For fire fighter Chris this 999 call was a marathon affair
CHRIS PRICE’S FIRE SUIT DOUBLED IN WEIGHT TO 40 POUNDS DUE TO EXCESSIVE SWEATING IN THE HEAT
BY the end of Chris Price’s half marathon in Killarney his 20 pound fire fighter suit had doubled in weight due to excessive sweating in very humid conditions.
Chris, who lives in Kanturk, smiles about it now but it was a different story on the day as he made it over the line in an impressive two hours and three minutes.
“With every downhill there was always an uphill and while it was tough going I had no idea that the weight of my fire suit would double in size due to me sweating so much. When I took off my jacket at the end of the half marathon it was double its weight,” he said.
On top of the suit, he really was suited and booted as he also wore his helmet.
Chris aptly had the running number 999 and while he has already completed 12 full marathons for charity this time he opted to wear his fire suit in a bid to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. This is a group of diseases that causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. Chris’ nephew in the UK, John Dickson, has MD and is only 11 years old. There is no cure for this disease.
So far Chris has raised €850 and while the Mancunian now calls Kanturk home he said the people in the town have been incredibly generous. “A lady in the shop saw the article in The Corkman about me doing the half marathon and she walked over to me and gave me €10 for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me,” he said.
Previously when speaking to The Corkman he was unsure of whether to wear his boots or his runners when doing the half marathon. On the day, he opted for his runners.
“That was a wise move as while I had brought my boots I opted for the runners. I was in the hotel room looking at them both so I’m glad I wore my runners. There really was a great atmosphere on the day and when I got over the line I went around the stalls and enjoyed the great food at the Gleneagle. Running in my fire suit hasn’t put me off running,” he said.
And now that he has a taste of what it is like to run a half marathon in his gear, he has now applied to do the full London marathon.
“I want to do it for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland again and have asked them for permission to do it so hopefully now they will give me the go ahead. For the London Marathon I must guarantee €1,750 to enter,” he said.
When it was put to him that a 40 pound weight over 26 miles hasn’t deterred him he again smiled and said he now has “a good idea” of what he is in for.
“But this time I will use gear with weights when training and that will help me prepare for the full marathon.
“I hope so, anyway,” he said with a laugh.