A HIT-and-run crash survivor has completed his latest challenge – joined by a running world champion – in a feat described as the “hardest thing I have ever done”.
Bournemouth school caretaker Paul O’Boyle ran 212 miles of the South West Coast Path in just five days, running an average of 42 miles each day.
The achievement comes less than a year after the 56-year-old completed 27 marathons in 26 straight days.
Father-of-one Paul took up running after surviving a horrific hit-and-run in July 2015, where he sustained fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone after he was knocked off his bike on Wallisdown Road, Poole.
To aid his recovery he began running and now runs to raise money for Macmillan Caring Locally, the charity which funds the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch.
Paul said: “This was possibly the hardest thing I have ever done – harder than the Jurassic 100K, harder than the Three Peaks Challenge and even harder than the 27 consecutive marathons.
“The longest stretch of the path – 53 miles – was undoubtedly the hardest. Ferociously hilly and with the path constantly twisting and turning away from the coast, I had to really concentrate.
Paul was joined by world champion ultra marathon runner Adam Holland for the Dartmouth to Salcombe stretch.
Paul said: “I still can’t believe this legendary runner came and ran with me. He was amazing. So humble and supportive and thankfully he had a great knowledge of the route, so he stopped me getting completely lost.”
Adam said: “When I heard what Paul was doing and has done against such adversity, I knew I wanted to meet and run with him. He is simply amazing.”
Neal Williams, trust secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally, said: “What can I say? We have all been blown away by the strength and resilience Paul has shown during this latest challenge.
“We now hope everyone who hears about what he has done will show their admiration by sponsoring Paul and in doing so help us get another step closer to building a wonderful new hospice.”
Paul can be sponsored via: justgiving.com/campaign/Marathonmangoeswest
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