Every so often, someone comes along who makes you sit up and say: wow, this person is going to do something exciting! I got that when I met 19-year-old ultrarunner Peter Knowles from Basingstoke, who just tackled one of the UK’s toughest races: The Berkeley Marathons.
If you’ve not heard of it before, think of it as Britain’s answer to the infamous Barkley Marathons in the US. The UK variant is a race so brutal it was literally designed to be “unfinishable.” Five laps. 130 miles. 15,000ft of elevation. No course markers. No support stations. Just you, a paper map, your supplies, and a whole lot of determination.
And Peter, at just 19, managed to complete two full laps – that’s 55 miles of the route, over some very hilly trails! A pretty great effort for someone pretty new to trails and navigation.
The Race That Eats Dreams for Breakfast
The Berkeley Marathons isn’t just about physical toughness. It’s a mental game, a puzzle, and sometimes even a comedy of errors (Peter told us he briefly ended up being guided by a horse on the course – yes, really). Of the 69 starters this year, nearly half dropped out after just one lap. Most of those who attempted lap two never made it to the end. Only one person completed four laps, setting a course record (a huge shout out to Ian Newms from Stroud Running Club), but nobody – ever – has managed all five.
This is where dreams go to die. And Peter, instead of being broken by it, has come away more determined than ever.
Finding His “Why”
Peter admitted that the hardest part wasn’t the climbs or the distance. It was staying motivated:
“The hardest part was finding a reason to keep going. When your ‘why’ fades, everything becomes harder. I had to switch off from emotion and just focus on moving forward, even when my body and mind were exhausted.”
That’s the kind of mindset that makes champions.
Why We Backed Him
Here at The Feets, we’re passionate about supporting ambitious athletes who push limits. Peter is exactly that. He only started running ultramarathons in 2024, and he’s already racked up 16 ultra finishes. His inspiration? The legendary Jasmin Paris, who earlier this year became the first woman to finish the Barkley Marathons in the US with just 99 seconds to spare.
We kitted Peter out with our all-natural foot care range to help him through the mud, the miles, and the misery, from our anti-chafe balm to our moisturising cracked heel cream and recovery muscle rub. And as he put it himself:
“The Feets’ products made a real difference. They’re authentic and genuinely care about what they do and I certainly wouldn’t have made it as far as I did without them.”
Hearing that makes the long hours of developing our all-natural range of active foot care worthwhile.
What’s Next for Peter?
This isn’t the end – far from it. Peter’s already got his next target in sight: a 100-mile run across the Sahara desert in January. No easy aid stations, no creature comforts, just carrying everything he needs with water drops every 10km.
And he summed it up beautifully:
“Being the best isn’t about beating others. It’s about being better than who you were yesterday.”
That’s exactly the mindset we live by at The Feets.
Why This Matters
For me personally, supporting Peter isn’t just about helping a young athlete. It’s about showing what’s possible when you combine passion, grit, and a little help from the right products and people (a big shout out to his Dad for being there as crew!). He might only be 19, but Peter is already showing the kind of determination that inspires others to lace up, get out there, and test themselves — and I love that, because that's what we're about.
And trust me – this is just the beginning for him. With more time on the trails and experience in night navigation, I’ve no doubt he can get to four laps… maybe even five. But even if the Berkeley Marathons remain unbeaten, Peter’s drive to keep coming back, keep learning, and keep pushing is what makes him one to watch.
We’re proud to have had a role in his journey, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.
Logan
