Joe Riley: Inspirational Glutton (for Punishment)
Even if you’ve never been much of a runner yourself, you likely know someone who’s run a 5k to raise money for a good cause. Perhaps they even ran a marathon. Well, how about five marathons? Better still, how about five consecutive marathons in FIVE DAYS? What’s that? You don’t know any masochists, especially not ones with such wanton disregard for their own toenails?
Well, meet Joe Riley, a 26-year old English teacher, poet, endurance runner and all-around stand-up LAD who hails from Winchester, Hampshire, in southern England. He also happens to be a tireless advocate in the fight against Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).
Between April 16th and the 20th, Riley will run five marathons on his home turf in Winchester. He will run through all five city gates, and hopes to drum up local support by starting and finishing the marathons from his favorite pubs (a very sound strategy, in this blogger’s opinion). The routes are currently being set and will be posted on his website (justgiving.com/5in5jr) soon.
Riley’s goal is to raise at least £1000 ($1635 USD) this year for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a non-profit based in the UK which aims to save lives by providing information about SADS, support for those affected, and screenings for young people. This isn’t the first time Joe has endeavored to cripple himself in pursuit of a worthy cause. In July of 2013, Joe ran four marathons in four days and successfully raised over £800 ($1,340 USD) for CRY.
Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome refers to a group of relatively rare diseases that affect the electrical functioning of the heart. Each week, 12 young people in the UK die suddenly as a result of un-diagnosed heart conditions. CRY promotes heart screening programs for youth between the ages of 14-35, funds medical research, supports young people diagnosed with cardiac conditions, and offers counseling to families of youth affected by SADS.
Riley will run five marathons in five days in memory of Alex Watley, who passed away from cardiac complications in December 2011 at age 23. He greatly respects the way Alex's family has continued to campaign for public awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, and was inspired by them to make a tangible contribution in the fight against SADS.
“CRY does amazing work for all of those affected by this ailment,” said Riley, “so they were the natural choice, as far as where contributions will do the most good.”
So, what's his secret to running multiple, back-to-back marathons? A typical pre-race breakfast includes a bowl of porridge (my in-depth research reveals that’s “oatmeal” to us Yanks), two bananas, a bacon sandwich, a strong cup of Italian coffee (“So I can, ah, clear things out before I start running, you understand…listen, do we need to be talking about this?”) and a final cup of Earl Grey tea. Quoth Riley: “The British Empire was built on tea, and if you think I’m running 5 marathons without any, then you are very much mistaken.”
Riley says that the key to getting up for another trek the following day is recovery: he gives his body more fuel, usually in the form of grilled chicken or steak—anything heavy in protein to repair muscles—and lots of sleep. While beer is not technically classified as a ‘recovery’ sports drink, Riley prefers to end his post-race feed with a pint of Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA (these marathons do end in the storied pubs of Winchester, after all) and the world’s most guilt-free slice of pie.
The nagging voice in his head is what drives him to put one foot in front of the other; Joe says his mind is his worst enemy and yet his staunchest ally. He shared a favorite quote from Lucio in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure that illustrates his sheer determination: "Our doubts are traitors that make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."
Fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young has taught Joe “to be thankful for what you've got and to always enjoy the little things in life, because they're not always as permanent as you would like.”
Please donate whatever you can on his fundraising page justgiving.com/5in5jr.
Proceeds will go towards funding screenings and services for families and individuals affected by the ailment.
If you're in England and want to join him on the route as a runner or cyclist, contact him at [email protected]. Please cheer Joe on in person at the marathons or virtually through twitter @5in5jr.
Post by Katherine Garcia & Steve Hirst.
