Falling Forward
How Ian Spriggs Turned a Bucket‑List Marathon into Ultra-Running
At 7am on 28 July, PKU dad Ian Spriggs will start his epic run from Bristol to Newcastle, raising money for the NSPKU. This will last ten days, 110-ish hours of foot‑time, and roughly 370 miles of running. How did he come up with this crazy idea?
A bucket-list bet
Back in 2013, Ian had a conversation about “bucket lists” with his teenage daughter, Molly (who has classical PKU). He blurted: “I’ve always wanted to run a marathon.” At that point, Ian had never run a day in his life.
His companions laughed, and said, “unless you get up and do something about it, it isn’t going to happen.” That proved to be the push Ian needed, and he signed up for an online running club and for a local marathon. Ian knew enough to know that he didn’t know enough, so he asked for help.
“unless you get up and do something about it, it isn’t going to happen.”
One of the first people to respond was Sharon, a regular runner happy to offer her advice. As training progressed, her advice was invaluable and Sharon declared, “I’ll just run the marathon with you.”
Marathon meetings
Ian had no idea how much that first marathon would change his life. He had only ever intended to run a single marathon. Until Sharon challenged him to run one in under 4 hours. So they signed up for another marathon, and then another.
It turned out that Sharon, his new running companion, was already an ultra-runner. (For the un-initiated, ultra-running is any run longer than the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles, or 42 km). As the marathon count grew, so did their friendship. And soon, they were married!
Ian’s greatest hits
Running became an integral part of Ian’s new life. And the challenges grew. “It just creeps up on you…because you think, ‘I wonder if I can do 30 miles’. Before you know it, you are running stupid distances.”
If Ian fell into ultra-running accidentally, there can be no doubt about his commitment. In fact, he struggled to work out how many miles, and charity fundraisers, he and Sharon have completed over the years. Their best guess is an astonishing 1113 miles and £11987 for charity.
"Before you know it, you are running stupid distances."
| Year | Event | Distance (miles) | £ Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Thames Path 100 | 100 | £1,075.00 |
| 2020 | Fairy Fancy Dress Marathon | 26 | £1,184.04 |
| 2020 | Washing Line Lockdown Marathon | 26 | £1,326.00 |
| 2020 | Sharon’s Race Across Scotland | 170 | £285.00 |
| 2021 | Deadwater 6-Day Ultra + Turkey Fancy Dress Marathon | 261 | £1,855.00 |
| 2022 | Hadrian’s Wall Path | 73 | £1,267.00 |
| 2023 | GOSH–RVI (London to Newcastle) | 361 | £4,395.00 |
| 2024 | Race Across Scotland | 96 | £600.00 |
| Total | — | 1,113 miles | £11,987.04 |
What is Ian’s ultra-running secret?
“I don’t even enjoy this running lark,” Ian admits. “I just pick something that is way beyond what I should be able to do, and then… I wonder if I can do that.”
When challenged, he also claims that he doesn’t get the ‘runner’s high’ either.
“I can’t wait to get to the halfway point, even on a six-mile run. If I get to half way, at least I’m on the way home.”
That changes the moment someone steps in and jogs alongside him. Having a running companion helps Ian to find the joy in his runs. The first thing he does when planning an ultra run is reach out to companions who might join him for a few miles along the way.
Ian’s fundraising advice
To Ian, it is all about challenging himself to do something bigger than the last run. The remarkable challenges are also a big part of the fundraising.
“People don't give a monkeys if I go and run a marathon because I do them all the time… There's always got to be something new, something exceptional. I mean, 372 miles…that's huge.”
“I don’t even enjoy this running lark,”
And Ian is always thinking ahead. He limits ‘monster runs’ to every two years, so friends don’t get fundraising fatigue. But his notebook is already filling with 2027 ideas—watch this space.
Ready to back Ian’s Bristol to Newcastle Challenge?
- Drop a fiver in the pot → https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-spriggs-3
Can’t donate? Share the link, meet him on the road, or just shout encouragement online. Every step counts.
Cheer Ian on in person: (Times are approximates, as they depend on Ian’s feet)
Bristol Southmead — 28 July 6:30 to 7am
Birmingham Children’s Hospital — 31 July 10-10:30am
Liverpool Alder Hay — 2 August 10:30 — 11am
RVI Newcastle — 6 August, Hoping to finish at midday (12)
Join Ian along the way
Ian is still seeking people to meet for a small jog along the way. You can see his planned route and support him at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-spriggs-3