The DG48

I’ve covered this one before, and some of you may have read it. But what better way to kick things of properly with one of the best pieces I have written, about one of the most life changing experiences I have done.

Featured on “My Greatest Run Ever”, over on Dirt Church Radio episode 137, here is my take on the “DG48 - run 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours”.

“I’ve never had to set an alarm at 4pm on a Friday before, come to think of it I don’t actually think I’ve set an alarm at 4pm ever before.

A couple of months had past since I introduced a colleague of mine to a certain bloke.. a bloke we both didn’t know personally, a lot of people don’t know personally, but a bloke who has certainly impacted almost everyone that has witnessed his presence on this planet.

“Forget doubling down on your strengths, triple down on your weaknesses”, “We are going to do something every day that sucks”, “Suffering is a true test of life” and more famously, “Stay Hard”.

David Goggins.

My colleague Michael, slipped an idea to me one Friday after work that himself and some friends were going to attempt David Goggins’ self created 48 hour challenge.

Run four miles, every four hours, for 48 hours.

If you can’t run, cycle or walk, or do a 30 minute activity that would callus your mind.. the whole idea of what this challenge is about.

Before I could say yes, I’ll do it - Michael has already added me to the chat group. So with learning I wasn’t the only one doing it, it made me more comfortable to say yes. 

The following week it was scheduled to start, which was nice in a way - it had that nice “thrown into the deep end” approach to it. I ran it by my partner and she was nothing but encouraging and supportive of the idea, offered to make loads of amazing foods and drinks, offered to sleep in another room to make it easier for me, but also quickly reminded me I had committed to running a 10km run with her on the Saturday morning.

So why not incorporate both!

The group had agreed to run a 5km run instead of the 4 miles, which I was happy about.. but still darn petrified!

Work week done, alarm set for 4pm.. I actually didn’t finish work until 5pm, so quickly scooted home, told my partner I loved her then set of for my first set at 6pm.

A 5km run around Battersea Park at 6pm on a Friday, one mental challenge battling through already, people about to start enjoying their weekend under the gorgeous sun. Cruising along at a 5.27/km pace and constantly thinking of what have I got myself into. Wrapped that session up and 11 runs to go.

I decided to start the second leg at 8pm, to get back into sync. The sun was still out but slowly setting, the park was busy as ever, and of course I had to run past a friend of mine so stopped quickly and said hello. My slower 6.03/km pace had me wrap up just after the 30 minute mark.

The third leg started at midnight, and with the park being shut I was forced to stay to the streets. I ran a narrow block run which consisted of two and a part laps from Albert Bridge Road down Battersea Park Road, left along Queenstown Road then left again to Prince of Wales Drive then back around to home. A few people around but running at midnight started to make this challenge a real thing. Pace and not blowing out was important to me so a 6.00/km pace it was. 

Leg four. Mentally challenging as far as it got (I thought), 4am start it was, the moon as beaming some light onto the streets and the birds were chirping. I decided to do the block run again and had it wrapped up in 30 minutes. The body started to reject my ideas but I had no choice but to start hacking into my mind.

My partner was sleeping next to me through out that night shift, which I loved but was also difficult for me knowing I was waking her up each time. Not being used to eating over night I put a foot completely wrong and rarely had any food. A couple of litres of water, a couple of bananas and some small nut bars was all but it.

Leg five kicked of at 7.30 in the morning. It was a comfortable (am I kidding?!) 10km run, the thing is.. I promised my better half Laura to help her through her own challenge - the May 10k on strava. So off we set, off down the outside of Battersea Park on the south side, around and over Chelsea Bridge, west along the embankment to Battersea Bridge, over there then west along the south of the Thames, then swung back around to wrap up the 10km in the park. After a well deserved rest and celebration with Laura it was time to get home to prep for the leg 6.

Michael texted me just after midday to say he will be down outside my house shortly. We met one of his friends (not doing the challenge, but a fellow runner) and headed to the park for a cruiser of a 5km. Tell yah what, running with company, even if you don’t chat to much, is bloody helpful. Michael set the pace and off we went for one and a half laps of the carriage drive, before wrapping it up just after 5km in 23 degree heat, quiet dry, really sweaty and man, was I parched!

I linked up with Laura and her friend after that run - legs were burning. Actually burning. But that was the 6th run, which spelt one thing.

Halfway. Halfway. Halfway mate.

It was about now the mental task has been accepted by my mind, knowing what I was going through was nuts, and the physical side was starting to take relative control.

It was me vs my body. Everything I do from here on through is all on my mind.

If there was any hope of me making it, I needed to take advantage of David Goggins allowing alternative activity’s into the mix.. given it was 30 minutes long, it was all ok.

So leg 7 consisted of a 11.5km cycle ride from home and around Chelsea. It was still tough, dodging busses, taxis and Boris bikes, but was nice on the body as apposed to a 30 minute run. A definable decision in the end as it felt as if I had a decent rest - even when on the bike.

8pm Saturday night comes around, the sun is at a gorgeous level, and some punters on my planned route had just set up for a bbq in their front yard. Perfect for me to monitor their progress as I start my second night shift. 

