One year – 250 marathons=five marathons a week.
And that’s less than Cochrane’s Martin Parnell’s first goal of one marathon per day on his quest to raise money for children to play sports.
A self-professed ultra-marathon runner, Parnell, 54, is attempting to run 250 marathons in 2010 and raise $250,000 for the organization Right to Play and he plans to do it starting New Year’s Day at 9 a.m.
“I originally wanted to do 365 days and raise $365,000 but my wife sent me to the doctor when I told her,” he laughed, adding they decided it wasn’t physically possible.
Parnell was initially inspired with the idea five years ago while cycling through 10 countries in four months in Africa.
“I played soccer with kids in Sudan, played ping pong with kids in Kenya — I just saw how happy sports made them and how enthusiastic they were and I wanted to do something.”
As part of the marathon process Parnell said he will also be visiting 40 schools — one per week — and run a marathon with the students.
“I’m not even sure if I can accomplish this, but that is part of the attraction,” he added.
Visit www.marathonquest250.com.
