Two Northampton runners to take on ‘David Goggins 48-Hour running challenge’ for 'amazing' mental health charity

Gagan Singh and friend Kamil will run four miles every four hours for two days straight in aid of Mind Northamptonshire.

The challenge will run from 8pm on Friday March 27 and finish on Sunday afternoon March 29.

Speaking to Chronicle & Echo, Gagan said: "The challenge comes from ultramarathon runners we saw online. I think it was David Goggins [former USA Navy Seal] who designed it as a real test of mental endurance and mental toughness.

“We wanted to try it between myself and the other person running with me, Kamil, as a way to push ourselves and test ourselves.

"While we were doing this we thought we should try to do it for a good cause as well, to give something back to a good cause.

“We decided on Mind Northamptonshire as something that’s personally quite close to me."

The 30-year-old continued: “When I was growing up I had some people that were very close to me suffer with some mental health conditions.

“There wasn’t the same resources that are there now and we didn’t really know what to do in those situations.

“Mind do amazing work in the community. They have crisis teams, meetups and football games. They basically do loads of work within the community. They’re constantly trying their best to offer as many different solutions to this big mental health battle. It’s amazing what they do when the NHS is too full and they can’t take on more mental health patients. They’ll work with them and help people in the community.”

He added: “After meeting with Paul, the Mind Northamptonshire branch manager, I was sure that money we raise will go to helping people in mental health crisis and community support in our town.”

On how he is feeling going into it, Gagan said: “Honestly, it’s a mix of nervous and excited. I’m excited to do it. It’s been a long time coming.

"There’s been about 12 to 14 weeks of running training. Our little support group has been so on it with us. We’ve been doing these community runs every week. It’s been awesome.”

“I’m nervous for the amount of running we’re going to do and how tired we’re going to be.”

Gagan, an experienced yoga teacher, is going to be taking his yoga classes in between the runs. He said: “There are going to be five free yoga classes at BST Academy and 360 Wellness.

“Yoga gives you tools and techniques to deal with mental stress, physical stress and anxiety. I want to put into practice the things I’ve been learning and the things I teach other people.”

The runners are hoping to raise £2,500 for the charity. So far, at the time of writing (Friday March 13), the pair have raised nearly £1,500.

Gagan added: “If people can donate that would be amazing. If they can’t donate, we’d love people to check out Mind Northamptonshire. If none of that is possible, just come down on the weekend and support us.”

The pair will be starting at 8pm on Friday at 360 Wellness on St Giles Street, with runs on Saturday at 8am at Upton Country Park and 12pm at 360 Wellness, and on Sunday at 8am, 12pm, and 4pm at 360 Wellness, with other locations for remaining runs to be announced later this week.

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