Francis Benali continues his daunting challenge to run to each Premier League football stadium

Kelly Rutledge is the Dell favourite’s sports therapist on his attempt to run 1,000 miles in three weeks between all 20 Premier League clubs and she admits that she’s never seen fitness like Benali’s ever before.

The 45-year-old, who made nearly 400 appearances for Saints, is 17 days in to his epic Benali’s Big Run, which has seen him run 40 to 50 miles on consecutive days since 24 August as he aims to raise £1 million for Cancer Research UK.

After leaving a gruelling stint across Wales to Swansea’s Liberty Stadium behind him, he crossed the Severn Bridge yesterday and stopped in Swindon last night.

He’s now eyeing his next Premier League stadium, QPR’s Loftus Road tomorrow, before visiting five in one day on Thursday, ahead of the final stop at St Mary’s on Saturday when Saints take on Newcastle.

Benali’s physical and mental capacity has constantly surprised Rutledge, who works at Saints part time.

“His endurance and stamina is immense,” said Rutledge. “I’ve never seen anything like it; he only stops for a water break or a food.

“He has never stopped because he is tired. He stops because I tell him to.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before.

“His physical and mental ability is something amazing.

“I’m surprised he’s held out so well.

“I didn’t ever doubt him, but I never thought his body would hold out so well. He got his first blisters two days ago.”

Rutledge doesn’t see a reason why Benali won’t finish his extraordinary challenge this Saturday.

“His body is holding up really well,” she said.

“We had a few knee issues, which we’ve worked on and we’ve put them at bay.

“He’s in good shape to do this. He’s running the miles comfortably most days.

“His mental stubbornness will get him through this, whether his body can do it or not, his mental drive is making him do it.

“But his body is holding up a lot better than I or any medical professionals ever thought it would.

“We check in with him every mile, to see his pain scale, how he’s doing fluids-wise and generally check if he needs anything.

“I’m constantly on his back, he must be so bored of my nagging.

“I’m always on his back saying ‘you haven’t drunk enough’, ‘you haven’t eaten enough’.

“The poor bloke doesn’t have a choice, you need to be drinking and if I think he isn’t drinking enough I’ll nag him until the bottle’s gone and then replace it with another one.”

Today Benali will be navigating his way to Nettlebed in Oxfordshire from Swindon.

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A holiday flavour to happy Franny’s incredible journey

YOU’D have been forgiven for thinking it was the Benali countryside family holiday.

Ben, the family dog is roaming around, sandwiches are being served as a lunch time picnic and the general atmosphere is relaxed, writes Peter Howard.

I had to remind myself that, on a sunny September Monday in the picturesque Cotswolds, Saints legend Francis Benali is nearing the final stretch of a three-week-long, 1,000 mile run around all 20 Premier League clubs.

It is all too easy to forget that the former Dell defender has been running 40 to 50 miles for 16 consecutive days on his own invented challenge ‘Benali’s Big Run’, as he tries to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK.

The 45-year-old was happy and chatty. I even spoke and laughed with him as I joined him on a brief jog as he approached his lunch pit stop.

What Franny is trying to achieve is absolutely staggering. What I joined up with a very serious organisation that is equipped with navigator and sports therapist – it’s a professional outfit keeping this incredible challenge going – but at the same time it just felt like a leisurely jaunt across the country.

But it is testament to Benali’s mentality that the whole event feels like a family occasion.

He’s taken his work ethic that he had during his career Saints and transferred it into his running.

Always smiling and will never, under any circumstances, give up.

Benali’s high spirits is what makes this even more amazing. On the outside he is cheery and full of jokes, but on the inside is, clearly, a determined and unwaveringly commitment man, who will not rest until he has defeated this epic.

He started the day in Wales and ended it in Swindon – that was just one day of the 16 so far.

At this point you can’t see how this challenge will defeat him.