"Hardships can prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny."
interview
Sam King: 74 Ultramatathons in 74 Days
Sam King, a 31-year-old runner from Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, who has embarked on an extraordinary mission: to complete 74 ultramarathons in 74 days. Sam’s journey isn’t just about pushing the limits of endurance, it’s deeply personal. His life was thrown into perspective when his mum suffered a life-altering brain injury, inspiring him to take on what he calls Project 74.
Sam has been running 50km each day, one kilometer for every year of his mum’s life before her illness. Beyond the physical challenge, his goal is to raise £74,000 for Headway UK, a charity supporting people affected by brain injuries.
Despite the scale of the feat, Sam is quick to point out that he has never considered himself an athlete, and still feels connected to the person he once was—the guy who would have never imagined attempting something like this. For him, the driving force isn’t records or accolades; it’s about spending life doing the things we love, with the people we love most, and finding purpose in the face of adversity.
How did you train your body to handle this kind of daily distance and recovery?
Years of conditioning. I started running in 2017, and after completing my first marathon, I decided I wanted to run further rather than faster. Over the years, I developed a love for multi-day ultrarunning and spent a long time training my body to recover quickly - and there’s no better way to do that than by doing lots of back-to-back long runs.
Before starting this challenge, I’d run over five multi-day, 250km ultramarathons (averaging 50km per day) and even made the podium at Ultra X Jordan 2024. I also started noticing that as each day went on, I was actually getting stronger. So I’ve been intrigued for a while to see how many ultras I could run in a row - especially if I toned down the speed a little.
Have you had to adjust your running form or pace to avoid burnout?
Definitely. I’m running quite a bit slower than my usual pace - around 6:00 per km on average each day. This pace was carefully selected by me and my running coach as the optimal speed to finish the 50km with enough time to recover in the afternoon, without going so fast that I’d risk injury.
As for form, I’ve shortened my cadence and adopted a “pitter-patter” running style to keep the impact on my joints to a minimum. A lot of my friends say I look like I’m running much slower than I actually am! And since I haven’t had any major injuries yet, so I guess it’s working.
What’s harder — starting each day or finishing it?
Great question. Definitely starting. Waking up in the morning is the hardest part of my day - there’s just so much to do. It’s like Groundhog Day every day. I’m up two hours before I start, forcing myself to eat when I’m not hungry, filming videos for social media and Guinness (as it’s a world record attempt), and then I usually start running around 8:30 a.m.
During the run, I have to stay on top of nutrition and film content to keep everyone following along updated and it can feel like a lot on top of the actual running! Physically, I don’t find the 50km too challenging now that my body’s adapted to the routine. That’s not to say I’m not tired or that my legs don’t ache at the end, but not enough to stop me carrying on. Finishing each day is always a joy, and I’ll never take for granted the ability to run a marathon or an ultra.
How do you mentally push through the low points during each run?
There’s a greater purpose behind this challenge - it’s in honour of my Mum. One ultra for every year of her life, and to raise money for Headway. It’s also a deeply personal challenge for me after overcoming obesity and a gaming addiction. Remembering all of that during my runs gets me through each day.
Music and podcasts help a lot too. I’ve also made the challenge an open invite, so I often run with different people - sometimes people I’ve never met before! It’s amazing how quickly the time passes when you’re chatting away to someone.
How many calories are you consuming in a day right now?
Around 5,500-6,000. Which is hard work. I did some lab testing before the challenge, which showed I’d burn roughly 5,350 calories per day. So I need to consume at least that much to stay properly fuelled, keep my immune system strong, and avoid getting ill.
What’s your go-to fuel during the run?
My fuel target is 60g of carbs per hour and around 500–750mg of sodium, depending on how I’m feeling. I get all of it from Veloforte energy chews, bars, and electrolytes. I absolutely love Veloforte products and swear by them.
When you’re doing as much running as I am, and taking on as much “sports nutrition” as that requires, you need natural products that your body can handle, and Veloforte’s range goes down so well. Plus, they taste amazing.
In terms of specifics - my go-to chews are the Amaro Cherry flavour. My favourite bars are Mocha and Avanti. And for electrolytes, Mango & Passion Fruit is top of the list (though I honestly love the whole collection).
Have you noticed certain foods or products that make a big difference in your energy or recovery?
Electrolytes make a huge difference. Hydration is absolutely key, so I’m taking on electrolytes mixed into water all day, every day.
Post-run, I always have a chocolate milkshake - I’ve done that for years. It’s a great mix of carbs and protein to refuel muscles and restore glycogen levels. It also rehydrates with electrolytes and fluids, making it an easy, convenient option that actually tastes good. The carb-to-protein ratio supports recovery, while the water, potassium, and sodium help you rehydrate and bounce back faster.
I obviously try my best to primarily eat whole foods and good food but I also like to allow myself plenty of treats like pizza and chocolate or whatever else I desire!
How do you want people to feel when they hear about what you’re doing?
I want people to feel inspired for a few different reasons.
To feel capable: A few years ago, I was 19 stone and addicted to gaming. Now I’m running 74 ultramarathons in 74 days. If I can do it, anyone can. Around one in three people leave school obese, so I’d love to work with the government and organisations like parkrun or the London Marathon in the future to promote physical activity and better education around exercise.
To chase their dreams: I spent 12 years in a corporate job in London that never excited me. I knew deep down it wasn’t for me but kept going anyway. Now, I’ve finally broken out of that rut and am chasing a dream I’ve always had before it’s too late. I think a lot of people feel stuck like that, and with the way the world’s heading - AI, job uncertainty etc., I think there’s no better time to take control of your life.
And to appreciate health and loved ones: This challenge was born after my mum nearly passed away in January. She collapsed in my arms from a brain bleed, and we were told she wouldn’t survive - but she did. That day changed everything. I realised how fragile life is, and how precious time with the people we love really is.
One thing I’ve learned this year is that life is unbelievably fragile - one day your parents, siblings, or best friends are here, and the next they might not be. Health and time with loved ones are the two most important things in this life, and I’ll never take either for granted again.
Follow & Support
You can follow Sam's journey over on his Instagram: @fatboysking and donate to project 74 by clicking the button below.