"I'm proud to be able to raise money to help Crimestoppers"

Why did you choose to run for Crimestoppers?

I believe Crimestoppers is a vital service to the UK. Sometimes people are only going to offer information about a crime if there is a reward on offer and they know that they will be able to stay anonymous. So I strongly believe that Crimestoppers is one of the most effective ways to combat crime and keep people safe. For years I thought it was run by the government, but since it is actually a charity I am proud to be able to raise money to help the Crimestoppers organisation.
 

Have you been affected by crime?

When I was in my 20s I was mugged; the attacker put a knife to my throat and took my money. Luckily, I was unhurt, but it was a very frightening experience that affected me for quite a long time after.
 

When did you get into running?

I think I started running because my dad used to run. I ran from school age and was a member of Tipton Harriers as a teenager. I competed for the Black County Triathletes Club and I ran cross country for Brunel University. I’ve always found running a great way to clear my mind and mentally relax.
 

Have you run a marathon before?

I ran distances up to half marathons until I was 39, then I decided that I wanted to run a marathon before I was 40. I’m now 47 and have completed 15 marathons. The smallest marathon I ran was 16 people at Kensington Park in Michigan near where I used to live. I ran Detroit four times, it’s the only marathon with a mile under water – a tunnel to get back in the USA from Canada. I’ve also run the big three in the USA; Boston, Chicago and New York.

Last year I started running distances further than a marathon, known as 'ultra running'. I ran a 50k (31 miles) in May and a 54 mile run in October.

My most recent marathon was at Jekyll Island in Georgia in January this year and it was my fastest to date at 3:08:48 which will qualify me for Boston in 2020.
 

How are you training for the run? What is your current training schedule like?

Marathon training, like the race itself, is a delicate balance between speed and stamina. You want to go as fast as you can, but not fade before the finish. In training I try to work on speed with distance, but it’s hard not to develop injuries when you push your body hard several times a week. The general pattern is to run shorter faster runs during the week and a long run on the weekend. A couple of weeks ago I ran a marathon on my treadmill just as a training run, but I do need to be really careful with overtraining and causing injury!
 

How’s the fundraising been going?

I wouldn’t say I’ve been doing great with fundraising, but I’m trying! I have a Virgin Money Giving page here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielHarris31 and I certainly would appreciate any donations I can get. I am planning to sell some items on eBay to improve my total.
 

What’s your favourite way to recover after a race? Do you have a post-race indulgence or treat?

In the final miles of many marathons I’ve found myself questioning why I am doing it. Just after I get over the finish line, I’m usually hurting and all I want to do is sit down for a few minutes. But after about 10 minutes the pain is gone and I feel so happy that I ran the race. The positive feelings last for several days afterwards, so I think run is really my indulgence.

I usually give myself about a week before I start training again. This year I am running 100 miles over three days about a month after the London Marathon, so I will be getting ready for that shortly after.
 

What’s your top piece of advice to someone who is training for their first marathon or perhaps tackling London for the first time?

Build up your distances gradually and don’t worry about speed. Run walking, which is where you alternate walking and running is a great way to increase distance without causing injuries so give that a try if you can’t run 20 miles yet.
 

Related articles:

"I know the money raised is going to a good cause" - read Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper's blog on why he's taking part in the London Marathon 2019 for us.
 

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