Project Start Line

I'm Tony Riddle, and I'm taking on my hardest endurance challenge yet - attempting to break the 1000 mile running record.

The event is scheduled to take place on the 6th of September 2025 at Crystal Palace Athletics Track.

Crystal Palace has one massive stadium for me to run aroud for 10 consecutive days to attempt to break the 1000 mile running record, which stands at 10 days, 10 hours, 30 minutes and 36 seconds set by Yiannis Kouros in 1988.

Yep, 1000 miles is alot of schwetty laps - 4024 laps to be precise, but thats not all....I'll be RUNNING BAREFOOT too!

Similar to my previous endurance events, my goal is to showcase our incredible human potential. However, given the extraordinary nature of this challenge, it is likely to raise socially extreme eyebrows. With those raised eyebrows, we can collectively draw attention to and gather support for some truly important causes.

My Chosen Charity:

The chosen charity for the fundraising arm of this challenge is the UK charity Shelter. Shelter is a great charity that focuses on addressing homelessness and housing issues in the UK.

Why Shelter?

Last year, my family and I found ourselves in a challenging situation. We had made an offer on a house, which unfortunately didn’t work out, and we had already let go of our previous home. As a family of six, we began the search for a rental in what was a saturated market. My wife, Katarina, plays the crucial role of a full-time mom, but to landlords, that doesn't carry much weight. On paper, we didn't exactly fit the profile of ideal tenants. For about ten months, we bounced between Airbnbs and friends' homes. Without a permanent residence, we had to clear our calendar of events, which significantly impacted my business and with it my mental health. I found myself operating from a place of sheer survival.

There’s Much More To Speak To Here:

The number one cause of death for men under the age of 50 is suicide. I understand this first hand - I've been there too. I know the feeling of being stuck in a perpetual state of "making-do".

Suicide remains the most common cause of death among men under the age of 50 in the UK. Globally, on average, 1 man dies by suicide every minute of every day.

So now at age 50 I see how more than ever that WE need the help and support from our community. So with this part of the ‘Project Start Line’ story, I am looking to shine a light on these tragic statistics and hope to inspire younger generations by inviting guests who too are in their mid-life years and have walked the path before them to join me at the track at the mile that represents their age, and for them to run with me and share some words of wisdom, words that might help someone who is suffering today and possibly prevent them from becoming one of those tragic statistics.

With these big events, the real endurance event is making it to the start line. I'll be posting updates on my training, recovery and the journey to get me to the start line here:

https://www.instagram.com/thenaturallifestylist

You can also join me for some laps, chats, tunes, sauna sessions and ice baths at the opening cermony on the 6th of September Gates open at 10am.

Here's the link to get your ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/project-start-line-tickets-1567018246759