The Persistence Of The Long Distance Runner
‘you can be anything you want to be, if you put your mind and energy into it’
Daniel Kershaw
It is an unseasonably hot day in Scotland’s capital city. The sun is splitting the streets and the 2010 Edinburgh Marathon is reaching its climax. Crowds of jovial well-wishers throng the route, willing the runners on to the finish line. For Daniel Kershaw, an IT specialist from Perth who is participating in his first marathon, progress has been excellent. Months of dedication, training and hard work appear to have paid off, and he looks certain to complete the race in a new personal best. Unfortunately a ‘perfect storm’ is brewing. The intense humidity and heat are conditions the athlete is unfamiliar with. By mile 25 the unthinkable happens and Daniel is unable to complete the race: one of the many runners to fall foul of acute dehydration on the hottest day ever in the history of the event. Never a man to give up on a challenge, the Perthshire endurance runner is devastated…
‘I was literally a few meters away from completing my first marathon’ reflects Daniel. ‘But when the doctor told me that there would be no more long distance races for me, it really hit me hard.’ Daniel lost consciousness and was attended to by the emergency services. A harrowing experience to say the least and a tough lesson to digest. ‘I’m very fortunate to still be here. Had it not been for the professionalism of the medical staff, and the support of my fiancée Clare on the day, who knows?’
Lesser mortals would have crumbled, or perhaps taken the much less strenuous option of a weekly jog around the local park, but not Daniel. A staggering thirty four marathons and ultra marathons later, he has become a well-established and popular face in the endurance running community. Daniel’s dogged determination and never say die attitude have also helped to raise over £3000 for charities including: Alzheimer Scotland, The Meningitis Research Foundation and War Child.
From the cheering crowds of Gallic onlookers at the Marathon de Paris, to proudly receiving his finisher’s medal at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, Daniel’s passion has taken him on a truly sensational journey. ‘I’m very fortunate to have visited some fascinating places’ he muses. ‘The Northumberland Coastal Marathon is definitely one that springs to mind, and I can’t wait to run it again in the future. It starts in the grounds of Alnwick Castle (featured in the Harry Potter films) and the route is absolutely beautiful.’
In an age when professional athletes negotiate pay deals which make working people balk, and all the fun seems to have evaporated from entertainment sports, it is mightily refreshing to witness the warm camaraderie which exists between fellow endurance runners. Daniel recently appeared on BBC Scotland’s ‘The Adventure Show’ and the esprit de corps evident on the programme harked back to the golden age of good old-fashioned recreational endeavour. ‘You meet a lot of interesting characters who may be on their own missions, but once the race starts, we all support each other as much as we can’ reflects Daniel. ‘I’ve made some fantastic friends, and met some unique individuals too: like a retired librarian who was running an A to Z of marathons! I met him on Islay, so he must have reached I.’
A lifelong interest in running reached fruition on the birth of Daniel’s daughter Sophie in 2008. ‘Like many parents, I decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle and I started to take running a lot more seriously. I gradually increased the distances from 5k to 10k, and finally marathons.’ Now a seasoned runner, Daniel is always keen to offer tips and advice to any would-be endurance athletes: ‘minor changes to diet and training schedule can have a major impact in the long run. Just keep believing, don’t be too hard on yourself, and all else will follow.’
One of Daniel’s proudest moments was running alongside his five year old daughter at the Perth Kilt Run and the mild-mannered IT specialist from the Highlands looks forward to savouring many more magical moments in the field. ‘I’m always looking for a new challenge to push myself that little bit further’ he reveals. ‘I was particularly inspired by a 70 year old I met running in Lanzarote who has completed 726 marathons!’
Daniel aims to complete 34 marathons this year and has his sights set on entering the prestigious ‘100 Marathon Club’ by the end of 2017. He also intends to run the West Highland Way Triple Crown which involves negotiating the entire 95 mile route twice over three races! The Perthshire endurance runner continues to push himself to the limits and you can follow Daniel on his personal blog at: Medal Junkie.
Daniel is running the West Highland Triple Crown plus 30 marathons/ultras to raise funds for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).
What’s it like to be an endurance runner? Find out more on ‘The Adventure Show’:
The author of the article is David Fox. A freelance writer and professional entertainer who lives in Nottingham, UK
Exceptional Lives 