Summary

  • Jamie Laing has completed his epic Ultra Marathon Man Challenge for Comic Relief

  • "I've never cried more in my life," Jamie says as he crosses the finish line, adding that the last kilometre was "euphoric"

  • So far Jamie has raised a massive £2,007,114 for Comic Relief

  • The Radio 1 presenter ran a total of 150 miles across five days

  • If you want to support Jamie, you can via bbc.co.uk/jamie

Media caption,
Watch the moment Jamie Laing completes his challenge
  1. And he's off!published at 08:30 GMT 17 March 2025

    Jamie has started his 150 mile journey, joined by wife Sophie - waving a giant green flag at the starting line - and a crowd of cheering supporters.

    Jamie Laing takes the first steps of his Ultra Marathon Man challenge
    Image caption,

    Jamie Laing takes the first steps of his Ultra Marathon Man challenge

    Jamie flanked by signs of support
  2. A word from Jamie's wife, Sophie Habboopublished at 08:18 GMT 17 March 2025

    Speaking to Radio 1's Charlie Hedges:

    "He's been so nervous. He just doesn't wanna let anyone down, but he's gonna be amazing."

    Sophie Habboo with Charlie Hedges
    Image caption,

    Sophie Habboo speaking to Charlie Hedges

  3. A mission statement from our challengerpublished at 08:14 GMT 17 March 2025

    Jamie Laing
    Radio 1's Ultra Marathon Man

    You’re going to see the good, the bad and the ugly with me this week. I’m not going to hide anything.

  4. What's it like to take on a challenge of this scale?published at 08:04 GMT 17 March 2025

    Radio 1 Breakfast's Greg James had some words of advice for Jamie before he set off.

    Back in 2018, Greg took on a big challenge for Sport Relief, scaling all of the UK's tallest mountains - and cycling between them in treacherous, snowy conditions!

    "My only advice is let the adventure happen to you," Greg tells Jamie. "You can’t predict how your body will feel, how your brain will feel. But there will be some magical moments. The challenges I’ve done are the best memories I’ve got. All good things are hard to do."

    Greg reveals the challenge felt so daunting, his wife Bella Mackie proposed to him the day before it started. "Bella was so scared for my challenge that she proposed the day before. So that was a nice thing to have in my head while I was doing it."

    "So Greg," Jamie replies, "are you going to propose… to me?"

    Greg James taking on his Pedal to the Peaks challenge in 2018Image source, BBC / Comic Relief
    Image caption,

    Greg James taking on his Pedal to the Peaks challenge in 2018

  5. Jamie's about to start his challengepublished at 07:57 GMT 17 March 2025

    How's he feeling?

    Before setting off on the first of five ultra marathons, Jamie Laing joined Greg James in the Radio 1 studio, and he's a bag of nerves.

    "It feels like the first day of school. I packed my bag, ate a banana and kissed my wife."

    Jamie's wife, Sophie Habboo, is here to see him start his challenge. "She’s more nervous than me. She can hardly talk."

    When Jamie said yes to the Ultra Marathon Man task, he hadn't run more than a 5k. "But you know what… I’ve run some 10ks. I’ve run a 25k. It was a bit sore! But you know what, I have no idea what this is going to feel like, because my body hasn’t done this before. That’s the scary part."

    Jamie Laing
  6. Heading out on a run or walk this morning?published at 07:45 GMT 17 March 2025

    Jamie's put together a special Pace Setter playlist of all his favourite tunes.

    These songs have soundtracked his training for the past few weeks, so they're probably whirring round his head as he takes on the UK's pavements.

    Listen below or via BBC Sounds, where you can also subscribe to future Pace Setter mixes.

  7. Five Ultra Marathons. Five days. One very optimistic presenter.published at 07:11 GMT 17 March 2025

    Join us here for live coverage

    Radio 1's Jamie Laing is attempting to run five Ultra Marathons in five days - between London and Salford - all to raise money for Red Nose Day.

    The challenge starts today (17 March), as our beloved presenter takes the first of many hundreds of thousands of steps. We're expecting him to start just after 8am.

    He tells us he hadn't run a 5k prior to training for this challenge. So it will be an almighty test of endurance and strong will. He'll need all the help of the Radio 1 listeners to get him to the finish line.

    Click the player at the top of this page to listen live, or follow this page for every update as we track his progress.

    Jamie Laing training for his Ultra Marathon Man challenge for Red Nose DayImage source, BBC / Comic Relief
    Image caption,

    Jamie Laing training for his Ultra Marathon Man challenge for Red Nose Day