NHS England to Launch 'Marathon a Month' Walking Challenge Early in 2027

NHS England will launch a "marathon a month" walking challenge early in 2027. Participants are asked to walk for around 30 minutes a day, which over a month amounts to roughly 26 miles. Users will log walks online or through phone or smartwatch applications.

Those who meet the daily target for a full month will be eligible for rewards including incentives and discounts. The scheme is part of the 10-year health plan for England and was developed with Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster. NHS England is covering initial setup costs, while partnerships with other public and private sector organizations will run the rewards portion.

Physical inactivity is associated with one in six deaths in England. A person is classified as physically inactive if they do less than 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. In the year to November 2025, nearly a quarter of adults, around 12 million people, fell into that category, according to Sport England data.

Sir Brendan Foster said walking 30 minutes five times a week could add up to four extra years of healthy life. The aim is to sign up more than 100,000 people with daily stats recorded digitally, he stated. Sonia Pombo, head of research and impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, said encouraging regular movement can support health but must be paired with stronger prevention measures.