Thoughts from personal trainer David Fairlamb
Here’s an update on Mark Allison's epic run across the USA: prepare to be inspired. As I write this he has run 1,202 miles and taken a mind-blowing 2.5 million steps whilst burning 184,352 calories.
Running across the United States is a challenge that most would find unimaginable but for Mark Allison, better known as Run Geordie Run, it's a gruelling test of physical endurance, mental strength, and unwavering willpower. Covering more than 3,000 miles in just 100 days, from New York to California, his journey is far more than a run. It's a remarkable testament to the human spirit, made even more extraordinary by the obstacles he faces along the way.
Now in his early 50s, Mark isn't a professional athlete. His age naturally brings physical limitations, longer recovery times, a higher risk of injury, and the daily battle of pushing through pain. Yet, he presses on running marathon distances almost every day, often in some of the most punishing conditions imaginable.
One of the most intimidating aspects of the challenge is the sheer scale and diversity of the American land-scape. From the rugged Appalachian Mountains to the vast, arid plains of the Midwest and the scorching deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, the terrain is relentless. In some areas, temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F), with little to no shade in sight. Running in such extreme heat demands constant vigilance to avoid heat stroke or exhaustion.
And Mark isn't doing this with a team of medics or high-tech support. There are no ice baths, no fancy recovery equipment, just the bare essentials. Twice already a failed RV battery left him without lights, a working toilet, shower, or fridge for five days, hardly ideal.
Logistically, running across an entire continent is a monumental operation. Mark must coordinate support vehicles, plan rest stops, manage nutrition, and adjust routes, all while dealing with rotating support team members. Each day requires meticulous planning: where to run, where to sleep, how to refuel. While a small team helps with supplies and encouragement, Mark runs alone for more than 95% of the time. It's a punishing routine, repeated day after day, week after week.
But the toughest battle isn't always physical.
Mentally, this challenge is brutal; he has been really struggling with loneliness, exhaustion, severe foot issues, and the ever-present voice of doubt as constant companions. It takes enormous mental resilience to keep going when your body begs to quit. Mark has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of those moments when each mile feels impossible, when he questions his purpose, when the finish line feels unimaginably far away. However, he fights everyday to keep moving.
He ran the other way across the USA 14 years ago, but there is a far bigger physical impact on a 53-year-old rather than at 39.
So, what keeps him going? The answer lies in his deep sense of purpose. Mark is running to raise funds for St Benedict's Hospice, a place close to his heart for the care they provided to his late mother.
Over the years, he's raised hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Every step across America is fuelled by the thought of the lives he's helping. The donations, the messages of encouragement, and the stories from families who have benefited from hospice care all serve as powerful motivation. In his darkest hours, it's this mission that keeps him moving.
You can follow Mark's incredible journey and support his cause at www.rungeordierun.com, where you'll also find details on how to donate to St Benedict's Hospice.
