Here we go again.

Well. This March 2024, I took my second foray into this madness. The 4x4x48 challenge. The Dave Goggins sleep deprivation, bark at the moon, 48 hours of fun.

The Breakdown

The challenge is broken down into twelve 4 mile runs. I would be starting on Friday March 1st at 8pm, and ending on Sunday March 3rd at 4pm. 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 straight hours. The only guarantee I would get is the rest I could salvage after each leg. The faster I finish the more rest you get. You can imagine how this is going to go.

My first encounter with the 4x4x48 was 2 years ago when some good mates were taking on the challenge to help raise funds for Tour de Cure, a cancer research charity. I came out and joined for about half of the legs over the weekend. I got hooked. Hooked on that feeling of pushing beyond what my body thought it could handle. Last year I signed on for the full challenge.

It was grueling. But there was a team of us. This year was a little different. I ran it solo and it became a whole different demon. No mutual friends going through the same grueling turmoil together. My friend Jeff was still partaking this year, but was going through a similar solo journey and we would only be syncing up for a few legs. So how was I going to wrap the mental part of this?

Searching for support

Luckily where I live, out in Richmond BC there are a few running clubs that I have been fortunate enough to get connected to in the last year. Arc’teryx Running Collective and Steveston Run Crew. Both based out of Richmond, they are 2 running crews that meet weekly rain or shine and grind kms together.

I approached both crews about my challenge and angled for support, not sure what I would get back. A couple high fives and attaboys. I received a lot of responses. Folks interested, intrigued, also maybe realigning their perception of the things I find “fun”. A few folks said they would like to come out and help how they can. I left it at that. It would be nice to see a few folks take a leg or two with me.

Run Day

So here we were at 8pm on Friday evening. I lace up the shoes, have a last minute chat with my wife and anxiously make my way out the door. I knew I would have a few friends coming out for the first leg. I met the crew and was surprised to see a few folks from the run club that I didn’t know were showing up. We high fived and got going, tried to get this started as quickly as possible as my brain was already going a mile a minute. We got through the leg and I made my way home to recharge before the midnight run.

Midnight came and I made my way out to find a few more members of the run crew awaiting the start. I was surprised, and super happy. We set out on leg 2. Out and back. Super greatful some the midnight support. Then 4am saw my good friend Jason join, and more of the run crew at 8am, noon, etc. Folks were just showing up. Some could make it for one or two legs, some came and ran half of the project with me. The icing on the cake was on Sunday morning, Steveston Run Crew has an early morning group that does a long run, and they adjusted their morning schedule and rerouted the entire crew to make it to the start line for my 8am run. An entire run crew, coming just to back one person’s project!

This trend went throughout the entire 12 runs. So many amazing people came out to support. Fellow runners, friends, and of course my wife and son. The commitment and community gave me such an eye opening on how supportive our running community is in Richmond, and how the burden of one, can become shouldered by many.

The challenge was such a different experience this year compared to last year, a different vibe, the highs and lows came differently. My expectations were blown away and I am so grateful to everyone that was able to come and take part in this unique and crazy experience!

Cheers!