While most participants of the London Marathon take a well-deserved rest after crossing the finish line, Hannah Cox is just getting started. The 41-year-old has embarked on an incredible feat: running a full marathon every single day for 100 consecutive days. What makes this even more remarkable is that Cox only took up running 18 months ago.
The Mission and Inspiration Cox’s journey is not just a test of physical endurance but a deeply personal exploration of her Indian heritage. Following the death of her father in 2011, she became captivated by a historical 4,200km route used by the British in the 19th century to enforce a salt tax. This route was famously marked by the “Great Hedge of India,” a massive inland customs barrier.
The Physical Toll The evidence of her grueling journey is visible on her gear; her trainers are worn down and DIY-repaired with pieces of car tires to survive the dusty, harsh terrain. By the time she finished the London Marathon on Sunday, it served as just one more milestone in her massive 2,600-mile cross-continental trek.
From Novice to Ultra-Runner Cox’s transformation is startling. Having spent most of her life as a non-runner, she decided to commit to this “epic and emotional adventure” in the summer of 2024. Her journey serves as both a tribute to her late father and a way to reconnect with the history of her ancestors, turning a historical colonial boundary into a path of personal triumph.