Spencer Matthews Runs 30 Marathons in 30 Days Completing ‘Great Desert Challenge’

Spencer Matthews visits Williams Racing during the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Northampton, England, on July 3, 2022. Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for Williams Racing

Spencer Matthews, a British reality star known for his appearances on “Made in Chelsea” and “Celebrity MasterChef,” has completed his mission of running 30 marathons across the desert in Jordan in 30 consecutive days.

Matthews, 36, who chronicled his “Great Desert Challenge” on social media, took to Instagram on Aug. 27 to share that he had concluded his incredible endurance feat. “I DID IT!!! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT!!” he wrote.

“I am now a Guinness World Records holding endurance athlete - the first and only person to successfully run this many back-to-back marathons in these extreme conditions. Just over 42.2km or 26.2 miles, every single day,” he continued. “That’s 1,274.02km [791.64 miles] of some of the world’s toughest terrain with no comfort in which to recover.”

Matthews, who ran in temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, said that he decided to launch his “Great Desert Challenge” to raise money for Global’s Make Some Noise charity to help ensure that “no one has to go through life’s toughest challenges alone.”

The television personality wrote that £342,508 ($451,555.70) had been raised so far for the London-based organization, which works to aid 100 small charities across the United Kingdom, including those that support people with disabilities and children in need. “But as far as I’m concerned, we are just getting started,” he added.

During a recent interview on the BBC Radio 4’s “Today“ program, aired Aug. 28, Matthews noted that being able to help children who have experienced loss was especially important to him because he had lost his older brother, Michael Matthews, when he was just 10.

Matthews’ brother was presumed dead in May 1999 at the age of 22 after going missing while descending Mount Everest. Located between Nepal and Tibet in Asia, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world above sea level.

“Micheal was a much-loved member of our family—as everybody in our family is,” Matthews offered. “He was the youngest Brit to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and he encountered some difficulties on the way down.”

Matthews’ attempt to locate his brother’s body on Everest was featured in the 2023 Disney+ documentary “Finding Michael.” Reflecting on his tragic loss, Matthews told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” that his late brother is still a constant source of inspiration for him during physical challenges, such as his recently completed 30-day run through the desert.

“I had a little chat with Mike most mornings, you know, as I do pretty regularly,” Matthews said. “I like to think that if he was around, he'd be proud of the efforts that were made in Jordan.”

‘Great Desert Challenge’

Matthews began his “Great Desert Challenge” at 4 a.m. on July 29, sharing online that he “cracked on down the sandy trails near Petra,” located in Jordan’s southwestern desert.

“This is going to be a very long month but one that will never be forgotten,” he wrote. “I can’t thank you all enough for being a part of the journey.”

On Aug. 4, Matthews posted on Instagram that he had completed seven marathons.

“First week is in the bag… What a feeling!” he wrote. Three days later, Matthews celebrated another major milestone in his journey, completing 10 marathons in 10 consecutive days.

“This marathon was not much different to those in the days leading up to it but for whatever reason it made me feel really proud. I’ve come a long way. Not only with the 424 kilometers [263.5 miles] ran so far, but also more generally,” he wrote, expressing that he missed his family, including his wife, model Vogue Williams, and the couple’s three children, Theodore, 5; Gigi, 4; and Otto, 2.

On Aug. 21, Matthews highlighted another achievement, sharing that he had run 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) through the scorching desert.

“I’d like to thank you all for the overwhelming support that you give me on a daily basis,” he wrote. “Your donations, messages and well wishes are unbelievable and are driving me forward to achieve this unprecedented goal. Together, we are having a positive impact on the lives of many who really deserve the help.”

One day after finishing his challenge, Matthews wrote on Instagram that completing his adventure through the Jordan desert was “still sinking in.”

“What a truly humbling adventure that was,” he wrote.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for the love and support given throughout this challenge. It literally felt like so many of you were right there with me.”