We All Need To Be More Gus
Cerebral palsy athlete looks forward to toeing the start line at Southampton
“To anyone who is still thinking of signing up for one of the ABP Southampton Marathon distances, I strongly recommend you do it. You will be supported all the way”, says Gus Mckechnie, who really appreciated that fantastic crowd support last year when he ran 5:59:26 in the marathon.
Gus is a T38 classified athlete (Runners with Cerebral Palsy) and is using ABP Southampton Half Marathon on Sunday 2 April as part of his build-up to the TCS London Marathon later in April. He's raising money for Weldmar Hospice in Dorset, which provided wonderful care for his mother when she had ovarian cancer.
In 2018, Gus finished absolutely last in the Southampton Marathon in 8 hours and 24 minutes. His much-improved 2022 time was enough to place him fifth in the all-time marathon rankings for T38 runners in the UK. In the past year, Gus has lost two stone and gained PBs at the marathon, half marathon, 10 mile, 10K, and 5K distances.
Reflecting on last year he said: “The 2022 Southampton Marathon was amazing. The support from the Southampton community and my running club, Hamwic Harriers, helped to get me through the finish line in under six hours. I’m at a completely different place from where I was in 2018, both physically and mentally. I have finally been able to put into perspective the shock of my mother’s heart attack, caused by her ovarian cancer.”
In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Gus completed the virtual London Marathon by running over 60 laps of St Mary's stadium. In 2022 he finished the virtual 26 miles in five hours. It is that level of determination that Gus hopes will carry him to even more success in 2023. Gus can be sponsored via this Just Giving donation page link.
If you would like to join Gus in the ABP Southampton Marathon, ABP Southampton Half Marathon, ABP Southampton 10K or the ABP Mile Fun Run (the inaugural ABP Southampton 5K is fully subscribed) visit the official website here.
Previous results and reports can be viewed at runABC South race listing here.
Image courtesy ABP Southampton Marathon race photos