Ipswich men finished 225k 'brutal' challenge wearing weights

Owen Thom and Rob Taylor from Ipswich undertook a challenge, which saw them run from London to Birmingham along the Grand Union Canal, a distance of 140 miles.

They did all this while wearing a vest weighing 20kg and a weight on each ankle, weighing three kilogrammes each.

Mr Thom said: "We ran with the weights and vest and completed around 30 miles a day.

Rob Taylor and Owen Thom (Image: Owen Thom)

"It was brutal but phenomenal.

"We had torrential rains and we woke up on the Friday and there were floods everywhere, so we were on paths which were completely underwater.

"We went bare foot for some of it, and we finished that day wearing wellies which gave us rub burns.

"Rob got a stress fracture in his foot.

"But we raised so much awareness, there were people to greet us at the finish line."

Rob and Owen during their challenge with the weights on (Image: Owen Thom)

The duo has raised £4,695 through this challenge, just £300 shy of their target, with the money going towards MATES, a mental health charity and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Thom continued: "We were thinking, how are we going to get through this, and people wake up and think that daily.

"Walking and exercise really helps with mental health, people we met along the way told us they did it because it puts them in a more positive mood."

After doing this challenge they took part in the Hyrox Birmingham event.

Rob and Owen before the challenge (Image: Owen Thom)

Mr Thom said: "The final few obstacles were the most painful things I've ever experienced.

"I didn't have any strength left in me at all.

"But the support we got on the day from the people organising the event, it was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal."

The donation page is still open for those wishing to support.

Owen and Rob at the end of the challenge (Image: Owen Thom)