The manager of the Isabel Hospice shop in Cheshunt is taking on his first Ultra Marathon to raise money for the charity during its 40th anniversary year.
David Goosetree, who joined the Turners Hill outlet in 2021, is taking on the London to Brighton challenge – covering a total distance of 100km in a single day – on May 28th alongside his running mate Paul Watts, a blind runner he met after joining Harlow Running Club.
David, who lives in Cheshunt with his wife, said: “I was never into sport or fitness until 10 years aho when I decided I needed to get fit and lose weight. After my 40th birthday, I joined a weight loss group and, as well as eating better, I took up jogging to help and signed up for my first 5k Race for Life.
“Since then, I have lost four stone and have taken part in seven marathons and 25 half marathons as well as lots of other races and training. For my first marathon in 2017, to train further, I joined the running club and this is how I met Paul and took up the guide runner role.
“I decided that before my 50th birthday next year I would take on one ultra challenge and since working for the Hospice last year, I wanted to do something extra to support them. This year’s 40th anniversary is fitting in well for me to build in the training, so, as well as the main event, I will be taking on various challenges each month as well as races throughout 2022, some with Paul and some on my own.”
So far this year, David has already completed the Janathon exercise challenge, the 20km Essex Runfest and the Watford Half Marathon. Last Sunday (Feb 27), he ran the Welwyn Half Marathon dressed in scrubs borrowed from his clinical colleagues in Isabel’s In-Patient Unit.
His next training event is the Hospice’s 5k family-friendly Muddy Mayhem obstacle course on March 20th at the scenic Woodhall Estate in Watton at Stone, near Hertford. From April, he also intends to commit to running a minimum of four miles a day for 40 days inspired by Isabel’s 40th anniversary and is lined up to run the Lee Valley Half Marathon, the Essex Marathon and Dorney Marathon before the big London to Brighton run in May. He has then set his sights on October’s London Marathon.
“This year, we are also aiming to run a total of 2,022km in 2022,” he added.
Paul, who also lives in Cheshunt, was happy to join David’s efforts as the Hospice cared for his late aunt in 2019.
The 57-year-old, who has been blind since the age of six, started running after breaking his leg in an accident in 1982 and promising the nurses caring for him that he would run a marathon to prove he was back to full fitness. He fulfilled his promise when he ran his first half marathon in 1984 and then the London Marathon in 1989. Since then, he has finished 343 marathons and 23 ultra marathons in the last 30 years.
Isabel’s retail area manager Jane Morrison said: “David joined Isabel Hospice just over six months ago and we are so lucky to have him as part of our retail team. He has been so supportive, not only by the incredible fundraising he does but also helping out in our other shops, departments and at events. He really goes above and beyond every day – I was going to say the extra mile but he does enough of those already! – and nothing is too much trouble for him. In the short time he has been with us, he has made such a difference and the whole retail team wishes him the very best of luck on his ultra marathon.”
You can sponsor David and Paul via their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/2022challenge.
