Seb’s 2,750KM Challenge: Running from the UK to Albania

Going the distance

The Challenge:

Distance: 2,750 kilometres across Europe

Duration: 40 days

Starting Point: Cambridge, UK

Finish Line: Tropojë, Albania

I speak to Seb while he’s on the move. It’s day 17 of the race, and Seb is in Germany. “I haven’t slept all night – except for a couple of hours this morning from 7:00-9:00 am, says Seb. Yesterday, I ran for 9.5 hours; today I’m running another 70km. I’m achieving about 9-10 hours of running per day.” His diet has switched from jam and white bread to cheeseburgers, and he sips on electrolytes and energy gels to help clock up the distance.

Some of his friends in Cambridge replied with surprise when they heard about the challenge, but Seb has received a great deal of support from his family and friends. He has lived in Cambridge for 11 years. “I love Cambridge. If I had to choose one city to live in the UK, then it would be Cambridge. I’m blessed,” shares Seb.

The scale of this challenge cannot be underestimated. Seb also only started running regularly two years ago. “I liked it. I thought it was good. It was painful in the first six months as I was running a lot, says Seb. The first run I did was an ultramarathon, which was 50km. I had maybe run on a treadmill for 10 minutes or 1- 2 km, but never really run. I usually go all in – I don’t know how to go halfway on things.

No one understands what I’m going through. Until you experience it, it is difficult to understand. It has been very painful so far, it’s not easy. That’s why it’s called a challenge! I am happy, though. My wife and family and brothers, and sisters have shown support. My sister and her husband came to visit me in France a couple of weeks ago. I have a crew of four people with me, they are very supportive. We have one motor home and one caravan.”

Seb’s story

As we speak via WhatsApp – Seb shares his reason for taking on such an extraordinary challenge.

“This year is the 10^th Anniversary since my dad passed away. My dad went for a nap at 66 years old and never woke up again – he had a heart attack. A year later, my brother-in-law went to sleep and never woke up. He was 45 years old.

I was heavily depressed at the time and, for three months, I wanted to end my life. I wanted to take drugs and drink every day. I was trying to escape the pain.”

There was a turning point for Seb, and in 2018, he attended a conference to hear a motivational speaker, and he began to think differently. “At one point, I asked myself if this isn’t the end, can it be a new beginning? By asking that question, I started to open up to life again. My wife was pregnant with our second child, and I couldn’t do that to her. I picked myself up and made a change.”

The second step was running.

“Running makes me go into my world and reflect, explains Seb. It gives me the adrenaline that I need. I’m an adrenaline seeker. I do skydives; I do aerobatics. I need it. I’m not someone who can sit still. I need to move.”

Watch and listen to Seb’s story below

Ending the stigma

Seb tells me that ‘mental health is a big deal’. He continues, “I wanted to make this run happen, and I’m dedicating this run to my dad. I know for a fact that he went through a lot himself. He would lock himself in a room and wouldn’t come out of the house. I didn’t understand it before. Now I do. I believe we are living in an epidemic of mental health challenges – not a pandemic, an epidemic.

Mental health is a big deal – people talk a lot about it, but I don’t think a lot is being done about it. I’m in pain and I’m suffering from the challenge, but I want to prove to people that it is possible. My message is always the same: It’s possible. The idea behind the run is to raise awareness – that’s my goal. I don’t believe in the word ‘Mental Health’. I say mental wellbeing, it sounds different, and I like it more.”

Seb’s idea behind the challenge is to make a difference to someone else’s life. “I’m not here to share my ego – I’m here to share my personal experience so I can help somebody else. Hopefully, people can find themselves somewhere along this journey, and they can make a change for the better.”

Everyone at CPSL Mind would like to say a big thank you to Seb for taking on this incredible challenge, and thank you to everyone who has supported Seb so far. We will be following his journey.

Here’s How You Can Help:

Donate: No matter the amount, your contribution will make a difference.

Share: Help spread the word by sharing this journey with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Follow & Support: Stay updated on Seb’s progress by following him on social media, cheering me on, and sharing your encouragement.

Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need our help.

Thank you for joining Seb on this journey. Keep up to date here: https://www.sebspb.com/

Support Seb’s incredible challenge and donate today: 2,750KM Challenge! Running from the UK to Albania!