A FROME man is to run a marathon on a treadmill this weekend to raise money for Time is Precious.
Jamie Jones who recently moved back to the town after serving in the army for 22 years will run 26.2miles on a treadmill at Frome Sainsbury’s from 9am on Saturday 31st January.
Jamie has always wanted to do something for the charity having gone to school with Nicky Halford, the joint founder of the charity, but his operational tour cycle in the army made it not possible until now.
He said, “After 11 years in Germany I finished my service and my family and I returned to Frome. I was then reconnected with Nicky and Neil Halford who set up Time Is Precious (TIP) in memory of their son Ben. I knew Nicky from school and always wanted a chance to do something for Time is Precious but being based in Germany on a busy operational tour cycle made it not possible.
“I am confident about taking this challenge but a little apprehensive because I want to complete the distance and I’m aware things could go wrong, such as an injury or a mechanical fault.
“As the event gets closer I’m trying to find a good balance between injury prevention and getting the pace right. It’s tempting to go faster or longer but I have to keep a good balance. I train most days, with a six mile run followed by a short rowing session and then core work, of press-ups and sit ups but mainly use my experience from the army in getting ready for endurance.
“I am not a ‘runner’ although I enjoy keeping fit and I enjoy pushing myself to see what I can do, or how far I can go. The gap the army left is quite big so I wanted to fill it with something positive and worthwhile, and TIP does just that.
“I have run the Bristol half marathon last year for TIP and will be part of the team for the BathHalf in March. I wanted to raise money for this event, and TIP as the chosen charity for Sainsbury’s have held various fund raising activities at the Frome store. This seemed to be a good opportunity to combine my ambition to run a marathon this year, train for the BathHalf and support Neil and Nicky in the best way I know how.”
Jamie hopes to complete the gruelling 26.2 mile run in just under six hours, at an average speed of 5mph, and the treadmill has been supplied by Mark Bently the manager of Frome and Glastonbury Train Station gyms.
Time is Precious has been set up to support not just those children who, because of illness or disability, find themselves in hospital for treatment but their families who want to be with them because time is just that, precious.
To sponsor Jamie visit his just giving page www.justgiving.com/Jamie-Jones10 or text TTIP75 £1 to 70070.
