A retired banker from Dartmoor ran through Teignmouth, Dawlish and Starcross on the final leg of an epic 200 marathons in 200 days challenge on Saturday (November 1)

Steve James is thought to be the first man over 60 to have covered the entire coastline of mainland Britain on foot. In the process, he has raised £30,000 for Cancer Research UK and Devon and Exeter Scouts.

Known as ‘Banker on the run’, he began his feat on April 16 and has spent the last seven months running 5,240 miles along the British coast. His final leg, on his 66th birthday, saw him complete the circuit as he ran from Orestone to Topsham Quay.

‘It’s been months of pushing my body to its limits. I’m proud, I’m exhausted, and I can’t believe I’ve done it,’ he said at the finish line.

‘When I started this challenge, I just wanted to see if I could do it and to think I’ve run all the way around Britain at 66…even my knees can’t believe it,’ he commented. ‘There were plenty of days I thought, what on earth am I doing? I’ve had every kind of weather, every kind of ache. But it’s just shown me that you’re never too old to take on something huge. You’ve just got to start and keep going.’

Throughout Steve’s challenge, he has been monitored by researchers at the University of Exeter who analysed his daily calorie intake, energy expenditure and body composition to monitor the impact of this high endurance accomplishment, on his body.

‘We know exercise is good for us, but to what extent?’ asked Dr Freyja Haigh, a nutritional physiology researcher at the University of Exeter. ‘We’ve seen no detriment to overall health from the fortnightly blood samples Steve has sent us. And the body measurement changes suggest that Steve’s weight loss is a result of fat rather than muscle, which is a positive result to see after such a long time in an energy deficit,’ she commented

‘It has been such a privilege to work with Steve, his efforts give us such valuable knowledge about the body’s ability to cope with the demands of such extreme endurance,’ Dr Haigh added.

Steve is no stranger to physical challenges. In 2019 he cycled around the world in 220 days and as a schoolboy he took part in Ten Tors.

The challenge was not all plain sailing. He encountered harsh weather conditions, closed footpaths, severely blistered feet and a severe gout flare up that resulted in a trip to hospital.

‘It has been quite the challenge,’ Steve reported. ‘I’ve survived storm Floris and storm Amy, been through seven pairs of trainers, become a state pensioner and climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest ten times.’

Steve now plans to decompress by slipping back into his normal family routine. He said he is looking forward to ‘eating healthy food, not having wet feet, being able to sleep in and not having to pound the trails mile after mile’.