Benjamin Smith is aiming to run 401 marathons in 401 days in a bid to raise £250,000 for anti-bullying charities.
The Bristol based runner, who starts on 1 September, will run more than 10,000 miles in just over 13 months. Why?
Back in school, Ben was bullied. An experience which affected him through to adulthood. He was left with a seriously low self-esteem and event went through two suicide attempts. But after coming out as gay and also discovering a passion for running, he has found happiness in recent years. Now 33, he wants to help those who might have been similarly affected.
“They are two charities which are close to my heart [Stonewall and Kidscape],” Ben says.
He explains: “I was quite badly bullied at school for eight years.
“I came out as gay a couple of years ago. I was doing everything other people wanted me to do rather than everything I wanted to do. I was leading what other people would classify as a normal life – I was married and consequently divorced.
“Since I came out I’ve never been happier and that gave me the strength to believe in myself.
“I only got into running about four years ago – I wasn’t very sporty at school. I ran my first marathon three years ago. I got hooked and went from strength to strength. I got my confidence back and my self-esteem.”
The preparation for the 401 challenge began two years ago and Ben tested his limits by running 18 marathons in 2014.
“It was to see what my limitations are, what my ability is. I also started to get people on board like chiropractors and physios. Last year was about building confidence. I needed to get sponsors on board and health professionals on board.”
Asked why he decided on 401 as a target, he explains: “I looked at running a marathon every single day for a year – so 365 marathons. But I’m a bit OCD – as I think most runners are. So I liked the idea of rounding it up and adding the last one as a victory lap!”
And it’s not just running 401 marathons round his house either, Ben will hit up 309 locations throughout the UK, with the vast majority of his marathons being distance runs organised by UK running clubs. Only nine will be official organised marathons, of which Bournemouth will be the only event he runs twice as his 34th and 398th marathons. This year’s Bournemouth Marathon weekend takes place on 3-4 October.
“I ran Bournemouth last year and I loved it!” says Ben. “My other half is doing his PhD at Bournemouth University so we have an affiliation with it.
“It’s also where I met my head physiotherapist and we’ve been best friends ever since. I love the looped ending to the Bournemouth Marathon. With the pier and the long stretch on the beach front. It’s such a stunning marathon to run.”
The day before and after the Bournemouth Marathon, he will be running 26.2miles at nearby locations, details of which will be available at www.the401challenge.co.uk
As with every run, he encourages you all to join him for anything from one mile to the full distance.
“I want this to be true to what the charity is about. The whole point is to get people involved and to run with me,” he says.
“The more people talk about it, the more we spread the message that bullying shouldn’t be part of our society. It’s trying to raise awareness and well as raising a quarter of a million pounds for the two charities.”
