Ben and Phil’s Crazy 7 in 7 Challenge

Friends Ben Wildman and Phil Clarke will be taking on their own '7 in 7 running challenge' next month to support the MND Association. The Yorkshire Marathon, taking place on Sunday 20^th October will mark the final race of this epic challenge!

After both taking on the 2023 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon for the Leeds Hospitals Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal, they both knew they wanted to try to take on something harder, something even more challenging. Discussions went on and after having been inspired by Kevin Sinfield’s running challenges in recent years in support of Rob, they decided to run their own 7 in 7 challenge.

Starting on Monday 14^th October, they will both run a half marathon each day for six consecutive days, ending with the Yorkshire Marathon a week later.

Read more about their epic challenge and motivations for running below.

“In 2023 three of us entered the Inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, all for different reasons. We all trained separately as it was impossible to find a time everyone could do as we all have young families but with the power of WhatsApps we had formed a sort of virtual running club. When it got hard, we helped each other get through it. Usually something like, ‘run fat boy run.’

“The day came and we all completed the marathon on what felt like the hottest day of the year, we’re talking about people passing out on the side of the road type hot. Luckily, we all made it through without keeling over. It wasn’t easy but it was such a great day, it felt great knowing your mates were somewhere and the fact that we were running for such great causes meant so much.

“Well of course we had to celebrate the success of the Marathon so we hit the streets of Leeds.

“So, we all know the best ideas are dreamt up in the pub……

“So, after a few Yorkshire Blondes, we started on the topic of running challenges and how you beat a Marathon, how do you make people want to donate more money. The simple challenge is to do something harder, something even more challenging…the conversation went on.

“Have you seen that Kevin Sinfield is doing seven marathons in seven days? He’s mental! Shall we do our own version?

“The discussion went on and we decided to run our own 7 in 7 challenge.

“Starting on the 14th October we will run a half marathon each day for 6 consecutive days, on the 7th day (20th October), we will run the Yorkshire Marathon in York.

“This is roughly 105 Miles (168KM), mental right?

“Like I said previously everything seems possible when you’ve had a few beers.

“It’s not going to be easy but living with MND is not either. We raised a ton of cash for Leeds Hospital charities last year, as they have pretty much reached their fundraising target for The Rob Burrow centre it only seemed right we raised some money for the MND Association.

“Ben as most of the people reading this will know, Sarah’s Mum, Sally Brown (said in the voice of Mrs Brown in Mrs Browns Boys: “Kathy Brown”) was sadly diagnosed with MND shortly after we entered the Leeds Marathon back in 2023.

“Were my words in 2023 and very much still are…..and what a fighter, so courageous and very brave.

“MND is such a cruel disease, it takes everything from you, your ability to eat, walk, talk, move and sadly in the end your life. This doesn’t happen overnight, its slowly takes these away from you, these get worse day by day, month by month. Imagine if this was your Mum, Sister, your Dad, Brother, Grandparent. Imagine if this was you going through this, losing your ability to hug, kiss, hold your loved ones. This is the hardest part. I cannot get my head around this…. what do you do….how do you move forward?

“This doesn’t just affect Sally, this affects everyone around them. I want to do a big shout out to Paul Brown (Also said in Mrs Browns voice) who is Sally’s full time carer. An absolute gent, a truly inspiration person, dedicating his life to looking after the love of his.

“I get it, charity starts at home and all that. I know it's not just about us and how its impacted our lives. What about all the other charities, all the other people impacted by other cruel disease? The big C, we sadly both lost a friend and colleague to the big C this year, he was only 40! I completely understand, but this is our story, give us a thought and if you can please donate a few quid. Genuinely it doesn’t matter how much, every penny counts.

“With the theme of the 7 in 7, it’s all about running with a mate for a mate. We would love for anyone who wants to join us to do so, the routes are still in a work in progress, but we will update them below as we get closer to the big week. The routes are likely to be around Rothwell/Wakefield. The half marathons are not organised events. Just a run with a mate so if you do decide to join us bring your own supplies.

“We aren’t going be running our personal bests, we will run at whatever pace suits, its likely we'll be crawling by the end of the week anyway. You can do part of a run, all of one, multiple runs. The more the better. If people want to come on a bike then great crack on.”

Good luck team, we can’t wait to cheer you across the finish line!

To support the team’s fundraising efforts, you can do so by clicking here

Entries are still open for this year’s Yorkshire Marathon. To find out more and enter, potential participants advised to click here