Ultramarathon Running for Mental Health
Imagine running 21 consecutive ultramarathons, winding your way through every county in Great Britain. This is what Matt Bagwell is planning to do in September, 2021.
Matt Bagwell got the idea to create the Run the Country Ultra as a way to raise funds and awareness for mental health and those struggling with anxiety and depression.
Run the Country Ultra will cover 1050 kilometers and have a total elevation gain 16% more than climbing Everest: a total of 10,232 meters.
Matt is an ultramarathon runner who came to the sport after spending year as a triathlete then running marathons, including Boston, London, and a number of other in Europe. He reached what seemed like a limit to what he could accomplish as a marathon runner. He considered going back to triathlons, then discovered ultramarathons and trail running.
Matt is a performance coach and an Oxygen Advantage Advanced instructor and coach. Breathwork is an important tool to enhance physical and mental performance. But it is not the only mindset tool in his box.
Matt says that it takes a variety of tools to maintain good mental health. He compares it to a Japanese bento box. At times you may use one or two of the tools in your box. But other times you need a different tool.
Breathing properly has huge benefits for both physical and mental health. And with breathwork, Matt uses meditation, connection with nature, running, staying connected with other people, and sometimes, cold water bathing.
His goal is to raise 105,000 pounds ( $140,000) for CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably. CALM is an organization working to stem the tide of suicide in Britain. Matt had a period in his life when he faced severe depression, and running was a big part of what got him through to recovery.
Run the Country Ultra is an event open to runners in Britain who would like to participate. Go to the website and click on “Join a Run.” There is also a virtual run on September 5th for those who don’t live in the UK.
Connect with Matt:
Email: http://matt@lovetolearnto.com
Website: Love to Learn
Website: Run the Country Ultra
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