North Tyneside man runs full length of Tyne and Wear Metro
Marathon runner Ben Cook completed the challenge for charity
Last updated 29th Aug 2023
Marathon runner Ben Cook is celebrating after he ran the entire length of the Tyne and Wear Metro to raise cash for charity.
Ben completed the 63 mile run in an aggregate time of 11 hours and 30 mins over consecutive day on the August Bank Holiday weekend, tracking the Metro route on nearby roads and footpaths.
The 30 year-old of North Tyneside, who admits he battled through the pain barrier to get to the finish, is raising funds for The Running Charity, which helps young people who are homeless or risk of homelessness.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, said it was delighted to hear that Ben had competed his run, and that it had been ‘a phenomenal effort’.
He clocked up 27 miles on the first day, running Metro’s green line from South Hylton Metro station in Sunderland to Newcastle Airport.
And on the more challenging second day Ben covered 36 miles, tracking Metro’s yellow line. He started this leg at South Shields Interchange and ran to the finish at St James Metro station in Newcastle city centre via Metro’s North Tyneside coastal loop.
He said: “I’m buzzing to have completed this Metro marathon. It was amazing to cross that finish line. I was knackered after two days of back to back running.
“The hardest part was the second morning. I almost didn’t want to leave the house. The first ten miles from South Shields was really tough.
“I’ve had great support along the way from my wife and my colleagues at Heaton Harrierrs running club. It was brilliant to see that finish line and see my wife waiting for me there.
“I want to say thanks to everyone who has supported me and sponsored me on the run. I’m hoping to raise over £2,000 for The Running Charity, which will go to help homeless young people. It’s a cause close to my heart.
“I’ll have a well earned rest now, but I am thinking to try this same Metro route again next year, and next time get it all done in one single day.”
Head of Station Delivery at Nexus, Lynne Dickinson, said: “We’re thrilled to hear that Ben has completed his epic Metro marathon. It’s been a phenomenal effort for a really great cause.
“When we heard about this challenge we thought he was a bit crazy for taking that on over two back to back days, but he’s shown incredible stamina and fitness to get to the finish.
“It can’t have been easy running that far, especially on that second day when he still had 36 miles in front of him after 27 miles on day one.
“Metro covers such a wide area and the run has shown the network is a lot bigger than many people realise.”
Ben is using his Metro run as preparation for a 100-mile ultra marathon that he’s taking on in September, which will see him run all the way from Holy Island to Hexham in a single day.
He has previously taken part in ultra marathons, and he runs at club level for Heaton Harriers.