Dartmoor over-60 runner completes 200 marathons in 200 days around British coastline

A 66-year-old runner from Dartmoor has completed an extraordinary challenge, having run 200 marathons in 200 days around the entire coastline of mainland Britain.

Steve James, a retired banker who lives and trains on Dartmoor, set out from Topsham on 16 April and returned there seven months later on Saturday (November 1), covering 5,240 miles on foot in the meantime. 

Steve celebrated his 66th birthday on the final leg of the journey, ending the feat where it began on the banks of the River Exe.

The record for running the British coastline is held by Nick Butter, who did it in 128 days at the age of 31, and whilst Steve may not have beaten the record, he is believed to be the first over the age of 60 to complete it.

“It’s been months of pushing my body to its limits,” he said. “I’m proud, I’m exhausted, and I can’t quite believe I’ve done it.

“When I started this challenge, I just wanted to see if I could do it, to think I’ve run all the way around Britain at 66… even my knees can’t believe it. 

“There were plenty of days I thought, ‘What on earth am I doing?’ But it’s shown me that you’re never too old to take on something huge. You’ve just got to start and keep going.”

Throughout his challenge, Steve was monitored by researchers at the University of Exeter, who studied the effects of such extreme endurance on his body.

ABOVE: Steve enjoying a well-earned pint after his epic challenge (Credit: University of Exeter)

Dr Freyja Haigh, a nutritional physiology researcher at Exeter, said regular blood samples showed no sign of harm to Steve’s health.

“We’ve seen no detriment to overall health,” she said. “His body measurement changes suggest his weight loss was due to fat rather than muscle, which is a positive result after such a long time in an energy deficit. 

“It will be interesting to see how much muscle he’s maintained when he comes back for post-challenge tests.”

Dr Haigh added: “Given his age, even Steve wasn’t sure he could do it, but he’s worked incredibly hard. It’s been a privilege to study his effort, it gives us valuable insight into how the body copes with extreme endurance.”

Throughout his life, Steve has loved physical challenges, building from taking part in Ten Tors while at school, to cycling around the world in 220 days in 2019. 

During the coast run he faced harsh weather, closed paths, blisters, and even a gout flare-up that sent him to A&E. 

He went through seven pairs of trainers and climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest ten times.

“I haven’t had a day off in seven months,” Steve said. “I’m quite looking forward to a lie-in”.

Steve shared his progress updates on Facebook and Instagram under the name Banker on the Run, whilst raising funds for Cancer Research UK and Devon and Exeter Scouts, where he has currently raised over £14,000.