A British endurance athlete has become he first person to run the length of a marathon in every country in the world after completing the Athens Marathon.
Exactly 694 days after he set off on his mission to run the famous distance in all 196 UN-recognised countries in January 2018, Nick Butter finished with the Athens classic marathon on Sunday.
He was hit by a car, bitten by a dog and shot at along the way during his global marathons. But in the process, he has already raised more than £65,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. He hopes to push that figure up to £250,000.
Butter, a former banker, was inspired to take up the 22-month challenge after a friend, Kevin Webber, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014.
Webber, who is still running five years later, joined the ultrarunner as he completed his 196th marathon on Sunday.
Day 674 – Marathon 196 of 196! Greece 🇬🇷 Athens
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I did it. I actually did it. Ha 🙈🏁🏃♂️😛🗺Against all odds. I ran a marathon in every country in the world 🌎 Ha, I can’t believe it. A new world first and a new world… https://t.co/Ik2KP0Y1lO— Nick Butter (@nickbutterrun) November 11, 2019
“The feeling of crossing that finish line was like many other finish lines, in the sense that I’m tired and I want a drink and want to be go bed,” Butter said in Athens. “The elation of finishing that run with Kevin and everyone else behind me was just so amazing. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to feel like when I finished.
He’s only gone and done it! 🎉🥳
A record-breaking marathon in every country on earth for the amazing @nickbutterrun! 🌎
Here’s the incredible moment Nick crossed the line in Athens alongside the man who inspired it all, @thekevinwebber 😭💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/FCZnj4S5Vd
— Prostate Cancer UK (@ProstateUK) November 10, 2019
