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Mission 40: James Hunter
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In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle is joined by James Hunter, who is nearing the finish line of his incredible “Mission 40” challenge.
To mark turning 40, James set out to complete 40 endurance events in 12 months, including marathons, half marathons, trail races, cycling and hiking, all while raising money for RUHX, the official NHS charity of Bath’s Royal United Hospital.
With 34 events already completed, James shares what the journey has really looked like so far. From the moment the idea first took shape, to the reality of balancing training, life and recovery, this conversation explores the highs, the tough days, and the lessons learned along the way.
We dive into James’ personal connection to RUHX and why this challenge means so much to him, before reflecting on some of his standout moments, from favourite events to the experiences that have stayed with him most.
James also opens up about the harder side of the challenge, including the moments that tested him and what helped him keep going when things felt tough.
Looking ahead, we talk about the final stretch of Mission 40, including a busy run of events and a big finish with back-to-back marathons in Brighton and Manchester.
This is a powerful and honest conversation about consistency, resilience, and the impact that running can have, not just physically, but personally too.
We cover:
- The story behind Mission 40
- James’ connection to RUHX and why he chose to support the charity
- Favourite events and standout moments from the challenge
- The toughest days and how he got through them
- What goes on behind the scenes of a year-long endurance challenge
- Lessons learned and how the journey has changed him
- The final events and what’s planned for the finish line
You can follow James on Instagram @james_t_hunter and support his Mission 40 fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-mission40
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Transcript
Introduction to Mission 40
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello, welcome to this week's UK Run Chat podcast. I'm Michelle, and today's episode is all about a challenge that's taken consistency over the last year and and resilience and a big amount of heart and fundraising. So in March 2025, James Hunter set himself a goal to mark turning 40 in a pretty incredible way, taking on 40 very different events across across 12 months. So from half marathons to marathons to trail races, cycling, hiking, his mission 40 challenge has pushed him physically, all while raising money for a cause that's very close to his heart. So James is supporting RUHX, which is the official and NHS charity of Bath's Royal United Hospital. It's a place that's played a very important role in his life and his family and friends in recent years.
00:00:52
Speaker
Now, as he reaches the end of his journey, he's come on to chat to us to reflect on what it's taken the last year and and what is to come for his grand finale of Mission 40.
Physical Demands and Training
00:01:02
Speaker
James, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for coming on. So how does it feel to be nearing the end then of this challenge?
00:01:10
Speaker
Oh, first of all, thanks for having me on to to have a chat. um it's It's really good to to talk to you. um So I think... Yeah, it's it's been it's been tough. It's been long, but it's also been really exciting. um And I've just done all manner of different distances, mainly running, but we've also fitted in a bit of cycling and some other quirky things as well. So um i actually wrote some prompts down um that I've managed to finish.
00:01:35
Speaker
10 5Ks, 12 10Ks, six half marathons, and then nine other trail races at all manner of distances. um And then there's something special coming at the finish, which I think we're going to chat about a bit later on. But um yeah, it's been fantastic. And just just trying to do something something big and something difficult um for a big milestone something was really keen to have a go at so uh yeah we're nearly there we've got six to go so um we're nearing the finish now yes vet getting very close so just take us back to the start so where did the idea come from for mission 40 then
00:02:11
Speaker
Well, I've done quite a few fundraising things in the past, notably the Bath Half Marathon in 2016. I was raising money for blood cancer. I lost my uncle in 2015 to blood cancer. So that was a big charity push. um for um for blood cancer back in 2016. So that was that was the first one. um And then back in 2023, I was raising money for asthma along UK. um My mum's ah always suffered. She's a um chronic asthmatic. So um that was a ah charity that i was really close to. um So trying to run a 200 minute marathon, which I managed um on on the day in London, which was incredible. So trying trying to do something
00:02:55
Speaker
bigger than that for uh for a 40th birthday was was the aim and i was actually out cycling just one day and i thought well but maybe i could i don't know why the idea came into my head but as soon as it was planted i thought maybe this is something i need to do um so that was the the genesis of it really it was just i was just out cycling and then that's when most of the best ideas come to people isn't when you're doing some you're not actually trying to think of something yeah
Age, Motivation, and Society's Perception of Athletes
00:03:20
Speaker
Yeah. So if you you would you call yourself more of a runner or do you generally have a good kind of mix of different sports that you enjoy them?
00:03:27
Speaker
Oh, definitely more running since I've been doing this. um but Yeah. I mean, so I commute to work on my bike quite often. my cycle with my dad. My dad's a keen cyclist. So um I like to use the cycling more. I've done some cycling events in the past, but more of of a runner, really. That's that's my main passion. um And across all different distances, as I'm i'm sure we we'll chat about. But I'd say it running probably is is the main one for me.
00:03:53
Speaker
Yeah. so So why did turning 40 feel like the right the right moment for it? I just think it's one of those milestones in life, isn't it? Where you ah you know you feel like you're getting a bit older, but then also I wanted to prove to people that you know that it doesn't have to be you like a ceiling on on what you can achieve in terms of ah like your PBs ah for 5Ks or half marathons or or any other distance you fancy, or even like a 3K track race, which I've done one of as well. Yeah.
