A SOUTH Lakes man whose career has seen him help the world’s sporting elite make history is helping 15 ordinary people with an extraordinary challenge this May.

Sports therapist Adam Smith has provided strength and conditioning training to an array of super star athletes, backed by millions of pounds of sponsorship and support. They include the England and Australian Rugby Teams, Commonwealth and Olympic athletes, and the World’s Strongest Man competitors.

But this May, the 41-year-old, will be ensuring the 10 ‘ordinary’ men and five women, who are running ten marathons in ten days for an Ambleside-based charity, maintain a clean bill of health.

Described by adventurer and extreme survival expert Bear Grylls as 'an epic challenge that will require an epic strength of mind', only 79 people have completed Brathay Trust’s 10in10 it since it started eight years ago. More people have climbed Everest or run a four minute mile than have finished the 10in10.

Adam, who now lives near Hawkshead and runs a clinic in Ambleside, said: “This is an amazing group of people who will be putting their bodies and mind through an incredible amount of stress motivated by fundraising for a very good cause. Some of them have run hundreds of marathons over a number of years whilst others have run less than 10.

"The one thing they all have in common is that they are fitting this in around other commitments like jobs and families. And, unlike the sports professionals I used to work with, they will be back to their day job as usual on the Monday even though they’ve just spent the last 10 days running marathons.”

Adam has been providing the group with advice about hydration, nutrition, physio, exercise and recovery since January when they first met at a Brathay training weekend in Ambleside.

A lecturer at University of Cumbria, he is also tapping into some useful resources to help the runners. A team of 20 second year sports therapy students will be providing two to one stretching, massage and therapy work during the event, which starts on Friday May 8 and finishes on Sunday May 17. And fellow lecturers are carrying out research into joint and muscle flexibility. Their findings could impact on future advice given to endurance athletes.

Adam, who says the Ambleside area has a large concentration of high calibre runners competing in a national and international events, is enjoying his career change.

As he explained: “A few years ago I was working on muscled athletes but now I’m working with much lighter athletes and the injuries are completely different. They are repetitive rather than impact injuries and my passion to treat has come back.”

“This is the second time I’ve been involved with the 10in10. The work that Brathay does with young people, their families and communities changes lives for the better. It’s very rewarding to be working with people who are doing extraordinary things, my local charity and the runners who have collectively pledged to raise £45,000.

Along with the one day Brathay Windermere Marathon and Family Fun Day, which takes place on the last day of the 10in10, £1million has already been raised for the charity’s work with children and young people since 2007.

Anyone interested in finding out more or making a donation should visit brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk. Supporters can also follow the 10in10 on Twitter: @Brathay10in10

To contact Adam call 07951 833204 or email him at smithadam400@gmail.com

Attached image shows Adam Smith please credit: stephen ashworth www.movieit.co.uk