An Essex runner has completed a record-breaking 79 ultramarathons in just 79 days as part of a fundraiser following his mother’s struggle with a bleed on the brain.
Sam King, 32, from Frinton-on-Sea, finished his mega-run fundraiser outside the Free Church on Connaught Avenue in the seaside town earlier today.
He initially aimed to run 74 ultramarathons in as many days, later deciding to up the feat to 79 as part of a fundraiser for Headway UK.
Mr King has already raised more than £50,000 for the brain injury charity, with a £74,000 target set to mark the age his mother suffered from her brain bleed.
Speaking to GB News after finishing the final leg of his ultramarathon, the 32-year-old said: “I thought I was going to lose my mum on January 29 this year.
“We were told that she wouldn’t make it. And to be honest, before I did anything, she was very proud of me and I know that I had to be more proud of me.
“But I’m also proud of her because she’s managed to overcome everything she has this year. She inspired this challenge.”
Explaining why he increased the number of ultramarathons from 74 to 79, the 32-year-old added: “I realised I miscalculated. So, the 74th would have been on a Tuesday and I really wanted to finish outside the church comes out on a Sunday and because more people could come down on the weekend.”
Sam King, 32, from Frinton-on-Sea, finished his mega-run fundraiser outside the Free Church on Connaught Avenue in the seaside town earlier today
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GB NEWS
Mr King, who was met by his mother outside the Free Church, also detailed how he started his running journey after putting on a considerable amount of weight while struggling with a gaming addiction.
He ballooned to 19 stone during the gaming addiction when he was registered as the number one Call of Duty player in the world.
“I realised quite early on when I was a gamer that I had an addictive personality and I was number one in the world on Call of Duty, and I was really overweight from doing that,” he said.
“And when I came out of that phase, I knew I needed to be healthier. And that’s exactly what I’ve done. I found running.”
Clacton MP Nigel Farage was also in attendance as Mr King arrived at the Free Church.
The pair hugged and exchanged some kind words before Mr Farage spoke to GB News about Mr King’s “absolutely phenomenal” achievement.
He said: “I hope GB News viewers will be generous to Headway, the charity, because something like this, I think, thoroughly deserves support.”
Mr Farage added: “It isn’t just about physical fitness, it’s about mental forbearance, endurance.
Nigel Farage has issued a heartfelt plea to GB News viewers after one of his constituents completed a 79-part ultramarathon | GB NEWS
“To have done this, I understand early on he had a couple of injuries, he was sick one day, just kept going, and talking to the other runners had to be with him, they say, you know, after the first 25 miles, when they’re all tired, he just steams ahead of everybody.”
Mr King started his ultramarathon journey on September 27, vowing: “Every mile I run is for my mum.”
The world record for consecutive ultramarathons currently stands at 60 in as many days.
Mr King might still snatch the crown but his attempt is yet to be verified.
Sam King spoke to GB News after arriving at the Free Church | GB NEWS
He said he had already applied to Guinness World Records to contest the previous record set by Colonel Krishnan Badhwar in India in January 2023.
The 32-year-old has been running 50 kilometres every day, which is around the same distance as running from Wembley Stadium to Gatwick Airport.
Ex-England rugby league star Kevin Sinfield has been embarking on a similar fundraiser, running seven ultramarathons in seven days to raise money for research into motor neurone disease.
To find out more about Sam King’s Project 74 fundraiser, click here.