215 miles run in five days - he did it!
Words Brian Flynn
Former Alty midfielder, Ged Kielty, completed his ‘Coast2Coast Challenge’ on Sunday evening, having set off from Hornsea on the east coast of Yorkshire last Wednesday morning to run 215-miles in five days.
Ged reflected on his outstanding achievement: “Day five was the longest mileage wise, 51.5 miles from Twisted Running HQ on Viaduct Rd Altrincham along the Trans Pennine Trail to finish at the Seamark monument in Southport.
“The 5th day went like a dream, just like the previous four days. I was accompanied by my fellow Twisted Running runners for the first six miles of the day, ran around 35 miles on my own, then Ben Lockett, the owner of Twisted Running ran with me for six miles towards the end, which left me to finish the final six miles on my own, full of emotion as I met the coastal road, which led me to my friends and family who were there to cheer me across the homemade finishing line!”
“I can’t hide how proud I am to have finished the 215 mile ‘Coast 2 Coast Challenge’ in five days. But it was made so much easier with the support of the people with us, and the memory of those sadly no longer with us.
“Ben and Paul Gibbon, a fellow runner at Twisted Running were amazing as the support crew, I really didn’t want to disappoint them by stopping.
“But the whole point of this run was to raise money for The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation in honour of my former playing colleagues at Alty, George Melling and Mark Maddox. Thinking of them and their families kept me going."
“Malachy McGloin who we sadly lost to MND earlier this year. Thinking of Malachy passing my mum’s house asking how she was, whilst walking his dog, kept the legs moving.
“The beautiful Anna Barrow who is living with MND, her husband Martyn and children were never off my mind. Messages from the wife of our family friends in Stockport whose husband has recently been diagnosed with MND meant I had to hide behind my sunglasses for most of the challenge.
“These people are warriors and this really won’t be my last challenge to try and help them whilst I can. Thank you to all the Alty fans who have sponsored me, you really do look
after your own and are extremely generous and kind. Look after yourself and each other.”
You can hear from Ged on Monday when he drops in for a chat on Radio Alty's lunchtime show.
