The Challenge
On July 5th, starting at midnight, I began running four miles every four hours for 48 hours straight. It’s called the 4x4x48 challenge — a test of endurance well-known in the ultrarunning world. To support the event, I invited friends, family, and neighbors to join me — some ran a few laps, others walked and cheered from the sidewalk, and many gathered in front of my house to hang out, encourage one another, and keep the energy going throughout the 48 hours. Why was I doing this? Why put myself through so much? Because mental health matters.
Why I Choose to Support Active Minds
Since starting ultrarunning in early 2023, I’ve spent countless hours and thousands of miles on trails. The biggest lesson I’ve learned? The mind is far more powerful than we realize.
This challenge wasn’t just about me. It was about all of us. The challenge created a space where people could run (or walk, or simply show up) for something bigger than themselves. Friends reconnected, neighbors bonded, and new faces brought fresh energy. In the end, the encouragement and support we gave each other mattered more than the miles themselves.
That’s why I partnered with Active Minds to complete this challenge. Active Minds’ mission aligns perfectly with my personal beliefs: break down stigma, spark conversation, and remind people they’re not alone. Focusing on improving the mental wellness of students and young adults through community support
What I Learned
About a week after the challenge, a neighbor asked me:
“At what point was it the hardest?”
At first, I thought it had to be the end — those final runs when I was completely exhausted and sleep-deprived. But after a moment of reflection, I realized the hardest moment wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.
At midnight on July 5th, I stepped outside alone into the cold, dark night. I had no idea how I would feel in the hours ahead. I didn’t know if people would support my effort — or if anyone would even show up. I was 48 miles from the “finish line” and completely uncertain about how the weekend would unfold. Yes, starting with those thoughts was the hardest part.
Then something incredible happened. After that first lonely run, people began to show up. First two. Then five. By the end, we had a consistent 10+ people joining, cheering, and running beside me.
As the challenge went on, and the support around me grew, the weight of the effort somehow got lighter. New faces brought new energy. Laughter, conversations, and encouragement distracted me from the pain I felt in my feet. What started as a personal test of endurance turned into something much more powerful: a shared experience of resilience, community, and care.
I finished the final leg not just with pride in what I had done, but with a deep sense of gratitude for the people who showed up — and for the reminder that we’re never truly alone in what we’re going through.
Taking Your First Step
One of the most powerful things this challenge reinforced for me is that community doesn’t just help us get through hard things — it helps us move important missions forward. When we join together around mental health, we expand what’s possible. And with organizations like Active Minds, there are so many meaningful ways to take part.
You can raise money to fuel mental health education and peer-to-peer support. You can start an Active Minds chapter at your school or encourage your community to create safe spaces for conversation and connection. You can mobilize the people around you — friends, coworkers, neighbors — to take mental health seriously and show up for one another.
No matter how you participate, it all begins with one simple step: choosing to act. Choosing to care. Choosing to be part of something bigger than yourself. That first step creates momentum, and momentum creates change.
Often, mental health challenges don’t always have a clear finish line. Like the 4x4x48, they require persistence, vulnerability, and support. We often move forward with uncertainty — not knowing where we’re headed, how we’ll feel, or what obstacles we’ll face. But we keep going anyway.
