Good Weird Running: How one tractor boy is running to transform Suffolk lives

The Foundation:

Ipswich Town Foundation is a homegrown charity dedicated to the people of Ipswich and Suffolk borders, who need it most.

The foundation hosts hundreds of events for children and vulnerable adults throughout the year (29 sessions a week!), including skills-based workshops that improve opportunities, health, and wellbeing, while promoting inclusion and building lifelong relationships that shape lives.  

The Big Idea:

I met with lifelong Ipswich Town fan Callum, also known as Good Weird Running, to his growing social media following, to discuss the big idea and the joy of getting outside.  

“I like to run; I have run to four different Ipswitches in the world: one in Australia near Brisbane, and two near Boston- Ipswich in Massachusetts, and New Ipswich in New Hampshire.”

Callum worked in recruitment for many years in both London and Boston, but his passions had always been simpler: finding the joy in making people laugh and embracing unconventional ways to build connection. And of course, Ipswich Town. 

“I was in Boston, working on the 19th floor, making phone calls to people who didn’t want to talk to me. I got the idea the last time Ipswich got promoted and thought I could quit my job and run to every game. 

“I obviously didn’t do that then, and was a bit gutted… but when Ipswich got promoted again, I was like, yes, I am going to do it. 

“I have seen quite a lot of the world, but I haven’t seen a lot of England, so I am seeing a lot of the countryside, which is really nice. A lot of A roads, but I try to avoid them if I can.”

The Distance:

Callum set out on his first run in late August from Portman Road up to Old Trafford for the Manchester United game. He has since run to Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and back up to Manchester to the Etihad Stadium for the latest Ipswich Town away game against Manchester City. 

“From Portman Road to each stadium, I think it was 2,898 miles total, but that's running direct. I do take detours, and taken a wrong turn twice. I reckon I will do 3,200 miles altogether.”  

Callum’s next run will take him to Hull’s MKM Stadium over Halloween weekend, about 162 miles by car, followed by a shorter, but equally outrageous run to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, covering 79.7 miles.

Community and the generosity of strangers:

Before leaving his job in Boston, Callum was saving money to travel across Southeast Asia, but once the dream of Premier League football became reality again, he knew what he had to do. 

After quitting his job and moving back to his roots, Callum began planning his fundraiser and traded the hot-shot life of a recruiter for his trainers and the English countryside. He initially planned to put his savings towards accommodation across the miles and miles he is due to run, but the enormous generosity of Ipswich Town fans knows no bounds. 

“I don't have expensive taste, so I'm [was] just using the money I have saved. And just the generosity of strangers. I think once people found out I was using my savings, they were like Oh no, I didn't know you were doing that!

“I have a little spreadsheet of all the people who have messaged me, like, 'Hey, I live in this random town in Cambridgeshire; I don’t know if it is en route, but you are welcome.’

“When I message them, straight away they are like, yes, come stay; don’t buy anything, like food; they will cook me dinner."

“People have been giving me lifts back from the games, which saves so much on train tickets. My first run to Manchester United cost me £290, and the one I just did was £99.”

Callum feels strongly about community and access to support for people of any age. The Ipswich Town Foundation's daily work puts community and kindness at the forefront of their practice, which genuinely resonates with lots of people; being from a smaller town, connection and collaboration are essential.

It is this shared belief that no one in our towns should ever have to face life's challenges in isolation that inspired Callum to lace up his trainers. 

“There are so many people in the world; no one should be lonely, especially old people. They have so many stories to tell, and I hate the thought of them being at home alone, so the Ipswich Foundation does a lot to help with that, and with kids too.”

"I will do the running if people can click the buttons and follow the links."

“People are just so nice, Blue Army!"

Meeting people along the way: 

"I met this guy on Wednesday; I was just running past, and he said something. I laughed and ran off, and then thought, hang on, he was saying something to me, so I went back and said 'Did you say something?'

"He said, in a proper Nottingham accent, 'Where are you running to? ' I told him where, and he said, 'That's thirty miles away.' I said 'What about you? Where are you going?'

He said "I am just going down there and then I am going to walk right back. I am 85 and do this five times a day to help with my arthritis.

"He was a funny guy; I chatted with him for 20 minutes."

The Goal:

“I have set the goal at 19 thousand pounds as there are 19 games; I do really want to smash it. We are at 6 grand so far. I am hoping that when I get to the cold December and January games, people will feel a bit more sorry for me."

In all sincerity, the December and January games will be the toughest on the road yet, and despite Callum's boundless optimism and naturally easygoing nature, the biting winter weather could take a heavy toll. That is exactly why backing from the Suffolk home crowd will be so vital.

Community isn’t just a concept, and as an Ipswich native, I can attest to it as a lifeline. With particular respect for the work the Ipswich Town Foundation does for the wider community, and having grown up surrounded by that tight-knit spirit, we understand that when one person takes on something as massive as this, the whole town lifts them up.

That same sense of togetherness inspired this journey from the start; the community element has anchored the fundraising and will continue to do so throughout.

The already warm reception from Ipswich Town fans and beyond is a true testament not only to a good weird idea, but to the close-knit spirit and joy of small-town community.

"Please send me funny messages; I don’t just run for my own sanity. I do like when people laugh at my videos, and it really keeps me going. 

 "The foundation has been great; they gave me the New Ipswich Town shirt, and they promote it as much as they can. 

You can follow Callum on social media @goodweirdrunning and you can donate below

"I just love laughter and people being happy, so if I can do that, that's cool, and if I can get just one person to do a 5k, then I will be happy. And for Ipswich to stay up, of course."