Thompson to run 44 marathons across 44 countries in 44 days – Virgin Money London Marathon 2017

Planes, trains, automobiles and lots of running lie in wait for Peter Thompson who this weekend begins an attempt to run 44 marathons across 44 European countries in 44 consecutive days.

The 31-year-old begins his ambitious plan in St Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday [1 April] and by the time he stands on the Start Line of the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 23 April he will be just over half way there.

He will return to the continent to do another 26.2 miles in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 24 before completing his European adventure in Dublin on May 14.

"I'm feeling a mixture of things at the moment," said Thompson, who is raising money for two mental health charities: Mind and Livability Holton Lee. "I'm a bit scared in terms of what is to come. I'm nervous, but most of all I am massively excited.

"This has been six months in the planning and in some ways it is a relief all that planning is over and I can start running."

And there really has been a lot of planning.

The logistics of working out a route which would enable Thompson to visit every one of the recognised 44 European countries was anything but simple.

"I went back to the drawing board a couple of times before eventually getting a final route," said Thompson, who lives in Bournemouth. "I wanted to include the Virgin Money London Marathon because that was such an important part of my running. That's where it all started for me and I caught the running bug when I did my first London Marathon in 2009.

"Originally the plan was to make the London Marathon the last one but that would have meant starting the challenge earlier and the weather in some of the countries would just have been too bad.

"So now the London Marathon is going to be just over half way and it's going to be really special. I will be running alongside my older brother Andrew and all my family will be there. I have run the London Marathon five or six times before and it will always be my favourite but I will never have done one like this."

Thompson's incredible route involves 1,152.8 miles of running, 21 train rides, 12 flights, five bus trips, five car journeys and even a ferry crossing.

The Virgin Money London Marathon is one of only two organised mass-participation marathons in Thompson's list of 44 runs with the other being the Rimini Marathon in Italy. The other 42 marathons will all be on routes carefully mapped out to keep him close to quick get-away points such as airports, train stations and ferry terminals.

Thompson will not entirely be alone during his runs though as he has found support from running groups across Europe.

"It's been incredible the support I have had both at home and from abroad," he said. "Running groups across Europe have said they will run with me on sections, or pick me up from stations or airports and, in some cases, offered me somewhere to stay.

"And back home it really has been a collective effort. So many people have helped to make this possible and I couldn't have done it without them."

Thompson is well aware that there are many variables that could throw his meticulous planning up into the air – but he says he is determined to find a way to complete the challenge.

He said: "There are things that I can't control. I know that mentally, so long as my body allows me to, I will finish it because I am that kind of stubborn individual.

"But there is the fear of picking up an injury along the way and then there is the potential of a flight being cancelled or a train delay. Where possible I have worked out a Plan B but on some transfers that is impossible. For instance, the final leg is between Reykjavik in Iceland and Dublin which you can only do by air, so I've just got to hope the flights are OK."

Thompson's fuel to complete the challenge is to raise money for mental health charities. This year's Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year is Heads Together and its emphasis is on raising awareness of mental health. Mind is one of eight charity partners of Heads Together and Thompson is delighted the campaign is shining the spotlight on an area that is often ignored.

"It scares me that the biggest killer among people my age is suicide," he said. "Mind focuses on getting people who are suffering to talk to someone. Whether that's talking to friends, family or work colleagues. It's about starting a conversation.

"It is amazing that Heads Together is the Charity of the Year and the objective is to raise awareness of mental health. I don't think that would have happened 10 years ago, but there is still a long way still to go.

"For me, the money I raise from this challenge won't be the most important thing. The most important thing will be if I can inspire people to have conversations about mental health or if I get people to start running because running is a great way to improve your mental health. That's what matters to me."

To donate to Thompson's cause and to follow his progress, visit www.marathonsforthemind.com or follow him on Twitter @Peter26point2

Source: Virgin Money London Marathon