’No more’, uttered Darran Loader as he crossed the finish line at the end of his eighth marathon in as many days.

The 43-year-old community police officer from Kirk Michael had taken on the marathon fundraising chellenge in memory of his father Sean, who passed away eight years ago, and father-in-law Clive Adamson of Portadown in Co Armagh, who he never actually met.

They both died of cancer-related illnesses and Darran decided to tackle the mammoth 210-mile challenge to raise funds and awareness for Bowel Cancer Isle of Man, along with the Lighthouse shop in Michael Street, Peel, the community hub of Living Hope Church.

He set off on his first 26-miler a fortnight ago on Sunday, August 6, with two laps of the Ramsey-Bride-Andreas-St Jude’s course used for the Isle of Man Marathon and Half-Marathon Championships last weekend.

Darran repeated that the following day, but quickly realised that two laps of the same course each day for eight days would soon become monotonous so he then completed variations over the same distance in the north of the island for the next five days, taking in the Maughold area and Lezayre Road (TT Course).

The plan was to then run the official Isle of Man Marathon, sponsored by Microgaming, on Sunday to finish off his bone-jarring eight-day challenge.

He was given special dispensation to start at 7am, two hours ahead of the main race. He had 23 miles under his blistering feet by the time the main field got underway, and although the majority of the 65 marathon competitors succeeded in catching him on his second lap, Darran was understandably proud and delighted to complete the course in a time of 6hr 15min 14sec.

Ironically, this was his quickest time of the eight marathons so he was obviously just getting into his stride.

Darran’s two children, Francesca and Jacob, linked hands with him as he hopped-skipped and hobbled the final 100 yards to the finish line in Ramsey FC’s Ballacloan Stadium shortly after 1.15pm to rapturous appreciateive applause from the assembled crowd of spectators and fellow competitors.

There to greet him was his wife of eight years Louise, along with his mother, mother-in-law, brother and other close family members.

It was indeed an impressive achievement, but not one that he has no immediate ambitions to repeat.

In remarkably good condition at the finish, he said: ’I must admit I am a lot fitter after months of training, and I hope to continue running, but I won’t be tackling another marathon.

’I went hell for leather at the start today, but the final few miles were a struggle.’

Sean Loader was a well-known former footballer with Onchan AFC and manager at Gymns for many years. Darran himself played as a junior at Laxey and later for Gymns, Union Mills and Michael United as a senior.

Stationed in Ramsey, he was voted Community Police Officer of the Year in Isle of Man Newspapers’ Pride in Mann Awards earlier this year.

Continued page 58