Former drug addict runs 110 miles in 24 hours

A former drug addict and alcoholic who took up running just last year has completed an impressive 110-mile run in 24 hours to raise funds for his support group.

Stephen Melling, 45, began his journey in Arnside, Cumbria, and finished in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Saturday, raising money for the charity Recovery Runners. The father of four from Liverpool faced significant challenges during his run, having to stop briefly twice after nearly falling asleep while running and experiencing hallucinations.

Before quitting his addictions, Mr. Melling had a £150-a-day drug habit and consumed three bottles of wine daily. Since July 2023, he has completed nearly 40 marathons and ultra-marathons after discovering running. "This latest run was tough," he admitted. "I could feel myself dozing off while running, so I had to take a break. I managed to sleep for an hour and had some coffee."

He described a moment when he began hallucinating and struggled to run straight. "It was surreal—my body was telling me something, and I had to stop again. Reaching the finish line was incredible." At the height of his addiction, he was spending £150 a day on drugs. In January 2023, he was "in such a bad way" that he considered ending his life, prompting him to realize he needed to change.

A friend encouraged him to start running, and he initially found it challenging, starting by jogging around a car park. Now, he serves as the director of Recovery Runners, stating, "Running saved my life." To date, he has completed 10 ultra-marathons and more than 30 marathons. Mr. Melling has raised £6,800 of his £15,000 target to establish a base for his group, which helps individuals overcome addiction and mental health challenges and currently has over 100 members.