Adventurer feels pressure ahead of his 6,000-mile run across America
A BRITISH adventurer is feeling the pressure just days from beginning his attempt to become a real-life Forrest Gump by running nearly 6,000 miles across America.
Jamie McDonald, 31, will be dressed as a superhero as he attempts to conquer the US unaided, having previously run across Canada.
The former tennis coach, from Gloucester, will start his run on Tuesday at Cape Alava in Washington, the most western point of the US.
Mr McDonald ‘Adventureman’.
His journey will take him between 5,500 and 6,000 miles across the US through more than 15 states, including California, Texas, Tennessee, Washington DC and New York, on his way to the easternmost point of will run as mainland US – West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine.
Running by himself, Mr McDonald will battle through desolate and lonely deserts, sub-zero temperatures and the constant threat of wild animals, injuries and the uncertain elements as he runs the equivalent of 230 marathons.
Whereas he ran dressed as superhero The Flash throughout Canada, this time he will be running as his alter-ego Adventureman.
“I have spent the last month just trying to do get into the gym to do some strength training and a little bit of running but I have got to say that I haven’t done much at all,” he said.
“I have got to run 6,000 miles and I don’t really want to add to that.”
Mr McDonald, who suffered from debilitating immune deficiency and the spinal condition syringomyelia as a child, spent the first nine years of his life in and out of children’s hospitals and is hoping to raise £250,000 for the Superhero Foundation, a charity he co-founded.