Former rugby player brings 100 ultramarathons challenge to Aberystwyth

Former professional rugby player David ‘Jacko’ Jackson is running 50km a day in Aberystwyth from 29 August to 1 September as he closes in on completing 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days.

Jackson is taking on the challenge, called Mission IN-possible, to raise money and awareness for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change. He began on 29 May and is due to complete his 100th consecutive 50km ultramarathon on 5 September.

The former Nottingham R.F.C player suffered a traumatic brain injury and seizure during a pre-season training session in 2013, bringing his professional rugby career to an end. He said it took seven years after the injury before he ran his first marathon.

Thanks to our advertisers

×i

Jackson broke the previous men's record for consecutive ultramarathons when he completed his 81st on 17 August, according to organisers of the challenge. Mission IN-possible is taking him through 25 locations across the UK, with members of the public encouraged to join him for sections of each day's run.

Aberystwyth runners invited to join

In Aberystwyth, Jackson is running from Saturday 29 August until Tuesday 1 September. The planned daily schedule consists of five 10km loops, starting at about 7am, 8.45am, 10.30am, 1pm and 2.45pm, with the day's running expected to finish at around 4pm.

The meeting point is The Gym at the old Post Office site in Aberystwyth. Local runners have helped plan a flatter 10km route, and Jackson is also expected to join the Aberystwyth parkrun on Saturday morning as part of his second loop.

People do not have to complete the full 50km. Supporters can join for one or more 10km sections, and Jackson has described his current pace as "slow to very slow", with each 10km taking him about one hour and 25 minutes using a mixture of running and walking.

More than 700 people had joined Jackson during the challenge by the time the organisers issued their latest press release. Jackson said: "The thing I’m most proud of is the people who have come to join me and my wife Catherine, who is my main support crew."

He added: "The overall goal is to change lives; to help those affected by brain injury, to change the recovery process for someone in the future."

Mission IN-possible has a £1 million fundraising target for Headway UK and Head for Change. After his four days in Aberystwyth, Jackson is due to continue towards the final stages of the challenge, with his 100th ultramarathon scheduled for 5 September.