Tim is set to bring the sun to York this October

Tim is a GP and running this year's Yorkshire Marathon in his Sunflower costume to raise money for St Leonards Hospice.  We caught up with him ahead of the main event....

How's training going? 

The training is going very well, although I seem to be spending more time refining my costume than running! I expect to cover over 400 miles (not all in full Sunflower!) in my 16 week training program. I managed a full dress rehearsal at the Major Stone Half Marathon and got round in 2 hours 7 minutes on a Sweltering September day, so hoping for cooler weather on the 17^th (but not the monsoon of 2018 #ifyouknowyouknow)

A big thanks to all the members of Pocklington Runners for their encouragement and support, I would definitely recommend looking up your local running club if you are thinking of running a marathon in the future.

How long have you been running?

I started running in 2013. I watched my wife, Leanne run the 2013 York 10k and I promised to run it with her the following year. At the time I was pretty out of shape and my weight had hit 19 stone, so with a significant change of diet and a new running obsession, I managed to lose 4 stone and complete the race in 2014. Since then I have continued running 3-4 times a week and love the atmosphere of the big events.

Why are you running for St Leonards?
At the time of the 2014 York 10k, my wife was working for St Leonards Hospice, so it was a logical choice to raise money for this worthy cause. A friend said they would donate £100 if I ran it in a lycra body suit, the challenge was accepted and the idea of the sunflower runner was born! Since then I have done several races raising money for St Leonard’s, culminating in the Yorkshire Marathon in 2016.

As  a local GP I have seen first-hand all the good work that St Leonard’s do for people at the end of life, but also the ongoing support they provide for relatives and carers. St Leonard’s Hospice relies on charity donations for the majority of its funding and 2020 was a particularly hard year due to the Pandemic, so I thought it was only fair that I should dust off the Sunflower and try and do my bit! So give us a wave on the day and if you are spectating bring a Sunflower with you and I will make sure I wave back!

FUN FACT - Tim can roll his tongue into the shape of a clover leaf and says if you ask me on the day he’ll show you so keep an eye out for Tim ‘The Sunflower’ Maycock.