Radio host shares extreme foot swelling after 5-day ultramarathon challenge
Jamie Laing raised more than C$3.7 million running five consecutive ultramarathons, but his feet are paying the price
Photo by:
Andrew Fosker (Seconds Left Images)/Flickr
On Monday, just days after he completed his five-day, 150-mile (241-km) “Ultra Marathon Man” challenge, British BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing shared a shocking photo to Instagram. His feet, swollen beyond belief, resembled sausages–or, as he put it, Hobbit feet. “No one warned me that this would happen…” he wrote in his caption. “Why have I woken up with feet like a Hobbit? I apologize if you hate feet–and if you like these feet, I also apologize.”
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“People told me that my ultramarathon run was going to be hard,” he said on TikTok. “They told me about my nutrition, they told me about the pain on my body–nobody told me it would do this to my feet.”
Before the challenge, Laing admitted he had never run more than 5 km at one time. Yet, over the course of five days, he ran from London to Salford, U.K., covering nearly 50 km each day. As expected, it was a gruelling challenge–Laing battled chafing, bruised toenails, knee pain and overheating. At times, he even ran backward to ease the strain, breaking up the effort with physiotherapy sessions.
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Laing completed the challenge last Friday–with a sea of supporters and fans cheering him on down the final stretch. In the end, the 36-year-old raised more than $3.7 million for the British anti-poverty charity Comic Relief.
“You are stronger than you know, braver than you think and you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it,” Laing said. “Make it your aim to be vulnerable, because it’s cool!”
@jamielaing Right here goes, this will be a long one & where to begin is almost impossible. I’m going to start with the Team behind it all, @BBC Radio 1 @Comic Relief everyone. You have no idea the organisation, the balance of moments the catering, physio, logistics, mapping, planning, socials, everything that goes into something like this. It’s completely mind blowing – and there was not one slip up, not one moment that wasn’t completely seamless. That shows true leadership and true team work. Every single person was passionate, excited and drove me forward each day so thank you to everyone!!! To my BBC Radio 1 family – wow you guys brought me in with open arms and accepted me from day 1. Words cannot express how grateful I am for you!! Truly 🤍 To my @candykittens & @JamPot Productions team for the constant support. To my incredible family – You guys are my complete heart. You always support, always cheer me on, always are there by my side and never EVER let me down. I feel luckier each day to have you. To my friends who are with me every step of the way in life. That’s true friendship… They pick me up when I’m down and make sure that I’m always centred. I love you guys – I don’t know how I got so lucky with you!! To the listeners of Radio 1, to the crowds who cheered me on and to every single person who donated anything. WOW!! You guys are the real hero’s! We raised over 2 Million Pounds to save lives – all down to you!! Thank you, thank you!!! And finally to my Wife Sophie @Sophie Habboo ♬ original sound – jamie
“This will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he added.
Laing is the host of the Newlyweds Podcast and the Great Company podcast, and is a former star of reality show Made in Chelsea.
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