For many of us, completing a marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime faraway goal – but what about running 12 marathons in 12 months?
That’s the challenge that Jack McGuiness, 31, is taking on in 2024.
Jack will be partaking in a different UK marathon every month to help raise money for the RSPCA, with his first marathon being the Liverbird New Years Marathon in Liverpool on New Years Day.
Jack, who’s an eCommerce photographer, currently lives in Thirsk, and before that had lived in York for the past seven years. He is a part of the York Knavesmire Harriers Running Club, joining in 2022, and has only recently caught the running bug.
“Honestly I’ve never really been that great at running,” Jack told YorkMix. “I’d entered the occasional 10k race now and then over the years but that was definitely my limit.
“The idea of doing a marathon was something that seemed crazy at the time.”
Back in 2022, Jack joined the York Knavesmire Harriers Running Club to get better at running after taking part in the York 10k for fun.
“From there it was just a case of seeing loads of amazing people training for races and entering marathons – and it definitely inspired me to see how far I could push myself.”
After taking part in his first marathon in April this year – the Manchester Marathon in 3 hours 34 min – Jack “got hooked.” Fast forward six months, by October he had accomplished his third race, completing the Yorkshire Marathon in a personal best of 3 hours 31 min.
It was then that the idea of the 12 marathons in 12 months struck.
“After running three in six months I was looking for another challenge and had the idea of doing one every month for a year – the few people I suggested this to said it was nuts and that just made me want to do it even more.
“I’d never done any fundraising of any kind before this and it felt it would be a wasted opportunity not to try and do something good with this challenge.”
When Jack was considering charities to reach out to, he kept being drawn to the RSPCA after always running past the centre on Landing Lane on his training runs and hearing stories from his colleague on spending time with his family’s rescue dog.
“This had me looking into the work the RSPCA does more, and it became clear straight away how much they’re in need of funding to support the incredible work they do – particularly in the wake of lockdown and the cost of living crisis where so many people no longer have the means to fully look after their pets with the required care.”
Jack has also been inspired by his own family’s dog, Meg the Border Collie, who has been “getting older and starting to struggle a bit.” Though Meg isn’t a RSPCA dog, “reflecting back on the life she’s had with us was an added motivation to try and make sure that other pets could have the same quality of life she’s had.”
Jack is trying to raise £10,000 for the RSPCA through his challenge. The Just Giving fundraising page is here, with all donations going straight to the RSPCA.
“Support from friends and family has been amazing,” said Jack.
“I’ve had some great support from the running community at the local park run in York where I’ve been fundraising after the races. Even if people haven’t been able to donate, the messages of support have been greatly appreciated!
“I’ll be trying to get along to a few more Park Runs across the area in the next few months trying to raise awareness – I’ll be the guy with the big sign and QR codes where people can donate or follow the challenge on Instagram.”
You can keep up to date with Jack’s progress on the challenge at his Jack12in12 Instagram page. His planned marathons for the year include the Great Welsh Marathon, Edinburgh Marathon, Two Tunnels Railway Races Marathon, and Yorkshire Marathon.
Ahead of his first marathon on New Year’s Day, Jack is feeling “pretty chill.
“I figure I’m going to need to pace myself across the year which means trying to show some restraint and not going all guns blazing trying to chase a PB on every race – we’ll see how long that lasts.
“Safe to say it’ll be a very early night on New Year’s Eve!”