Hi there,

Thank you for taking time out of your day and checking out my website. Now that you have selected the donation page I hope you will be interested in making a donation towards my appeal. I am working alongside Radio Broadand Kids and trying to combat the issue of child obesity with charity MEND.

Charity Information 

The MEND Programme is a fun, effective and practical lifestyle
solution focused on families with overweight or obese children. 
The key to its success is an integrated approach, combining
all of the elements known to both treat obesity effectively and
ensure long lasting results. 

This is going to be a lasting cause and if you require more information than please visit the MEND website on: (www.mendprogramme.org)

Personal information

For Jackson Williams, ex-boxer and ultra marathon runner, running from the West Coast of America to the East Coast of America last year was just the start of his ambitious target of running around the world.

His latest challenge, which will start on July 16th, is much closer to home and will see the 26-year-old run the 837 mile journey from John O’Groats to Lands End.

Jackson, from Norwich, says he hopes to complete the challenge in between nine and 14 days. “Initially, I hoped to try and break the world record, which currently stands at nine days and two hours,” he explains. “But, although the training preparations have been going well I haven’t covered as many miles as I would have liked to.

“In preparation I’ve been running about 100 miles a week, with six days on and one day off. During my challenge, if I run 96 miles a day, I’ll break the world record and if I run 60 miles a day, I’ll complete the challenge in 14 days. But I’m just going to take the challenge one day at a time, and see how it goes.”

But it takes more than just a few long runs to prepare the body for the endurance of the ‘end to end’ challenge. Jackson has an extremely high level of fitness which he has built up over the years, and his four years spent as a professional boxer combined with his passion for running, have pushed his fitness levels to the limit. He also follows a strict diet – which was put together for him by Leeds Metropolitan University before his run across the States - which consists of 60 per cent carbohydrates and 20 per cent protein. This is supplemented by a variety of vitamin tablets, which he takes on a daily basis. He rarely drinks alcohol.

To raise awareness of his run, Jackson has already spent 24 hours running on a treadmill in a shopping mall in Norwich. Running 55 minutes out of every hour, Jackson covered 105 miles in a 24-hour period, the furthest he has ever run in that amount of time. He plans to do another treadmill challenge on June 7 - this time in Greaves Sport’s Shop in Glasgow – to officially launch his Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge. Mizuno, one of Jackson’s official sponsors, will be organising the launch event. Mizuno will also supply him with a range of running footwear and apparel to help him in his quest for success. Running in Mizuno’s Wave Creation shoes, Jackson will benefit from the latest in durable cushioning technology to help support his challenge.

The ultra runner, who has been pounding the pavements since the age of 17, says that it was his addiction to running that has fuelled his desire to run around the world. “I love the feeling I get when I complete a race, however short or long it is,” he says. “I love the satisfaction of hitting a wall, and then coming out the other end. I am a realist and understand the importance of mental strength and having the ability to narrow my mind’s eye into tunnel vision when competing. I’ve been seeing a psychologist to help me prepare for my challenge, and I will be using a lot of psychological techniques to get me through the tough times and the lows. I’ll be using mental imagery and affirmative statements, and will always be thinking about my short term goals. I’ll take each day as it comes, and in the back of my head I’ll always have the thought that I WILL be able to complete the challenge. The fact that I’m raising money for children’s charities in and around Norwich also helps.”

So, what next for the ultra marathon runner? “I see this summer’s run as a preparation run for next year,” Jackson adds. “In 2010, if all goes to plan, I’ll be running across Australia, from Perth to Sydney.”

Regards

Jackson Williams