Bernard loves to participate in endurance sports (over 150 marathons, an Ironman triathlon and a 104-mile running race) and many events for charity, such as helping build a school in Tanzania, trekking across Namibia, cycling across Vietnam and cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
He is now heading towards 200 marathons!

“My journey into running really started in 2003 when I decided to embark on a 10-day trek for charity across the Namib Desert in Africa which was a profound experience and rejuvenated a love for the great outdoors. 

On my return from the trek a neighbour and old rugby mate encouraged me to go out running with him and then join the local running club which I did. I enjoyed it and indeed looked forward to every Tuesday night which was the ‘club run’ and after a year or so of those Tuesday night club runs, and a few beers afterwards, I decided to enter a 10km race and can remember driving there full of nervousness and even considering turning around and returning home. I didn’t turn around and on finishing this run it introduced me to the ‘runners high’ – that feeling of accomplishment on going over the finish line. 

This inspired me to do a half marathon then in 2006 five of us from our running club decided to apply to enter the London marathon and amazingly we all got in, so then started 6 months of marathon training, then on the 22^nd April 2007 we completed the London marathon and what an amazing experience that was. My time was 3 hrs 34 mins at London and I realised if I could improve my training and shave 20 minutes off this time, I could get a qualifying time to go back to London the following year. 

Another 6 months of further hard training and I got my qualifying time in my second marathon with a time of 3 hours 11 mins and then the following April did 3hrs 7mins at London. By this time, I was hooked and running became part of my daily and weekly routine, and after more hard training on my 8^th marathon on the 13^th March 2011 in Cornwall ran 2hours 58 minutes and then a month later on the 4^th April achieved my personal best time of 2hours 56 at my home marathon in Taunton. 

After this, my next goal was to complete an ironman triathlon (a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle followed by a marathon) which was completed on the 10 August 2014. Even though the swim part of my triathlon was slow, I felt a massive sense of achievement as just one year before I could only swim 2 lengths of a swimming pool.

The next goal was 100 marathons and a 100-mile race. In 2012 I completed 20 marathons and the following year 14 including three coastal 3-day marathon events and in 2014, 21 marathons and 2015, 28 marathons and then on the 3^rd April 2016 at Taunton completed my 100^th marathon and on the 24^th September 2016 a 102-mile race along the Cotswold Way which took me 29 hours 29 minutes. 

In 2024 aged 62 I’m on marathon number 175 and aiming to complete number 200 in 2026 or early 2027. 

So, on reflection, 12 London marathons, one in Spain, a night time marathon in Wales, one in Scotland, two in Australia, and in England coastal marathons, the UK’s longest road ultra marathon, a marathon on a car race track, one at Kempton Park horse racing track and 24 ultra marathons and on the way seeing some stunning places, meeting some amazing people, and getting lost on many self-navigation routes, which seems to have become a trademark of mine!  

Something often either forgotten or taken for granted with runners is the impact running can have on the rest of your life, personally and professionally. Runner’s recognise the health and fitness benefits of running and so many start thinking about nutrition and hydration and then eat a healthier diet, drink more water, give attention to their sleep (many top class athletes pay as much attention to sleep as they do their training) and reducing the amount of toxins coming in to their bodies as they impact performance. 

For me personally in addition to the above health benefits I’ve learned the importance of self-discipline, patience, perseverance and developing a stubborn ‘never give up attitude’, all competencies used in balance I would argue benefit most if not all of us. Running is not therapy but it is therapeutic.