Ahead of his 30th birthday this coming Monday, Queenstown’s Michael Heyes decided he would run a marathon a day for 30 consecutive days — finishing this Sunday — as a mental health fundraiser.
Despite being reduced to walking some days, especially after injuring his right calf, he is on course to finish this Sunday at noon at Arthurs Point’s Gantley’s Tavern, after which the party can begin.
He took Monday off in the hopes he would get over the injury, but the day after he was contemplating an 84km day to get his distance up again.
"That was stupid," he said.
The former Brit, who had only run about five marathons before this "marathon" effort, admitted to layering up to combat some brutally cold mornings.
He had originally hoped to raise $30,000 for Australian mental health charity Black Dog Institute, having lived in Australia for about 20 years before moving here just over a year ago, and having had struggles himself. However, he was still happy to be on course to raise about $10,000.
He said on Sunday his employer, Margo’s Queenstown, would donate $1 from every margarita it sells, and Gantley’s would donate $1 from every beer.
He said when asked how he would start his own celebrations "a pint of Guinness will be the first one, I reckon".
There is a fundraising link via his Instagram account, @mikeysmarathonsformentalhealth
