A LANCASHIRE grandfather is taking on a gruelling fitness challenge which he believes is the first of its kind.
Jack Gilchrist, from Leyland, is attempting to push and pull a 100kg sled a virtual 100km in just 100 days - and this after having a hip replacement just six months ago.
Jack, 64, will be carrying out the challenge from Gymetc in Leyland, on a piece of equipment called a prowler sled.
After consulting with experts, Jack believes a challenge like this has never been attempted before.
The grandfather started the challenge on 12 May and there are still 10 weeks left of the tough endeavour.
However, he says it is “much harder” than he first anticipated.
He said: “I have been pushing sleds for many years now and I thought I would try a new challenge and do something no-one else has ever done before.
“It is so much harder than I thought it was going to be and there have been a couple of days when I have been close to tears – but I will finish it but the challenge but I now know the challenge will have its ups and down.”
He pushes the sled the equivalent of 1km a day and can’t afford to take a day off as he “will never catch up again.”
Each session can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
He said: “It’s a complete body workout so the next morning when you wake up it’s tough getting out of bed.”
However, the tough challenge is all for a good cause and he is hoping to raise money for Mercy Ships, which is an international surgical care mission charity.
Jack said: “I work in complex care with people that have suffered life altering injuries. When you work in this industry, it makes you privileged to have your health.
“My body is healthy right now so I want to use to raise money for those in ill health.”
While Jack didn’t undertake any training before the challenge, he already leads a very active lifestyle, boxing and riding competitively and frequently playing racket ball.
During lockdown, Jack broke the record for the number of kettlebell swings competed in a month.
Fitness-obsessed Jack got into exercise and health when he was just 14, as his parents’ unhealthy lifestyles led him to want to carve out a different path for himself.
He worked various jobs over the years such as a hairdresser, club DJ, a steelworker and even a printer before settling on working in complex care at the age of 40.
To donate to Jack’s JustGiving page, visit the website: www.justgiving.com
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