My World Record-Breaking Adventure to Run Every Mile of the British Coastline

Run Britain

Nick Butter is an endurance runner, adventurer and motivational speaker. He lives in Cornwall.

In the spring of 2021, as the UK's latest pandemic lockdowns were lifted, Nick Butter set out from the Eden Project to become the fastest person to cover every mile of Britain's mainland coastline on foot. 
 
Battling the most extreme winds Britain had seen in 100 years, days of torrential rain and the unrelenting hills of Western Scotland and Cornwall, Nick suffered two broken bones and countless injuries, whilst taking on two marathons a day, every day, for 100 days. 
 
Covering an extraordinary 5,250 miles, running for over 12 hours a day, struggling to take in the 8,000 daily calories required to fuel his body, Nick battled sleep deprivation and extreme weight loss as he pushed his body and mind to their limit. 
 
Supported by close friends and family (including his ever-dependable right-hand man, Andy Swain, whose diary extracts feature in this book), Nick experienced spiralling lows and euphoric highs. As he traversed footpaths, country lanes and busy A roads, he passed through over two thousand coastal communities, buoyed along by supporters cheering from windows, balconies, passing cars and pavements, by school children and fellow runners, and by the stunning sights and sounds of the British coast. 
 
Run Britain is Nick's account of his extraordinary adventure.

Nick Butter

Superb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust.

Grit, perseverance and statesmanship, Nick Butter pulled off the impossible.

The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure.

Readers will find not only the bumps Butter encountered on the road, but the moments of serenity and insight he found along the way.

[An] excellent biography. The Belgian's life is sufficiently extraordinary to warrant wider interest 
Alyson Rudd, The Times

My World-Record-Breaking Adventure to Run a Marathon in Every Country on Earth

'Superb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust.' Mark Beaumont 
'The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure.' Sean Conway 
--- 
 
In 2019, Nick Butter became the first person to run a marathon in every country on Earth. This is Nick's story of his world record-breaking adventure and the extraordinary people who joined him along the way. 
 
On January 6th 2018, Nick Butter tied his laces and stepped out on to an icy pavement in Toronto, where he began to take the first steps of an epic journey that would see him run 196 marathons in every one of the world's 196 countries. Spending almost two years on the road and relying on the kindness of strangers to keep him moving, Nick's odyssey allowed him to travel slowly, on foot, immersing himself in the diverse cultures and customs of his host nations. 
 
Running through capital cities and deserts, around islands and through spectacular landscapes, Nick dodges bullets in Guinea-Bissau, crosses battlefields in Syria, survives a wild dog attack in Tunisia and runs around an erupting volcano in Guatemala. Along the way, he is often joined by local supporters and fellow runners, curious children and bemused passers-by. Telling their stories alongside his own, Nick captures the unique spirit of each place he visits and forges a new relationship with the world around him. 
 
Running the World captures Nick's journey as he sets three world records and covers over five thousand miles. As he recounts his adventures, he shares his unique perspective on our glorious planet, celebrates the diversity of human experience, and reflects on the overwhelming power of running.

Nick Butter

Praise for Running The World

Superb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust.

Grit, perseverance and statesmanship, Nick Butter pulled off the impossible.

The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure.

Superb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust.

Grit, perseverance and statesmanship, Nick Butter pulled off the impossible.

The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure.

Superb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust.

Grit, perseverance and statesmanship, Nick Butter pulled off the impossible.

The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure.

Books by Nick Butter

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter