Brit Stand-Up Runs 43 Marathons in 52 Days

Eddie Izzard 'beyond exhaustion' after 1,100 mile charity challenge
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:09 AM CDT

Eddie Izzard had never run more than 5 miles in his life before this summer but he'll be aiming for the finish line in his 43rd marathon today, the Guardian reports. The stand-up comedian, 47 years old and better known for wearing high heels and make-up than for running, took up the challenge of running nearly a marathon a day for the Sport Relief charity seven weeks ago and will have run more than 1,000 miles by the time he gets to London's Trafalgar Square today.

Izzard—who now calls himself an "action transvestite"—says it's been a great adventure, but he's now "beyond exhaustion." "If you imagine you drive in a tiny Mini across a wasteland where there is no petrol station and the petrol gauge is always on empty, that is me," he says. "I put a little in every night and the needle moves and then the next day I'm below empty again. I am falling asleep when I'm talking to people." Izzard plans to follow up his 43-marathon feat with a 44-concert tour.
(More Eddie Izzard stories.)

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