Jamie Laing's Red Nose Day ultra marathon challenge so far
Former Made In Chelsea star Laing is better known for his more lighthearted turns on reality TV, including an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, and his work as a BBC Radio 1 presenter but now he's set to follow in the footsteps of friend Spencer Matthews by taking on ultra marathons.
Keep up to date with what Laing's challenge involves, where the route has taken him and how he's getting on as the week progresses.
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The TV star and sweet company owner is set to make good use of his Candy Kittens range this week as he'll need an energy boost or two in taking on an Ultra Marathon Man challenge for Comic Relief.
Like many a brave celebrity before him, Laing is looking to raise money for good causes by stepping far outside of his comfort zone in the physical endurance feat that will see him run 30 miles a day for five days straight. He's admitted to never having run more than 5km in one go before beginning training.
Beginning his challenge on Monday, 17 March, Laing set out from London and will hopefully arrive in Salford on Friday, 21 March — Red Nose Day — after completing his five ultra marathons, totalling 150 miles.
Laing told the PA news agency: "I've only sort of trained since the new year so I've done about two-and-a-half months of training and I 'AI-ed' it and it said: 'You need a year to train for this', which is good. We're going to get it done and there's no plan B so even if I have to crawl over the finish line, I'll get it done."
Talking about his reasons for taking on the challenge, he added: "In my 20s I suffered with anxiety, really badly, crippling anxiety. And I kind of really feel that this run is sort of a metaphor, putting one foot in front of the other. If you're feeling a certain way, if you're feeling down or anxious or whatever it may be, just keep moving forward.
"And so this is for me, for all those people who are suffering, who know someone who suffered, who has suffered through loads of things. So that's the reason I'm doing it. I've spent a lot of time probably worrying about myself a lot over the past 30 odd years and this is a real moment to really not think about myself and do something for a load of other people."
Laing kicked off his challenge at the BBC headquarters in London on Monday morning, where he seemed a little nervous about the week to come.
He was met by a squad of runners wearing masks of his face in London's Hyde Park to spur him on his way, but Laing hinted at his worries about preparation during a pit stop.
Speaking to his colleague and challenge assistant Matt Edmondson, he said: "I've got another 10km until I've never gone that far before in my life. After 25km it's new territory."
However, Laing did manage to break the 25km mark around lunchtime, calling it "the unknown" and admitting: "My body's now reminding me why I've never run past it!"
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The day one run began at 8:30am and is set to finish in Harpenden, where Laing will rest up for the night before beginning day two.
He'll also be looking to get some physio as he has already needed a little attention from his team physio on his Achilles tendon pain.
Laing told the BBC at an afternoon pit stop: "I have huge respect for anyone who has ever done an ultra marathon, anyone who has ever done a marathon, I will respect you for the rest of your life. This is a whirlwind of emotions. At one point I thought I was going to cry.
"I'm in real real pain. We were running down to this stop and someone came past in a car and blew me a kiss and it nearly sent me over the edge."
At the end of day one, Laing made it to Harpenden in five hours 44 minutes, cheered on with messages from his Radio 1 colleagues and from stars Kendrick Lamar and Myles Smith.
Laing spoke to Good Morning Britain early on day two ahead of his 8am start, admitting: "My bum hurts so much, it's a new pain that I've never felt before, but we're in high spirits."
He added: "I knew it was going to be hard, but after yesterday, it's 100% harder than I thought it was going to be."
Setting out from the village of Wyboston, he'll complete another 30 miles of his journey with the aim of arriving in Kettering by the end of the day.
As he set off, Laing told Greg James: "Brain is a little bit tired, because I was having very weird sleep last night. Which is apparently normal, but I wasn't warned about it."
However, Laing can take comfort in the fact that his efforts are raising lots of money for Comic Relief - as of Tuesday morning, the total stands at nearly £79,000.
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The TV and radio star said he was struggling at points during his day two ultra marathon, telling BBC: "My legs are sort of giving up. There's a weird ligament in your feet called the plantar fascia ligament which I'm well accustomed to and it's really bothering me, it's really flaring up at the moment, it's like walking on glass."
But he persevered and managed to finish the second leg to Kettering where his mum surprised him at the finish line. Laing finished in a slightly quicker time on day two of five hours 41 minutes.
Two ultra marathons in two days would be more than enough for most people, but Laing has to get up and run another 30 miles on Wednesday.
He'll start the third run in Market Harborough and while he undoubtedly has a tough day ahead of him, by the end of the third day more than half the challenge will be complete.
A nervous Laing posted on Instagram on Tuesday evening: "I can't lie I'm terrified about tomorrow, every fibre is telling me I can't do it so I'll need your support more than ever!"
Laing was in tears as he began his third run, set to end in Loughborough this afternoon, as he was played some messages from supporters who have benefitted from Comic Relief's help.
He also told Greg James: "I'm a little bit broken if I'm honest. It's just not what I was expecting. I feel pretty emotional from it all. People are here with signs saying 'go on Jamie!' I'm trying to find the energy I usually bring but I just can't find that this morning."
Laing's wife Sophie Habboo was also concerned about him as she told the BBC: "I got a call at 5.45am this morning, and he's just broken. He's in so much pain. Today is going to be his hardest day. Yesterday you couldn't imagine the pain he was fighting in his body. But today he was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it.'
"Everyone's support is all that's getting him through. I don't know how he would do it without that. He's going to keep putting one step in front of the other, we just have to hope his body keeps up."
By lunchtime, Laing had passed the halfway point of his challenge - but with temperatures across the UK warming up on Wednesday and emotions running high, it was a tough day for the star.
His Radio 1 co-star and challenge supporter Matt Edmondson shared that Laing was "desperately scared of failure", but he was helped on his way by two familiar supporters. The Traitors 2025 winners Jake Brown and Leanne Quigley joined Laing out on the route to run a mile alongside him.
It was Laing's toughest day yet and he finished his third ultra marathon in tears as he was greeted by wife Sophie Habboo at the finish line. The couple shared an emotional hug and celebrated him completing the leg in five hours 59 minutes.
Although he's in better spirits after making it past the halfway point, Laing still has another two ultra marathons to go.
The next leg of the challenge will see him run from Kegworth to Matlock and ahead of setting out for the fourth time, he said: "My ankle is really swollen, my leg is swollen, so we're just trying to ease in before we run another ultra marathon.
"Yesterday feels like a bit of a blur. I didn't really know where I was, but listening back is making me emotional in so many ways."
Keep checking back for updates on Jamie Laing's Ultra Marathon Man progress.
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