MORPETH HARRIERS
  • HOME
  • News Update
  • About Us
    • Contact
  • NEW MEMBERS
  • Club Documents
  • Training
    • Andrew Dippie
    • Mark Brown
    • Chris Waugh
  • Fixtures
  • Gallery
  • Club Kit
  • Archive News
  • Blog
  • Features
  • Membership
  • Volunteers
  • Newsletters

News update

the 401 challenge

9/3/2016

 
9.30am Monday 7th March 2016 – not the usual start time for a marathon!

Nevertheless this is when the remarkable character, who is Ben Smith,
plans to start his 189th  consecutive day of running the marathon distance !
Picture
Ben`s van at Morpeth
His camper van, emblazoned with 401 Challenge logo’s, pulls into the car park beside our clubhouse.
I’m there with Andrew Richardson, Lorna McDonald, Damian Foster, Emma Sanderson & Bob Sewell with his bike,
George & Hud and we are all curious to see who emerges from the van.

And here he is, tall, bearded, slim and very fit looking – he’s kitted up, friendly, chatty and ready to go !
Picture
Ben Smith in Morpeth
He is 33 years old and only started running two and a half years ago as rehabilitation
following a stroke he suffered when he was 29. He worked in the city,
in a high powered pressurised environment, was burning the candle at both ends,
weighed over 17 stones and as a result of the stroke temporarily lost his sight and speech.
It was a BIG wake up call!

He had a friend who ran and this friend cajoled him into going to Southville Running Club in Bristol.
Ben said the thought of going to a running club was intimidating because you ‘assume everyone is going to be better than you’.
But he found the experience cathartic, the club members encouraging and supportive
and he said to me that running had changed his life for the better in so many ways.

You can find out more about Ben and the 401 Challenge from their website and why he is
absolutely passionate about the anti –bullying charities that he is raising money to support.
www.the401challenge.co.uk
Picture
Ben and friends outside the clubhouse
He was really appreciative of the support he had from Morpeth Harriers
and in particular those who turned out to run, ride and refresh him today.

The weather was good, he enjoyed the course and the support he got from
the kids at Goose Hill Primary School – cheers Lorna for sorting that out !

So thanks to all who took part today, those mentioned above, plus Pam Woodcock, Carol Parry,
James McFetrich, Cinty Miley, Jill Sandeman, Kim Taylor and Neil McAnany.
Picture
Ben and friends at the start
It’s amazing what gets talked about when your trundling along on events like this
and Ben has had 189 days of consecutive running chit chat.
He’s got some great tales and here is one situation most of us will have experienced; 
What do you do when you are at a party and you’ve been to the loo
but it won’t flush away.......you need to speak to someone who was on Lap 3 today
to find the answer........it’s unbelievable what happened!!!!

Kevin Bray
Picture
The marathon gets under way
The 401 Challenge

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
© 2024 Morpeth Harriers & AC All Rights Reserved.
 Data Protection Policy.
  • HOME
  • News Update
  • About Us
    • Contact
  • NEW MEMBERS
  • Club Documents
  • Training
    • Andrew Dippie
    • Mark Brown
    • Chris Waugh
  • Fixtures
  • Gallery
  • Club Kit
  • Archive News
  • Blog
  • Features
  • Membership
  • Volunteers
  • Newsletters