Paul Scholte

I started running at the start of 2003, after a long spell being a party animal I decided to clean up my act, quit smoking and start getting healthier.  At the same time I was going through a messy divorce (aren’t they all!) and a seriously ill mother in hospital meant my running gave me some time out alone to go and think everything through, and a release for some anger so I could remain reasonably sane.

I set myself a goal of running the Gate Gallop, my first race, which gave me a goal to work towards and kept me motivated. I trained quite well, did the race and enjoyed it a lot.

Spurred on by this good fortune I set myself a new goal, the Great North Run, closely followed by the Dublin Marathon 5 weeks later.  This is a training schedule that I could not in all honesty recommend to anybody; too much too soon meant my first Marathon damn near killed me.  The alcohol round Dublin afterwards was a great painkiller though, and my smile from my achievement stayed long after the pain subsided.

I was now much healthier and once my divorce was behind me, happier. My running continued, doing several more marathons, each a little quicker, now my times for Marathons are under 3 hours and I’m not finished yet! When my urge to push myself further surfaced again, I started to dabble in the mysterious other world of the ‘Ultramarathon.                                                                                                                     This has culminated in doing what is considered by many to be one of the most challenging races around, the 95 miles of the very rugged West Highland Way Race in Scotland within 35 hours, my support crew and I getting my almost destroyed body through the entire race in a very respectable 22hrs 9 mins.

With my urge to continue to better my achievements I am going back to the West Highland Way Race to try and go faster and get within the top 10 placings.  Watch this space.

Running has given me many challenges and achievements, loads of friends, the odd bit of romance and a whole new outlook on life. I’m happier, healthier and loving life. If somebody asked me if I could turn back the clock and change anything, I’d throw the clock away.