Tom has taken on the Wolf Run 16 times now, and his reason for starting goes back to 2010, when he sadly lost his aunt to cancer. She was always doing something for others, coffee mornings, fundraisers, any event she could get behind, and after she passed, Tom wanted to keep that spirit going in her memory. He signed up for his first Wolf Run and started raising money for cancer charities in her name. He hasn't stopped since.
Tom has been taking part in OCR events since 2011, and the Wolf Run has always been his favourite. The moment he signs up, he's locked in, training hard, hitting the gym, getting his miles in, counting down to race day.
In 2017, Tom completed all four Wolf Runs in a single year and earned his Alpha Medal, an achievement he's still incredibly proud of. He has Asperger's and Dyspraxia, and there are days that make things harder than people realise, so crossing that finish line four times in one year meant a huge amount to him. He's not stopping there either; his sights are now set on reaching 20 Wolf Runs.
Over the years, Tom has brought friends, family, and work colleagues along with him, and every single one of them has come off the course grinning, hooked and asking when the next one is. What Tom loves most about the Wolf Run is the vibe, he says from the runners to the marshals to the team on-site, everyone makes you feel like you belong the moment you arrive.
His advice for anyone considering taking on the challenge? You don't need to be the fittest person on the course. It's not all about pace, Tom says, it's about determination, about telling yourself, "I've got this" and not stopping until you're across that finish line.
Here's to reaching 20…we are rooting for you Tom!