To the cheering of taxi drivers and the honking of horns, the comedian and actor Eddie Izzard ran into London yesterday to complete his 43rd marathon in 52 days.
To
the
cheering
of
taxi
drivers
and
the
honking
of
horns
,
the
comedian
and
actor
Eddie
Izzard
ran
into
London
yesterday
to
complete
his
43rd
marathon
in
52
days
.
In total he had covered 1,100 miles.
In
total
he
had
covered
1,100
miles
.
His 43 marathons were in aid of the charity Sports Relief, which raises money for the poor all over the world.
His
43
marathons
were
in
aid
of
the
charity
Sports
Relief
,
which
raises
money
for
the
poor
all
over
the
world
.
So far Izzard has raised more than £200,000.
So
far
Izzard
has
raised
more
than
£200,000
.
Fighting blisters that have caused the nails on his smaller toes to fall off, he ran up The Mall and into Trafalgar Square, where he had started 7.5 weeks ago.
Fighting
blisters
that
have
caused
the
nails
on
his
smaller
toes
to
fall
off
,
he
ran
up
The
Mall
and
into
Trafalgar
Square
,
where
he
had
started
7.5
weeks
ago
.
In finishing he proved what many thought was an impossible task: that a 47-year-old comedian with no sporting experience could do something a top athlete might find difficult.
In
finishing
he
proved
what
many
thought
was
an
impossible
task
:
that
a
47-year-old
comedian
with
no
sporting
experience
could
do
something
a
top
athlete
might
find
difficult
.
After only six weeks' training he started out on a journey that would take him to every corner of the British Isles.
After
only
six
weeks
'
training
he
started
out
on
a
journey
that
would
take
him
to
every
corner
of
the
British
Isles
.
"The first three weeks were the hardest," he said.
``
The
first
three
weeks
were
the
hardest
,
''
he
said
.
The non-stop pressure on his body made him unable to sleep at night and he would wake exhausted with "blisters on top of blisters".
The
non-stop
pressure
on
his
body
made
him
unable
to
sleep
at
night
and
he
would
wake
exhausted
with
``
blisters
on
top
of
blisters
''
.
But the people he met along the way cheered him up.
But
the
people
he
met
along
the
way
cheered
him
up
.
"People stopped their cars and cheered.
``
People
stopped
their
cars
and
cheered
.
They gave me money and food."
They
gave
me
money
and
food
.
''
More than 500,000 people "followed" the comedian, in a different sense, on Twitter.
More
than
500,000
people
``
followed
''
the
comedian
,
in
a
different
sense
,
on
Twitter
.
Running into London he looked lean and muscular.
Running
into
London
he
looked
lean
and
muscular
.
"Everyone says my legs look very good but I thought they looked quite good beforehand," he said.
``
Everyone
says
my
legs
look
very
good
but
I
thought
they
looked
quite
good
beforehand
,
''
he
said
.
Simon Blease, 51, a sports doctor and mountain runner who has been following his progress, was waiting on Tower Bridge.
Simon
Blease
,
51
,
a
sports
doctor
and
mountain
runner
who
has
been
following
his
progress
,
was
waiting
on
Tower
Bridge
.
"I didn't think he could do it," he said.
``
I
did
n't
think
he
could
do
it
,
''
he
said
.
"Like a lot of people I thought he would have a good try, but his body would break down.
``
Like
a
lot
of
people
I
thought
he
would
have
a
good
try
,
but
his
body
would
break
down
.
Someone with so little training, I find it extraordinary that he has done it."
Someone
with
so
little
training
,
I
find
it
extraordinary
that
he
has
done
it
.
''
Asked what he had gained, Izzard said: "I know now I can do that.
Asked
what
he
had
gained
,
Izzard
said
:
``
I
know
now
I
can
do
that
.
Sport is one of those words that stopped being part of my life when I was about 14.
Sport
is
one
of
those
words
that
stopped
being
part
of
my
life
when
I
was
about
14
.
Sporting success was not something I ever associated myself with."
Sporting
success
was
not
something
I
ever
associated
myself
with
.
''
He now plans to continue jogging and hopes to inspire others into sport.
He
now
plans
to
continue
jogging
and
hopes
to
inspire
others
into
sport
.
To the cheering of taxi drivers and the honking of horns, the comedian and actor Eddie Izzard ran into London yesterday to complete his 43rd marathon in 52 days. In total he had covered 1,100 miles. His 43 marathons were in aid of the charity Sports Relief, which raises money for the poor all over the world. So far Izzard has raised more than £200,000.  Fighting blisters that have caused the nails on his smaller toes to fall off, he ran up The Mall and into Trafalgar Square, where he had started 7.5 weeks ago. In finishing he proved what many thought was an impossible task: that a 47-year-old comedian with no sporting experience could do something a top athlete might find difficult.  After only six weeks' training he started out on a journey that would take him to every corner of the British Isles. "The first three weeks were the hardest," he said. The non-stop pressure on his body made him unable to sleep at night and he would wake exhausted with "blisters on top of blisters".  But the people he met along the way cheered him up. "People stopped their cars and cheered. They gave me money and food." More than 500,000 people "followed" the comedian, in a different sense, on Twitter. Running into London he looked lean and muscular. "Everyone says my legs look very good but I thought they looked quite good beforehand," he said.  Simon Blease, 51, a sports doctor and mountain runner who has been following his progress, was waiting on Tower Bridge. "I didn't think he could do it," he said. "Like a lot of people I thought he would have a good try, but his body would break down. Someone with so little training, I find it extraordinary that he has done it."  Asked what he had gained, Izzard said: "I know now I can do that. Sport is one of those words that stopped being part of my life when I was about 14. Sporting success was not something I ever associated myself with." He now plans to continue jogging and hopes to inspire others into sport.