Unleashing the Unstoppable: Gary McKee's Marathon Mastery
Gary McKee's path to timeless glory and superhuman tenacity could have led him to Guinness World Records stardom. As of now, the highest recorded number of consecutive marathon days for women stands at 106, while men top out at 62.
But before he embraced this Herculean challenge and inaugurated his first of 365 marathons on New Year's Day, McKee harbored no interest in stamping his name in record books.
"I always say records are for DJs, but I'm no DJ," he chuckled.
His real goal was to fundraise for two charities: one aiding cancer patients and their families, and the other providing palliative care. With close to a million-and-a-half US dollars raised so far, McKee had shattered his initial goal of one million pounds (£1,24M).
"I don't need to set any records, that's not what I'm about," he told CNN Sports. "It's about the challenge, not about me being the one to break it. It's about helping others." The accomplishment was never about personal gain.
The Stirring Impact of 365
Yet, for the people of McKee's hometown of Clete Moor in Northwest England, his "365 Challenge" served to inspire and unite the local community.
By year's end, nearly 200 individuals had joined McKee in his marathon journey, and some 70 had raced alongside him. Others had supplied him with running shoes, food, tea, and handkerchiefs to aid in his 26.2-mile daily struggle.
On New Year's Eve, hundreds waited for him, augmented by the dozens who had completed the final mile with him.
"I always say it's a 365-piece puzzle, and we're placing a piece each day," McKee said. "The more pieces that fit together, the clearer the picture."
When McKee had already logged 110 marathons in 110 days, he knew the trials of Three Six Five lay ahead.
Challenges of the Year-long Odyssey
The single-year venture entailed gauging the test of countless weather conditions, from the hottest British summer ever recorded to -10 degrees Celcius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter.
Northwest England is also one of the country's rainiest regions, with torrential downpours a recurring obstacle.
But McKee found a way to circumvent this challenge by drawing inspiration from those undergoing cancer treatment.
"When someone leaves the hospital after undergoing treatment and it's raining outside, they ring to say their treatment is over, and when it rains during their departure, they say it's the best rain they've ever experienced," McKee shared.
"I said, 'We did that today.' We always seek the positive, and it works for everyone... They might have been soaked, but their mood remained undeterred."
Overcoming Obstacles
The most difficult moment came on day 288, when McKee struggled with a persistent thigh injury and deteriorating health. After 12 miles, he took medication unsuitable for him and was hospitalized.
"They wanted me to stop," he remembered, "and I looked at the clock on the wall, and my wife was by my side. The person running with me that day said, 'This was the worst day of the 365.'
Undeterred, he left the hospital with an improved attitude and soon embarked on the remaining miles of the marathon, completing it in the dark.
The following day, he felt "fantastic."
McKee usually ran accompanied by friends and family or on a bicycle, and he'd ordinarily start at 6 a.m. Yet, he was greeted by a group of ten people, some donned in headlamps, waiting at the door.
McKee completed all 365 marathons on the exact same route around Cleator Moor, starting and ending at home. This ensured that anyone interested in participating knew where and when to join.
It also allowed him to witness and appreciate the seasonal shifts of the landscape around him: the same trees growing and losing leaves, snow falling and melting on the mountains, and the same flowers blooming and wilting throughout the year.
"It gives you the opportunity to see the full life cycle," McKee said. "If you look at the photos, you can see the change. It's astonishing."
McKee has run the same route five times – twice around the London Olympic Stadium, once for the Rugby League World Cup final in Manchester, once in Keswick Town at the request of the mayor, and once at the opening of a local shop. His latest adventure is at the Sellafield nuclear power plant's new runway.
McKee serves as shift leader at Sellafield and believes that he's qualified to attempt the first marathon in a nuclear power plant.
He agreed that balancing his work and daily marathon runs was a task, especially on the days he led the morning shift and rose at 4:45 a.m. Even so, he made effective use of the extra time he'd gained through his training and the opportunity to work from home.
But McKee admitted that the weariness of daily marathons can be challenging, and he lost about 3 kg (6.6 lbs) in weight during the year.
He ran approximately 9,600 miles in 2022 and started 2023 with a slower pace, focusing primarily on shorter runs on his home treadmill.
Yet, McKee's thoughts shifted to his upcoming challenge: the Grand-to-Grand race in September, a seven-day, 171-mile, self-funded race from the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the Grand Staircase in Utah.
Despite being on a different continent, his motivations remained unchanged. "People will be ready to support and sponsor me, as they have before," he said. "That's my life." It's about helping others.
RunPod's Heroes
RunPod, a podcast focused on inspiring stories of endurance and resilience from athletes and runners, often highlights heroes like McKee. Similarly, the podcast features athletes like Erin Kennedy, who overcame breast cancer, and Imo Boddy, who set a world record for the Fastest Female to complete the UK Three Peaks[1].
These episodes offer a glimpse of the transformative power of running and the resilience of athletes who persevere through challenges to achieve their goals.
Note: [1] UK Three Peaks refers to the three highest mountains in the United Kingdom: Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England), and Snowdon (Wales). The challenge is to climb all three peaks in less than 24 hours.
