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TRALEE man Tom Foley is limbering up to take on the ultimate fitness challenge in August by completing 20 marathons in 10 days. Tom, who works in Tralee Town Centre Apartments, which are owned and managed by Lee Strand, will travel to Lake Orta in Gozzano in Italy, to embark on the challenge on Saturday, August 6.

In temperatures of f over 30 degrees, the 37-year-old will run over the ten days a total of 526 miles, with two marathons a day. “The first marathon will take place at 8am and the second marathon will commence at 2pm each day,” said Tom.

This event is a world’s first official 20 marathons in 10 days, with some of Italy’s top marathon athletes also taking part.

John O’Sullivan, general manager, Lee Strand, said: “Lee Strand is delighted to sponsor our colleague Tom in this remarkable challenge. Tom has put in a lot of training and is working hard on his strength and conditioning. Lee Strand Protein+ Milk has played an important role in Tom’s nutrition for pre-training and post recovery in preparation for the event.

“Of course we will also be sending a suitcase to Italy filled with Lee Strand Protein+ Milk to help with Tom’s preparation and recovery during the challenge!”

Tom, who is a member of Tralee’s Born to Run Club, said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge, but I reckon that it will be more of a mental challenge than a physical one! I would like to thank my sponsors Lee Strand Protein+ Milk who are supporting me with my travel, accommodation and entry fees for the 20 marathons. All proceeds raised from the challenge will be donated to the homeless charity Jacket Off Your Back.”

No stranger to fitness challenges, Tom has completed 27 marathons in the last three years. In 2014 he cycled over 2400km from St John's Church in Tralee to the Vatican in Rome as part of the ‘Home To Rome Cycle Challenge’ in aid of the Donal Walsh #Livelife Foundation. The challenge was filmed and a documentary was broadcast on Irish TV called ‘Donal’s Message From Home To Rome’. In 2015 Tom took part in the Energia 24-hour Irish Championships in Belfast, when he ran over 103 miles around the Mary Peters Athletic Track 400m track in 24 hours.

Follow Tom’s journey on Facebook, “Tom Foley’s 20 Marathons in 10 Days” or if you would like to make a donation to his charity Jacket Your Back log on to www.gofundme.com/toms20in10