Chris Fordham, a 42-year-old airline pilot from the Forest of Dean, is preparing to run an extraordinary seven marathons in seven consecutive days this April. Starting from his home in Lydney on April 20th, he will cover approximately 157 miles on foot, making his way to London, where he will conclude his challenge by running the London Marathon on April 26th.
Motivated by the tragic loss of a friend to suicide, Chris has dedicated his Long Run for Mental Health to raise money for the Samaritans charity. He has set up a JustGiving page that has already garnered nearly £3,800, with donor support fueling his determination as he trains for the grueling task ahead.
Reflecting on his previous experience, Chris described his first London Marathon in 2017 as both the hardest and most rewarding experience of his life. Although he feels daunted by the scale of this new challenge, he is excited and confident in his ability to push his limits.
“I am really excited,” Chris shared. “What’s driven me on is what happened to my friend, and seeing the donations come in has been incredibly motivating. So many people are backing me, and their generosity inspires me every day.”
Chris explained how he conceptualized this challenge: “I wanted to push beyond what I’d done before. At first, I thought about doing three marathons, then seven over seven weekends, but with my job, that wasn’t feasible. So, I booked a week off work and decided to do all seven marathons back-to-back.”
His previous marathon time is impressive—finishing the London Marathon in 3 hours and 53 minutes. However, this time his goal is not about speed but endurance and injury prevention. “Survival is my main goal,” Chris said. “The priority is staying injury-free and completing the whole challenge. It’s 99% mental—your body wants to go on, but your mind will tell you to stop. I’m pushing myself to test my limits.”
Training for such a monumental physical and mental challenge, Chris feels fitter than ever and ready to take on the week ahead.