FOUR miles might seem like an arduous distance to run for some, for others it might be a warm-up. But how would you feel running four miles…every four hours, for 48 hours?

That’s the challenge one Montgomeryshire teenager has set himself as he tries to raise awareness of mental health and the struggles he personally has endured in recent years.

Finlay Braddick will take on the physically and mentally exhausting task this weekend, inspired by the ‘4x4x48 Challenge’, the brainchild of ex-Navy Seal and ultramarathon runner David Goggins.

Finlay, from Kerry, will start his first four-miler at 8am tomorrow morning (Saturday, June 12). He’ll then head out again at 12noon, 4pm, 8pm and midnight and then again at 4am on Sunday – but that will only be the halfway point. He’ll then pound the roads of Powys at the same times throughout Sunday and into the following day too, hopefully completing his task before sunrise on Monday.

“I’ve never been more determined to do something,” said the 17-year-old.

“It’s going to be tough but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time.

“David Goggins is an absolute lunatic, he’s a beast. He’s an ex-Marine who has done loads of endurance challenges and he’s inspired lots of other people to do it as a result. I’m thinking of maybe joining the Army in the future, it’s an idea, so doing something like this will help me see if I’m cut out for it.”

Finlay is raising money for Mind, the mid and north Powys-based mental health charity, which has helped him battle his own issues.

“I’ve struggled with mental health problems for a long time, around four or five years,” said the Welshpool High School pupil.

“But it’s been much harder for me during the last 15 months or so since going into lockdown. All the problems go away when I’m with my mates or in school; that and running has always been an escape for me. It’s OK when I have lots of stuff on to occupy my mind.

“But I lost all that when lockdown hit and it’s a lot different when you’re constantly on your own. It’s got a lot better recently though.

“Running’s a passion I fall in and out of love with, but it’s helped me a lot with my mental health during lockdown.”

A friend did the same challenge earlier in the year, although he did it with his brother, and Finlay said both told him he was crazy to do it on his own. But even though he is fully aware of the mental toll this weekend could take on him, he’s even more determined to tackle it.

“Physically, I know I have it in me, it’s just the mental side that could break me,” added the intrepid teen.

“I think that’s the case with a lot of people. I’ve been fragile mentally in recent years but it also makes me more determined. It’s got so much more meaning than just me.”

Physically, he should be in great shape to complete the challenge. The keen cyclist has been putting in the hard yards during training, including a weekly cycling regime of 125 kilometres – he’s up to 2,000km for the year – as well as 40km of running per week for the last eight-10 weeks. He’s also been running more than once a day to prepare himself for the physical impact this weekend is bound to have.

Finlay has amassed £230 so far but set himself an ambitious target of £2,000 because he didn’t want to aim too low and see people maybe stop donating after he’d reached his goal.

You can find out more information about Finlay and donate by visiting his fundraising page at https://localgiving.org/fundraising/finlay-runs-4x4x48-for-charity/.