Spencer Matthews Faces Backlash for Calling Marathons 'Easy'

Spencer Matthews, a former star of Made In Chelsea, has ignited a significant social media backlash with his assertion that running a marathon is an "easy" feat. The 38-year-old, who holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive marathons run on sand, made the comments during an appearance on the We Have A Meeting podcast.

"Without sounding like a k**b, running a marathon is easy. Like like most people can run a marathon," Matthews stated. He differentiated this from running at peak performance, adding, "Running a marathon as fast as you can possibly run a marathon is something completely different. That's not the same thing."

Matthews' remarks quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from viewers and fellow public figures. Former X Factor contestant Jake Quickenden responded directly, asserting, "Marathons ain't easy."

Online commentary reflected widespread disagreement. Many users expressed frustration with what they perceived as out-of-touch sentiments from a celebrity, highlighting that completing a marathon is a significant achievement for the majority of people. "‘Running a marathon is easy’ I really dislike the way sport influencers try to normalise amazing achievements like marathons / half marathons. 1% of people run a marathon in their lives. It’s a massive thing to celebrate," one user wrote. Another commented, "So out of touch it's actually incredible. The whole issue with running in 2026 in 1 video."

Others pointed to the privileges that might facilitate such a perspective, with one comment suggesting, "Easy when you have nannies & no 9-5, keep it real pal!"

Matthews has transitioned from reality television to endurance sports, having completed 30 marathons in 30 days across the Jordanian desert in August 2024. He recently achieved a personal best time of 2:49:46 at the Berlin Marathon, indicating a focus on elite-level road racing.

In unrelated personal news, Matthews recently spoke about adjusting to life with his fourth child, Remy, with wife Vogue Williams. He shared that he has been sleeping in a separate room to manage sleep deprivation, a change that has impacted their time together as a couple.