Benji Wilkins has an inspirational and truly remarkable experience that needed to be told in the moment. His incredible story involves the physical and mental journey of running 42 marathons in 42 days across the UK. In his own words, “I’m not an elite athlete. I like to run, but I’m not winning any races. In 2025 I ran maybe 30 miles a month! I’m not the fastest runner you’ll meet, and I’m definitely not the most experienced. What I am, is stubborn.”
He set out on this grueling challenge from John o' Groats to Land's End to raise vital funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis. Driven by a deeply personal cause, Benji undertook this self-imposed suffering to support his mother, who has been living with MS for over a decade.
We discuss the brutal physical toll of running a marathon every day, the powerful mind-body connection required to endure when the body wants to quit, and the profound spiritual insights Benji gained about the power of community, daily discipleship, and what it truly means to "endure to the end."
Some highlights from this episode include:
- Current Progress and the Physical Toll: Benji shares firsthand stories from the road on day 33, detailing the extreme fatigue, the shifting landscape as he moves south, and the bizarre experience of running a full marathon in a pair of jeans.
- The Liquid Calorie Strategy: From downing maple syrup to mixing specialized carbohydrate shakes, Benji explains how he forces thousands of calories into a body that completely loses its appetite after a long day of running.
- The Mind-Body Connection: A fascinating deep dive into the mental strategy Benji used to communicate with his own body early in the challenge, repeating the mantra "adapt or die" to overcome early threats of runner's knee and hip strain.
- Ministering Angels in Vans: Benji details the incredible, unexpected acts of kindness from friends, family, and strangers who showed up out of nowhere—including a friend who travelled 13 hours to run in a pair of Vans—to sustain him during his darkest miles.
- Understanding Multiple Sclerosis: A moving discussion about his mother's decade-long battle to receive an MS diagnosis, how the autoimmune disease impacts the nervous system, and the daily, hidden physical challenges that require true, permanent resilience.
- The True Meaning of Endurance: Benji reflects on the gospel principle of endurance, sharing how true endurance isn't just about gritting your teeth through self-imposed suffering, but about finding a higher purpose, relying on the "tender mercies" of the community, and allowing the experience to refine the human spirit.
You can find out more about Benji's journey and support the cause at the following link:
- Website: Marathons for Mom (https://marathonsformum.com/)
- https://gofund.me/5ffa4a29b
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271
If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram
Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.
