Former Nottingham player David ‘Jacko’ Jackson will begin a gruelling three-week trip to the West Country this week as he attempts a world-record-breaking endurance challenge by completing 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days.
Jackson, who lives in North West Wales, hopes to raise £1 million for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change with his challenge, titled ‘Mission IN-possible’.
Jacko will complete an ultramarathon – 50km – every day for 100 consecutive days.
The attempt should break the current men’s world record for consecutive ultramarathons, which sits at 80 days.
Recovery
However, for Jackson, this challenge is about more than records. A traumatic brain injury abruptly ended his rugby career in 2013.
Jackson was Nottingham’s most capped player and all-time top scorer, amassing 316 appearances and scoring 102 tries.
The road to recovery was uncertain, and at times, normal life felt impossible.
A huge part of his recovery involved running and breathwork, tools that helped him rebuild both body and mind.
“Everyone thinks this challenge is impossible,” he said. “But I believe in IN-possible. That belief runs deep – and it’s something my recovery taught me.
“I’ve experienced first-hand what recovery can look like – and I’ve also seen what happens when people don’t get that chance.
“That’s why this challenge is for Headway UK and Head for Change – and for the people whose lives are changed for ever by brain injury.”
Action man: David ‘Jacko’ Jackson is raring to go
Ultramarathons
It took seven years after his brain injury for Jackson, who now works as a breath coach with his company Pro Breathwork, to run his first-ever marathon.
Now he is attempting 100 ultramarathons in 100 days – and he wants as many people to join in as possible.
Jackson will run at 25 locations throughout the UK, spending four days at each site, completing the daily distance through 5km and 10km loops.
Having covered a total of 200km over four days in Swanage earlier this week, Jackson will be in Exmouth this week.
He will then proceed to St Ives in Cornwall for four days, before visiting Barley Wood and Bristol consecutively. His final four-day West Country stint will take place in Bath.
Follow Jackson’s ‘Mission IN-possible’ on Instagram at @thebreathrunningcoach
Donate to the challenge at: https://givestar.io/gs/mission-in-possible-2-marathons-a-day-for-100-days
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