Easy marathon? Fat chance of that

When seven-year-old Hugo shouted “Run fatboy, run” from the top of a climbing frame as his dad set off on a fun run, Steve Hodson-Mackey, knew what he had to do — complete a London Marathon.

“When I heard Hugo shout as I started the Long Bennington 5k, I thought ‘this fat boy’s going to learn to run,’” said Steve, 40, of Fernwood.

Steve, who weighed 131/2st when he started running has already lost a stone and hopes to lose more.

“I ran 16 miles the other day and when I came to the door my wife offered to call me an ambulance.”

Hugo quoted the title of the film, Run, Fatboy, Run, starring Simon Pegg, in which his character tries to win back his ex-fiancee by proving he can take on and complete a major challenge — running a marathon.

He makes it to the finish line to a rapturous reception from the commentator.

Steve, a regional manager with Vodafone, hopes for a similar delirious response from London Marathon commentator Brendan Foster.

“I really want him to say something like ‘and this is what the marathon is all about’ as I stumble down Bird Cage Walk into my wife and son’s arms,” he said.

His wife, Leanda, said: “I’m so proud of him. We’ll be there at the finish line to see him cross it.”

Hugo, who watched Run, Fatboy, Run, the day before the Long Bennington 5k, said: “My dad can do it.”

Steve will run with his super-fit father, Brian, who will be in his 20th London Marathon at the age of 68.

There is a serious side to Steve’s run.

He is raising money for the Meningitis Trust in memory of a close family friend, Michael Balfour, whose name he will have on his shirt.

To try to boost the amount he raises in the 2013 marathon, on April 21, he is offering businesses the chance to have their names added to the shirt.

To sponsor Steve visit www.justgiving.com/ SteveHodsonMackey or use the text service Faty72.

Businesses who can help can email stephen.mackey@vodafone.com

“I need the backing of Advertiser readers to get me across the line,” he said.