00:04:22
Speaker
um I think it was obviously as well as raising money for ah for a cause that's close to me is ah also just showing people that, you know, even though you're getting older, that if you train properly and you've got, you know, you've got trust in your own confidence and and the goals um and you get yourself organized and you're passionate about something, you can actually, you know, you you can be a PB that you did 10 years ago. um and That's another little message about about the challenge as well, really.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, but that's important, I think, isn't it, to remember. were you Did you do a lot of events anyway before this challenge? Because 40 in a year, it's it's a big ask, isn't it, for a lot of us? So was that something you had to do a lot of training for? Yeah. I mean, it's ended up being that some of the races I've done have ended up being almost like training sessions for like a bigger happening the next week. Um, while still trying to enjoy that race, make sure I finish and don't get injured as well. Um, so that, that's been something which is certainly crept in now and getting towards the end and the bigger
Diverse Races and Unique Experiences
00:05:21
Speaker
races are coming. Um, that, uh, is that, that's definitely been something which I've had to think about, ah is just trying to not, you know, not get injured and also, um
00:05:31
Speaker
ah keep the fitness up and use the races as as actual i I don't want to say glorified training sessions because there have been some wonderful local races I've done but also just um be mindful that I need to try and finish these races and get to the end because 40 as you say is a lot Yeah. Yeah. How have you looked after yourself kind of during the year in terms of recovery? Yeah.
00:05:53
Speaker
mean, I stretch every day. um i just make it like a religious thing. um Obviously, more so after races, like the day after race day. um And I've got some other quirky things which I've i've learned through other runners and um other running coaches and people at my club. um wearing compression socks to bed after after a race it does wonders for your calf muscle recovery um never would have thought of this type of thing a year or two of ago um but it just really helps recovery um also just trying to get enough sleep just all the basics really that that you try and do in everyday life also apply when you're trying to do something difficult as well I think if you don't get the basics right then you something's going to creep up and catch up with you um and you know you're going to start creaking a bit especially if you're doing a race or sometimes two or three races a week when I've been cramming them in yeah wow has it been that many yeah
00:06:47
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think it's it's the type of thing where you're trying to... Obviously, you can only do races when the races are on. So i I've even done some midweek races as well. um And, ah yeah, just trying to ah yeah squeeze races in as and when they're happening. Little 5K races on a Wednesday wednesday evening and in the middle of Somerset, in the dark in the middle of January.
00:07:10
Speaker
um So there's been all manner of stuff. um And it's been really cool to just... find new races that I've never done before, um which have just popped up on my Instagram feed. Obviously there's a lot of running content going on you just get you different things. um ah So yeah, ah so another really quirky one I did was down in Breen over in um near Western Supermare. You actually run down to an old fort and through the fort and background. And is that on the peninsula out into sea? Yeah, I think we we stopped there on the way down to Devon in a couple of years ago. It's an amazing place, isn't it? So there's a 5K there.
00:07:47
Speaker
That was a 10K and it was as well in the middle of January. So like head torches and all that sort of stuff. And that's just something I maybe wouldn't have even noticed. I mean, I'm not that far away from Western Supermare, but you tend to stick to the races you know, the nice 10K road race or the main big half marathons, Bath and Cardiff and what have you. So... It's been really cool. There's been some fantastic local races.
00:08:14
Speaker
Another one which stands out is um it's actually my club's local race, which is coming up again in May. And it's down in a town called Shepton Mallet in Somerset, and that's called the Runaway Train. um And actually runs over the old viaduct and uses the old railway line. um And it's just such a quirky little race. um And so it's just been really cool to mix everything up and just have a complete cross section of of distances and disciplines.
00:08:40
Speaker
Yeah, that's good. So take us back to the to the start then like when you decided to do Mission 40. So talk us through the planning for it. And does it get, I mean, does it get expensive entering all these races? Because that's quite a big commitment, isn't it, as well?
00:08:54
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, obviously some of the big half marathon races are quite pricey now. um I belong to another club, Team Bath Athletic Club based at Bath University. So obviously you do get an affiliated entry for a lot of these races, which helps a tiny bit. yeah know, every pound helps. um But also I've found that there's so many races out there which are actually quite good value. And I think there's more than people realize that, you know you can, you can do a little 5k race on a Wednesday and it's all chip timed and properly measured and it's 10, 12 quid. Um, so that's the sort of thing you go on the internet you think, oh, there's a half marathon it's 45 pounds and it does, you know, it's tough for people. Um, So, yeah, just just organising myself, picking and choosing stuff, trying to do as many different types of races as possible as well, rather than just doing, you know, 20, 10 Ks on road, um which would be fun, but it wouldn't be as much of a challenge, I don't think. And that was the whole point of the yeah is to try and just do as many different types of of
Challenges and Adaptations
00:09:54
Speaker
races as possible. Yeah. So you started in March and you mentioned you were kind of some, some of the races were training for other ones. So did you start with shorter races in March then? Cause that's kind of coming up to marathon season, isn't it?
00:10:06
Speaker
Yeah. So starting back March 25, I think some of the toughest races were at the beginning because I was struggling with, um with a bit of a niggly knee back then. So um the the sort of opening five or six races were actually quite, quite tough. um And yeah, just trying to ah yeah just just fit races in when I could really I wasn't really able to to sort of build up to a marathon distance or a half marathon distance or a 20 mile trail race or something there were there was a complete mix really of um of distances I could be doing 5k one week and then like a 15 mile trail race the the week after and then followed by
00:10:45
Speaker
you know, a 10k road race. So it's been a proper mix. And it's been some pretty tough back to backs as well. um And some difficult sections. I i tend to look at a month and think this month doesn't look too bad.
