The Team
Hugh will be accompanied by an expedition manager, sports therapist and cameraman. The support team will be traveling each day in a support vehicle, traveling ahead of Hugh.
Hugh Williams-Preece
The Challenger!
Matt Pain
Expedition Manager
Matt is Chartered Surveyor working in West London. He has a strong interest in wine (selling it being a former occupation), hence this trip through Portugal, Spain and France will need to be planned carefully!
He completed the Marathon des Sables the same year as Hugh and has also climbed with him in Switzerland so knows what a determined guy he is. Having run a number of marathons in the UK and some ultra (cold) man-hauling and ski races he has an idea what challenge is involved in the 50/50.
Matt will be looking after the route, logistics on the road (nutrition, accommodation) and making sure Hugh doesn't get lost. He will also be writing the race blogs and trying to generate support along the way - so all are welcome to come and join us for a run! When not driving the team support vehicle he will be running with Hugh, hopefully thus boosting morale. The event promises to be a great challenge and Matt looks forward to giving Hugh the support to get to London on time.
Samia Gomez
Sports Therapist
Samia Gomez is Spanish and currently living in England. She is a fully qualified Sports Therapist with a certificate in Sports and Swedish Massage. She has a Sports and Exercise Incident Management qualification from the University of Central Lancashire and is also in the process of becoming a Biomechanical Coach.
Since she graduated from the London Metropolitan University, she has been busy taking care of runners who compete in marathons quadrathlons and trailwalking, when not competing as a professional Snowboarder.
During the 50/50, Samia will be responsible for injury prevention, treatment, advise, daily deep tissue massages and organising ice baths!
Tim Faulkner
Cameraman
Tim has had 15 years of experience in the film industry. His main role has been as a Location Manager for TV films, dramas and commercials, working with independent production companies and the BBC. Tim also has his own video production facility where he works as a cameraman and editor.
Professor Greg Whyte Phd
Trainer
Professor Greg Whyte is a former international modern pentathlete. Greg competed in two Olympic Games and won European bronze and World Championship silver medals.
As one of British sport's foremost research scientists, Greg has worked as consultant physiologist in a large number of Olympic and professional sports. His main area of research interest is focussed around cardiac structure and function in health and disease, however he is widely published in a number of areas of sports science and medicine.
Recent highlights of his applied sport science work include successfully coaching the comedian David Walliams across the English Channel, Eddie Izzard's epic ultra marathons across the UK and the Comic Relief Big Climb up Kilimanjaro in 2009 with celebrities including Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles and Gary Barlow.
George Peech
Campaign Manager & Logistics Support (office based)
George started his career working for Goldman Sachs in Leverage Finance. After the city he became a property developer and currently manages residential developments in London, South Africa and Italy.
George is an integral part of the team, helping manage the campaign and provide essential logistics support from the office.
Jonny Hills
PR and Logistics
Jonny has worked as a marketing and business development professional for over 10 years, and during that time has developed an increasing interest in endurance and other seemingly silly adventures. He completed a 6 day winter ultra marathon in northern Canada with Matt and has not defrosted since - enjoying cross-country skiing marathons and ice swimming. Otherwise he has a lifelong passion for travel and the outdoors - and is looking forward to helping Hugh achieve his goal!
Paul Michihara
Vice President of Innovation at Optimum Nutrition
Paul Michihara is a lifelong fitness enthusiast with over 15 years of performance nutrition experience. He is a registered dietician, a nationally certified personal trainer, and holds a Masters of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois . Paul is Vice President of Innovation at Optimum Nutrition, where he has helped formulate hundreds of functional food and performance enhancing dietary supplement products over the last 12 years.
Kim Hyland
Facebook and Twitter Guru (inventor of Marathon Dog!)
Kim is a dog walker with 15 years experience, who lives and works in London. Her previous work has included involvement in the Arts, acting, & managing both a jazz club and band. Kim is also a Master Practitioner of NLP and hypnosis.
In February 2008 Kim was awarded 'Campaigner of the year' by the Kennel Club.With a strong interest in the Arts, Music & Politics , Kim delights in the joy that is 'Twitter', where information arrives in real time & friendships are formed. She is also an avid facebook user on behalf of one of her own dogs Beau, a pekingese.
Kim is also a sub-aqua diver and someone who could 'walk for England'! Kim owns 4 dogs.
Stripper, Marathon Dog
My name is Stripper and I'm a 12 month old female Jack Russell.
My main interests are running, jumping and chewing.
I have a hectic social life & meet all my chums at 9am weekday mornings in Battersea Park. We wrestle, run like crazy & get treats.
I decided to support Hugh in his 50 in 50 marathon challenge when I was informed that I was 'unruly, with lots of energy that needs re-directing'. Marie Curie Cancer Care is such a fantastic cause, I knew I could get my teeth into rallying people to help. I'm assisted on a daily basis by my hand-maiden , a woman by the name of Rosie Kingzett. She also acts as my chauffeur and cook.
She is very good at the aforementioned although has an eccentric attitude towards socks and footwear (I notice these things, I'm the right height).
I shall be running Hugh's 50th marathon alongside a lovely woman called Sally who lost her husband to cancer last year. Sally has been training with me and we're now completing 10 mile runs with ease.
My very best friends are a golden retriever named Zephyr and a naughty border terrier called Mango, collectively we're known as the 'asbos'. My current relationship status is single, albeit reluctantly.
Really looking forward to my marathon challenge and beating Hugh to the finishing line.
