Personal Trainer Concludes European Marathon Challenge, Running 30 Marathons in 30 Days

Mike Humphreys, a 33-year-old personal trainer, completed a demanding challenge of running 30 marathons across Europe in 30 days, a feat he characterized as a “rollercoaster.” His objective was to raise awareness for motor neurone disease (MND). Mr. Humphreys concluded his final race on Saturday in Hull, having covered a cumulative distance of 1,287km (800 miles) since commencing his journey on 4 October in Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Humphreys undertook this extensive endeavor following the death of his friend Carl Giblin from the condition in 2013, and concurrently, while supporting another friend, Craig Eskrett, who received a diagnosis in 2023. Mr. Humphreys stated: “Some of the days I really struggled emotionally and physically. When I was in those dark places I just felt like Carl was looking down on me. It’s got me to the finish line.” He further remarked: “It’s been a rollercoaster for the last 30 days.” Hailing from Hedon in East Yorkshire, Mr. Humphreys has successfully collected over £22,000 for charity, surpassing his initial £10,000 goal just days after the challenge began. He explained that the consecutive marathons commenced with difficulties, as he ran alone and without a support team for the initial 10 days. Nevertheless, assistance materialized later, notably from a school friend residing in Slovenia who offered accommodation for a night. He recounted: “If I had a support team I’d have been able to get dropped off and start the marathon, but because I was on my own three hours later I was still not starting the marathon, so everything got delayed and some nights I ended up running well up to midnight.” He mentioned experiencing challenging days when “my legs couldn’t take it but I just remembered the cause and running for my friend Craig”. Notable positive experiences included the encouragement from supporters along the route, such as a first-time marathon participant in Germany who has “become a friend for life”. Mr. Humphreys expressed feeling overwhelmed by the extensive support from individuals who cheered him on as he concluded his final marathon at the MKM Stadium, preceding a Hull City game. “It was unreal,” he commented. He added: “I think there was over 80 people running the last five kilometres (3.1 miles) with us – I had people from Middlesbrough, Cambridge, South Shields, Birmingham and they travelled hours to come and join the last run, which was just really overwhelming and it was really special.” He noted that the concluding marathon was further enhanced by a victory lap, succeeded by a match ball presentation, “which was amazing”. Information regarding highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire can be accessed on BBC Sounds, with the latest episode of Look North also available, and opportunities provided for submitting potential story coverage. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details regarding their approach to external linking are also provided.