00:10:59
Speaker
um But you just need to not be complacent because like a 10k road race can still be hilly and can still be tough. Yeah. yeah So yeah, it's just, it's been a complete mixed bag. If you tried to plot all the distances on a graph, it would be, it'll be all over the place, to be honest. But but that's it's been fun. It's been fun to do it that way, I think.
00:11:18
Speaker
Yeah. Was there anything that kind of didn't go to plan from kind of how you thought it might at the beginning? Yeah, so it's been a bit backloaded. um And yeah, trying to, I mean, I could have fitted everything into 12 months, as you said at the beginning. of I've actually extended by about three weeks for reasons, which we'll chat about. But um i I actually got a little bit injured in the summer. i was still able to run, but i was feeling a bit creaky. um So I had a few weeks off.
00:11:47
Speaker
ah that was difficult because then obviously you're just missing weeks. um At the very beginning, it looked quite manageable. So that was probably another tough period is just in in the middle, like glad end of last summer. Yeah.
00:11:59
Speaker
i'm just trying to keep ah Just trying to keep it but from becoming a proper injury, basically, whilst still trying to tick off some events. um When I got myself sorted, then obviously everything's fallen into place now I've got ah a proper plan to get to get to the finish for for mid-April. So,
00:12:17
Speaker
um But yeah, it's been it's been up and down. But I feel touch wood. I'm on. I'm on a good I'm in a good place at the moment. So what contributed to the injury then? I'm i'm really interested in this because i do feel it's important if anybody's listening out there, obviously, if you're going to take on a challenge like this, you need to make sure you're a.
00:12:36
Speaker
you're kind of regular runner, you've been running a long time and that you trained enough. So I don't want anybody out there thinking I can go and do this and get themselves injured. So I just wanted to ask you kind of what what kind of led to the injury and what you did to to help it really, just to help people listening out there. Yeah, I think everybody who who runs however seriously will always have niggles and weaknesses in their body, whether they have bad back or a bad knee or bad ankle. um And mine's quite often in the past been been my knees. I'm sure a lot of people will resonate with. um
00:13:10
Speaker
And I think just trying to keep it at bay, I think just doing a lot of the races back to back and things just creep in. um The way I've managed to get on top of it was to just have the confidence to take a break um and know that like rest is healthy um when you need to to rest and knowing that I still had seven or eight months to get everything finished. um So just you know having the confidence to stop and not try and push through, I think is really important. um And also then when you do get back on top of stuff, it's just try and be consistent with everything. stretching and and strength work is it's not every runner's favourite thing. We don't like that. It's so important.
00:13:52
Speaker
I tend to do something else when I'm doing my stretching. So I'll have the telly on or I'll have a podcast on um just to try and break the monotony monotony really of of you know doing a 20 minute strength um strength session or a stretching session um because yeah it's not something that we love doing particularly. um and But you've just got to be consistent with it and try and make it as fun as you can really.
00:14:15
Speaker
And know that you if you do do these things, you're less likely to get injured and then your your purpose is to finish the challenge. you know, the purpose of the stretching, and the strength work is to do, to be able to do the fun stuff. So yeah just trying to keep that in the back of your head, I think is is important.
00:14:31
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. It's really important. And it's good that you kind of listened to your body there and thought, right, I'm going to take, I'm going to take a break. Cause lot of us don't do, we would think we'll just push on yeah and we can just often make it worse. But when you've got a big challenge to finish like that, I guess you've always got that end goal in sight, haven't you? and you need to Yeah, absolutely.
00:14:49
Speaker
Yeah. So, so with the stretching, is that something you would do regularly anyway, or if you kind of brought in more recovery elements? You mentioned the compression socks earlier, didn't you? Yeah. I've always, I've always done stretching. Um, and I try and do it first thing. So it's done like, I mean, I'm into work in the morning and I know I've done my stretching for the day. i might do a little bit more in the evening if I've gone for a run at lunchtime or something where I've got an evening race. Um,
00:15:14
Speaker
And I also use things like massage guns and that type of thing I find really useful. um And they're becoming a little bit more affordable nowadays as well from when they first came onto the market. so um And again, i can do that while I'm watching the TV or something. So don't find time necessarily to um to to to you know to recover, um to spend time recovering or or just maintaining, um keeping injuries away. So just little bits and pieces really. It's just the the small habits I think which which compound um rather than to try and you know try and find an hour to do some stretching like we just a lot of us don't have that time. It's going to happen is it realistically? No. And then you have to do nothing so you know just even if you find 10 minutes and you can just do 10 minutes a day that's gonna it is gonna compound over time and help you and that's that's what I found. Yeah yeah that's a really good way to think about it. and So looking back then what's been your favorite event so far would you say?
00:16:10
Speaker
I think probably one which has just happened. So back in the middle of March, it was my 41st birthday. So that i the that the Bath Half Marathon, which is my home half marathon, happened on my birthday. Oh, that's nice.
00:16:23
Speaker
Yeah. like The big sort of, I i think the standout events for me have been what i like to call like the headline races of of Mission 40. So the first event was the Bath Half Marathon, which was a day after my 40th.
00:16:36
Speaker
And then the 41st birthday, which is the the fifth on the 15th of March this last month. So that was a great one to do those those two. um I really loved that one. And I just as proof of what we've been chatting about, I managed to go eight minutes quicker in 2026 than did 2025. That's just amazing. Yeah.
