The Running Man

By Ross McCulloch on Jan 25, 10 03:57 PM in Charity

50 marathons in 56 days. Just reading that gives me sore legs. Mark Cooper plans to achieve that extraordinary goal this May, covering 1300 miles running from Amsterdam to Barcelona.

Mark hopes all the blisters will be worth it as he aims to raise a staggering £25,000 for The Edinburgh Headway Group.

He's kindly taken some time out of his training schedule to chat about the challenge.

Where did the idea for 50 marathons in 56 days come from?

I cycled the length of the UK in April 2009 and I loved pushing my physical and mental limits. I then heard about Eddie Izzard running for sport relief and decided I wanted to run even further than Eddie did. I was also a heavy smoker up until 2007 when I binned the cigarettes and more or less gave up drinking for a healthy lifestyle.

How much preparation is involved before you set off on an 8 week long run?

I thought about this trip on Thursday 17th September 2009 and in the beginning I totally underestimated the challenge. I intended to run unsupported from Amsterdam to Barcelona carrying all of my kit on my back and sleeping in a tent. Very quickly i realised that this would not be sustainable. Once I properly researched this the full scale of the task became clear. I have secured a support vehicle, a kit supplier, an insurance broker and a author named Paul Benjasmin who has mapped out my route already for cyclists. I am still however in need of a main corporate sponsor to fund accommodation and fuel costs.

What do you think is going to be the most exciting part of your journey?

When I think about the run itself my mind tends to wander towards the end in Barcelona. This is a problem for me as I have to remain focussed on the here and now. Amsterdam will be wonderful because my friends and family will be coming to see me off from the start and also at the end. I guess the entire trip will be exciting at points and also hell at points.

Why did you choose The Edinburgh Headway Group as your charity?

I have chosen The Edinburgh Headway Group (EHG) as the work they do to support people who have suffered an acquired brain injury such as a stroke. My Mother Sheila passed away in 1997 from a Brain Haemorrhage and I consider the work the EHG do as vital.

Are you getting close to your £25,000 target?

So far I have raised nearly £4,000 and I have a promise of another £6,000 but this will not be available until early in 2011. I have various fundraising events to hopefully get nearer to my goal but ultimately this is going to come down to friends, family and strangers digging deep and putting themselves out for a wonderful cause.

What's next once you've completed your 50 marathons?

I keep on getting asked what I will do once I get to Barcelona and I usually laugh and tell people that I wouldn't dream of thinking that far ahead but depending on the outcome of this expedition I think that Mark Cooper Runs America has a certain ring to it.