After conquering the 10km Wild Running course at the Summer WOLF, 81-year-old Mark Buteux became The WOLF Run’s oldest runner. Buteux took up running 23 years ago with the simple intention of keeping fit and having fun.
Two years ago, Buteux was diagnosed with cancer. Some might have taken time away from their weekly exercise routines but, going against the grain, Buteux continued to frequent the gym every other day, even after operations to remove various growths including the removal of 1/3 of his lung.
Now, just two years after his diagnosis, Buteux says he hasn’t stopped training or running. While half and full marathons are Buteux’s general forte, he entered the summer edition of The Wolf Run with the hope of sharing this experience with his son.
Mark Buteux said “My son asked me to run, as he knows I have wanted to do a race with him”. Buteux added “Whilst my son is a better runner than I thought he would be, I still able to recover faster. I hope my story can inspire others. I believe in fitness and I am so happy to have been able to finish the event.”
To Buteux, and so many more, The WOLF Run is more than just a test of one’s physical and mental strength but an opportunity to show others the power of fitness, Buteux says he wears his Wolf Run shirt with pride.
The WOLF Run is an 10km off-road run featuring a series of man-made and natural obstacles located throughout the course. There are four events throughout the year (Spring, Summer Autumn & Winter). The concept behind the Wolf Run was to re-create the feeling of running in natural terrain – a wild run that would allow people to experience natural, raw running conditions as far as possible whilst also presenting runners with a challenging, interesting and enjoyable event.
Each event happens once each season and hosts upwards of 10,000 runners, all looking to be pushed to the limit physically and mentally while still being able to maintain a fun factor.
If you are inspired by Mark Buteux’s story and want to sign up to The WOLF Run, entries are now open for the Autumn WOLF, which takes place at Welsh Road Farm, in Warwickshire on 2nd and 3rd September.
To find out more about The WOLF Run visit www.thewolfrun.co.uk and follow @thewolfrun on Twitter.