Day 1 of My 6-in-6 Ultra Challenge – Community, Resilience, and Surprises

The Quiet Before the Challenge

5:30 a.m. The alarm goes off.

Car packed the night before, my parents ready to crew for the week ahead. My first request? To start alone. From previous challenges, I know I need an hour or so of solitude to get my head straight. I don’t like crowds at the start—I need that feeling of complete solitude before taking on something massive. The first step has to be mine and mine alone.

Jo had kindly organized the group chats and logistics, and I’d let everyone know about my need for a quiet start. Pulling into the car park, I expected to wave goodbye to my parents and walk to the start on my own, ready to settle into the headspace I love. But what made me most anxious about this challenge wasn’t the miles ahead—it was managing the people who came to support me and their expectations. I know I can suffer and push through hard things, but I wasn’t sure how I’d handle such immense support. Not that I’m ungrateful—I appreciate everyone who shows up for me. It’s just never been a factor before.

An Unexpected Send-Off

I’d planned to start this run solo, hoping for a quiet moment to get my head in the zone. But a few people turned up with the best intentions and warm support. It caught me off guard, and I quickly realized a camera in that moment wasn’t what I wanted. It wasn’t the peaceful start I’d envisioned, but it was real—and ultra running rarely goes to plan. At 7 a.m. sharp, I started running, keen to get away and hopefully find the quiet I’d been craving for months. Unfortunately, it didn’t come, but I did find my rhythm. (I also realized I hadn’t eaten breakfast or packed any snacks!)

Settling In and Finding My Rhythm

About 5km in, a message was sent out for someone to bring me snacks. I was content to wait until the first checkpoint, but it was a welcome sight to see Joanna running towards me with four Fredos, which disappeared within seconds. Running down the canal through Newport, I was still buzzing from the novelty of the challenge. Heading up a hill, I spotted Tim waiting to join me. Tim was also doing the Pegasus Slam and, despite missing the first race, kept his Slam alive by running the Canum solo. He didn’t want anyone else to face the monotony alone, so he ran the route again to support me—true camaraderie.

The Power of Community

The miles ticked by as the conversation flowed, and I finally started to settle into the challenge, moving faster than anyone expected. At checkpoint one, my parents, Joanna, Chris, Jenks, and Rachel were waiting. Jenks documented the day, my parents crewed the week, and Rachel—with her super crew van—cooked for everyone on day one. Chris joined for a few miles, and Joanna was a constant presence throughout the week, always offering a hand.

Chris, Tim, and I set off again, pace fast and spirits high. I was told to slow down, but I wanted to make the most of feeling good. I knew I wouldn’t always be able to move this well, so I enjoyed it while it lasted. The day flew by, thanks to the scenery (the Canum route is underrated!), great company, and the constant flow of support. Tim left at checkpoint two, and Chris and I continued alone.

Listening to My Body

At every checkpoint, I made sure to eat, drink, and take care of myself—no rushing through like in a race. We logged everything I ate and enjoyed the company, food, and music.

Around this point, my first niggle appeared. Ten days before, during Dusk till Dawn, my ankle had flared up. Five years after I broke it, it still acts up, sometimes leaving me unable to walk for days. I was hoping it wouldn’t affect this challenge, but just 5km in, I could feel it. Trying to protect my ankle changed my running, which led to some hip pain. This is when I let my pace drop. I was sensible—if I wanted to walk, I walked; if I needed to sit, I sat. But we always kept moving forward.

Serendipity on the Route

Just as we approached checkpoint three, we spotted a lone figure walking over a bridge. “That’s Rhys,” Chris shouted. I wasn’t missing this chance—I ran up to the bridge, chasing after Rhys Jenkins, the founder of Pegasus and one of my biggest inspirations. He just happened to be passing by, out on a training run. A quick chat, and my day was made. What are the chances? Out of anywhere, anyone, and anytime, I happened to bump into Rhys while completing a challenge linked to him.

Family Miles and Local Legends

Chris left here, and my dad jumped in to run with me. It was great sharing the scenery with him. He’s not much of a runner, but over the past year he’s completed his first 10km and half marathon—he’s quick, too! I just need to teach him a few more things before he tackles an ultra. Soon after, we saw Matt and Lisa, who came out to say hi and snap some photos (Matt’s an incredible photographer—highly recommend). The mountains were calling to me, and I couldn’t wait to get into them, my preferred terrain.

Next up was my mum. It was equally meaningful sharing some trail time with her—she’s completed two 10kms herself, and I’m sure she’ll do an ultra one day.

A Strong Finish

Approaching the last checkpoint, I expected to be running solo, but out of the blue, Elis appeared—a phenomenal local runner I’d recently met on my podcast. The pace picked up! He’d already run out to meet me, so his legs weren’t fresh, but he made it look easy. I, on the other hand, soon needed to walk, feeling guilty for slowing him down. Until then, everyone who’d run with me had hit PB segments or gone faster than expected; this was the first time (but not the last) I felt like I was holding someone back.

My watch counted down to the finish. With 200m to go, we agreed to up the pace and finish strong. Running in to the sound of cowbells and cheers, I was met by a group of dedicated friends and family at the “finish” for day one. Forty miles along the canal from Newport to Brecon—done. I finished strong, feeling good, and was handed my first medal of the week by Jenks—fitting, since this idea wouldn’t have happened without him. I sat down and enjoyed a burger and hot chocolate from Rachel’s van, chatting with Laurie and everyone who made it to the finish, before Dan whisked me away to our luxury accommodation for the night ahead.

Day One in Review

• Best moment: Rachel handing me a good luck charm (or bumping into Rhys)

• Worst moment: Leaving a bird stuck in the canal, unable to help

• Message of the day: “Show them who you are”

• Quote of the day: “Fredos or banana”

• Hurts: Ankle and hip

• Favourite Snack: Dad’s brownies

• Crew of the Day: Rachel

• Overall: Great day out and lovely route

Support the Cause

Every step of this journey is about more than just running—it’s about raising awareness and funds for Sport In Mind, supporting mental health through sport. If you’ve been inspired by this story, please consider donating to my fundraiser for Sport In Mind, sharing this blog, or spreading the word. Every bit of support helps make a difference!