Darcey's Ultra Challenge

THANK-YOU!

I've honestly spent the past week trying to find the words to summarise this experience and I honestly can't put it into words.

I wanted to wait until the photos came out so I could really share with you all just a little of the breathtaking views, the people and the moments. I've been getting lots of questions from people, hopefully, these pictures answer some but feel free to ask them!

Thank you for all the congratulations, the kind words, the motivation during training and of course THE DONATIONS!

Over £800 was raised for The Christie NHS Foundation in memory of Susan Dunne (Mum)- she would be so proud but most importantly, so grateful to everyone for their support of me.

9 months ago I started running; since then over 200 hours have passed on foot, over 1800km have come and gone. This year was one big journey and Jordan was just the last 250.

I've decided to keep this page open to continue to post my crazy adventures, to continue to raise money in memory of Sue for the Christie foundation. I'm currently on the look for the next big one if you want to follow the madness!

One final big shoutout to my Dad, Paul Dunne who abandoned a shot at a leaderboard time because he wanted to finish it with me- not many people get opportunities like this and I'm very grateful for it.

I had the most incredible time and met the most incredible people, I urge you all to do something incredible, go for something you're not 100% sure you can, raise some money for a good cause and have the time of your life in the process. Life starts at the edge of your comfort zone and it is never too late to give things a go.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you 🥰

We did it!!! 🥳

Update pending as we’re still out here! Just a quick one to say I’m safe and THANK YOU❤️

Hi all!

I’m officially about to go into the Desert, where I won’t have any signal until the day after finishing (hopefully!) 🙈😅

Just a very quick one to thank you all for your support, I’ll let you all know I’m safe and how it all went the moment I get out 😊

For now, I’m off for my walk in the park- the very big, Sandy, mountain like, park!😂😅

LOTS OF LOVE XOXOXOX

Awaiting take off… ✈️🌍

Updates incoming! 📸🎉

Home safe and sound 😴😅

100km , 2 days ✅

✨ 7th place out of the women’s division and 13/15th overall (the online system can’t decide 😭😂)

Very happy and quite sleepy! Will update fully later 🙈

Just a quick one to say thank you for all the support and donations over the last few days, enjoy this photo of me (exhausted) taken after stumbling through the finish line 100km later 😊💪❤️

All ready for the Thames River Path Challenge tomorrow (Very early morning)!!! 100km / 2 days…. HERE I COME🎉

✨Early morning update!✨

In addition to the Wadi Rum ultra in Jordan, I’ll be partaking in the Thames path challenge in roughly 2/3 weeks time!

This ultra is replacing the 6 hour continuous one I was originally partaking in before it got cancelled😅😭

The Thames river path challenge I’ll be partaking in is 100km over 2 days, so 50km per day (similar to Jordan but shorter) and will have me camping out in between the two long runs (just like Jordan!)✨

This will be a good opportunity to test out all my kit, including all the dehydrated food I’ll be bringing to Jordan and my strategy with regards to things like salts ⛺️

I’ll use this page to update you on my progress as I run it! 🏃‍♀️

For now we are 5 WEEKS away from me flying out to Jordan (ahhhh) ✈️

I’ll be in the country for 3 weeks to acclimatise and for some post ultra sightseeing, for now however the preparations continue 😉

Hello lovely people!!!

Just a quick message to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated and shown their support so far, it's incredibly appreciated!

I'll be posting another update shortly (a proper one!) as we are now only 8 weeks away from Jordan!

The flights are booked, the kit testing has begun and I'm currently picking a new 'test ultra' to compete in as my original 6 hour test ultra has been cancelled! (Classic)

I think I've found a few options, most of which are harder than the original plan but we know I love a challenge!!!

Update coming soon.....

Hi everyone!👋

Yesterday was day 2 of phase 2!🎉

Phase two is the training which will set me up for the two ultra marathons over the next 16 weeks! The 6 hour continuous run ultra and the 250km over 5 days through the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan!🇯🇴🏜

I finished my Tuesday off with some Hill reps, these are not only great for your cardio and endurance but for strengthening the leg muscles ready for all the vigorous exercise!💪

Finding a couple of hills and running up and down them until the target is met!⛰

If you’d like to donate to my Just giving page in aid of the Christie Trust you can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darceysultrachallenge

Hi friends!👋

A quick ‘round up’ style update for you today:

🌈 In around 6 days time I’ll be starting phase two of the ultra training!!! Another 16 weeks of hard work (but so worth it)!

