52 Marathons Around The Globe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 17, 2009 -- 32 years old Australian, Tristan Miller intends to be the first person to run 52 marathons around the world in 52 weeks. This is the first time anyone has taken on such a challenge.

Miller will go to at least 42 countries, rocketing up more than 260,000 kilometres in the air and many kilometres on the run. He also needs to run up to 45 kilometres a week in training.

He will make the first 42 kilometre foot slog of his epic journey in Zurich, Switzerland, starting at midnight on January 1st. He will also enter the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, as well as races in such diverse countries and climates as Mumbai, Dubai, South Africa, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cuba Canary Islands, Morocco, Italy,Egypt, Siberia, and the Cayman Islands.

Hoping to have at least 100 fellow runners join him in his home city of Melbourne, he will host his final marathon.

The $150,000 trip will cost him his St Kilda apartment, his life savings and the sale of his car and most of his possessions. He is hoping to attract sponsors and is determined to raise $100,000 for UNICEF as well.

"You're just nuts. Why would you bother?" say all his family and friends. Miller's reply is "I just want to do something different and to see if I can."

An IT specialist, Miller only began amateur running five years ago, as a way of dealing with a broken marriage. He saw that running long distances gave him a sense of achievement and the courage to try other things he never dreamed of doing, such as taking off on a whim to explore exotic locations.

As a victim of the financial crisis, in April Miller was made redundant at Google, when the Melbourne office was closed. He chooses now to put his body to the ultimate challenge.
Miller has only completed five registered marathons, including the Canberra and Melbourne events twice each, plus the 87-kilometre torture test marathon Comrades in Durban, South Africa.

Despite the lure of exotic cuisines Miller will prepare all his own meals, so there is no danger of stomach upsets, or food poisoning. Miller has a support crew of only one, his best mate Darren Foss.

Injuries are a very large threat, with "runner's knee" already creating a problem. Dr Dan Dwyer, sports scientist, declares, Miller faces the real risk of long-term damage to joints and bones, or a chronically suppressed immune system".

There are only two other people who have finished 50 marathons in a year, as far as Miller knows, but all in one country.

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