A former professional rugby player is on the verge of completing one of the most physically and emotionally grueling challenges in recent memory.
David “Jacko” Jackson, 44, is just days away from finishing an epic bid to run 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days — a feat that began in north Wales back in May and has already drawn more than 700 people to run alongside him.
What makes this story extraordinary isn’t just the staggering mileage — it’s why he’s doing it.
Jackson’s rugby career was cut short by a traumatic brain injury, and now he’s turned that life-altering moment into a movement — raising money, breaking stigmas, and covering roughly 3,000 miles in the process.
Jump to:
From the Rugby Pitch to the Open Road
Jackson’s professional rugby career came to a sudden, devastating halt in 2013 after he suffered a traumatic brain injury and a seizure during a training session.
The aftermath was brutal. For months, he battled fatigue, intense sensitivity to light, and significant cognitive difficulties — a reality shared by thousands of brain injury survivors who rarely see their stories reflected in the spotlight.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
When he eventually recovered, Jackson channeled his athletic background into a new direction, training as a strength and conditioning coach. That path led him to an unlikely obsession: breathing techniques, rhythmic movement, and ultimately, running.
Running is quite rhythmical and your breathing when it’s good is rhythmical. Running is a great way to train better breathing patterns and habits.
He also became captivated by the legendary “marathon monks” of Japan — ascetics who run extraordinary distances over many years in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. That fascination planted a seed that would eventually become something much bigger.
The Challenge That Almost Broke Him
Jackson originally set out to run two marathons every single day. That ambition hit a wall on day 14 in the Lake District.
After completing 26 marathons in just 13 days, a serious leg injury stopped him in his tracks. The physical toll was immense — but the emotional weight was even heavier.
I’d done 26 marathons in 13 days and the wheels fell off. I was hobbling, crying my eyes out. I was in pain and felt like a letdown.
It was his wife, Catherine, who refused to let him quit. Acting as his physiotherapist, nutritionist, and logistics coordinator all rolled into one, she encouraged him to keep moving — one step at a time.
The mindset was, if I can move, we’ll keep going until I can’t. If we manage to complete that leg, then we’ll try and do the same thing tomorrow. It sounds really cheesy, but it was one step at a time.
Jackson adapted his challenge — switching from two marathons daily to one ultramarathon of 50km (approximately 30 miles) — and kept going. He hasn’t stopped since.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
700 Strangers, Seven Pairs of Shoes, and One Camper Van
The logistics of this challenge are staggering on their own. Jackson has burned through seven pairs of running shoes, traveled through Wales, Scotland, and England, and survived multiple summer heatwaves — with Catherine carefully managing his hydration from their trusty camper van support vehicle.
Dotted around the van are Post-it notes carrying messages like “We choose our attitude”, “Is this a reaction or a choice?” and “Greatest ever comeback” — small but powerful reminders on the harder days.
Along the route, well-wishers have cooked meals for the couple, offered them proper beds, and helped with laundry. More than 700 people — ranging in age from eight years old to runners in their 80s — have joined Jackson for a leg of the journey.
Those shared miles have produced something Jackson didn’t fully anticipate: deeply personal conversations that have become the emotional heart of the entire endeavor.
All the way through, the highlights have been the people. When you’re running side by side, people tend to share a lot. So many people have things they wanted to talk about. Some were excited because they’ve overcome something, others were in the midst of something really horrible but find running a great way to keep them sane. People tell you some really, like, deep stuff.
Why People Open Up to Jacko
Catherine believes there’s a specific reason strangers feel safe sharing their most vulnerable moments with her husband.
Other people seem to follow suit. When he’s low, someone comes along with fresh energy or shares a heartfelt story that he gets locked into and it makes him keep moving.
Vulnerability, it turns out, is contagious in the best possible way.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Forrest Gump Beard and the Finish Line Ahead
There’s one more detail that’s impossible to ignore. Jackson hasn’t shaved once since setting off in May, and the resulting beard has drawn more than a few Forrest Gump comparisons from spectators along the route.
A few people have shouted ‘Run Forrest, run’ at me. It wasn’t intentional. You don’t look at yourself much in the mirror when you’re doing something like this and in any spare moment you’re eating or doing recovery. But the beard has become almost a symbol of how far I’ve run, so it’s staying for now.
Jackson is raising funds for brain injury charities Headway and Head for Change, and if all goes to plan, he’ll cross the finish line at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales on Saturday, September 5.
Exhausted? Almost certainly. But he insists the closer he gets, the more energized he feels.
I should be feeling tired now. But I’m getting excited about getting to the end and, hopefully, making a bit of a difference.
His philosophy throughout has been simple — the same principle he’s applied to every single one of those 100 grueling days: “It’s not about running fast. It’s more like the hare and tortoise story. Slow and steady – and do it again tomorrow.”
