The Journey of Sue Bailey’s son through four marathons”
In a world where the pace of life can be overwhelming, it’s truly inspiring to witness someone dedicate themselves to the demanding sport of long-distance running. This blog is about the journey of Ian Bailey, who is the son of Porter Garland’s Payroll manager Sue Bailey.
Ian will be completing his fourth marathon in the last two years this coming weekend (15th October), achieving extremely impressive times along the way, particular for a non-professional runner. His latest marathon is in Amsterdam on 15th October, when he hopes for another personal best to complete the continuing upward curve of PBs.
Prior to Amsterdam, he competed in Manchester in October 2021 with a time of 2hr 36 minutes, London in October 2022 (2hr 30) and most recently in London April 2023 with an amazing finish time of 2hr 26 minutes.
Ian, 30, has always had a passion for running in his spare time, achieving results that sets him apart from his peers.
Dedication and Training:
To succeed as a marathon runner, dedication and rigorous training are essential. Ian’s journey into the world of marathons began at the age of 11 when he started running for Aldershot, Farnham and District. He is still a member there now and trains with them twice a week but has to fit most of his training around his working hours – he is certainly dedicated to his sport, covering around 80 miles per week via a mixture of solo runs and running as part of the group.
Ian’s credentials are impressive – he was the National Junior Men’s Cross Country champion in 2013 at 20, and has represented GB at the World Cross Country Championships in Spain in 2011 and the 2012 European Cross Country Championships, where he finished 18th and won a bronze medal in the team competition.
Encouragement from Parents:
Sue has provided Ian with constant encouragement providing rock solid support throughout his journey and remains extremely proud of her son’s achievements.
Best of luck Ian with your Marathon in Amsterdam!