00:16:58
Speaker
Recovering from injury, and so trying to take take it steady on that first one, but um getting around, I think I got around in 1.32 and just dipped under 1.40 for the one last year. So I was absolutely chuffed to bits
Fundraising and Personal Connections
00:17:10
Speaker
of that. i know it was my birthday, but loads of family, my niece who was um was was watching with a big sort of power boost sign for you to high-five as you go by, all of those sorts of things like that made that a really special day to run in your home city,
00:17:25
Speaker
ah half marathon distance on on your birthday that that doesn't get a lot better than that for me with all your friends and family watching so that was amazing Yeah, that's fantastic. I was going to ask that question, actually. Have you noticed your fitness improving over the year with all the racing? Because it must tune you up, if you you know.
00:17:42
Speaker
i mean, I haven't really been aiming for PBs or anything because I just know that, you know, that the aim is to finish the challenge and and raise as much money as I can for the charity. So um it's tough. Like you want to push when you get into 10K race and and you know you can go quicker. So I've had to...
00:17:57
Speaker
there's a lot of self-discipline on some of these races, but I have picked out a few, like the Bath half being one where I decided to give it some um on that particular day, but also just, um yeah, just trying to make sure that you, you're trying to finish 40 events and it's no good going all night on the 29th one and know getting to the 33rd or 34th and thinking you know i'm I'm I'm done now like I've I'm running out of fuel you my knees playing me up again or I've got a bad back or shoulder so yeah just trying to um yeah just be mindful of the bigger picture really for some of these events yeah so there's been some races where you've just done for kind of fun and a bit of variety and have there been ones where you have actually pushed for a
00:18:39
Speaker
yes Yeah, so I've done, ah so back last summer, there was a couple of local 5k races in Somerset and Wiltshire. So I really pushed on those just to do ah a good 5k time, which was just under 20 minutes. So i was well chuffed that. um And also um some of the other races. So i actually had I actually did a park run, my local park run with my friend's son,
00:19:01
Speaker
and he's 11 and he ran 20 minutes and 30 something seconds, 5k and he's 11. 11, that's amazing. with him But the the bigger picture to that event, doing parkrun as an event, which I wouldn't have normally picked, um but it was to ah to support him. He'd actually needed a lot of care with RUHX. He fell ill um quite a few years ago, just i think it was 2018, 2019. with complications from chickenpox. So he needed a lot of support from the charity and it was it was great to, he's now fully recovered, but actually to prove that you know he he could do a 20 minute, pretty much a 20 minute 5K. And that was a nice tie in with IOHX to do that event and run it with him. And to be honest, I was i was a bit complacent thinking, I knew was quite quick, but I thought, the 5K park run, it'll be a nice little event, but he was gone and I was i was really having to push.
00:20:00
Speaker
to keep up with him. um So I mean, it was it was really fun um to to do that. So yeah, that was that was another another highlight as well. And a nice time with the charity as well and some good good to good promotion for them.
00:20:12
Speaker
Yeah, that's fantastic. Yeah, what a superstar. So now sounds like a good time for you to just tell us a little little bit more about the charity then. Yeah, sure. So as you mentioned at the beginning, so it's the official charity of of ah the the city of Bath's hospital, which is the Royal United.
00:20:30
Speaker
they so that They basically raise money to support the hospital. um So they're looking after the staff there. um research and development for um yeah groundbo groundbreaking research. And also they've got ah their their campaign at the moment is to raise three million pounds, sorry, four million pounds over the next three years. So that is to raise money for a brand new a specialized CT scanner. It's called a PET CT scan.
00:20:57
Speaker
Don't ask me the the details of it, but um it's ah it's a big campaign they're running. and And just as another really close connection to me and and for Mission 40, my mum actually needed to to use ah use of one of these scanners recently. So that was back in February and when she was struggling with illness. so um that that's just been an even closer connection um with me and the charity. ah So but but's their big that's their big push at the moment. um And you can you can find it more at ruhx.org.uk. So that's where that's where you can find them online and about all the work that they do.
00:21:30
Speaker
Yeah, and we'll share a link to your fundraising page as well in the show notes. So do have a look in there want to find out a bit more about the charity. and So I was going to ask, how have you found out about all these local races? Because we don't seem to have in the UK one kind of central place, do we, to kind of look for races? It can be quite frustrating trying to find all these local events. So any tips if we're trying to find something a bit quirky and a bit different?
00:21:55
Speaker
Yeah, um I think just the power of social media has really helped. um I mean, I think if if you're into running um or any form of exercise and you start following those types of pages, then you do have, I mean, I know ads are annoying, but I've actually found it really useful. hopeful 12 months to pick up to pick up things um there's also various other pages on instagram i know yourselves that you you share all manner of different of people's stories which um just really helps people know what's going on um across the whole uk and sometimes if you're lucky it's in you know it's in the southwest where i am so um also there's ah a website called run finder which is really really useful so it's a little plug for them um i find the the guy that runs that um He's posting stuff all the time. um and just using Just using social media to to and also just a good old fashioned word of mouth as well, just chatting to to your running friends. yeah
00:22:49
Speaker
I'm part of um a local trail running club on the Mendips and also Team Bath as well um up at University of Bath. so Uh, and there's dozens of us there every week and everybody's training for something. Um, and it could be, it could be trail running or it could be cycling as everybody does. People do all sorts of stuff. So, um, just chatting to your friends and also just using the, that's all I've done really. And and that's been more
Balancing Training and Recovery
00:23:14
Speaker
than enough. I think I had listed over 50 races that I could have done.
