15.10.2026 08:51
British athlete Nicholas Coats completed a 1,700-kilometer route covering Albania, Greece, and Turkey in 37 days by running, and reached the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir. Coats, who ran an average of 45-50 kilometers per day, was welcomed in Ürgüp by his family and girlfriend. The athlete, who set out for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, will run in the Cappadocia Ultra Trail race on Saturday.
British athlete Nicholas Coats crossed three countries by running 1,700 kilometers in 37 days and reached Ürgüp, one of Cappadocia's important tourism destinations. Coats, who ran an average of 45-50 kilometers per day, was welcomed in Ürgüp by his mother, father, and girlfriend, as well as many citizens and athletes. The British athlete said that on the challenging journey he set out on with the slogan 'Unbound-Break the Silence', he aimed to raise awareness about mental health and contribute to the prevention of suicides.
HE PLOTTED THE ROUTE ON GOOGLE MAPS
British athlete Nicholas Coats, who had long dreamed of participating in the Cappadocia Ultra Trail race, decided to combine his journey with a meaningful purpose while setting a major goal for himself this year. Coats, who had previously served in the military, added the charity run 'Ultra for Charity' held in Albania to his goals and planned to combine the two organizations in one journey. Planning his journey by examining distances on Google Maps at his home in Dubai, the British athlete calculated that he needed to run an average of 45-50 kilometers per day. Putting his plan into action, Coats covered a total of 1,700 kilometers by running along the Albania, Greece, and Turkey route in 37 days. Reaching Ürgüp at the end of the journey, the athlete aims to rest and recover before the Cappadocia Ultra Trail race to be held on Saturday.
HIS ENERGY RAN OUT IN THE LAST 20 KILOMETERS
Explaining that he encountered physical and mental challenges every day throughout the journey, Coats said that especially the last day was quite difficult for him. Stating that he experienced great fatigue in the last 20 kilometers, the British athlete expressed that he felt he had no strength left to continue and sat down on a wall, but after eating something, drinking water, and resting briefly, he set off again and reached his goal. Stating that he received great support from his family, girlfriend, and friends throughout the journey, Coats mentioned that people he did not know in Turkey, Greece, and Albania also helped him. Coats said that the congratulations and support messages he received via social media moved him.
HE RAN WITH THE MESSAGE 'BREAK THE SILENCE'
Coats, who collected donations for the charity 'Checking on a Mate' operating in the UK, stated that through his journey he aimed to raise awareness about mental health and contribute to the prevention of suicides. Drawing attention to the importance of people asking after one another and supporting each other in difficult times, Coats emphasized that mental health issues need to be discussed more. Saying that the main purpose of his journey carried out with the message 'Unbound-Break the Silence' was to remind people that they are not alone, the British athlete expressed that people going through difficult times should not hesitate to share what they are experiencing and to ask for help.