It’s a raffle, however one which’s worthwhile to Ben Pobjoy.
The Mississauga, Ont., native has set out on a journey to interrupt the Guinness world report for many marathons ran by a male in a 12 months (239), held by American Larry Macon.
Pobjoy, who began on New Year’s Day, plans to perform the feat operating marathon-length distances throughout 90 nations, together with Canada, whereas capturing content material of all his discoveries alongside the best way.
Having left his job as the chief artistic director at promoting firm Behaviour final August, Pobjoy felt it was time for a change.
“That world the place you may have a gentle paycheque, it is actually comfy,” he advised The Canadian Press. “But I simply discovered there wasn’t a lot progress in it and to sort of reduce myself out of that, throw myself into the world and simply have that final strain the place it is totally on me to create one thing, it simply felt just like the excessive time.
“Life is brief. The pandemic confirmed me how rapidly the world may change and, you understand, if I’m going to gamble, I would as effectively gamble on myself.”
Shortly after quitting, he based Killometres International Inc. The additional “L” provides to the importance of the identify — “actually, simply to kill as many kilometres as doable.”
“It’s being arrange for this 12 months after which my hope is that I can probably develop this factor in different methods,” Pobjoy mentioned. “For proper now, the main target is simply the enterprise to get by this 12 months and as to what it turns into thereafter, I feel the long run is unwritten.”
WATCH | Pobjoy joins CBC’s Metro Morning:
Metro Morning8:28Meet the Toronto man strolling all over the world making an attempt to beat a Guinness world report
Ben Pobjoy is making an attempt to finish over 235 marathons this 12 months and amassing tales alongside the best way. He talked to Ismaila from someplace in South America.
Lockdown concept
The concept to chase the report took place in 2021, whereas a lot of the Greater Toronto Area skilled lengthy stretches of time beneath lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not wanting the 12 months to not depend for something, the 41-year-old determined to trek as typically and much as he may. The consequence was 174 marathons and over 11,500 kilometres lined.
As a “gag,” he paid 5 kilos ($8.16) to the Guinness Book of World Records to have it licensed as a report in Ontario. Instead, he was advised it was “too area of interest” and that he ought to go for the world report.
“I set 174 with a job. So if I give up this job and I’m unemployed, I solely bought to do one other (66) extra,” Pobjoy mentioned of his considering on the time. “[It] was like [a] no-brainer to me.”
After a dialog together with his spouse, Christine, he has damaged it up into 4 legs, the place she is going to be part of him for components of every one and he’ll go to residence at closing dates. To give his household some peace of thoughts, he additionally wears a satellite tv for pc communicator that emits a sign each two minutes to a portal they’ve entry to, together with a button he can hit in circumstances the place he may very well be injured or kidnapped.
Decade of operating
His journey as a runner started roughly a decade in the past when he says he was “morbidly overweight” and “tremendous embarrassed” to go to a health club. He began out strolling and, as he describes it, has grow to be “like a real-life Forrest Gump sort of story.”
“I’ve simply been to see, not simply how a lot additional I can go, however having fun with crushing out marathons all over the world. No athletic pedigree, only a common individual to place one step in entrance of the opposite to some fairly insane outcomes.”
The affect behind his strategy in life stems from his previous in punk rock. Pobjoy was a member of two bands earlier in his life — one late in highschool and one other whereas in college.
The ideas of not needing any accreditation, doing it your self and simply figuring it out had been issues he immersed himself in.
“I just about have utilized that method of working to my non-linear profession path, in addition to this mission itself, which primarily is simply me,” he mentioned. “I’ve deliberate all the pieces, I’m right here solo, it is tremendous DIY.
“And had I not entered punk, I do not assume I might have both the power or possibly even the madness to do one thing like I’m doing now.”
