Man plans to run 250 marathons in 2010

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A veteran Canadian marathon runner near Calgary, Alberta, says his New Year's resolution is to run 250 marathons, or five a week, in 2010.

British-born Martin Parnell, 54, told the Calgary Herald he hopes to raise $250,000 for charity with his runs in 12 actual competitions and marathon-distances around his home in Cochrane.

Some of his runs will be at schools, where Parnell will speak to students about his mission and encourage them to run laps with him until he completes 26 miles. He said some schools are interested in using his real-time Web site as a math project as wireless technology he wears will update his location, speed and heart rate.

He said his original plan was to run 365 marathons in 2010, but his doctor, a mountaineer who reached the peak of Mount Everest, recommended he keep it to just five runs a week, the Herald said.

He plans on running Monday through Friday and resting on weekends. There are 12 "float days" included in his schedule to allow for rescheduling due to unforeseen circumstances, he said.

His progress will be posted at www.marathonquest250.com.