Jess Furness completed 42 marathons in a calendar year to raise money for charity, honouring her older brother Eddie, who died aged 38 in 2021 following a farm accident. The challenge, which she finished in 2025, was inspired by Eddie's 42nd birthday, matching the 42 kilometres of a marathon.
A Brother Remembered
Speaking in a documentary, Jess described Eddie as a "father figure" and "someone always in her corner." She said, "We were really close... I wanted to make sure I was doing a challenge that felt worthy of him."
Running had already been a source of stability for Jess, who lost her father at a young age and her mother to breast cancer while at university. She said, "Everyone else seemed to have their life under control, and mine felt so out of control... That's something I still grapple with day to day."
The Challenge Begins
Jess, now a presenter on The Running Channel, began the challenge on New Year's Day in Leamington. She said, "It felt like, as soon as I took that first step, it had begun... I hadn't been particularly open with people about my grief or my mental health."
After cancelling her fourth marathon due to the emotional weight, a conversation with her coach helped her refocus. She said, "Sometimes just having someone there to say, 'It's okay, we've got time', and reassure you makes such a difference."
Overcoming Injury
A knee injury in Prague, her 14th marathon, forced Jess to take May off, leading to a demanding schedule of eight marathons in eight days. She said, "I knew I could do back-to-back days... I started doing weekends of back-to-back marathons!"
Her siblings, who had never run a marathon before, joined her for one, which Jess called "probably the highlight of the year, really." The documentary '42. Dear Eddie, Love Jess' is now live on The Running Channel YouTube.
