Coronavirus lockdown: Former athlete running marathon in seven-metre garden to raise money for NHS

A former athlete is attempting to run a “stupid” marathon within the confines of his 7m-long back garden in an effort to raise thousands for the NHS.

James Campbell will have to cover 7,000 lengths of the garden to complete the 26.2 miles, and expects it to take around seven hours as he undertakes the challenge on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old former professional javelin thrower, who lives in Cheltenham, said he was going “a little bit crazy” during lockdown.

“I’m guessing I won’t be able to build any speed up and I’ve got to contend with a patio, stones and grass,” he said. “I am going to measure out a couple of lines of 6m as the actual length of the garden is just over 7m”.

He described the marathon as “literally the most stupid thing I could think of to do” but is determined to complete it, aiming to raise £10,000 in the process. “I will plod up and down for as long as it takes,” he added.