Some marathons celebrate extraordinary athletic achievement. Others raise money for worthy causes. And then there's a marathon inspired by a fictional drug addict who went jogging, completely lost the run of himself and ended up in Windsor.
Tomorrow morning, 165 runners will take to the streets of London for what might be the most gloriously ridiculous marathon of 2026, recreating one of the most memorable moments from the cult British sitcom Peep Show.
The event, appropriately named Accidentally Run to Windsor, will see participants tackle 26.2 miles from Croydon to Windsor, following in the footsteps of everyone's favourite deeply dysfunctional recreational drug enthusiast, Super Hans.
Unlike most marathon organisers, who spend considerable time promoting the physical and mental benefits of running, the inspiration here comes from a man whose general approach to life would make a medical professional consider early retirement.
How Super Hans Accidentally Became a Marathon Runner
For anyone unfamiliar with the original scene, it comes from the third episode of Peep Show's seventh series, broadcast in 2010.
Having decided to give up crack cocaine, Super Hans, played by Matt King, enthusiastically throws himself into healthier pursuits, including running.
Unfortunately, he discovers the addictive properties of exercise and takes things slightly too far.
After an extraordinarily enthusiastic run, he phones his friend Jeremy with the immortal announcement:
"I've accidentally run to Windsor."
He explains that the endorphins kicked in and he simply couldn't stop running. His legs have subsequently stopped functioning, although he appears remarkably pleased with the situation.
For most people, this would be a cautionary tale about pacing yourself.
For a group of British running enthusiasts, it was apparently a perfectly reasonable basis for organising an actual marathon.
From Croydon to Windsor, With Olives Along the Way
The event was first organised in 2024 by fans associated with the popular Dobby Club, after someone noticed that the distance between Croydon and Windsor was almost exactly that of a marathon.
A coincidence? Perhaps. An opportunity to turn a ridiculous television moment into a genuine endurance event? Absolutely.
Saturday's participants will begin at Zodiac Court in Croydon, the real building used as Apollo House, where Mark Corrigan and Jeremy Usborne lived in the series.
From there, the route takes runners through Wimbledon, Richmond and Runnymede before reaching Windsor, passing along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle and eventually finishing at Two Flints Brewery.
Naturally, this isn't an entirely conventional marathon.
Refreshment stations will feature olives, referencing another of Super Hans' questionable obsessions, while runners can expect support from the wonderfully named Men with Ven.
Previous editions have featured participants dressing as characters from the programme, including one particularly committed runner who reportedly completed the entire marathon wearing a Mark Corrigan style suit and carrying two shopping bags.
Running 26.2 miles in a suit is impressive enough. Doing it while looking like a man who's just been mugged outside an off licence takes a special sort of commitment.
One rather sensible detail is that the organisers explicitly prohibit participants from running under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
It's probably the only aspect of Super Hans' wider lifestyle that nobody was particularly keen to replicate.
A Proper Peep Show Celebration at the Finish
The marathon gets underway at 11am on Saturday, with runners eventually arriving at Two Flints Brewery in Windsor.
There, the celebrations will include beer, pizza, music and plenty of references to the sitcom.
Liam Noble, who played the memorably unhinged Big Mad Andy, is also expected to make an appearance behind the bar.
For those who missed out on entering, registration has already closed, although spectators are welcome to support the runners along the route or join the celebrations at the finish.
The starting area at Zodiac Court will be welcoming visitors from 10am until midday.
Probably the Most Unusual Marathon You'll See This Weekend
Behind all the absurdity, there's something genuinely brilliant about the event.
Running can sometimes take itself terribly seriously. Endless conversations about carbon plated shoes, lactate thresholds, personal bests and precisely how many grams of carbohydrate somebody can force down their throat in an hour.
And then along comes a group of people who simply want to run a marathon because a fictional lunatic accidentally did one on television 16 years ago.
No world records. No elite pacemakers. Just 165 runners, an awful lot of olives and a shared appreciation for one of British television's greatest comedies.
Most importantly, unlike Super Hans, these runners have actually planned their journey.
Which, when you think about it, rather defeats the whole purpose.