00:23:18
Speaker
um when i first started this and i needed some backups because of the injuries last summer and also know weather gets in the way wind and snow and you know the winter that we've just had with all the floods everything so um yeah so i've i've just done that really it's not been that complicated um been a lot of organization but it's not been that tough to find find to be quite honest Yeah, there is plenty out there, isn't it? As you say, it's just it's finding out about them. But running clubs are certainly a good idea there. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
00:23:49
Speaker
Yeah. and I guess your algorithm is all running now, is it? And races. Fine with me. Yeah, I love it. ah Yes. it's If the whole news feeds about running, then I'm happy.
00:24:00
Speaker
So just talk to us a little bit about the kind of the practicalities of doing races, kind of some some three, three, you know, during the week, are you kind of training around that as well? Aside from strength training, I mean, kind of running training? Are you still doing your own kind of regular running? Or are you just using that time as rest?
00:24:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think, I mean, rest is super important. I've definitely done more resting than I thought I was going to, but I think need to do that. and I don't think we need to be afraid of resting. I think there's ah a tendency to think that you need to be pushing all the time. yeah You need to be, you know, if you're taking on a big challenge, you need to be fit and strong getting faster and faster. But,
00:24:38
Speaker
the The way you do that a lot of time is by sleeping and resting. So I have done, mean, I've been going to my clubs a little bit more infrequently because I get carried away when running around the track at university trying to keep up with people and then thinking, actually, I've got a 10K tomorrow. so um But yeah, i've I've not really done a proper training block because it's it's been so difficult to actually, I would say it's almost impossible to have a training block for a complete cross section of races, it just probably wouldn't work. So um it's just been trying to be consistent in terms of um just ticking over, ah not you know pushing when I need to, and and just making sure there's plenty of easy runs, which just really does build endurance. And i don't think many of us know that just the long easy runs are really, really important. when you're just running within yourself and just having that time on your feet is really, really important as well. And just never underestimate the power of rest and sleep. but It's just such an important thing. um
00:25:32
Speaker
And so you're, so you're fresh, know, if you could, if you're doing a 15 mile trail run and you've had, know, you've been pushing, going to the gym in the evening and stuff, and you've not been at home resting, it's probably not going to, it might not pay off, especially if you're trying to do 40, 40 events. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, very, very sensible advice.
00:25:48
Speaker
and So you've done lots of different types of events. So what's what's been your kind of fav? I know we talked about Bath Half, but apart from that one, what's been your favourite one? um I actually did my sort own event back last summer. So ah one which stands out as well was i actually did a hundred mile cycle.
00:26:07
Speaker
um took Obviously, I wanted to do a little bit of of stuff which wasn't running as well. um So i actually organized a bike ride with my dad. My dad did, um I think it was over 60 miles with me and my uncle. And they've both been recovering from from various illnesses and um and issues in the past. So um my dad, again, had to be rushed into hospital. He had a heart attack whilst he was out cycling back in 2022. So again, that was calling upon the RUH at the time. So ah he'd worked his way back and then was then cycling 60 miles with me. um I was just then silly enough to carry on when I got home to get up to 100. So um so that that was a really fun one um and something a bit different.
00:26:48
Speaker
um uh yeah i mean i've i've actually got a list so this is this is like a a sort of master list of everything i've done so the green the green races the ones i've finished and i've just got a few left at the bottom but um i even did like a little 5k race at blasterbury festival whilst i was at the festival um there was ah an organized 5k um i mean what else have we got here all of the the local half marathons that you see I did my 50th park run. So I made that into a bit of a race as well. So there's been some sort of left field ideas as well as just your standard and 5Ks and half.
00:27:25
Speaker
um The other one, which I really love, is a race called the Grizzly, and which you may or may not have heard of. It's it's an iconic oversubscribed race down in Seton in Devon. um And that's a 20-mile trail race. um And it's I think it's over 3,000 feet elevation as well. um so it's And it's sort of mud pits and bogs and like unrunnable hills. I mean, probably unwalkable hills, to be quite honest. We always had a rope at one point. so
00:27:56
Speaker
But I love all of that, all of that but stuff as well. And that's an iconic race. And that was I did that the week before the bath half. So... So, yeah, that was that was a particularly tough. I mean, March has been um the beginning of this month has been really tough. i've I'm actually looking forward to a 10K on Sunday because I need a 10K rather than 20 miles or a half marathon. So um there's there's different reasons to look forward to all these different things. Sometimes, you know it's going to be an epic challenge and it's a really big one. um and sometimes you can think well actually i can just make sure I get through this one and don't get injured and just enjoy the experience with you know all the people all of the people at the race um that are doing it with you as well I think that's really important just to enjoy enjoy them as much as you're finding it challenge you need we need to enjoy doing these races as well as yeah our times and stuff yeah I think you you sent me a photograph of you looking very muddy which event was that that was probably the grizzly I think grizzly
00:28:56
Speaker
if this there's that I think we're knee deep at one point in mud so I mean they deliberately make you run through these these mud pits it's meant to be fun isn't it Yeah, it's all part of the excitement and all the and the and the fun and and the comedy of it, to be honest. um is is is great It's great. It's such a great race. um But also at the same time, you do need to remember, yeah whilst you're having fun, you you've got to get to the finish of a 20 mile trail race.
