Putney Gumps Taking on a Marathon of Marathons
Fundraising run along length of Thames Path to support two charities
The Putney Gumps
Two men from Putney are about to start seven marathons in seven days down the Thames Path aiming to raise £30,000 for charity.
The ‘Putney Gumps’, aka Adam Constable and Johnnie Wraith, are aiming to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust (CFT) and the Downs Syndrome Association (DSA) by running the whole length of the Thames Path in a week.
The Charities chosen are causes close to their heart. Max, Johnnie and Judie's son, is a fun, energetic and happy 14 year old with Downs. Last year he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a new challenge which has brought a fast learning curve for the family. The DSA has provided them with invaluable support over the years.
Maddie Turner, the 14-year-old daughter of close family friends to the Constables, is described as an inspiration to those living with Cystic Fibrosis; and the CFT is leading the fight to find ways to make every day less of a struggle.
Adam said, “We have battled through some daft ultras and other assorted challenges over the years, but never taken on a task that requires us to get up and go every day over a longer period. So, this time we have the historic Thames Path in our sights, a route that stretches 186 miles from the source of the river at Kemble in the Cotswolds to the sea, traditionally marked by the Thames Barrier. That conveniently equates to 7 stages, each of almost exactly marathon distance - we will be aiming to run 26.2 miles each day for a week starting on 10 September, lodging in various inns along the way, and completing the challenge on the 16th with the final leg taking us from Putney to the Barrier.
“We and our chosen charities will be more grateful than ever for any donations you feel able to make, especially in light of the immense difficulties and fundraising shortfalls these and many other charitable organisations have faced over the past 18 months. Their dedication and the support they offer are more challenging and more vital than ever. Thank you so much for any help you are able to provide.”
Regular updates of their progress are promised on their website.
The pair have set themselves a few targets over the past fifteen years, raised lots of money thanks to the generosity of donors. In 2018, 12 Marathons in 12 Months raised over £76,000, while two years earlier they ran 126 miles over two races within a week - the 2016 London Marathon and the Thames Path 100m ultra from Richmond to Oxford, raising well over £36,000. They ran the inaugural 65km Great Strides Ultra Marathon, and have run it twice since in 2018 and 2019, raising over £10,000.
The 100km 'Race to the Stones' in 2014 was the Putney Gumps' first Ultra. Johnnie organised a challenge that involved a team of runners and cyclists covering 360 miles in 36 hours in a relay from Portland Bill to Teddington, the home of the DSA, and before that a 50 mile Dragon Boat marathon down the Thames. Last year, they set ourselves the target of breaking the 4 hour marathon mark, and completed the Virtual London Marathon in a time of 3 hours 43 minutes raising a further £13,000 for our good causes.
If your would like to support their efforts click here.
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September 3, 2021