BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox has made a candid admission about the severe physical toll of her recent charity challenge, confessing she has not been sleeping well since completing a mammoth 135-mile run for Children in Need.
The Gruelling Challenge and Its Aftermath
The popular drivetime host embarked on a five-day journey, covering a distance equivalent to five marathons, which started in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, and concluded in Pudsey, West Yorkshire on Friday, November 14. Describing it as the hardest thing she has ever done, Cox has been shocked by the intensity of her recovery.
In an interview with The Times, the 50-year-old explained: "Since finishing the Children in Need challenge, it's been really tough. I am not sleeping well. I am so stiff and sore, especially my knees and shins, because they took a pounding."
"The Killer" Hills and Royal Support
Cox, who thought she possessed a high pain threshold, was taken aback by her level of discomfort. She highlighted that descending steep hills was particularly agonising, forcing her to walk backwards at times. "They kept promising me it would be undulating. This was not undulating; this was steep hills. Going down was the killer," she revealed.
Her daily life has been impacted, with even simple tasks like walking her dogs becoming a struggle. "Normally I am so fast, but I took the dogs out this morning and I was hobbling. They were like, 'What is wrong with you?'" she shared.
During her epic run, which is reportedly the longest ever undertaken by a Radio 2 host, Cox received a morale-boosting message from Prince William. The future king's words, played on Scott Mills' Radio 2 breakfast show, offered massive congratulations and urged her to keep going, assuring her that the nation was proud.
A Triumphant Fundraising Outcome
Despite the physical hardship, the endeavour has been a phenomenal success for the charity. Carrying a Pudsey Bear backpack across four counties, Cox has helped raise an incredible £11,501,637 for Children in Need as of November 20, with donations continuing to flood in after the broadcast of the documentary Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way.
Reflecting on the experience, Cox stated she had "never known pain like it," but also emphasised the positive support from countless amazing women who powered her through the feat, making the immense challenge ultimately worthwhile.
