Chris grew up with a passion for rugby and has always stayed active, playing various sports like rugby and football. After completing his PGCE in Secondary PE, he continued to find ways to keep fit, although running and triathlons were never on his radar.
Everything changed when Chris’s mother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). To support the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), he began running, completing the London Marathon in 2014, just a few months after his mother passed away after a long battle with the disease.
Despite having several runs planned to raise funds, Chris found it difficult to train following his mother’s death, and his health and fitness suffered as a result. About a year and a half ago, Chris decided it was time to start improving his physical and mental health again. Given his connection to MNDA, running the London Marathon again seemed like a natural choice.
Unfortunately, an injury two weeks before the 2023 London Marathon forced Chris to withdraw. Undeterred, he signed up for 2024, as well as the Newport and Manchester marathons, uncertain if he would secure a spot. When he got a place in all three, he saw it as an opportunity to create a meaningful challenge in memory of his mother, marking the 10th anniversary of her passing.
Reflecting on his training, Chris shared:
“Training was fantastic, being part of the Wolfpack made everything ten times easier. The atmosphere in the club as well as the quality of coaching really helped to maximise the outcomes and I felt motivated throughout.”
Balancing training with family life, including his wife and two young
children, was challenging, particularly during longer runs. However, the support he received was incredible.
Many people describe marathons as painful and exhausting, but Chris found the three he completed to be “amazing.”
“Manchester was a fantastic experience, I liked the course and seeing Old Trafford as a United fan was a dream come true. It was my quickest marathon of the three, and I really enjoyed it. London was just incredible, it was surreal running it again after ten years but the emotions were the same. Newport was by far the most difficult of the three. I found the route quite challenge due to the lack of support, but it was amazing to have all the family waiting for me at the end.”
Chris is deeply grateful to his wife, Claire, and his two wonderful children, William (6) and Bronwen (2), for their unwavering support.
Find out more about Chris, his challenge and how you can support here.
