Marathon man enjoys help from his personal trainer - his seven-year-old son (From Warrington Guardian)

Marathon man enjoys help from his personal trainer - his seven-year-old son

12:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

“COME on, keep going a bit more” might be the words you would expect to hear from a personal trainer.

But for one Great Sankey dad preparing for the London marathon, words of encouragement and motivation have been coming from his seven-year-old son Harvey.

The Sycamore Lane Primary School pupil has been riding on his bike in front of Gary Ackerley come rain, shine, snow or ice over the past few months and covering every step of 13 to 14 mile training runs.

And the proud 32-year-old says his son will have no problem covering bigger distances when he steps up his training as he says Harvey does not even break a sweat.

The Daniel Thwaites brewery employee, of Michigan Place, said: “I’m not a runner but I’ve always wanted to do a marathon.

“At first I was doing a couple of miles and trying to build it up and Harvey asked if he could come with me.

“Now he’s out with me every time and saying ‘come on dad, let’s get to here before we stop’ while he’s pedaling away ahead of me.

“He even put his high vis jacket and waterproofs on and came out with me in the snow.”

Training has been a real family affair as Gary, who is running to raise cash for Children with Cancer UK, has even completed runs pushing his identical twin daughters Gabriella and Sienna, aged four, in a double buggy.

He added: “When you’re running and you feel like you could stop, it’s so hard to get going again.

“Harvey is a really good motivator so I’ll have to see if I can enter him in the marathon too so he can ride beside me!”

Proud wife Gemma, aged 31, who married Gary on 7/7/07 said her and their daughters have been enjoying waving them off at the start of the run before cheering them on at the finish line at Gary’s mum Pam Ackerley’s house in Glazebrook.

She added: "I'm sure Gary wouldn't be where he is now without the help of Harvey.”

Visit virginmoneygiving.com/team/Ackerleyfundraising.