‘Treadmill Guy’ runs 72 half-marathons in 72 days

A man known as The Treadmill Guy is running 72 half-marathons (21km) over 72 days in a bid to break a Guinness World Record and raise awareness about motor neuron disease.

Morné Basson will be completing four of these marathons on a treadmill at the Planet Fitness gym in Sandton from 26 August to 29 August. Planet Fitness has partnered with Basson to allow him to complete the challenge at gyms around the country.

Basson, who is more than halfway done with the challenge, hopes to beat the previous world record of 52 half-marathons. He decided to use the platform to raise awareness about motor neuron disease which is a degenerative disease that leads to muscle weakness.

He said a family member had passed away from the disease and it was devastating to see the impact of the disease. “There’s hardly anyone doing anything for them [sufferers], the government does not assist,” he added. “Most medical aids don’t cover the costs and most life insurance providers don’t see it as a dreaded disease so these guys are on their own.”

Through his continuous half-marathons, he hopes to raise awareness about the plight that people with the disease face. “Most people really have no idea and because there is hardly anything being done about it is really close to my heart.”

To beat the world record, Basson will run more than 1 500km. As a part of the criteria, he is not allowed to touch the side of the treadmill, the treadmills need to be calibrated to ensure that the distance is measured correctly and he has to film himself running to prove that he has, in fact, completed the half-marathons.

A positive mindset has been Basson’s biggest help in completing the half-marathons. “Take it one day at a time. When I started I never saw it as ‘I need to do 72 days’. I just said that I’ll do it today and enjoy it and tomorrow is another day.”

Basson believed running on a treadmill was far more challenging than road running because it could become very monotonous. He added that being confined to a small space of a treadmill highlighted what people with motor neuron disease experienced when they were confined to a wheelchair.

He has started a fundraising page to help raise funds for general expenses for motor neuron patients. “The biggest goal is to really just try to make a difference for these guys.”

For more details about the fundraising initiative visit The Treadmill Guy – Morné Basson on Facebook.

Share your thoughts on Morné Basson’s challenge on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page

Related Articles:

https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/202396/nelsons-long-run-to-stardom/

https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/204087/laura23comradessiblings/