Sara Cox has revealed she is “barely able to walk” after completing her grueling Children In Need challenge, where she pushed her body to the limit by running five marathons in five days. The Radio 2 presenter admitted the aftermath has been far tougher than she ever imagined, even though the emotional high of raising more than £10 million has made the pain “mean the absolute world.”
Speaking just days after finishing the 135-mile feat, Sara confessed she genuinely believed she’d be home in time to “take the dogs for a gentle walk” at the weekend — only to realise she could hardly move. She told BBC Breakfast that “I can’t really walk!” and joked that she had to “wrestle” her feet into a pair of Crocs because they were so swollen with fluid.
Describing her recovery, she said it felt like “when you have the flu and you make a brew at the end, and you’re completely wiped out — I’m like that.”
Despite the exhaustion, Sara has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the public. She said the astonishing £10,169,084 raised came from “the fivers, tenners and twenties of Radio 2 listeners and Children In Need supporters who each gave their hard-earned cash,” adding that their kindness “means the absolute world.”
A BBC camera crew followed her across the challenge for the documentary Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way for Children In Need, which airs on BBC One on November 19.
Sara also revealed the unexpected celebrity who helped carry her through the final stretch: Stormzy. She said she blasted his music in the last few miles, and was thrilled when he sent her a personal message calling her achievement “insane” and saying he was “very proud” of her for completing “five more marathons than I’ve done in my life.”
He ended his message with: “Massive congrats, God bless you and take care, lots of love.”
