From Zero to Hero: The Unlikely Journey of Running 100 Marathons in 100 Days

The worn-out soles of Hannah Cox’s running shoes bear witness to an extraordinary feat. Scuffed by dust and patched with fragments of car tires, these trainers have traversed far more than a single marathon distance. While most marathon runners collapse in pain the day after completing 26.2 miles, often swearing off the sport forever, Cox faced the prospect of repeating that distance 99 more times. She had to run 100 consecutive marathons across India. The most startling aspect of this endeavor? Just 18 months prior, she had never run at all.

This grueling odyssey is etched into the very fabric of her footwear. For years, Cox harbored a specific ambition: to traverse a 4,200km route established by the British during their 19th-century rule in India. This path was historically significant as the boundary for a controversial salt tax and the Great Hedge of India. However, she had yet to determine how to cover the distance. The catalyst for action arrived in the summer of 2024, when a friend asked if she was "still obsessed with that hedge." Instead of just planning a trip, she found herself encouraged to run it.

The suggestion planted a seed. Cox joined a Manchester running club, starting with 30-minute sessions three times a week. Her fitness quickly evolved from 5Ks to 10Ks, and she began training for consecutive running days, a necessity for her Indian expedition. To test her limits, she tackled challenges such as "20 20 20"—running 20km daily for 20 days—and completed seven marathons in seven days across the UK. These achievements convinced her that "Project Salt Run" was viable. She gathered a support crew, secured a van, and set a fundraising goal of £1 million for environmental charities.

Despite her physical and logistical preparation, Cox was unprepared for the chaotic reality of Indian roads and the severe illness that would plague her. "Everyone tried to put me off at first - people just didn't believe I would actually do it," she recalled.

On October 26 of last year, Cox began her journey at the Attari-Wagah border, marking the boundary between Pakistan and India. Her destination was Kolkata, located just miles from where her father, Deric, was born. Her route faithfully followed the historical path, resulting in a mix of experiences. Some days involved tedious 42km stretches along highways that were "boring as hell," while others offered scenic routes through nature reserves, canals, and agricultural fields.

The journey was fraught with danger. Traffic often included cows, snakes, and goats sharing the road, with drivers frequently violating traffic laws by driving on the wrong side of highways. The chaos led to a collision with a motorbike, leaving Cox with a scar on her right leg. In certain areas notorious for fatal tiger attacks, she even required police escorts for protection. The environmental conditions were relentless; despite spending two weeks in a heat chamber to acclimatize, the heat, dust, and smog proved overwhelming.

Physical deterioration was significant, with Cox losing over 10kg due to sickness. One particularly harrowing episode occurred during a surreal encounter with Richard Branson at the Taj Mahal on day 24. Branson was hosting a charity cycling event. The previous evening, he had invited Cox to dinner at an upscale hotel.

"I had one sniff of an Old Fashioned cocktail and I was like: 'oh my god, I'm going to be sick'," Cox recounted. She rushed to the hotel's restrooms, where she vomited extensively. The following day, she faced the daunting task of running a marathon while ill. Five participants from Branson’s charity event joined her for the run. "I was sick all day that day by the side of the road but I just knew I had to finish," she said.

Before each day's main effort, Cox would rise early to accumulate additional miles.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-04-27 05:43:32 UTC