Podcaster, entrepreneur and endurance athlete Spencer Matthews, is today launching a nationwide call for runners to get their knees “sponsored” ahead of the London Marathon – as new data from The Turmeric Co. reveals the true toll training is taking on the nation’s joints.
The scheme was born out of research from the functional nutrition brand which shows almost half of Brits who exercise are reaching for painkillers just to keep moving. With 47% using medication to enable them to work out, a worrying number are patching over problems rather than tackling the root cause.
That need for self‑medication is underlined by data revealing the hidden damage being done to people’s bodies, with knees emerging as one of the biggest casualties. A nationally representative study of UK adults who exercise found that almost 4 in 10 (39%) are currently dealing with some form of pain or injury related to being active. Among those affected, the knee is joint‑top of the list (41%), alongside the lower back (41%), followed by the hips (23%) and ankles/feet (23%).
In response, The Turmeric Co. has launched a new national campaign to support runners’ recovery and resilience – stepping in as the unexpected “knee sponsor” of the nation ahead of marathon day. Anyone who signs up to the scheme can receive up to three months’ worth of functional turmeric shots, each containing up to 35g of raw turmeric root, renowned for its anti‑inflammatory properties. Curcumin – the active compound in turmeric – is key to reducing inflammation and supporting joint health, making it the perfect ingredient for painful joints. Runners can sign up now via: https://theturmeric.co/pages/sponsoring-knees-2026.
Injury isn’t just an occasional twinge, it’s holding people back in their everyday lives. More than a quarter (28%) say pain or injury affects their day‑to‑day activities, while just over one in five (21%) admit they are training less often or at a lower intensity because of it. A further fifth (20%) have had to stop exercising altogether for a period, and on average runners estimate they lose around 3.6 hours of exercise every week as a direct result of pain or injury.
Entrepreneur and endurance enthusiast, Spencer Matthews explained why he decided to ‘sponsor’ his own knees: “I’m no stranger to serious injuries caused by running and once I started to prioritise the less obvious areas of performance I saw enormous improvements. But it’s not just about performance – injuries can take a huge mental toll and dealing with constant pain can be completely debilitating. That’s why this is something I feel so passionately about. If we can help runners look after their bodies better and avoid some of that pain, that’s a win.”
For women, there are even more barriers to contend with. Hormonal health adds an additional layer of challenge for those trying to stay active. Over a third say hormonal changes affect their ability to exercise regularly, with 36% reporting that shifts in hormones impact how consistently they can work out. Almost a quarter (24%) say they have skipped or adjusted workouts because of their cycle and 17% admit they have cancelled an event, race or training plan due to symptoms. During menstruation, fatigue or low energy (40%) and cramps or pelvic pain (36%) are the most common issues affecting exercise. When women add this up across a typical week, they estimate losing around 2.9 hours of exercise on average because of their period or hormonal changes. For female marathoners, that can mean even more pressure to get recovery and nutrition right in order to stick to gruelling training plans.
Founded by former professional footballer Thomas Hal Robson‑Kanu after his own battle with chronic knee issues, The Turmeric Co. creates cold‑crushed turmeric shots formulated to support recovery and reduce reliance on everyday painkillers.
“I know first‑hand what it’s like to live with persistent pain and to wonder if your body will let you do what your mind is set on. Right now, 1 in 3 are frequently running and we estimate roughly 3.5 million people in the UK are training for a big race. With our research showing nearly 4 in 10 of those who exercise are pushing through some kind of pain or injury – we don’t think that’s acceptable.
“At The Turmeric Co., our mission is to create natural products that actually make a difference to recovery, so people don’t feel they have to mask pain to stay active. By ‘sponsoring’ the nation’s knees ahead of the London Marathon, we want to celebrate the resilience of runners, start an honest conversation about pain and injury, and show that there is a smarter, more natural way to look after your body.”
Whether it’s the Raw Turmeric & Ginger shots to help manage arthritis and everyday joint pain, or the Raw Turmeric & Beetroot shots to support endurance and long-distance runs, there is something in the range for everyone. Each shot contains up to 35g of raw turmeric root, combined with some of nature’s most potent superfoods.
Curcumin, the compound in turmeric that is key to reducing inflammation and supporting joint health, is typically difficult for the body to absorb. Every one of The Turmeric Co.’s shots contains piperine (black pepper extract) alongside other natural absorption‑enhancers in the brand’s trade‑secret BioMax Uptake Blend®. This allows curcumin to be properly absorbed by the body and is scientifically proven to increase absorption by up to 2,000% – helping runners get more from every shot, every training session and every mile.