The physical toll is well and truly on, but the mindset went into a new and different realm, with the words of Laura pushing me forward, and her absolutely amazing vegan lasagna, the 8th leg was done at a 5.40/km pace and was home with my feet up in what it felt no time.

Snack, shower and sleep became the regular and normal every few hours, and midnight soon came time to lace up for round 9.

The eye lids barely opened, the body didn’t want to get up, my thighs were near on non existent, but I just had to get going. The thought of seeing how the BBQ punters were going was a weird push for me out the door, I won’t lie about it.

Turns out they had finished their meals well and truly and were well into their drinks and dancing which made me smile. I carried on down the south side of the park and then over Chelsea Bridge, Embankment, Albert Bridge and around to home.

Had worked out a nice 5km circuit but now, so thought I would do it again, but reverse come 4am.

4am actually came around quicker than I thought.. oddly enough! After the midnight run, it was home for a quick snack, message to my parents back home in New Zealand, shower then straight to sleep.

Laura was sleeping in the spare room on this night so I slept a lot better. A deep sleep cane straight after the midnight leg and 4am came around faster than a squirrel climbing up a tree.

I was determined and prepared to get it done, I even think I laced up with my eyes closed. It was all coming naturally to me, and I had come to far to quit. To be honest, the nasty Q word never crossed my mind once.

My BBQ buddy’s were down from a party of about 14, to a party of two, swirling whiskey of sorts around a glass talking about the universe. Good on them! Thank you for the laughs to myself, you complete strangers. May you go well!

Once I got passed the barbie party I hit the outside of the park and went the opposite way to what I had been doing. It felt nice, and as I was running down the west side of the park on the outside, I noticed the turnstile gate was operating whilst all the other gates were padlocked shut.

So screw it, I nipped into the park through the turnstile and enjoyed my 10th leg through Battersea Park all by myself. 4am on a Sunday morning. Probably no quieter time around, especially for a near central London Park. 

I even bet the street sweepers out that morning. Man I enjoyed that!

Home, snack, shower, sleep.. “repeat”.

I woke up pretty close to 8am with the pleasant surprise from Laura. “I’m coming with yah”. Couldn’t have been happier. Couldn’t have asked for anyone better to come with me.

I needed carrying so to speak. Her mental clarity and wellness was everything I needed. Even the small words, “you got this”, “only two to go”, even using Goggins quote “stay hard”.

We set of at 0800 in battersea Park, ran the south side, up the east, done a loop around the Thames side of the power station, back out over Chelsea Bridge, Embankment, Albert Bridge, Battersea Park finish. Perfect!

A long and uncomfortable but needed stretch in the park under the morning sun then home it was.

Smoothie, snack, shower, sleep, snore, sleep, sleep, sleep.. boom. Midday.

The victory lap.

“I’ll come again!”. Even more perfect than before. In these challenging times in need, I could, not, be, happier. Laura has now gone from daily yoga, breath work and dancing, a girl getting into running, to a “smash out 20km in one weekend”, whilst maintaining daily yoga, breath work and dancing. I know I’m going through hell physically and mentally with this challenge, but if I could take some time from this write up to praise such a magnificent woman, wow.

Thank you darling for the support, words, kindness, cooking, space, time, offerings, life.

Everything, means everything. You are the best x.

She made the 12th lap a breeze.

We laced up, started running from our front door and cruised around the park. Loads of breathing, loads of laughs, a lot of fun. Chucked it down past the Peace Pagoda one last time, looped around the carriage drive and finished up on the south side of the park.

A shit load of smiles and laughs, a big sweaty hug, a few swear words of dis belief, excuse me but “fuck me, I am fucking done. I’m done, the challenge is complete.” 

I could not believe it. 60km of running in 48 hours and one 11.5km cycle, done. Sleep no longer than 2 hours at a time. Weird eating times, sore bones, joints and muscles in places I didn’t think I had them, a sweaty and smelly body but a mind accomplished, a heart beating and two legs I owe so much to, it was done.

We took a moment at the park to reflect, what I felt greatful for, and what are my immediate thoughts.

“What is the next challenge?”.

I was ready. I can see the addictive tenancy in victory. One win is never enough. 

If you have run a marathon, you want to run another. 

If you have painted a piece of art, you want to paint another.

If you made someone smile, you want to make someone else smile.

If you released a piece of music, you want to release another.

If you had a piece of chocolate.. yep, you want another!

The reality learnt, taste that success. Fight your way to the top and done let anyone stop you. 

If you want it, you go get it.

Your mind is the most powerful thing you own. 

And I’m not telling you, I’m reminding you.

Your mind, is the most, powerful, thing, you own.

Create your own challenges, callus your own mind. It’s not supposed to be easy.

Grab your best friend, tell them you love them, then make them come on 5km runs with you! 

It’ll be challenging, fun, full of laughs, tears, sweat, hunger, deprivation from almost everything, but that feeling on the other side..

.. 100% worth it.

Thank you David Goggins, for the man that you are.

Thank you Michael for pushing me to this position.

Thank you Laura again for everything you do

And thank you to my friends and family for believing in me.

I.

Will.

Not.

Let.

You.

Down.

Ever.

Peace and love, SG X