Helen Skelton: The Unlikely Running Superhero
TV presenter Helen Skelton, known for her daring adventures, has completed her fourth London Marathon in April 2025, a feat that showcases her determination and perseverance. According to an interview with Runners World UK, Skelton’s journey to becoming a runner was not an easy one, but her experiences have inspired her children and others to take up the sport.
Skelton, who has had a varied career in television, including presenting Blue Peter, has always been drawn to extreme challenges. In 2009, she became only the second-ever woman to complete the 78-mile Namibia Ultramarathon as part of a Blue Peter challenge. This impressive achievement was just the beginning of her running journey, which has taken her to new heights and inspired countless others.
When I was at school, I didn’t enjoy running. I wasn’t very good. As I got older, I had an on-off relationship with running. I did the Great North Run a couple of times but only really got into running when I became a presenter on Blue Peter and moved to London, Skelton revealed to Runners World UK. Her role on the show encouraged her to push herself to new limits, and she soon discovered the benefits of running.
Running was something that I could do on my own. I didn’t know London very well, or anyone there. I’d just started working in TV and my irregular schedule meant that I couldn’t do typical exercise classes. And the thing is, when you work in TV, you go to all these random places without seeing much of them. So, running gave me a chance to just get out and explore, Skelton explained to Runners World UK.
Skelton’s determination and perseverance have inspired her children, who see her as a running superhero. When I did my ultramarathon, it seemed as though everybody wore Ronhill leggings and was as thin as a piece of string – but there is no certain ‘type’ of runner now. Today, if you go to parkrun or any of the mass participation events, you’ll see that there is no uniform runner ‘size’, she told Runners World UK. Her experiences have shown that anyone can be a runner, regardless of their background or fitness level.
The ultramarathon itself felt really, really painful. It was so hot and each time I put my feet on the ground, it felt like I was stepping on razor blades. It was also very intimidating. The other runners were discussing split times, whereas I didn’t even understand what they were talking about. But I suppose that was the good bit – while a lot of people were out there to race, I just wanted to try to finish, Skelton recalled in an interview with Runners World UK.
Skelton’s journey to becoming a runner has been an inspiration to many, and her experiences have shown that with determination and hard work, anyone can achieve their goals. As she recently told her children, who were watching an Avengers film, ‘That’s like you when you run, mum!’ It was one of the nicest things that they’ve said to me and is my motivation to run, Skelton said to Runners World UK.
In conclusion, Helen Skelton’s story is a testament to the power of determination and perseverance. Her journey to becoming a runner has inspired countless others, and her experiences have shown that anyone can achieve their goals with hard work and dedication. As Runners World UK reports, Skelton’s story is an inspiration to many, and her message of encouragement and motivation will continue to inspire runners of all levels.
Skelton is part of the current GO Outdoors campaign and this interview was made possible by Keep Communications.
