‘I’ve stopped worrying about my times. For me, it’s about enjoying and finishing races’

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Where have you run marathons, and which city is your favourite?

I’ve run marathons in London, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Cambridge, Richmond Park and Bournemouth, among other places. It’s a real privilege to be part of the London Marathon as it’s the best supported one, and the participants and supporters create a unique mood. For that one day of the year, people forget about their challenges to just focus on the running.

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What’s it like doing marathons in Israel?

The Israeli events tend to be like festivals. There are options to do 5k and 10k races, which is a great way of opening up the race to more people. The marathons are on Fridays, which means that – unlike when you have a marathon on a Sunday – you don’t have to worry about what you are going to eat on Shabbat. You can just run and eat afterwards.

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How do you cope with running such long distances?

I’ve stopped worrying about my times. It’s just about finishing the race. This has helped me enjoy it more, and the more I enjoy it, the more relaxed I am, and then the better I run.

Despite not worrying about your times, what was your fastest race?

My best time was in April 2022, when I took part in the Dorney Lake Marathon near Windsor, where my time was three hours and three minutes.

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How do you keep fit between marathons?

I fit running into my life rather than life around running. I run about four times a week and clock up between 30 and 35 miles. In 2019, I started a local running group called the WD6 Runners, which meets weekly. It’s a phenomenal group of people. There are about 500 members on Facebook, and around 20 of us meet for the weekly runs. It’s not about how fast you run, it’s about running together and seeing lovely countryside.

When I go away, I take the opportunity to do a long run, for example, when I was in Chicago and Budapest. Running is a great way to see a new city.

Damian Schogger and his son, Ilan[Missing Credit]

​Besides improving your physical fitness, what are the benefits of running?

During Covid, I realised how much running was benefiting my mental health, and since then, it has become a crucial part of keeping a good balance between my mental and physical wellbeing.

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How are you feeling about running in the Eilat Marathon?

Very excited! It will start and finish by the sea, but we will be running in the beautiful Eilat mountains.

What I am most excited about though, is that while I am running my 50th marathon, my 20-year-old son, Ilan, will be running his first marathon with me. We’ve been training together, and when he gets to the end of the race, that will be the greatest running achievement for me.

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Why did you decide to raise money for Shaare Zedek Hospital?

I visited the hospital in May 2024 and realised that it was a unique place, where staff and patients of all colours, creeds, religions and ages work collaboratively and can be treated without judgment or prejudice. It’s an example of peaceful coexistence in Jerusalem that should inspire us all. I’m hoping to raise £8,000, so the hospital can purchase a foetal monitor.

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To sponsor Damian for his 50^th marathon to mark his 50^th birthday and to learn more about Shaare Zedek Hospital, visit: justgiving.com/page/damian-schogger-eilat-desert-marathon-2025 or click here