Dad’s ultra-marathon challenge for parents
DAD Karl Williams admitted using cigarettes and alcohol as a coping mechanism when growing up.
But when his parents died at a relatively young age, it made him think about his own health.
Now the 30-year-old has taken up running – in a serious way – in a bid to spend as long as possible with his children.
“I didn’t want to hit the self-destruct button but I didn’t know how to cope or deal with the loss. It was the darkest time of my life,” said Karl, who lost his mum to cancer and his father to heart disease.
“Since losing both of my parents at relatively young ages it’s given me the motivation to look after myself and regularly monitor my health – it frightens me to think of my children growing up without me.
“I knew by running and exercising regularly, not only would it be good for my physical health but more importantly my mental wellbeing.”
Now Karl will take on seven ultra-marathons – each distance varying between 32 and 100 miles – over the course of 18 months for the British Heart Foundation.
Karl’s mother lost her short battle with cancer, in July 2011 aged 50, when he was 24.
Before she died, civil servant Karl said he “wasn’t one to worry” about his current or future health.
He said: “It was only when my daughter, Ila Rose, was born in October 2012 did I realise how precious life is and started to make a real effort to start looking after myself.
“By this point in my life I was thinking to myself, ‘If I was to die at the same age as my mother, I’m already past the halfway point’ and that was a scary thought.”
He said he tried different methods of improving his wellbeing, adding: “Even with my beautiful daughter being in the world, the amazing support from my wife Claire, dad Jack, sister Sarah, brother-in-law Stephen and many other friends and family, deep down I still felt like I was struggling to cope and didn’t know what to do with my thoughts.”
Karl started running in 2015. His first half marathon was in Cardiff that year before he decided to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in his mother’s memory.
During that year he ran half marathons in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, Cardiff and Swansea, as well as three full marathons – Edinburgh, the Wales Marathon in Tenby, and Gloucester – and the Gower 50-mile ultra-marathon.
He added: “Before I started my marathon challenge I didn’t realise the positive impact that year and running would have on my life. I had found my coping mechanism.
“I realised running and exercise is an amazing tool when life gets tough and it can really help improve your outlook on everything. That year changed me and my whole attitude towards all aspects of my life and really helped me grieve the loss of my mother.”
In April this year Karl’s father Jack died suddenly aged 67 from the effects of undetected heart disease.
Being in this position before and understanding what grief can do to someone, Karl said he wanted to allow himself to experience the pain of losing his father but did not want it to take over his life.
He said: “At the time my daughter was aged four and my wife was around 10 weeks’ pregnant – I couldn’t let the grief consume me as it did in the past.”
Now Karl will attempt seven ultra-marathons between January 2018 and June 2019.
He added: “I make sure I get it done because the mental toughness running has taught me is invaluable. When I’m out running it’s just me and my thoughts.
“It allows me the time I need to think about what’s happened and to grieve my loss.”
To donate to Karl’s fundraising efforts visit www. justgiving.com/fundraising/karl-williams17.