First ever Pakistani Muslim to complete epic 10 marathons in 10 days aims to inspire community

Shaid Hussain, the first ever Pakistani Muslim to complete the Brathay 10 in 10 marathons

A Rochdale man has managed to complete 10 marathons in 10 days as part of the Brathay challenge - becoming the first Pakistani Muslim ever to complete it.

Shaid Hussain, from Wardleworth, took on the epic 262-mile journey not just to take on the personal challenge, but to be an inpisration to his community, to be fit and healthy.

Shaid, 41, has a family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and has trained himself to become a seasoned runner to try and keep himself in better shape. So much so, he is even gearing up to take on Mount Blanc and the volcanic Mount Eta later this year.

Completing the “10 in 10” Brathay challenge in Cumbria, he says, was a huge challenge but one he is immensely proud of, being the first Pakistani not just to enter, but to finish.

He told Rochdale Online: “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be one of the few who finish this challenge. It’s tough, and I’m one of just 174 people to complete it. That is a big sense of pride for me.

“But also, I feel happy to have been an inspiration to my community. I've had people in the community who said they’re inspired and considering doing something similar for themselves, so that for me was a big sense of pride. That people are following my journey is amazing - and it helps that I can inspire other people in the community."

Shaid started off at an average pace of 4 hours and 36 minutes, but then picked up on day seven, completing that day's marathon distance in an impressive 3 hours and 47 minutes.

He continued: “One of the days was meant to be a recovery run, but I’d received so many messages of support and people cheering me on, that gave me the energy and motivation to keep going, so I ended up with one of my best times.

“The support I’ve received is incredible and I’m so grateful.”

The Brathay 10in10, which takes place in Ambleside, was the world’s first 10 marathons in 10 days race, and has become a nationally known event.

The challenge is to run 10 laps of Windermere Marathon course over 10 days.

The website says only an “elite few are there to race every day.”