Having already completed 17 marathons, Enniskillen Running Club member Tara Malone is not afraid of pushing herself to the limit.

Perhaps then that is the reasoning as to why she had no qualms about signing up to the momentous task of running six marathons in six days in six different countries.

Tara will be taking on the challenge with fellow work colleague Paul Floyd and Darren Hamilton and their intention is to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer.

Tara explains how the decision came about.

“Paul Floyd, Darren Hamilton and myself are work colleagues and met through our mutual hobby of running and had often discussed trying to raise money through our love of the sport. On New Year’s Day 2014, it was Darren who suggested this challenge and he had no problems encouraging Paul and I to take part,” says Tara.

They are all experienced marathon runners.

Tara adds: “My background to running started in and around 2007 when I decided to try to run a marathon before I reached the age of 30 and I ran my first marathon in Connemara in 2008. I have now 17 marathons under my belt in Ireland, UK, Europe and America. I am a long standing member of Enniskillen Running Club and participate in many local and national running races/cycling events and triathlons. Darren is a retired sprinter and has participated in the Commonwealth Games, however he retired from sprinting in 2002 and he ran his first marathon in Dublin in 2012.

Paul meanwhile has completed nine marathons and has been progressively getting faster, running his latest marathon in a very commendable time of 3.04 in Paris this year.” The challenge will see the trio run the marathons approximatley an hour or so slower than they would at present and to prepare for the challenge they have been running between 80-100 miles a week. Regular physio and cross training has also been implemented by all three to ensure overuse injuries are at a minimum.

The aim is to start running each day at 8am and finish around 12.30pm. This will allow them time to get to the next destination and recover however the recovery will be far from luxurious. A minimal support crew of one man and a mini bus is ensuring that costs are kept to a minimum and all funds raised go direct to the charity.

The marathons will start on June 17 in Edinburgh, Scotland, then down to Blackpool, England, following into North Wales, then across the sea to Isle of Man, crossing over again to Dublin, Ireland and then finishing in a triumphant return to Belfast, Northern Ireland on June 22, 157.2 miles later.

An undaunted Tara concluded: “There is a Facebook page set up and it will have up-to-date information on the planned routes being run, how to donate or how to help etc. It is called “6 Marathons 6 Countries 6 Days”. Please check out the page and “like” it to help spread the word. All are welcome to join us at any stage and are very welcome to run some (or all!) of each leg of our journey.

“There is also a Just Giving site set up for those who wish to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer www.justgiving.com/6marathons6countries6days. Alternatively, you can also text the word DUTT65 plus your donation (£2 for example) to 70070.”