24 hour treadmill challenge

21 February 2012

On April 22nd, Mark Barrow will be setting off with around 35,000 other Virgin London Marathon hopefuls. They'll run 26.2 gruelling miles to the finish on the Mall, by Buckinham Palace.

But Mark Barrow had undertaken another remarkable challenge before that day in April. Mark tells his story.

Too late to back out?

"After a few months of planning the day had finally arrived. The 11th February 2012 was always circled in my diary and as the days had got closer the nerves were growing and growing. The enormity of what I had decided to undertake was firmly with me.

I travelled the very short distance to the venue - the 24hr Asda in Clydebank - and started to prepare. Signs, balloons, posters, a countdown screen and my friends and family to see me start.

First stop was a massage to get the heat into my legs and then the time had come. I stepped on to the treadmill and the countdown began. The start button was pressed and, after a few cheers, I was left with just the hustle and noise of Saturday shoppers.

I was positioned outside under the entrance canopy so was getting the breeze and the shoppers going by. It was busy and the donations were arriving.

Many called me mad

I had decided to run the event in small chunks. It would have been mad to run it as a whole time - but many called me mad for even starting it!! However as the hours passed I was feeling OK, talking to passers by and watching as the money went into the collection boxes and tins. Many asked "when's the next person taking over?" - leaving with their jaw wide open at finding out what I had decided to do.

Mark Barrow and his daughter Jennifer

About three hours in my calves started to tighten a little. I smiled as I told my support team who replied "its ok you only have 21 hours to go!". That was probably the first time I realised the scale of this challenge!!

The advice I received to eat proper food, little and often, was taken. My food list was a who's who list of foods athletes don't eat. However the calories, protein, carbs and fat needed to be replaced, along with any fluid! One thing I knew was a good sign was that I was visiting the loo regularly and not losing the fluid elsewhere!

As the sun went down and night time came, the flow of customers continued - as did the flow of supporters, friends and family members.

The first big wobble!!!

But then the first big wobble!!! 11 hours in I started to feel a bit dizzy and realising I was
1) not even half way through and
2) still with 13 hours to go
I wondered why I hadn't made it a 12hr challenge. But then would people have donated so generously?

Being outside, albeit under the shop's large canopy, had been great with the crowds. But with only a few customers and the temperature dropping to minus 5, the next few hours began to hurt. Anytime I stopped to change socks, clothing or nip to the loo, the legs seized in the cold weather.

Just after midnight I changed to running tights, jacket and gloves. After 12 hours I had covered 67 miles but with the treadmill having to be restarted after each hour, my brain was struggling to work out the simple maths or total distance etc.

After 13 hours I put on a DVD for the first time and that really helped. Laughing out loud to the IT Crowd boxset, my smile had returned. And with the odd youngster coming to the store, buying snacks after their night out, the next hour went quite quickly.

But the pain soon returned. My feet, despite being blister free, felt like they were running/walking on hot coals.

But I was now well into Sunday and could finally say I finish today!!!

It just got harder

Overnight hardly any money went into the collection as there just weren't any customers. Again I started wondering if the final 12 hours were worth it. However, this was about raising money for children with cancer not any personal goal or achievement.

One drunk had the nerve to call me a fraud... Thankfully my support team told him where to go!

My support team were standing shivering in the cold weather and standing under the entrance door for a bit of heat. But I had to keep going. I tried not to look at the countdown clock, but failed. What seemed like half an hour inbetween glances was only a few minutes. This was torture!!!

I knew other support team members were coming at 6am. I knew that once they arrived I only had four hours to go. Only four hours!?!

I was now at a snails pace. Four miles an hour with the odd walk, crawl and stagger inbetween. I was having to come off the treadmill every hour to stretch. One drunk had the nerve to call me a fraud at that point!! Thankfully my support team told him where to go but that was the only negative member of the public throughout the 24 hours, so I'm sorry to even give him a mention!!

As the clock ticked off the seconds the ritual of a clap and cheer from my support team as the hour ticked over in to the next put a smile on my face. Then the sun rose and we had daylight again. I had made it through the night and was on the final push to the end.

The finish was in site

With two hours to go I passed 100 miles but I was shot to bits. Struggling to break into a run, a very brisk walk was the best I could do whilst holding onto the treadmill for balance!! Then finally, finally. finally, finally, the clock ticked over into zero hours and 59 minutes!! I got the impression my support team were wanting the end as much as me. Despite some doing it on a rota, many had been there for large chunks of it.

Mark completes his 24 hour treadmill challenge

As ten minutes came I cranked it up and thought "what the hell" ... drum roll please!! A mind boggling 10kph was now achievable and with the increase in speed people started cheering. That final 10 minutes was the quickest out of them all. To be fair the running bits were the quickest of the whole challenge!!

Then before I knew it, and before I had time to realise, the gathering crowd started cheering ever louder 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Cue an almighty roar from the crowd as I thrust my arms into the air as those around me looked on.

I had done it. A runner of only four years had completed 24hrs on a treadmill. I had covered over 100 miles in 24hrs and achieved something many would not even consider.

The real reason

But most of all, and what was always the number one reason for doing it, over £3000 was raised for children with cancer.

For the children who struggle I had completed the easy bit. I sit here, typing and yes I'm sore. My feet feel they have been ground by an orbital sander and I am walking a little strangely. But it is nothing compared to the daily struggle cancer patients and their families go through.

Would I do it again? Personally no...but if it was to help others less fortunate than me. Sign me up right now!!

Huge thanks should go to Asda, Cosmopolitan Fitness, my friends, family, strangers, supporters and marathon talk community for your very kind words of support, wisdom and your continued interest. Without you I wouldn't have achieved this or even had the courage to start it in the first place. Thank you!

You can still support my 24hr Treadmill Challenge at www.justgiving.com/mark-barrow0 or text MARK68 £5 to 70070. Thank you."

Thank you Mark for sharing the story of your fantastic effort to help children with cancer and their families. We're filled with admiration. Good luck with the Virgin London Marathon - a walk in the park in comparison???

(February 2012)

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