FORMER professional rugby player Kevin Sinfield is running his fourth charity challenge in support of his friend Rob Burrow and the motor neurone disease community
The former Leeds Rhinos player is undertaking the 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge, running an ultramarathon every day for seven days – in seven cities – in December 2023.
Where is Kevin Sinfield running his ultramarathon for MND?
Kevin Sinfield started his 2023 challenge on December 1 at Headingley stadium, with his first of seven runs then finishing at York Minster.
Rob Burrow was there at the starting line to support Sinfield, with Kevin naming his friend and former team-mate as a "massive inspiration".
Sinfield said of Burrow and his wife Lindsey before beginning the run: "[They're] the reason we're here and what we're doing and also the MND community.
"[It's] a beautiful community that's been ravaged for decades and finally getting the support that they need."
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He added: "That comes from everybody who has supported in some small way.
"Everybody who is now aware of what this disease does and that makes such a difference to the community."
Burrow, who was a scrum-half for Leeds Rhinos, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019.
His diagnosis came just two years after he retired from playing.
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So far, Sinfield has raised more than £8m for motor neurone disease charities through his challenges.
The former Rhionas captain ran seven marathons in seven days in 2020 and followed it up by completing 101 miles in 24 hours the following year.
In 2022, he ran seven ultramarathons in seven days for the first time.
The 2023 challenge's route will take Sinfield and the rest of his team all over the UK and Ireland, with stops in Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, and London.
How do I keep track of Kevin Sinfield's ultramarathon route?
Sinfield revealed the official route for his ultramarathons ahead of the challenge's start.
The course can be tracked below:
- December 1 – Headingley, Leeds to York Minster
- December 2 – Cardiff, finishing at Cardiff Arms Park at half-time of Cardiff v Scarlets
- December 3 – Birmingham, starting at Alexandra Stadium and taking in St Andrews, Villa Park and Edgbaston
- December 4 – Edinburgh, crossing the Forth Road Bridge and ending at Murrayfield
- December 5 – Dublin
- December 6 – Brighton
- December 7 – London, Twickenham to The Mall
Sinfield has admitted that he may struggle with his 2023 challenge due to a lack of preparation caused by the World Cup.
He said: "In my mind, it's been trying to get my body into shape so I can run for four hours a day, then spend the next 20 trying to put Humpty Dumpty together again!
"In that time, there'll be some travel and disruption, which means nutrition and recovery won't be perfect. But life for people with MND and their families isn’t perfect.
"I was at the World Cup for two months, before that I was in camp for three. In terms of long runs, up until the start of November, I hadn't done one for five.
"But while there are 1,000 reasons why we shouldn't go again, there's one big one why we should – Rob and this beautiful community."
When does Kevin Sinfield's ultramarathon finish?
Sinfield's challenge will finish on Thursday, December 7.
His final marathon will take place in London and end at Twickenham Stadium.
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The 7 in 7 in 7 challenge will raise money for the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity's appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.
There will also be donations made to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the Irish MND Association and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, plus the 4ED campaign to support former Gloucester and Leicester rugby union player Ed Slater.
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