Runner with MS conquers 200 marathons in 204 days

An endurance runner who has multiple sclerosis has become the quickest woman to run Britain's entire coastline after conquering 200 marathons in 204 days.

Megan Boxall, from Thorpeness, Suffolk, started the challenge on Sizewell beach on 18 October before embarking on the 5,240-mile (8,433km) run around England, Scotland and Wales.

During her trip, the 33-year-old financial journalist, who was born in Hertfordshire, has run through everywhere from Clacton and Blackpool to Dundee and Newcastle.

On Saturday morning, she came full circle when she finished her blister-inducing feat on Sizewell beach, raising £57,000 for Samaritans in the process.

"It's been the most incredible morning, I cannot really believe I've done it - I've become the fastest woman to run the coastline of Britain," she said.

"It feels so nice to be back home in Suffolk, and I'm quite overwhelmed, but I'm feeling good – it was phenomenal, and I loved it."

Boxall completed her mammoth challenge 97 days quicker than Elise Downing, who became the first woman to run around the entirety of the coast in 2016.

She decided to take on the testing run in the year after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease which eventually can prove debilitating.

She wanted to "celebrate Britain" but also raise money and awareness for the Samaritans charity, which helped her with her mental health after her diagnosis.

Boxall, who developed a passion for running after going jogging with her dog Shadow, was also inspired by her uncle, who had walked around Britain's coastline.

"Obviously, it has been hard, but it has been absolutely amazing and the most incredible and positive experience," she added.

"The weather in the winter was really hard, and there were some quite big chunks that were incredibly windy, cold and lonely, but that's all forgotten now.

"This has shown the importance of positivity and how much good can come from being positive and seeing the best in people and seeing the best in the world."

While Boxall - who wanted to "shine a light" after a "period of intense darkness" -may have crossed the finish line of this particular run, she suggests there is more to come.

"I'm sad that this part of the mission is over, but it's definitely not the end of the mission overall, and I'm excited about what comes next," she said.

"I'm sure this sort of adventure is going to be a part of my life forever, or as long as my body will let it be."

Additional reporting by Connor Bennett.

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