Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier! To encourage your continued support, generosity and hopefully to inspire you a little, I’ve lined up another year of challenges 🏃🏻♂️
| Date | Race | Event | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Cancer Research UK London Winter Run | 10k | Dressed in a research scientist costume |
| 4 Mar | 4x4x48 Goggins Challenge | 48M | 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours |
| 20 Mar | Hastings Half Marathon | HM | Back to back to back 1 |
| 27 Mar | Kingston 20 | 20M | Back to back to back 2 |
| 03 Apr | Reading Half Marathon | HM | Back to back to back 3 |
| 18 Apr | Boston Marathon | Mar | Final World Marathon Major |
| 07 May | Centurion Thames Path 100 | 100M | Non stop from London to Oxford |
| 02 Jul | Ultra-Trail Snowdonia | 50k | First mountain ultra, 3,100m elevation |
| 100k | Despite qualifying, sadly didn’t get a place | ||
| 04 Sep | The Big Half | HM | Attempt to finish in under 80 minutes |
| 11 Sep | Great North Run | HM | Dressed as scientist, attempting GWR |
| 25 Sep | Berlin Marathon | Mar | Attempting to break the magic sub-3 hrs |
| 02 Oct | London Marathon | Mar | Just 7 days later….will #Shoebarker return? |
| 04 Dec | Valencia Marathon | Mar | Sub-3 back up! |
13 Feb: Cancer Research UK Winter Run. Opening challenge of the year kicks off with the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run….dressed as the mad scientist!
4-5 Mar: 4x4x48 Goggins challenge. Created by the legendary ultra-athlete and former US Navy Seal, David Goggins, this involves running four miles, every four hours, day and night, for forty-eight hours. Sounds easy? I dare you to join me.
Back to back to back challenge – three consecutive races leading to Boston:
20 Mar: Hastings Half Marathon, 27 Mar: Kingston 20 mile, 3 Apr: Reading Half Marathon.
18 Apr: Boston Marathon. Fourth time lucky, having previously qualified and run it virtually twice in 2020 because of the pandemic – once laps of Dulwich Park and the second time in Anglesey, Wales. In 2021 I was then unable then to travel to the US, so hopefully this time I can get to the start line! This is my final World Marathon Major and the culmination of a lifetime running challenge ambition, having already completed London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo.
7-8 May: Thames Path 100. Just three weeks after Boston (oops), I will attempt this gruelling 100 mile (161 km) continuous trail race along the Thames Path, from London to Oxford, climbing 1900 feet upstream. Beyond getting to the end, I’m determined to run the 100 miles in under 24hours. My mum lives exactly half way in Henley, but at 87 years and with many ailments including bladder cancer, she doesn’t get out so often these days. To see her at the 50 mile aid station would be amazing!
2-3 Jul: Ultra-Trail Snowdonia. 50km non stop mountain running, with over 3,100m of elevation.My first ever mountain ultra will include running to the top of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. UTS is be a true stepping stone for me into Alpine-scale mountain ultrarunning! Over 1000m of elevation gain per 16km distance, rarely found in UK events and with many sections of scrambling.
22-28 Aug: Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc (UTMB) CCC: ☹ Despite qualifying, I sadly didn’t get a place in the ballot, however completing UTS gives me another chance in the 2023 lottery 🤞
4 Sep: The Big Half. Dressed in normal attire, the challenge is to set a half marathon PB / PR and finish in under 80 minutes.
11 Sep: Great North Run. Back by popular demand, the Mad Scientist 🔬 returns with attempt #2 to set a Guinness World Record for the ‘fastest half marathon dressed as a scientist’ and put right the 37 second near miss last year!
25 Sep: Berlin Marathon. The second time I’ve run Berlin, this time attempting break the magical sub-3 hour marathon barrier. Not quite Kipchoge pace I know, but fast for this old guy. The last time I tried to break 3 hours, it didn’t go well…
2 Oct: London Marathon. Just 7 days later, my 12th London Marathon. The big question is: will Shoebarker make a return?
4 Dec: Valencia Marathon. Fail to plan, plan to fail. Back up plan for a sub-3 marathon. A lifetime running ambition challenge, something I’m determined to achieve this year.
Running All Over Cancer 