‘You can’t really prepare for something like this – I am taking on the hardest physical and mental challenge of my life’
Adam Sykes has officially launched his fundraising challenge, which will see him run more than 80 miles in one day
A determined dad has told how he will be taking on the hardest physical and mental challenge of his life when he runs 81 miles – non-stop– in a special charity fundraiser. Adam Sykes has run a number of marathons over the years and is an avid CrossFit enthusiast – but he’ll be clocking up more than three marathons in less than 24 hours when he takes on a titanic fundraising challenge this August.
The 34-year-old plans to run from the Score Europe Ltd workshop in Saltend Chemicals Park, where he works as team leader, to the firm’s facility at Brighouse, West Yorkshire – and he’ll be pounding the streets solo, all through the day and night, with no structured race environment or aid stations.
He is putting himself through the run to raise a targeted £3,000 for Tommy’s, the national charity which funds vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth, a charity close to his heart having seen many people endure the heartache of baby loss. And training for the ultra-marathon is well under way, with Adam fitting in mind-boggling 20 kilometre runs BEFORE he drives to work in Hull from Halifax, getting up at 3.15am each morning to fit in the training sessions.
The ultra runner said he’s getting himself mentally ready as much as physically prepared for the run, which will start on August 29.
Adam, who has an eight-year-old daughter, Polly, said: “I’ve mapped it out. It’s 81.5 miles. You can’t really prepare for something like this. I am taking on the absolute hardest physical and mental challenge of my life.
“I’m training every day. I normally do 20 kilometres every morning before work, but I live in Halifax, so I’m up at 3.15am to do that before driving over to Hull to work, around an hour and a half from where I live. Then after I finish work, I do CrossFit every night.
“I’ve done it since my daughter was born, I just thought to myself ‘I need to start training early in the morning’ so, for years I’ve been getting up at half three, 4 o’clock. I’m just used to it to be fair.
“The run itself is going to be completely solo, fully self-supported, so I’ve got to plan all my nutrition and water, because I can’t obviously carry the water from the beginning. I’m planning to make stops to go to garages to refill up on water, and I’ll be bringing food, battery packs and spare clothes in my bag.
“I’m hoping I’ll complete it in about 18 hours but I am going to allow myself 24 hours. And I am a little bit nervous. I’ve posted a funding picture with a poster because I knew once I’d done that, there’s no going back! I do realise it’s a mammoth challenge, but I know that I’ve got the engine to do it. I know that I can complete it.”
Adam explained why he has picked Tommy’s, a London based charity which is the leading charity funding pregnancy research in the UK.
He said: “As a parent I really want to use this 80-mile challenge to back Tommy’s vital research and support. I am doing this to raise £3,000 for Tommy’s because it’s an incredible charity that funds vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. They work tirelessly to find answers, make pregnancy safer, and support families navigating the devastating heartbreak of baby loss.
“As a dad, I know how incredibly lucky I am. But far too many families aren’t that lucky. The physical agony of pushing my body for 80 miles is absolutely nothing compared to the emotional pain that so many parents are forced to endure. No one should have to walk out of a hospital with empty arms.”
To make a donation you can find Adam’s fundraising page on JustGiving here.
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