Final Events and Reflection
00:29:20
Speaker
So there's a lot of concentration, but there were some amazing food stations as well. So there's a lot of like cake eating and stuff as well. Yeah, good. Yeah, like the sound of that. I mean, i'm I'm not ever going to say no to that. So um and that's not the reason I'm signing up for these, but there's a bonus.
00:29:39
Speaker
and So you're very close to the end. So you've done at the time of recording, you've done 34 events and you've got six to go. So what's next? So next we have got a 10k road racing in Cannes over in Wilshire on Sunday. And then I've got a little trio of races over the Easter weekend. 10k in Westenburg, which is ah in Gloucestershire.
00:30:03
Speaker
And then I've got a little 5k race down in Midsum and Autumn, which is very close to me. um And then ah randomly a 9k race. I've never done a 9k race before. It's unusual distance, isn't it?
00:30:16
Speaker
Yeah, so that's over in Bristol. Again, another one I've never done. It's called The Hannum Horror. So that'll be fun. um Sounds muddy and hilly. So we'll see how I get on with that. Yeah.
00:30:27
Speaker
Then I'm going to finish with, um so the big reveal basically is is to finish with two back-to-back marathons. So i haven't really told anybody about this yet, some friends and family, but I'm going to be finishing. So event 39 is Brighton Marathon and then event 40, I'm finishing up in Manchester for the Manchester Marathon. So I'm definitely going to be taking it steady on these next few um with April in mind um and just making sure that I finish basically um there's going to be no London Marathon 3 hours 20 minutes heroics at these races it's just going to make sure i finish finish the races um and hopefully it is a marathon so it's going to hurt but hopefully the opportunity to enjoy the event a bit more rather than staring at at my Garmin and and seeing whether I'm on track for a BB and just enjoying the whole experience of a marathon weekend a little bit more than usual hopefully that's the aim anyway Yeah, that sounds fun because sometimes we can get so caught up in times, can't we, that we actually forget what the experience of actually running a marathon in in big crowds is like.
00:31:33
Speaker
Yeah, and also just it it' enjoying getting... i remember my coach telling me um when I trained for London that you need to enjoy the start line almost more than finish line and because of you know it's when i I'm on the start line at Manchester in particular, it's going to be the last event.
00:31:50
Speaker
um And you're focused on the race and you should be, but also you need to you you need to celebrate getting to the start. um For anyone who's doing any race, which they find challenging, even if it's a 5k or park run or half marathon or an ultra marathon, it's the training which really you know takes up your time and energy. um across weeks and months and I think that's so important that you you just take a moment as you're walking up to the start and you're about to hit your watch that you you just remember what you've done to get there and that's just as important I thought even more important than actually what happens on the day I think which people say is the the victory lap don't they that's the yeah it's that's I mean that's a great thing but getting to the start is is is a victory I think
00:32:30
Speaker
Yeah, but that's that's a great perspective, actually, because I guess at at the point you are now, does running a marathon still feel like a challenge? So getting is that is getting to the start line still a celebration for you? Because you must be a kind of peak fitness now. Yeah, I'm feeling good. um i think because it's just the whole event and just making sure like, you know, I'm doing it for a big charity. that I'm really, I'm really passionate about it. I really care about it. So it's really important to me that i that I finish, that I get through the marathon. that'm I'm feeling pretty good. um
00:33:05
Speaker
But also, yeah, I don't think anybody should underestimate
Post-Challenge Plans and Reflections
00:33:09
Speaker
a marathon. like kind i I do expect to finish, and I don't think it's wrong with having that confidence. I think that's a good thing. um But you know there's a line between confidence and and arrogance over confidence and complacency, which know I'm going to be lining up in Brighton thinking, know I need to finish a marathon. And nobody needs to be thinking it's going to be you know it's going to be a walk in the park. So um it's I'm feeling confident, but I'm also...
00:33:33
Speaker
wary of you know what marathons can do to people especially when you've let your guard down um so i'm going to try and enjoy it um because that's what you know that's why we we run we run to enjoy ourselves and to to achieve great things but also just know that you know i'm at mile 12 and i'm not even halfway yeah know that sort of philosophy um Just need to keep that keep that close keep that close by, I think, especially for, know, I've got another marathon the week after. So even if I'm feeling great at mile 21 in Brighton, yeah then I need to go. I am actually really only halfway with probably a very sort of hobbly week around the office at work to come. What will that week look like between them? Have you thought about that?
00:34:14
Speaker
ah Yeah, I think, I mean, so there's no other events in between, which is, which is great because I've done quite a few midweek events. um So it's just going to be very restful. um You know, a couple of easy runs. I i like running at lunchtime um with some friends from work. So maybe pop out on a lunch break, maybe on a Wednesday, um maybe a bit walking as well. I mean, just keeping some movement going. So, you know, it' completely seize up. Yeah.
00:34:40
Speaker
yeah talking about how important rest is, we do need to keep moving as well. So um yeah, just just taking it easy, fueling properly, um staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, just trying to do the basics right, um making sure I'm not going to any gigs on the yeah the night before, anything daft like that. So just trying to keep the social calendar and yeah under control.
00:35:00
Speaker
um Maybe some drinks or some friends or something, but yeah, more restful, just knowing that you're almost there while still drunk just trying to tick over quietly. Yeah, and you'll have a long journey up to Manchester, of course, from where you are in the southwest as well. Have you been to Manchester before?
