Teacher aims for seven half marathons in seven days
A TEACHER plans to spend his half term break running more than 90 miles to raise money for Guernsey charities.
Matt Jamieson, 44, aims to complete seven half marathons in seven days. The first run was yesterday morning, where he managed to do the run in one hour and 53 minutes.
He is raising money for the Covid-19 Community Charity Appeal to which people can make donations at giving.gg.
‘I wanted to raise money for charities who are struggling in these difficult times,’ he said.
‘It includes everybody really from Les Bourgs Hospice to scout groups who can’t get their subscriptions in.’
Mr Jamieson, who teaches physics at the Grammar School, took up running just over two years ago and he said he soon got the bug.
In October he completed the Guernsey Marathon –his first full marathon – in a time of three hours 23 minutes.
He will do his runs in the area of his St Saviour’s home and will post the route and the time he took at the end of each day on the social media app for runners, Strava.
He plans to start each day at about 9am and his route will vary daily.
Wife Sarah, and their children, Eleanor, 13, Daniel, 10, and Thomas, 8, might come along to hand him water, but apart from that it will be a solo effort.
He said yesterday’s morning run had gone well.
‘It was a bit cold, but it was quite nice,’ he said.
‘Today I ran along the coast to Portelet and then up to the Mallard and looped back around. It was quite quiet, but there were some people. Some of them recognised my t-shirt and gave me a thumbs up.’
Social Investment Fund lead officer, Sadie Siviter de Paucar said she was delighted that Mr Jamieson had chosen to support the Covid-19 Community Charity Appeal with his ambitious seven half marathons in seven days and wished him the best of luck.
‘Local charities play a vital role in our islands supporting many people who could not cope without their help, especially at this difficult time, yet for many charities fund raising has become increasingly difficult and they need our support,’ she said.
Giving.gg is a service provided to members of the Association of Guernsey Charities.
