A senior Royal Marine is running ten marathons in ten days this week – culminating in the London Marathon.
Colonel Simon Chapman, Captain of the Base, at Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth, is on his fourth marathon distance leg today – running from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.
He is raising funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and The Brain Tumour Charity – in memory of a family member who died from a brain tumour. Staff at HMS Drake, Devonport, boosted his fundraising to over £6,000.
Colonel Simon Chapman, 49, explained, “I was looking for a personal challenge, something that would test me as well as perhaps encouraging others to get involved and help me raise some money for charity at the same time.
“I have a strong personal motive - my sister-in-law died from a Brain Tumour aged 33 and I thought raising some funds for brain tumour research would be a fitting tribute.’’
Personal military fitness training and Royal Marines ethos is getting him through the gruelling challenge.
He said, “Being a Marine certainly helps with the mental and physical extremes. I’ve been training since September last year and I’ve needed to draw on some of my military training to help me get through the wettest winter for years. I’ve seen Dartmoor, where I train, at its worst, particularly during the snow in March.
“In some ways running the actual challenge is easier - most of the ground is new to me (rather than the monotony of running the same old training routes) and the landscape and some of the views in Devon and Dorset have been glorious. People I’ve passed on the way have been very supportive.”
The second-in command at Devonport has already completed the London Marathon in an impressive three hours and 11 minutes. But he is not an ultra-distance runner, having not run more than 45 minutes over two days before this.
Si trained over 30 weeks, building up the distances and the intensity. From Christmas onwards he sustained 60-70 miles/week, regularly completing 20+ miles training runs and culminating with 10 half marathons over 10 days at the end of March.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed running - it’s pretty low maintenance and I can just about work it around work and home routines. My family is looking forward to seeing more of me though when it’s all over!’’
Donations can be made to UK.virginmoneygiving.com - search for ‘Simon Chapman Running 10 marathons in 10 days’.