00:35:18
Speaker
No, so I've only ever done London, done London once. um So ah but i'm I'm hearing now that Manchester is the fourth biggest marathon in Europe and the second biggest in the UK. So I think there's there's tens of thousands of people up there. So I'm just really looking forward to the atmosphere, to be honest, of just being, um having a taste for it at the at the Bath Half Marathon.
00:35:39
Speaker
um I think that's between 10,000 and 15,000. Brighton as well, I think, is around 15,000. So um just enjoying the experience of a marathon weekend. And um yeah, just i'm finishing big. yeah know I need to finish big. um So I've done lot. All of these local races have been fantastic and I've loved them. um But to finish with the marath finish with two marathons, especially the fourth biggest in Europe, is the last one, is is is going to be big. So so I can't wait.
00:36:04
Speaker
I would certainly recommend Manchester because that is my that's my local race and that's where my PB is. So I know you're not aiming for anything fast, but it is a good course and you'll enjoy the crowd and the course, I think. It's a great marathon.
00:36:19
Speaker
Yeah, or maybe I should aim to aim aim for your time. I don't know, maybe. Yeah, well, i'm i'm not a speedy I'm not a speedy runner like you, James. My PB, which I'm very proud of, I must add, is 3.58, and that took a lot of hard work. and So I'm very proud of that. So maybe if you aim for that, that'll be well within your comfort zone.
00:36:38
Speaker
I would be chuffed a bit to to go sub four for eat either of those marathons. so I've heard Brighton's not massively flat as well, so that's something I'd like. keep in mind but yeah a sub four for marathon is amazing I think yeah I'm very proud of that and I think for that reason I've never been back to marathons because I'm scared I'll never get that time again but so i'm I'm over on trail running now yeah yeah we can't beat trail running yeah yeah so so that that leads me to my quick fire round to finish off the um the episode really so um first one is is road or trail which of you preferred more over the last year
00:37:17
Speaker
I always think that it's such a tough one for me. I started out road running. um I always find the trail running, I just find more fun, i think, in terms of just if it's a club run or something like that, then it's more of a social event or just for comedy value. Like if you're running through bogs and streams, and I think it's great for that. Road running, I find I love just for PBs, for really like go going for times and stuff. um So, I mean, you going to make me choose? I know it's so tough for me to just pick one. um I would say i'm going to upset some of my friends that just rode road run or trail run but let's go with trail run because it's more fun and that's what running is about really isn't it yeah it is it yeah we need to keep it fun don't we so I think you've already answered this in the episode but going to answer it anyway so ah favorite event
00:38:02
Speaker
Yeah, I would think I would i'd stick with Bath. um this I've actually got the medal next to me, which I think was one of the most beautiful medals I've ever seen, which is this the Bath Half Marathon. um So this is that is probably my favourite medal I've had um for ah for all the races that I've done, this gold one from milllet for my home race on my birthday. So, um yeah, absolutely love that one.
00:38:24
Speaker
Yeah, that's stunning. One to be treasured forever. Yeah, definitely. definitely and Toughest event of the last year? ah I mean, definitely the Grizzly is is is just such an iconic race and it is super tough. I mean, and even if you're just aiming to finish, um it's just the the terrain and all the different types of things that you face across the whole course, just the elevation, the mud, um just the pebble beaches at 17 miles, like all of that sort of stuff it is brutal. um and But anyway, it's just such a fulfilling thing when you get to the end. And it's just got um it's just got some quirky stuff as well that you get hosed down by the fire brigade at the end.
00:39:06
Speaker
and mu its It's just <unk>s got a lot of fun about it as well, but that's definitely tough. The other one I would just pick out quickly is the the first Bath Half Marathon because I was just coming back from injury. i i found that super tough to try and get through a half marathon and that was just the first event. I'm thinking at the end, I've got 39 to go and I'm not feeling very fit at the moment. So um those two probably, I would say, have just felt the the most difficult and the most challenging.
00:39:30
Speaker
Yeah. What's your go-to pre-event food? So we're talking like but the morning of the race? Yeah, like but like breakfast to kind of fuel you up, really. Well, first of all, I like to try and eat early. So i I'm looking forward to being alone, not going off quite so early on a Sunday from April onwards, because I like to get up and have breakfast early. So everything's nice and nice and settled before I i drive off to the race. and It's normally so it's nothing nothing too spectacular, really. I like to try and keep things as they are. So nothing too exotic or anything like that. You don't want to be doing that sort of thing on the morning of a race. No.
00:40:02
Speaker
Normally porridge with some ah with some chopped banana and then I'll put in some peanut butter or some dates or something like that. um And just plenty of water, hydration. um So a bit dull, to be honest, but it's something which works for me and it's fueled me well. So I'll be carrying on with that.
00:40:19
Speaker
Yeah, it's important to keep things simple and stick to what we know sometimes, especially with fuel. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so to finish then, what's one word to describe Mission 40?
00:40:33
Speaker
ah So I've been thinking about this. I think it's probably just, I think, connection, really, which sounds like an odd word to use for like a running challenge. But I think, um well, it's just one person doing yeah a challenge they've set themselves. But just so it works on many ways of having the connection to the charity, um which is um obviously something which um is really important to me.
