Cancer survivor tackles gruelling 100-mile run

Laura Watts has run in 184 marathons and shows no sign of stopping

A skin cancer survivor who has completed 184 marathons is now taking on a gruelling 100-mile challenge across Sussex and Surrey.

Laura Watts, from Bognor Regis, once ran 12 marathons in as many days and is the only British woman to have run the infamous Badwater Ultramarathon in California's Death Valley three times.

Now, the ultra-athlete is taking on the Centurion Running Winter Downs 100 - a 100-mile continuous trail run across the South Downs Way, which starts at Amberley Museum on Wednesday.

"The time limit is 35 hours," she told BBC Radio Sussex. "The fastest I've run a hundred miles is 21 hours and 40 minutes, but because of the conditions, I'm thinking probably 26 hours."

Laura pictured during one of the Badwater Ultramarathon races in Death Valley

"I'm glad Storm Darragh is out of the way," she said. "It's going to be about 7C, grey, and probably will rain.

In 2018, Laura was diagnosed with skin cancer. Since then, she has raised more than £50,000 for charity, including for the British Skin Foundation.

Ultra-athlete Laura has picked up a number of medals along the way

She said: "After I had my melanoma removed and lymph nodes, the doctor said, 'No running for while'.

"Three weeks later I ran three marathons in three weeks, so it was against the orders, but they know what I'm like."

Laura's husband, Matt, will meet her at the three aid points along the route.

"We normally have a bit of a buffet going in the back of the car," said Laura. "But I'll be on the move the whole time - no sleeping."

The race starts in Amberley and heads towards Winchester, joining the St Swithun's Way from Alton to Farnham, and finishes just after Box Hill in Surrey.