Former European, Commonwealth and World Champion 400m sprinter and National Running Show host Iwan Thomas MBE is ditching the track in favour of the trails as he announces he is taking on his first ever 100 mile ultra-marathon in a bid to raise awareness and donations for Group B Strep Support, the world’s leading charity working to eradicate Group B Strep infection in babies.

Thomas will work with endurance running legend Susie Chan to prepare for the 100-mile ultra in the South Downs Way Centurion in June 2021, documenting his journey from decision to D-Day on Run Show TV.

Stretching from Winchester, Hampshire to Eastbourne, East Sussex with about 4,150 m of elevation change, the magnitude of the challenge is not lost on Thomas who commented: “I suppose I should have known that being friends with Susie Chan would result in some crazy challenge at some point! The furthest distance I have covered to date is 26.2 miles and these days anything over 5 miles is a push! It is not lost on me that this challenge is 400 x 400ms and that is slightly unnerving! I have eight months to prepare myself mentally and physically for what I am sure will be one of the biggest challenges I have faced. I am doing this for Group B Strep Support after my newborn son Teddy was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition and spent 10 days in ICU. You will be able to follow my journey on Run Show TV and on my Instagram – I am going to need all of the support I can get!”

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