Pace-setting Michael Beynon will say a big thank you to his team on Sunday – if he’s got the breath left in him.
The 25-year-old from Ammanford will become the first person from Wales with Down’s Syndrome to run the London Marathon when the race goes virtual for the first time.
Only elite runners are being allowed to pound the streets of London this year, due to restrictions imposed because of the pandemic.
It means that thousands of club runners, charity fund-raisers and Eliud Kipchoge wannabes are running their own races, with the impressive and dedicated Michael among them.
He’s been training on cycle paths near his home, with a team of coaches, volunteers and support runners, including his mother, Erika Beynon-Walker.
Michael says: “I’ve been training hard with my coaches and now I’m really looking forward to the race.
“I have two coaches – Katie and Steve and they’ve been great.
“It’s been my dream for six years to run the London Marathon. Mencap has supported me and my family over the last 20 years and I’d like to give something back to the charity so that they can continue supporting people with learning disability, like me.
“I’m looking forward to marathon day and have been doing lots of virtual challenges during lockdown to stay fit and motivated.”
This may be Michael’s first attempt at competing in the marathon, but he is no stranger to running at shorter distances.
By stepping up to the 26.2-mile event, though – along a route that ends in Mynydd Mawr Park in Tumble – he will be achieving a first for people with his kind of learning difficulties.
Team Mencap runners and Special Olympic Carmarthenshire Athletics club runners will be running alongside him every step of the way and Erika – who is also chief executive of local service Amman Valley Mencap – says: “Michael and his teammates have been sprinters mostly for most of their lives.
#teamMencap on national newspaper today @DailyMailUK and @MetroUK @LondonMarathon #londonmararhon2020virtual #The40thRace please spread the word about this amazing #charity that supports people with #learning #disability to #achieve their #dreams pic.twitter.com/wvHD1SksRX
— Michael Beynon (@MichaelBeynon7) October 2, 2020
“A lot of people have said anything above 800m or 1,500m is too far for someone like Michael, but he and his teammates have really stepped things up over the past few months and doing virtual challenges over the longer distances.
“They’ve proven they can do it and hopefully next year we’ll have many more doing the marathon and hopefully it will be in London.”
Michael has been running since he was four years old and never been held back by Downs’ Syndrome, a visual impairment and the muscle condition, Hypertonia as well as Cerebral Palsy.
He has represented Wales and Great Britain in the Special Olympics, winning over 60 medals across a range of events, including shotput, boccia, long jump and 100m and 200m on the track.
On Sunday morning Michael will run the cycle path from Ammanford to Brynamman Between 7.30am and 11.30am and in the afternoon he will be at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park, Tumble starting at 1.30pm – 5.30pm.
Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want and also campaigns to change laws, improve services and challenge negative attitudes towards people with a learning disability.
Mencap’s ‘Here I Am’ campaign aims to increase the visibility of people with a learning disability in the media and society.
To support Michael, please visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/michaelBeynon1