MIND OVER MARATHON

BBC One, Thursday, 9pm

ONE in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem, yet we rarely talk openly or candidly about it. For those who have these difficulties, this stigma only exacerbates their situation, making it harder to recover.

In the first of two programmes, a group of 10 unlikely runners living with or affected by different mental health issues train for the ultimate test of mind over matter, competing in one of the world’s most famous endurance races – this year’s London Marathon.

Mental and physical health are closely linked, and taking up sport or exercise can benefit our psychological wellbeing – but this is no easy ride. Presenter Nick Knowles is on a personal mission to get our runners across the finishing line and leads a team of running experts, nutritionists and psychiatrists.

In this episode the group come from all over the country to meet for the first time at a training camp. Each of the runners faces different challenges, with unique personal journeys.

Among the 10 runners is Rhian, a mum of three who lost her one-year-old son to pneumonia and five days later tragically lost her husband as well. She struggles with PTSD and anxiety and initially can’t run on her own.

Shereece had postpartum depression after the birth of her first child. She struggles with depression and panic attacks – and persuading her family that mental health problems are a real illness.

Jake, a barman from Brighton, has struggled with depression but wants to try running as a way to help cope with his illness.

This episode follows them as they get ready for the challenge of running their first 10k race – an important milestone if they’re to make the starting line of the London Marathon 2017, which takes place a few days after transmission.