Trystan to celebrate 18th birthday...with marathon run from Northampton to Rushden!

He's taking on the gruelling challenge to raise money for the NHS
Trystan in training.Trystan in training.
Trystan in training.

Most teenagers spend their 18th birthday drinking one pint too many at the pub - but not Trystan Barnett!

With pubs closed because of the coronavirus, the youngster is celebrating the milestone on June 15 by running a marathon to raise money for the NHS.

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Trystan, a champion triathlete, will start at his dad's house in Little Billing before going into Northampton's town centre for a lap of the hospital, out through Overstone, Sywell, Earls Barton, around the edge of Wellingborough and through Irchester before finishing at his mum's house in Rushden.

He said: "Your 18th birthday is always going to be a good one but I feel like I'm making the most of it and it's going to be memorable for the rest of my life.

"Most people go to the pub but I can't do that."

It will be Trystan's first ever marathon distance as he normally runs between 5km and 10km in triathlons, having completed more than 80 in his career so far.

Having been the East Midlands champion in his age bracket for two years running he was training for the national super series but currently has no season to train for because of the Covid-19 crisis.

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He said: "I was out on a run, taking it easy, and when I got home the thought came to me.

"I've been watching the news and I've seen all these people do all of these challenges.

"You see the amazing job the NHS staff do and every 8pm I've been outside my house to show my support, so now I'm going to do it in a different way."

Trystan, who is due to start studying sport exercise science at university in Northampton in September, will be supported by his parents, step-parents and grandparents with friends also running and biking sections of the marathon with him.

So far Trystan has raised more than £700. To donate to his cause, click here.