Spencer Matthews

Spencer Matthews is a British endurance athlete, marathon runner, ultrarunner and host of UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews. His achievements include a 2:49:46 marathon at Berlin in 2026, third place at the 2023 Jungle Ultra, and three Guinness World Records across desert running and long-distance triathlon. He combines his own sporting challenges with conversations about training, recovery and performance.

From television and business to endurance sport

Matthews first became widely known through Made in Chelsea and later founded the alcohol-free spirits brand CleanCo. Endurance sport has become a major part of his public work, from multi-stage ultramarathons to ambitious fundraising challenges. His experience as an improving runner also shapes the questions he brings to UNTAPPED.

Marathon des Sables and Jungle Ultra podium

In July 2021, Matthews completed the 100 km Race to the Stones in 16:15:04. Later that year, he finished the Marathon des Sables in Morocco in 39:49:44, placing 69th overall. He achieved a podium finish at the five-stage Jungle Ultra in Peru in 2023, finishing third overall in 39:05:00. His wider race history includes the 2022 Ice Ultra in Sweden, where he completed two stages before withdrawing and was recorded as a non-finisher.

30 desert marathons in 30 days

From 29 July to 27 August 2024, Matthews completed 30 marathon distances on sand in Jordan in 30 consecutive days. The challenge earned the Guinness World Records title for the most marathon distances completed on sand in one month by a male runner. He undertook the challenge in support of Global's Make Some Noise. These consecutive desert efforts were an endurance record attempt, distinct from a conventional road marathon.

Project Se7en and Antarctic triathlon records

Project Se7en extended that ambition into triathlon. Between 13 November and 4 December 2025, Matthews completed a 140.6-mile triathlon on each of the seven continents in 21 days, 9 hours and 18 minutes. The route took him through London, Arizona, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro and Antarctica. The overall challenge earned a Guinness record, while his Antarctic triathlon on 3–4 December, completed in 28:51:11, earned another. The project raised awareness and funds for James' Place.

Six Snowdon ascents in under 24 hours

On 21–22 May 2026, Matthews completed six ascents and descents of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in 22 hours and 41 minutes. The mountain challenge, supported by O2 Satellite, brought together members of his Project Se7en team and required him to continue through darkness, strong winds and a knee injury. It added a sustained mountain effort to a sporting record already spanning desert ultramarathons, road marathons and long-distance triathlon.

Marathon times and half-marathon progress

His road-running progression includes 3:07:25 at the 2025 London Marathon and 3:06:14 at Berlin that September. He broke three hours for the first time at the Tokyo Marathon in March 2026, then ran 3:00:04 in London the following month. At The Big Half in London on 6 September 2026, he recorded 1:23:05 for the half marathon. His 2:49:46 at the Berlin Marathon on 27 September 2026 became his marathon PB, as he continued his pursuit of a sub-2:45 finish.

UNTAPPED podcast and notable guests

UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews launched in January 2025 with the team behind High Performance. The show explores running, endurance, training and the habits behind sporting performance. Guests include Paula Radcliffe, Holly Archer, Sir Mo Farah, Alistair Brownlee, Stephen Scullion, Georgia Hunter Bell, Amanal Petros and Iwan Thomas. Its wider interviews include climber Alex Honnold, while physiologist Oli Patrick joins Matthews for discussions about subjects such as sleep, training zones and recovery. The guest list connects British and international elite sport with the questions faced by everyday runners.

Connections to Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

Holly Archer gives the podcast a particular connection to East Anglian running. A Cambridge & Coleridge athlete, she won the women's race at Run Norwich in Norfolk in 2025 and the 2025 Ipswich Half Marathon in Suffolk, where she ran 1:15:55. Her UNTAPPED appearance brings that regional racing background into a wider discussion of performance and training.

Follow Spencer Matthews and UNTAPPED

Matthews shares his training and endurance challenges on Instagram as @spencermatthews. The podcast's Instagram account is @untapped.podcast, and episodes are available through the official UNTAPPED page and podcast feed.

Spencer Matthews's published record includes performances from 2021 to 2026 in 100 km ultramarathon, Marathon, 234.2 km stage ultramarathon, Ultramarathon — five-stage race, Triathlon — full distance (140.6 miles). Selected recorded events include Race to the Stones — 100K (2021; source checked); BMW Berlin Marathon (2026; source checked); 35th Marathon des Sables (2021; source checked).

Official websites and podcast links

• Spencer Matthews on Instagram
• Official UNTAPPED podcast
• Listen to UNTAPPED episodes
• UNTAPPED on Instagram