 100 mile detour to get a picture by the Eiffel Tower).

I stayed in the ski resort for some skiing and touring. And that's when the next challenge came up. We rolled a dice with six challenges and it landed on 'running a marathon in ski boots' voted by an Instagram follower. Next thing I'm driving to Paris with my ski boots to run the Paris Marathon.

Q) How much training did you do? As in running generally and/or running in ski boots?

I did absolutely no training for this, I'd never ever run in ski boots and this was going to be the unknown. I set off with no idea how much pain was waiting for me

Q) How old were your Tecnica Cochise 130 ski boots and how often do you ski?

My boots were only around 12 months old, almost brand new. I enjoy a mix of ski touring and days taking the lifts, I skied 100 miles in a day (including lifts) only the week before the marathon.

I'd actually reached out and emailed all the big ski shops in the UK before doing it with no joy. I was hoping maybe a shop would supply me with a pair of ski boots. With no luck. So I had to make the decision to run in my ski boots as it was now or never. I replaced my grip walk soles with normal alpine soles and hoped I wouldn't wreck my boots doing it.

Q) So how hard was it running 26.2 miles in 6hrs 33mins wearing ski boots? And what hurt most at the end? Blisters, maybe?

I started fast and was actually overtaking people, it was crazy, I felt confident and I was enjoying all the reactions, Three miles down, I got severe blisters! My ankles and knees were in a lot of pain, I remember looking at my watch and seeing I had 21 miles left. I felt sick with the pain and had no idea how I would manage any more.

Q) We hear you and friends celebrated by drinking champagne out of your boots! How was that?

This was the best part. I actually went to Paris alone in my van. I finished the marathon alone slightly disorienting. Then I got a call from my friend's brother who had also run the marathon, they were at a restaurant and asked me to join them. I nearly didn't bother because I was so exhausted. It was such a nice surprise everyone there waiting for me to arrive and celebrating. It made the day all the more special 

Q) What was the reaction from Blizzard Tecnica?

They loved it. I'm in talks with Blizzard now. I'm hoping they may get behind one of my challenges and maybe provide me with some skis and boots.

Q) What other extreme fund-raising challenges have you done?

1.  Val Thorens ski tour/run
2. Running up a full snow covered  ski slope
3. Biked coast to coast England St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay, 170 miles in a day
4. Hardest road marathon (28.5 miles) Moutires to Val Thorens
5. Leeds Marathon, time 3:33
6. Ironman Copenhagen, time 12:03 (with a broken hand)
7. Climbed highest mountain in England in only Speedos and flip flops in winter, -14C wind chill and snow at the top. 

Q) Do you have any other plans for alternative use of your ski gear in the future? Or ski-related challenges?

I'm hoping to do a unique ski challenge, which will be a ski tour triathlon (I'm hoping Blizzard may help me out with this). 

Q) How much have you raised for Motor Neuron Disease? 

So far we've raised £34,300. The proceeds go 50 percent to the MND association and 50 percent to support my friend Craig and his family through this awful time as he battles through.