Is anyone else worried about Sara Cox?

[MsSmartShoes]

She looks broken! I’m really worried about her. This is an extreme challenge and I’m questioning why we need to watch someone suffer and struggle for charity?
I’m in awe and admiration of her, but I also want to give her a HOT bath and tuck her into a big cosy bed with a gallon of tea and a dozen hot buttered crumpets.
Is it just me?

Lol. At least pp won't need a hammer - her legs are already bolloxed.

I’m so pleased to see this post. There was one I blocked this afternoon which the OP had started in similar terms and the responses were awful.

I think she is absolutely wonderful.

the entire thing has blown me away. BUT one of the best bits is listening to all the people on the route and the love and support. The tiny school who set out to run a marathon and ran four. The farmers with the guard of honour. The horses, dogs, people. Just normal people.

There are some cynical people on here.

I always appreciate these challenges whether on radio 1 or 2. I admire the people doing them and it encourages me to believe I can also do hard things. I also like the feeling of togetherness it brings about when I’m listening to updates, I feel like I’m part of something cheering them on, and then the realisation that all those donations come about because people are kind and do care about others.

I have run 3 marathons in 3 days - hilly ones too. It’s hard but it’s not THAT hard. Granted it’s not 5, but I could have done a few more days if I’d have to 🤷‍♀️ do the training, it’s doable for most people.

I think it's very telling that this time last year, Paddy Mcguinness had raised 5.8 million and sobbed his way through his challenge saying he had never felt more loved. He had recently split up with his wife.

Sara's challenge is way more brutal (bearing in mind that Vernon Kay did a similar, but much shorter version 2 years ago)

She's been suffering with Inflammation cascade since day 2. She hit just on 3 million tonight. I do wonder if people have a bias towards men, or if there's some other reason why the total doesn't seem to have hit the heady heights of the previous competitors.

Either way, this is a brutal challenge, and I wonder why the hell the organisers felt the need to make it so much harder than Vernon's two years ago.

I think it’s a bit odd personally, I’ll be donating to children in need not some running ‘celebrity’

It really is not. Lets be real here.

Good for you, really. But most people really couldn’t do 3 marathons in 3 days.

No Im not worried

I did my first ultra - my first anything - aged 60 - and I tell you I broke at 20 miles. My legs forgot how to move, my brain forgot how to give signals,

I did that as part of an event, where there were medics, where I wasnt going to be left alone - I finished without aid

Sara has trained, she has a world renowned Proffessor taking every step with her. She has a Physio and Doctor

Yes Wednesday was shite for her, knackered as she hadn't slept, feet hurting , knees and hips screaming, no sleep and hills

She did it

And today she did it with energy and tomorrow she will do the same

When I felt I couldn't put a foot in front of the other - and believe me - my kegs actually forgot how to - what key me going was the sponsorship , the money I was raising

I didnt do it this year due to ill health, Ill be out there next year and doing it again

If you want to raise money for a charity, sitting in a bath of beans just doesn't hack it. People donating want to donate to those that are pushing themselves . Sara is a very fit woman There's not a mission would she have taken this on if she wasnt

Did anyone whinge on about Vernon, day 2 and he couldn't even be interviewed because he had hit the wall and his was 3.5 days

I've done a few ultra 50km challenges and they are bloody tough, mentally and physically.

I've known people who have needed surgery after completing ultra challenges HALF the distance Sara is doing!

I don't know how she's doing it.

The pain and soreness will be unreal. Her body will likely suffer for months.

I know nothing about this as I don't have a TV but as a slight tangent I always wonder at the mindset of people who only donate money to the less fortunate when someone on the TV tells them to... It's really quite bizarre.

Schools should not have the enforced send a pound for the yellow bear, I fundamentally disagree with these sorts of charities.

Ditto people asking folks they know to sponsor them for shaving their head/walking somewhere/sitting in a bath of baked beans.. I find it really illogical, what they really want is to say, for example, I love dogs so I am going to try to emotionally manipulate people into giving money to a dog charity I care about. Most people don't feel like they can refuse cus it's 'for chaarity' but there are many people like me I assume, who give to causes close to their heart but wouldn't dream of a asking others to donate to these causes.

I think people should be aware how incredibly rude it is to ask other people to sponsor them for anything, especially in the workplace where some people feel like they can't refuse - if you feel that strongly about a cause put your hand in your own pocket, don't try to guilt trip others while polishing your halo as I'm pretty sure nobody is impressed and actually probably quite resentful but don't feel like they can say anything!

She's brilliant, totally inspiring and I have all my fingers crossed for her tomorrow. What a fabulous example to women and girls. Go Sara!

I’ve cried afterwards when I’ve done marathons, it’s pretty normal for a huge level of exertion. DH has too.

I am amazed if she's really only trained for 10 weeks. It's a crazy feat. I've been running for years, not long distances max of 10 miles and currently training for a half but run 3/4 times a week. I would not be able to do this. I don't think people realise how hard it is to run a marathon and how much training you need to do to make sure you don't have injuries. I know people that do ultras but they certainly didn't go from 0 running to 135 miles / 5 days with only 10 weeks training. The couch to 5k is a 12 week plan! I feel sorry for her it seems like hell! I wish her all the best.

I permanently wrecked my knees training for an ultra marathon in my late 40s. I was insanely fit, and had trained and run long distances for years without any issues. Our bodies do not have the same strength and resilience as we age. I think it's pretty telling that every single runner in my running cub has knee or hip issues from late 40s onwards and there is one still running after having both hips replaced.

It is irresponsible of the BBC to put pressure on someone Sara's age to do such an extreme running challenge especially given she has arthritis in one knee already. I expect she will regret this.

she already presents the one show so don’t think that was a factor for you?

Not worried no

There's a movie that's relevant - "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"

I think she’s doing fantastic and hats off to her, I wouldn’t do it, but I’m literally agog that someone thinks she’s doing it for the fame and thinks the one show is some sort of prize. I can’t think of much that is less of a prize than doing the one show 😂

Some years ago Henning Wehn on Room 101 put sponsoring into Room 101. His point was why should he give money to someone wanting to go for a walk. He put up a good argument for not donating actually.

"I think people should be aware how incredibly rude it is to ask other people to sponsor them for anything, especially in the workplace where some people feel like they can't refuse - if you feel that strongly about a cause put your hand in your own pocket, don't try to guilt trip others while polishing your halo as I'm pretty sure nobody is impressed and actually probably quite resentful but don't feel like they can"

Nicely put @carconcerns couldn't agree more.

I think it’s amazing, but I do feel worried she might do permanent damage to her knees. Agree it’s too extrene. Something that was less pounding on her joints might have been better.

She already has a successful career as an author, and a popular podcast, so I think you are somewhat off the mark CoffeLipstickKeys.

Or was she, the BBC are really good at dodgy edits😁

But people don't 'just donate the money' do they? And she didn't have to do it.