00:40:56
Speaker
And also just having the connection with all the people that I've done these events with. I've had so many people from my running club, friends, family, cousins, um ah all say to me, you know, when's your next race? Or can I come and support? Or I would like to get a 10K in where you run it with me. And and that's what I can use that as and as an event for myself as well. So having that the connection has definitely been something. It's ended up being something bigger than I thought it was going to be, which is, you know, just raising money for charity, which is a great thing to do.
00:41:24
Speaker
um And I've managed that and we're up to over £2,500 now, which is amazing. um And trying to get to £3,000 before the end. But just having, it's been much more fulfilling than I thought it was going to be in terms of having everybody around me to doing it with me um and, you know, asking if they can come along or you know, give me the next three races so I can pick one and come with you. That's been really, really special.
00:41:47
Speaker
Yeah, oh that's fantastic. and so what what where do you go after Mission 40 then? Has it changed the way you'll approach your running and races, do you think?
00:41:58
Speaker
ah So the first thing I'm to do after Mission 40 is go to bed. um That's the first place I'm going. um But no, seriously, I think, um so I've got a couple of races that I've signed up for in the autumn. So I've managed to get a place at the Great North Run, which I know is really sought after. Yeah, well well done. Yeah.
00:42:16
Speaker
The biggest half marathon in the world. So that's going to be amazing. So um I think it would be nice to have a break. So, you know, definitely. yeah I mean, i I do struggle to keep still, um but I'm normally normally moving or running or walking or doing something. So but I'll definitely be taking a good week off, I think, um afterwards and then maybe two, but I'll probably be out running again pretty soon afterwards. But having the Great North Run um and I've also got Cardiff half marathon i've managed to get into as well, which was balloted. So ah Maybe picking one of those two to actually go for a PB now because I've got such a great baseline fitness for of distance I fancy um and just trying to keep that momentum going over the over the summer and having enough profit a proper training block for
Lessons Learned and Conclusion
00:43:02
Speaker
a specific person.
00:43:02
Speaker
and in the more traditional sense um would be something that I should be keen keen to do. And just proving as well that you know I'm 41 and I set my PB for half marathon when I was 31. So um having that level of fitness now to try and go under one hour 30 for a half marathon again i i'm feeling quite confident about it so that's probably the next thing that i i'll be looking at doing um and again just you know proving you that you know you don't have to be 30 to you know if you get to 40 it's not the end you know it's not it's not yeah you know you can push on and i know lots of people setting pbs in their 40s now so um which is great because i'm i'm just i've just made it there so they're looking forward to trying to
00:43:43
Speaker
Yeah, that's that's great to hear. i have every faith in you because it sounds like it's really helped your fitness this last year. and So is is half marathon your favourite distance, would you say? uh it's tough to know i mean i i i definitely find it a nice distance to to train for um like training for a marathon is huge like i know a lot of the listeners will be just you know you you put takes over your life if you're going for a pb or even if you're just aiming to finish whatever your aim is to to train for and finish and get to the start of a marathon is is massive um so probably at the moment i mean it changes but probably at the moment i think a half marathon is is is something which I'm really keen to to get my teeth back into in terms of times, trying to improve time. So um you do need to train hard for it, but it's you're not going out and doing 20-mile training runs and that top sort of thing. So um ah feels a little bit more manageable while still being ah a bit you a big challenge and a big distance to to cover.
00:44:38
Speaker
Yeah. oh Well, thank you for coming on and chatting to us, James. It's been lovely talking to you. And all the best with Brighton and Manchester. Thank you for the exclusive there. well That's very exciting. Yeah. three and So where can people follow your journey and support you? And we will put these links in the show notes as well, but let us know.
00:44:56
Speaker
Probably the best place to follow me is on Instagram. So I'm i'm at um James underscore T underscore Hunter. So that's my Instagram handle. And then I've got a Just Giving page um for RUHX, which basically if you just go on to Just Giving and search James Mission 40, I should hit hit the top of top the page. So that's where you can donate if um if you're in the Southwest or if you're anywhere over the UK and you want to donate to a good cause, then ah that's where you can find me.
00:45:24
Speaker
Yeah. ah Thank you very much. Any final message for our listeners to leave them with some inspiration? Yeah, I think if if if you're you're looking to do something something big, whether it's your 18th or your 40th or your 70th, I think I've just learned, the lessons I've learned from this is that um yeah it doesn't matter what what age you are. I think if, you especially if you're older and you' thinking you' you're starting slow down, but you want to be going quicker, that yeah know if you If you get yourself organised and you're consistent and you've got a clear goal and you've got plenty of support and connection around you, then you can do it. and I'm hoping that I can get to the end now. and and that will be ah i can I can definitely say that's a case because I'm not quite there yet. but um I think yeah just believing in trusting in your goals and and and having the confidence to to go for it.
00:46:10
Speaker
um and put yourself out there. And there's nothing wrong with failing either. You know, there know there's nothing wrong with that. if You give it a go and you don't make it. You know, if even if I get to the end and I finish 39 events, I've still raised a ton of money and i had an absolute ball along the way. So um I think that's ah that's the sort of final message, really.
00:46:28
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, thank you so much. Well, it's been brilliant to hear the full story behind Mission 40, not just the scale of it, but the meaning behind it as well. So thank you very much. And if you're listening and you'd like to support James or follow the final stages of his Mission 40 challenge, including his two back-to-back marathons, we'll include all the links in the show notes. If you've enjoyed this episode, please don't forget to share it with a friend and we'll be back soon with another story from our running community. Until then, happy running.
00:46:57
Speaker
Thank you.