Co Down ultra runner Jay Walsh is taking on the physical and mental challenge of running 100 miles through Tollymore Forest Park.
This epic run begins at 7am on Saturday, July 1 and will take approximately 30 hours, consisting of 13,000ft of elevation and it's all in support of a local mental health charity.
Jay, 51, and from Bryansford, admits that his mental health was "in a desperate place" before he moved to the Mourne Mountains.
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He explained: "Without help and support from many places, I'm not sure I'd be here now. I would like to raise some money for our local mental health charity - MYMY (Mind Your Mate And Yourself) - because let's just say my mates saved my life.
"This is not only about giving something back but also to give me that extra drive to keep going when it really gets painful."
MYMY - Mind Your Mate And Yourself provides supportive services to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Jay added: "I’m never going to be a competitive runner but in the last couple of years or so, I’ve been trying out longer runs. In September 2021 I did my first marathon and in the last year I have completed five marathons (one unofficial) and four ultra marathons (one unofficial). My longest run was 58 miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh."
Ahead of the challenge, Jay is urging others to never be afraid to ask for help to get you through the darkness.
He said: "Has anyone ever regretted going for a run?’ To me, there’s a lot of sense in that. Those times you really struggle to get up and out and then you get back feeling so much better. But I fear with 100 miles I might be testing that theory!
"It’s been shown that there are links between physical exercise and good mental health. When I think about my own wellbeing in the past, the times I’ve struggled have always coincided with times when I haven’t been training or planning an adventure."
In many ways, Jay says the challenge is not about the 100 miles.
"It’s more about getting to the start line ready, willing and able. It’s impossible to predict what will happen on the day. In 100 miles, there's too many things that can go wrong. You can't control them all," he added.
"I do have strategies to help me on the day. Firstly, I plan to run as far as I can whilst conserving energy and avoid working too hard. Secondly, I’ve got a special playlist ready for the long, lonely miles in the dark and thirdly, I’m preparing for the last half of the race to be mind over matter.
"That might be easier said than done, but I plan to have a couple people I have admired and been inspired by from my running community to pace me during the night and keep me safe.
"The big question I ask myself is: can I do it? It’s genuinely further than I can imagine ever running. Tollymore has meant so much to myself and my family both physically and mentally, so it seemed like the perfect place to attempt this."
You can donate to Jay's fundraiser here.
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