One in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem, yet despite being so widespread, people rarely talk openly or candidly about it. For those who have these difficulties, this stigma can exacerbate their situation and make it harder to recover. In this two-part series, a group of ten unlikely runners living with or affected by different mental health issues train for the ultimate test of mind over matter. They'll compete in one of the world's most famous endurance races - the 2017 London Marathon. Mental and physical health is closely linked, and taking up sport or exercise can benefit our psychological wellbeing, but this is no easy ride. Nick Knowles is on a personal mission to get the runners across the finishing line and leads a team of running experts, nutritionists and psychologists. The runners are running in the London Marathon for Heads Together, a campaign set up by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to tackle the stigma around mental health. In the first episode, the group come from all over the country to meet for the first time at a training camp. Each runner faces different challenges, some right from the start, and the show follows their experiences. Among the ten 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 can't run on her own when she starts this process. Shereece had postpartum depression after the birth of her first child and 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. The episode follows them up to the point of getting ready for the challenge of running their first 10k race - an important milestone if they are to make the starting line of the London Marathon 2017, which takes
In the second of this two-part series, a group of unlikely runners living with different mental health issues are halfway through their training for the ultimate test of mind over matter. But who will make it to the starting line of one of the world's most famous endurance races, 2017's London Marathon? Mental and physical health is closely linked, and taking up sport or exercise can benefit psychological wellbeing, but this is no easy ride. Presenter Nick Knowles is on a personal mission to get the runners across the finishing line, and leads a team of running experts, nutritionists and psychologists. The remaining nine runners juggling physical injuries along with their mental health challenges and trying to fit training into their lives. They attempt longer and longer distances and even travel to the Brecon Beacons for a mountain run. The episode catches up with Rhian, Shereece, Jake and Poppy, who struggles with anxiety and the symptoms of PTSD. The runners are joined at a training day by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The royal trio have launched a campaign to remove the stigma around mental health issues and are keen to meet the runners and learn more about their experiences. It's an incredible boost to the runners, but will it be enough to get them to the finishing line of the London Marathon? The runners are taking part in the London Marathon for Heads Together, the campaign led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which is the official Charity of the Year for 2017's event.