The Goal: 24 marathons in one year

Two soldiers run a staggering 24 marathons for the ABF

Two soldiers ran a total of 1260 miles between them in just one year to raise £2390 for the Army Benevolent Fund. SSgt Paul Carpenter and Sgt Chris Penk resolutely ran two marathons every month, in all conditions, in the UK, Germany and in Iraq, drumming up a devoted following from their colleagues wherever they went.

SSgt Paul Carpenter tells his story in his own words:

"There was I once more running the prairie on a sunny day in Canada in the autumn of 2003, and contemplating which arduous charity event I should undertake the following year. I wanted to take part in something more challenging and inspiring than the same old 100 km. It was then that the 12 Event was born. I would run two marathons each month for one year; all I needed was a willing partner.

Sgt Chris Penk, another chef also with the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, was surprisingly easily persuaded. We kicked off with a publicised event in Osnabruck, Germany, around a previously verified 2-lap circuit. This route passed by all the Military Camps, where personnel from all Catering Departments of 4 Armoured Brigade emerged to cheer us on. After this we doggedly ran marathons as planned every two weeks. Sometimes we ran official races such as the prestigious Hamburg Marathon and Holland’s Enschede Marathon, but we also completed our own lonely courses in the drizzling rain from Hythe to Hastings on the Kent coast and on the range roads of Hohne in Germany. The Herford Half Marathon became an emotional day for us when we completed not one but two laps of a very hilly route, to the amazement of other competitors.

The blow came when I suffered a hernia injury after completing 12 marathons and therefore being half way towards our goal. This prevented me from running for three months as I recovered from surgery, but Chris showed great strength and self-discipline as he ran on alone.

In October I was deployed on Operation TELIC 5, serving with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, but still I was determined to complete my remaining 12 marathons by the end of the tour. With only two more marathons to complete, Chris was posted back to Germany with a promotion, where he valiantly forged ahead to reach 24 marathons.

Running my marathons in Iraq was an unforgettable experience. With the assistance of the PT Corps, a daunting route was laid covering 26 ½ laps of the perimeter circuit of the Shat Al Arab Hotel in Basra, where we were located. Due to work commitments I began each marathon at 0300, armed with a head torch and a sense of humour. The 12 Event quickly became a cult following, with a handful of people wearing “I Ran A Shaat Marathon” t-shirts completing their first ever marathon.

Eleven marathons passed by on Operation TELIC, in all conditions. I completed my final marathon as Chris had done, back on our very first course. I am indebted to Chris, for joining me and for achieving so much, and showing to others what courage, teamwork and motivation can really achieve. We will be back in 2006 hopefully for a 100km charity event in Biel, Switzerland – volunteers welcome…"

SSgt Paul Carpenter Master Chef 1 DWR
Sgt Chris Penk 35 Engr Regt

SSgt Carpenter would like to thank all those who made donations, including the NSS and the clothing companies who donated so kindly, and also those who supported the event by enabling the marathons to go ahead.