Man runs entire 700km length of Thameslink network

A man who has run between more than 140 railway stations says completing the challenge has helped him to get his life back on track.

Matt Nelson, 33, ran the entire length of the Thameslink train network, covering 700km (435 miles) across eight counties in the space of 25 days and finishing in Brighton on Tuesday.

Nelson, who previously ran between every London Tube station in 2020, said after a year of struggles with his mental health he had moments where he had "fallen out of love with running", but his current challenge had helped him to rediscover his passion for it.

"I'm already feeling the itch to do another one now," he added. "I would love to run to every single station in the UK."

Nelson, who lives in Hackney Wick in London but grew up in Teesside, said: "To be at this point now has honestly been life changing.

"It has been wonderful to meet with so many people who were in so many different parts of the country."

Nelson, who documents his runs on YouTube channel Running on Rail, said he trained for the run with the help of Parkruns, running and cycling 16km (10 miles) to and from his workplace, and doing exercises including yoga.

Following a final 50km (31 miles) ultramarathon between Gatwick Airport and Brighton, Nelson finished at the station on Tuesday afternoon.

For the last run, Nelson has been raising money for mental health charity Mind through a JustGiving page.

Tracy Jarvis, Greater Thameslink Railway's corporate social responsibility manager, called the challenge "simply stunning".

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.