🌈 In 12 Weeks time I’ll be partaking in a one day Ultra event running for 6 hours to see how far I can travel!🎉

🌈 The difference between this phase and the last is I’ll be focussing a lot on muscle strengthening, using hill work! Also temperature acclimation to prepare me for the Desert! 🏜 Not to mention looking further into nutrition and doubling up on my long runs (running long distances multiple days in a row!) 🏃‍♀️

🌈 Finally if you would like to donate to The Christie Trust who I am running to support you can do so through this link which will take you to my just giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darceysultrachallenge

✨Thank you for all the support and money donated so far!!!✨

On Friday afternoon during a period of severe weather warnings with an aim to complete SUB 4:30 (in under 4h30minutes)...

I completed my marathon in 4h14- a SUB 4:15 time🎉

The rain was horrendous, at points I wasn’t sure I was even moving from one spot as the wind was so heavy and with this being a virtual marathon I had to carry all my own supplies which makes refuelling quite challenging 😬😅

After a day off, tonight I’ll be taking part in MA RA TH ON with my two Ultra team mates (Paul Dunne and Nick) and the lovely Lauren Durkan , where we’ll each run 10.5K to create a combined marathon 💪

The next two weeks I’ll spend doing some strength training, hopefully entering a couple of races for the fun/experience and planning out some of my stage two (ultra) training 🌈

Following the two weeks I’ll take on another 16 weeks of intense training, including on week 12 a 6 hour continuous run to see how far I can go in this time frame! 😊

If any of this is vaguely inspiring to anyone and you want to take up running/give it a go, check out www.Etsy.com/uk/shop/FastCatDiaries , the running plans are incredible (and less than a tenner), I couldn’t have done it in this quick a time without Hermine’s training sessions!

If you’d like to donate to my just giving where I’m doing this challenge I’m raising money for The Christie Trust, who supported my mum with her treatment before she passed; you can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darceysultrachallenge?utm_id=124

Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support, let’s do thissssss 💪🎉

Hi 🙋‍♀️

Its’s been a while 😬 All ready for my virtual marathon tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be my last day in stage 1 of training, meaning I will have been training for 16 weeks!

Following this I have a couple of weeks doing some random runs (hopefully at some events 🙈) just for my body to take a breather, but also to see what my times are like!

I will then begin stage 2, another 16 weeks of training for two Ultra marathons, the 6 hour “fun run” test where I’ll be running for 6 hours continuously at an event to see how far I can go distance wise (hopefully around 60-70km), followed by the actual 250km Ultra in Jordan following week 16!🎉

I was originally hoping to break a 4 hour first marathon time (sub 4- get a time below 4 hours), but I’ve had some disruptions due to physio and this week even the weather!!! So I’m hoping to get a sub 4H30m instead! 💪

42.2km in extreme weather will not be easy, especially as since it’s virtual I’m running it via what is effectively a 2km maximum loop- no change of scenery and rain for 4 hours... I must be crazy 😂

HOPEFULLY the weather gives me a little break and we’ll have blue skies like I did the other night after speed training - PRAY FOR ME! 🙏❤️

Finally- if you’re in any position to, please consider checking out my just giving page and donating whatever you can afford! I’m raising money for The Christie Trust with this challenge, who took care of my lovely mum (Sue) before she passed away! We’re in tough times so, please only donate if you can afford to- a share is just as helpful! Xx

MARATHON TIME POST COMING TOMORROW! 🎉

Hello friends 👋

Some quick updates for you:

➡️ I ran my first virtual half marathon in under two hours about a week and a half ago 🌈 I think I could have done it around 10 minutes faster in actual race conditions, as I had to stop at several traffic lights etc! But I was really happy with a sub 2 hour on my first attempt😊
➡️ I’m now running lots of new routes in Stratford rather than Islington which is really crazy! Here’s me on the balcony post run with our new Olympic park view!
➡️ My Sunday runs will now be around 32km which takes me just over 3 hours when running easy so we’re really picking up the distance 💪

Thank you for your continued support, you can find me on Strava, Instagram and Tik Tok for more updates- also on my just giving page!❤️

Gulping down lots of water after 26km yesterday, a little slower than I wanted but still within the set pace and I did it which is the main thing! 😅 I did over 42,000 steps yesterday with a long walk following my run totalling over 35km in distance for my days travelling 🏃‍♀️💪

Every time I set out on a long run I am never 100% confident I am going to meet the expectations of the plan, if you have a goal you want to accomplish whether it’s 4 minutes running, 4K or 40K, I urge you to go out and do it!!! The worst that can happen is you don’t quite get there and as the saying goes ‘Reach for the moon and if you don’t make it you’ll still land amongst the stars’ ✨

There are no bad workouts except for the ones you never tried!!!

❤️🌈Hope everyone had a lovely Mother’s Day also 🌈❤️