December 7th 2024.
In a remarkable feat, Harry Clough has recently completed the Ultra London Underground Challenge, running the entire 400km network and visiting all 272 stations. Along the way, he has raised an impressive £3,000 for charity.
Undertaking this challenge was no easy task for the 26-year-old, as six of the lines were equivalent to running an ultramarathon, while three were the length of a full marathon. Despite facing these daunting distances, Harry persevered and successfully completed the final and longest line, the Central line, today.
To make matters even more challenging, Harry had to battle against strong winds from Storm Darragh, with gusts of up to 55mph in London. But despite these obstacles, he managed to see parts of the city that often go unnoticed by the average Londoner.
Reflecting on his experience, Harry shared with Metro, "I have now seen a ridiculous amount of London. When I ran the Jubilee Line, I went down these really strange tunnels and saw some crazy ships. I even got on one of the boats at some point, and without the challenge, I wouldn't have done that."
Throughout his journey, Harry has taken a photo at every single Tube station, capturing the unique character of each stop. He credits the challenge for pushing him out of his comfort zone and allowing him to discover new places in the city.
One of the most challenging lines for Harry was the first one he ran, the Metropolitan Line, back on October 30. He recalls hitting a wall around 15km in, wearing new trainers that hadn't been fully broken in yet. Thankfully, a stop at Greggs for some fuel helped him push through the rest of the line.
Harry's motivation for taking on this extraordinary challenge was to raise awareness and funds for men's mental health charity Movember. He explains, "The idea was to find a challenge that was really difficult and would last the entire month of November. It's also something people, particularly Londoners, can relate to as we know just how far the tube lines stretch."
Opening up about his personal struggles with anxiety and depression, Harry shares, "I have struggled a lot with anxiety and depression throughout my life. I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember but it really started to affect me when I started university."
He goes on to say, "The most challenging part for me was at the beginning when I had no idea what the panic attacks were - I honestly thought I was dying. I didn't understand that I could feel sad and think everyone hates me but that it's my brain making things up. Even now, it's still tough, but with that knowledge, things are slowly getting better."
Harry's incredible efforts and personal journey have inspired many, and donations to his fundraiser are still pouring in. You can show your support for a great cause by visiting Metro's London news hub and clicking on the link to donate.
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