AFTER setting himself the momentous 12-month challenge of climbing one million vertical steps last May, Douglas personal trainer Roger Davies has crossed the finish line a whole month ahead of schedule.
The early finish was necessary though, as super-fit Davies flies out to Morocco this morning (Thursday) ready to take part in one of the world’s toughest foot races.
Within a week of completing his millionth step – the equivalent of ascending and descending Mount Everest an impressive 24 times – Roger will compete in the Marathon Des Sables, a gruelling six marathons in seven days across the Sahara desert.
He speculatively applied for the desert race two years ago, and had still heard nothing back when he conceived the million steps challenge last May to raise money for Manx Cancer Help.
Halfway into the challenge, the ominous news came that he had been accepted, meaning his already-tight million steps deadline moved forward by four weeks.
Reflecting on eleven months of climbing stairs, at all hours and in all weather, Roger said: ‘The first third was easy. The middle third I actually began to feel a bit desolate. I had two holidays, and found out about the Marathon des Sables. I went from being quite far ahead to suddenly having a mountain to climb.’
He chose to see the bright side of having a punishing schedule as a run up to the desert race, using the big finish as training to hit Morocco in good shape, even taking to running without socks and with sand in his shoes to prepare for the inevitable discomfort of the Sahara.
The memorable year has seen him raise more than £28,000 and counting for Manx Cancer Help, through standard sponsorship as well as a series of inventive events, including having hundreds of staff from Standard Bank, and then Barclays join him inside for sessions on their office staircases.
Roger also raced up and down the Legislative Buildings, joined by members of the Department of Health Dudley Butt MLC, and minister David Anderson MHK, as well as at Scoill Vallajeelt, attended by his son Jasper.
Notable names from the world of sport have joined him including Dame Kelly Holmes, snowboarder Zoe Gillings, cross country runner Keith Gerrard, TT star Guy Martin, and last month cycling sensation Mark Cavendish paid him a visit at the Gas Works steps in Douglas that have become so familiar to the personal trainer.
Many more joined Roger in a year that also saw him compete in the Tough Mudder UK cross country obstacle racing series, ranking highly enough to travel to New Jersey in the USA in October, for the 24 hour World Championships involving laps of an eight-mile circuit peppered with freezing water and electric shock obstacles.
Davies completed his million steps on Easter Sunday in front of a crowd of supporters at the Gas Works steps.