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Ex-gamer completes 79 ultramarathons in 79 days

Katy Prickettand
Richard Knights,in Frinton-on-Sea
News imageRichard Knights/BBC A close-up of Penny and her son Sam King, who has his right arm around her, outside with a brick-built church behind them and she is kissing his cheek. She is wearing a fur trimmed hat, dark glasses and a yellow puffer jacket with a blue and white scarf and has long fair hair. He is wearing a bright yellow beanie hat and a black windcheater with white dots. Richard Knights/BBC
Sam King was inspired to do the challenge after his mother suffered a near-fatal bleed to the brain

A former gamer said he felt "on top of the world" after completing 79 ultramarathons in as many days.

Sam King, 32, took up the challenge in September as a fundraiser for the Headway charity after his mother's near-fatal bleed on the brain.

Mum Penny was at the finish line at his hometown of Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, alongside friends and family, which he said was "absolutely amazing".

"I haven't allowed myself to think past each day and I haven't allowed myself to think to the finish, but what just occurred, in front of everyone there, was one of the best things I've ever experienced in my life."

News imageJessica Moore Photography Sam King at the finishing line for the last of 79 ultra marathons. He is holding on to a banner saying 79 ultramarathons in 79 days for my mum and Headway. On either side are crowds of men, women and children and others have gathered behind him. Jessica Moore Photography
The experienced endurance runner believes he has beaten the world record for the most ultramarathons completed on consecutive days by a man

Mr King - who was once the highest-ranked player in the world for video game Call of Duty - weighed about 19 stone (121kg) eight years ago.

He ditched his desk-based hobby to take up running and soon became obsessed with extreme endurance tests, which included ultramarathons near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

But his mother suffered a life-altering bleed on the brain earlier this year.

He quit his job in London and moved back to Essex, and has since run 31 miles (50km) on each of the last 79 days.

Mr King initially planned to limit himself to 74 marathons, one for every year of his mum's life before she fell ill, but rounded it up "to finish on a Sunday, outside my mum's church".

"The first couple of weeks I was also really ill and really injured as my body adapted to what I was doing, so that was tough... but I have loved it, it's been an incredible adventure."

Most of the challenge has been completed in Frinton and he said he had raised more than £60,000 of his £74,000 target.

News imageJessica Moore Photography Sam King's mother, pictured side-on, is looking to the right of the frame sitting amongst a crowd of people. She has her hand over her mouth. She has glasses and thick winter clothing on, including a fur hat.Jessica Moore Photography
Mr King's mother Penny got to watch her son finish outside her church in Frinton-on-Sea

The hospital had told the family his mother was unlikely to survive the brain injury, but despite now not being able to walk by herself, Mr King said she was doing "really well".

Mr King praised Headway for its amazing support throughout the year.

Guinness World Records says Col Krishnan Badhwar has run 60 consecutive ultramarathons - the most of any man - and Mr King has already applied to have his feat recognised.

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