Seven marathons in seven days – Newbury man Greg Watson runs to Lincoln for charity

Newbury resident Greg Watson completed a remarkable feat earlier this month, as he ran from Newbury to Lincoln for charity in just one week.

This huge effort involved running seven marathons in seven days, approximately 185 miles.

Watson described the obstacles and difficulties of such a vast undertaking, while paying tribute to the causes which he raised money for.

“The first charity was Alzheimer's Research UK”, he said.

“Sadly, I lost my grandad seven years ago… after going through that as a family, I just felt that I wanted to do as much as I could to help find a cure.”

Another chosen charity was Sophie’s Journey, which provides free holidays to children with cancer, based in Lincoln, the city of Watson’s birth.

“A friend of mine is an ambassador for them. I went to a function and heard the family’s story… I just felt compelled to get involved.

“I knew that whatever I was going to do next had to involve them.

Watson is no stranger to running vast distances, having embarked on a fitness journey following the pandemic which has seen him progress from half-marathons to 300 km in a month, to nine long distance races in as many weeks.

“Every challenge that I did, it always had to get bigger, and further!

“I come up with these crazy ideas. My partner just looks at me and shakes her head!”

Running such a distance in just seven days presents logistical challenges, as well as physical ones.

“It was purely solo”, Watson explained.

“I booked in hotels and I'd check in every evening, get up at six every morning and shoot off.

“I left Newbury with about 15 kilos of kit, but very quickly on the first day I realised that I couldn't run with it all on me, so I had to post it back home!

“That was the hardest day, a lot of bridle paths and fields.

“I had eight foot high nettles stinging me and the blisters really kicked in, so I switched to more road after that.

“But unfortunately for my feet, the damage was done!

“It was pain management. I think by day five, I kind of got comfortable with being uncomfortable.

“Days three or four were my slowest and hardest days. Five and six were just getting better, and by day seven, for the final little push, it was great.”

As Watson approached his destination and the end of his immense journey, the reality of his accomplishment began to set in.

“I didn't think it would affect me as much as it did, but I saw the Cathedral in the distance on day six and I got quite emotional.

“It certainly dawned what I'd done, how far I'd travelled. It was overwhelming!

“You're out there on your own, so most of the time it was the messages that you'd be reading… they would spur you on. Your main thought is always the charities.

“Even throughout the pain and the rain, the smile never went, but it couldn't have got any bigger on that last day.”

Watson’s initial donation target was two thousand pounds. This was smashed in no time, and now sits at over three thousand pounds, with well over a hundred people donating.

“I can't express enough gratitude”, he said.

“I honestly wish I could just hug everybody and thank you personally!

“The donations, the kind words… they carried me through. I couldn't have done it without them.

“For everyone to donate in times like this, when people are struggling, it’s phenomenal, it means so much.”

Watson’s donation page and further information about both charities can be found at gofundme.com/f/run-7-marathons-in-7-day