Tomasz Sobania, a WSB University student who set off from Chorzów to the Greek Marathon and back on Sunday 19 March as part of the Run for the European Games, intends to complete 85 marathons in 90 days. The total route planned is 3,600 km. We covered the distance of just under one marathon, or to be more precise, the route from the ceremonial start from the treadmill of the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów, in front of the historic complex of the Gliwice Radio Station, together with him. And all this as part of the university's AWSB Running Team. Tomasz will cover the next kilometres alone.
For most people, the royal distance of 42.198 km will always remain a dream, and a multiple of this distance is an absolute abstraction. For Tom, however, this is his daily bread, as the current trip is not the 24-year-old's first running escapade. He has previously managed to run from Częstochowa to Rome or from Gliwice to Barcelona. This time, the WSB University student plans to run the Marathon in Greece and then return to Krakow to join the relay team on the way back, which will come with the Olympic torch to the European Games Opening Ceremony. During the Run, Tomasz, in collaboration with the Qlavi Foundation, will be running a charity fundraiser for people with physical disabilities. He will run the marathon distance every day, with the route taking him through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia and Greece before returning to Poland by running. As in previous expeditions, Tomek will be accompanied by a team of three (physiotherapist, driver and cameraman) in a camper van, which also serves as a hotel on wheels.
And how have the first kilometres on the route gone? Easy. Tom and I ran out of the Stadium with a group of several dozen amateur runners to check in at the Chorzów market square after a few kilometres. There, the first group separated from the peloton. The next section was already a dozen kilometres long and ended in Zabrze. Eventually, 3 people besides Tomek ran up in front of the Radiostation, where Tomek was greeted by a large group of friends, acquaintances and supporters of the Qlavi Foundation. From there, Tomek walked the last few kilometres to the predetermined accommodation. The first day behind him, today (Monday) he is already on the route of another marathon.
Someone said that beginnings are the hardest, that "the first step is the hardest". In this case, however, it seems that this saying is not quite true, and with each day, each kilometre covered, it will become more difficult.
The entire WSB University community wishes Tom the best of luck! We are proud to be able to make at least a small contribution to the realisation of yet another dream of our Student, who, most importantly, by pursuing his own goals, is helping others, all the while running a collection for the Foundation's charges.
Good luck Tomek - we look forward to seeing you in class!