TALKING with Colin Rule is a bit like meeting a real life Action Man. A former Marine, who spent time in Northern Ireland and Iraq, an ex semi-professional footballer who use to compete in triathlons, Colin is now in serious training for the ‘toughest foot race on earth’ the Marathon Des Sables. The Marathon Des Sables covers 151 miles run over 6 days – equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons across the Sahara. Competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration on their backs in a rucksack which weights around ten kg. It’s hard to believe that as a child Colin had such severe asthma and eczema that he couldn’t even take part in sports at school. Colin was told by a doctor that he couldn’t exercise. While the other children were taking part in cross country runs and football matches, Colin, who now lives in Bitterne with his wife and two children, had to sit it out. Luckily for Colin, now 43, he grew out of his asthma and eczema. He learnt to better control his breathing with the Alexander Breathing Technique and began to take part in sports at around the age of 13. By 15 he was playing football for Hampshire and by 17 he was playing for Fareham Town. At 18 he joined the Royal Marines. Colin says he was lucky that they did the medical examination themselves, rather than relying on medical records or he would never have got in. He went from being the boy who couldn’t do sport to having one of the most physically challenging careers imaginable. And even since he left the Marines at 26 he has continued to put himself under increasingly tough physical challenges. “Without a doubt my motivation stems from my asthma,” says Colin. “When you can’t do something because of your health and they you get a chance to do it, it pushes you on to do it as much as you can. I don’t know if I’d thank the doctor who told me I couldn’t exercise but there are some things that stick in the back of your mind. When someone tells you that you can’t do something, you can either accept it or prove them wrong.” Colin still carries an asthma inhaler with him all the time and has had to use it occasionally, when he has had a cough or cold, which tend to go to his chest. But he has already passed the mandatory physical for the Marathon Des Sables – which begins on April 7 – which he admits he is doing purely for the challenge. “Why am I doing it? Because it’s there. It’s the toughest foot race in the world and I thought I might as well do it,” he says. He is also raising money for Asthma UK, and has raised all the money he needs to take part in the race himself. He is hoping to raise some £20,000 for the charity. Surprisingly, Colin admits that he doesn’t even particularly like running. “I’m not really into running. I don’t really like it. It’s bizarre,” he says, contemplating the 151 mile race he is about to embark on. “Running is pain and discomfort, especially when you’re carrying ten kilos. It’s the challenge I’m doing it for.” It seems that nothing is beyond the little boy who was told he couldn’t do sport “You pick something you don’t fully enjoy for the challenge.” * To sponsor Colin, visit virginmoneygiving.com/colinrule To contact Asthma UK, call 0800 1216244 or visit asthma.org.uk