250km, five days and 6,574m of elevation, September 15th – September 19th, Fitness Instructor Jack took on his biggest running challenge yet as part of Why We Run, raising money for mental health charity Big Moose, which supports mental health initiatives. The challenge took place in Pembrokeshire, with each day’s distance made up of repeated loops rather than one continuous route. This meant running past the same sections multiple times. The event is not just about distance but also about community, resilience, and personal growth.

Day 1 – Blue Lagoon | 45km | 1,337m elevation
The week started with three loops of the 15km Blue Lagoon route. The shorter of the two main courses, it followed the Welsh Coastal Path past the famous Blue Lagoon and the fishing port of Porthgain before heading inland on the road and re-joining the coast on the return to camp.

Jack arrived feeling good but understandably anxious about what the next five days would bring. The day also included a talk from someone who had previously received support from Big Moose, sharing how accessing that support had saved her life. It was an early reminder of the reason behind the challenge and the difference the fundraising could make. By the end of the day, 45km was safely in the legs.

Day 2 – Whitesands | 56km | 1,400m elevation
Day two moved onto the longer and more technical Whitesands route. Starting with a 7.5km road section, the course climbed towards Carn Llidi before circling the peak and joining the coastal path through Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Jack completed the route three times, covering 56km and bringing his total to 101km in two days, the furthest he had ever run.

Day 3 – Blue Lagoon | 61km | 1,980m elevation
Day three returned to the Blue Lagoon route, this time completing four loops. With 61km and almost 2,000m of elevation, it became the toughest day of the week.
Towards the end of the day, Jack developed some pain in his leg. After a visit to the physios at camp, some taping and a short break, he was able to get back out and complete the distance.

Day 4 – Whitesands and a change of plan | 56km | 937m elevation
Day four started back on the Whitesands route, but the weather had other ideas. Strong winds made the coastal path unsafe, so after completing one loop and part of the second, the route was changed.
The rest of the 56km was completed through repeated out-and-backs along a 7km stretch of road. It wasn’t quite the coastal scenery originally planned, but the kilometres still had to be covered

Day 5 – The final 35km | 35km | 976m elevation
By the final morning, there were just 35km left. The runners were given letters from people who had received support from Big Moose to carry with them during the final day. Jack also had some voice notes from home, which provided an extra boost when the legs were understandably tired.

The whole team walked the first 5km together before setting off to complete the remaining 30km. With the finish finally within reach, Jack managed some of his fastest loops of the week. After five days, he had completed 250km, the equivalent of around six marathons,  with 6,574m of elevation, roughly equivalent to climbing from Lukla to the summit of Everest.

For Jack, the distance was only part of what made the experience so memorable. The support from the crew, Medics,  physios and fellow runners, combined with hearing directly from people who had accessed Big Moose’s services, gave the challenge a much bigger purpose than simply completing the kilometres.

So far, £32,365 has been raised, enough to fund 79 full courses of therapy through Big Moose. After months of training and five very long days, Jack finished the challenge with 250km completed and an experience he’ll take away long after the running has stopped.