Wolves fans run four marathons in four days
Two friends who were bought together by their shared love of Wolves completed an epic challenge by running four marathons in four days.
As if 90 minutes at Molineux each fortnight wasn't enough for the season ticket holders to get the heart rate going, Phil Marsh and Craig Purser began running together after striking up a friendship there.
Their latest challenge saw them take on a 107-mile run around the Cotswolds – meaning they had to cover more than 25 miles a day on average. Phil, who will be 60 next May only began running at Craig's behest eight years ago.
Car mechanic Phil, from Lower Gornal, said: I was one of those who would watch people run by in the rain thinking 'they must be mad'.
"Craig talked me into carrying the bags at a Spanish marathon in Palma. I ended up signing up for it and enjoyed it so much."
The pair have since taken on dozens of challenges together but Phil admitted the Cotswolds challenge was tougher than anything he and heating engineer Craig, 38, from Brierley Hill, has ever faced before.
He said: "I would normally look at doing a four-hour marathon but this was an unknown, it's not like a normal course.
"I have heard people have taken the wrong turn and added another five miles on.
"It's a mixed terrain. There is 30-40 miles of off-road and we run through little villages. There are some hills as well."
They started in Chipping Camden and spent the next four days making their way to Bath.
The pair ran for charities Mind and the Acorn Children's Hospital and raised more than £1,000.
The pair initially met in 2008, with both having season tickets to Wolves.
This is just the latest in a series of challenges they've done together, including the Palma marathon and Wales' annual cross country running event 'Race the Train'.
Phil and Craig have been training at their local gym, Xercise4Less, in Brierley Hill, two hours a day six times a week to get in shape for this gruelling challenge.
Jo Baker, general manager at the gym, said: "My team and I are massively behind the lads...they are a true inspiration."
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Phil-Marsh3785 or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/craigpurser
