Cake or Death's Groovy News

[from walesonline.co.uk]

ATTEMPTING 34 marathons in seven weeks would be no laughing matter for even the most seasoned of athletes.

But for a self-professed out-of-shape stand-up comic, described somewhat generously by their publicist as “not a runner”, it would certainly seem an impossible task.

Tell that to Eddie Izzard, who finally made it to Cardiff yesterday as part of his gruelling 1,100-mile run around the UK to raise money for Sport Relief.

Having set off from London last Monday, and despite having “blisters on his blisters”, the flamboyant 47-year-old funny man revealed he now intended to extend the Welsh leg of his 30-mile-a-day journey because of how much being here meant to him.

“We lived in Skewen for a couple of years when I was young and it was while we were here that mum died,” said Eddie. He was only six when he lost his midwife mother Dorothy to cancer in 1968. “So being back has been quite emotional, a bit of a head spinner, and I really wanted to be able to run past my old house while I’m here.”

His journey takes him on from Swansea, through Powys and back towards the Shropshire border.

Izzard got the idea for the colossal challenge from watching a programme on Kalahari bushmen. “They hunt their prey for up to three days straight until the poor creature’s exhausted and can’t go any further.

“And that’s how we all did things thousands of years ago, not sitting behind computers, eating ice lollies, playing computer games and watching Die Hard as we tend to do these days. That’s not what these bodies of ours were built for, surely?” he added.

Eddie Izzard meets the Leader as he runs through Wrexham for Sport Relief 2009.

Photo set is posted on FLICKR.

Eddie Izzard keeps on running for Sport Relief from Sam Downie on Vimeo.

[from bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk]

Advertizer reporter David Lawson caught up (but only just) with comedian and actor Eddie Izzard last week, as he ran from Oswestry to Chirk as part of his incredible 30 marathons in 30 days challenge for Sport Relief.

Despite being half way through his 15th marathon in as many days, Eddie said he was greatly enjoying the area’s countryside, which was helping take his mind off the painful feet and legs.

“This is something I believe we all have in us to do,” he explained, “For centuries, people around the world have run like this for days to hunt food and it’s in our genes. If for example war broke out tomorrow and our survival depended on it I feel we would all find the capacity.”

Having stopped off in Oswestry, Eddie was heading on through Chirk towards Wrexham and the end of another gruelling 30mile day, being filmed for Sport Relief later in the year and raising money and awareness along the way.

…on the CoD Twitter page! 🙂

There might be some “things” that are exclusively released on Twitter… ::cough:: Freebie giveaway ::cough::

[from shropshirestar.com]

Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard proved his determination to battle through pain and complete the Mid Wales section of his 1,000-mile plus Sport Relief run across Britain.

Cheered on by surprised motorists and residents of towns and villages on his gruelling run from Llanbadarn Ffynnyn to Welshpool yesterday, Eddie had hoped to complete his 12th marathon in a fortnight in four hours.

But severe blisters on his little toe forced him at one point down to a walk, every step agony until he could receive painkillers from his support team.

He has challenged himself to run across the UK by doing up to 30 miles a day for six days a week taking in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh then back to London.

He said he had no hesitation in saying yes when Sport Relief asked him if he wanted to do a challenge.

He said: “I had always wanted to do a big physical running challenge, and this seemed a great way to do it and also raise money to help Africa and the poorest countries in the world, as well as projects that Sport Relief fund in the UK.

“I was also going to be advised by Olympic experts who have worked with Sport Relief before. They would help me keep running in the right direction.”

But he admitted that his little toe was causing him pain and worry.

“I will carry on, I will do it. But when the painkillers wear off it is like a pin stabbing my foot every step,” he added.

“I just hope everyone will hear about the run and sponsor me on the Sport Relief donation page.”

Holding a Welsh flag and making five-mile stops for water and to receive treatment for his injured foot, Eddie ran through Newtown and then on to Berriew, where he made an impromptu stop at the Horseshoes pub to talk to waiting supporters and enjoy a lemonade.

Bar manager Jim Horton said: “When we heard Eddie was coming the whole pub emptied. I am a huge fan so I locked the till and went out.

“I am even more of a fan now, what he is doing is amazing I couldn’t do it.”

A small group of Ellesmere runners joined Eddie for just over four miles until he reached Berriew.

Will Morris and Melvyn Austin said they were concerned for him running along the busy A483 trunk road. They said: “We did have some hairy moments with the traffic but Eddie was running really strongly until his injury started slowing him down.”

Last week runners from Builth Wells joined him on part of his 10th marathon run.

Actor and comedian Eddie Izzard heads towards Swansea and Skewen, where he lived as a young boy, on the latest leg of his charity run around the UK.

Rhodri Lewis tried to keep pace with Izzard, who is trying to complete 34 marathons in seven weeks for Sport Relief.