Studney Kirby: The running all-rounder who took on MDS

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In Episode 18 of the Running Tales podcast, in collaboration with Run Tri Bike, Craig Lewis spoke to Marathon des Sables finisher and parkrun lover, Studney Kirby.

It was back in 2004, at the 19th edition of the famous event, that Studney completed the Marathon des Sables. Some might say it was a time when the race truly was the 'toughest footrace on the planet'.

What is certain is that ultra running wasn't such a widely talked about sport as it is now, with the likes Jasmin Paris and Kilian Jornet having become, if not household names, then at least sprinkled with a bit of stardust.

Studney's running goes back way beyond MDS. He ran at county level at school, competing in 800m, 1500m and cross-country races, although football took over when he was around 16.

Running returned to his life in 1997 following a conversation with his then-manager who had completed a marathon. Studney told his boss he thought he could knock an hour off his time!

Since then, he has run the London Marathon four times, along with marathons in Paris, Chicago, Barcelona and a host of smaller UK events.

Studney has also completed 50 half-marathons and approaching 500 parkruns, but his love of the sport is undiminished.

Although the Wellingborough and District Club runner had to drop out of the Seville Marathon next month due to injury, he has his eyes on a sub-three hour target at Valencia later this year and will be taking on London again in April.