At the beginning of July, I set myself a challenge: run a half marathon every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the final 2 km of my eighth half marathon, I felt every step. My legs were tired, my body was exhausted, and every kilometre demanded more than the last. But I had made a promise to myself, and I was determined to finish what I had started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8 Half Marathons.
42.2 km every weekend.
168.8 km throughout July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost everyone I told about this challenge said I was crazy or completely nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe they were right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for me, this wasn’t about doing something extreme. It was about preparing my body for the challenge that lies ahead\u2014the 50 km Ultra Trail Race in the Drakensberg on 12 September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every kilometre was another step towards spending more time on my feet, building endurance, and preparing both physically and mentally for race day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This wasn’t just running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was training with purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the way, there were rewards for the hard work. Out of the eight half marathons I completed, I earned five Silver medals and two Bronze medals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the medals are something I am incredibly proud of, they were never the reason I took on this challenge. The real victory was proving to myself that I could keep showing up, keep pushing forward, and keep growing stronger with every race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), I never imagined I would be able to run like this again. There were days filled with fear\u2014fear of paralysis, fear of the unknown, and fear of what the future might hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, those fears no longer define me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, I lace up my shoes, head out the door, and keep proving to myself that no matter what life throws at you, you can still set ambitious goals and work relentlessly to achieve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Drakensberg Mountains are waiting.
I can almost hear them calling my name, reminding me why every early morning, every training session, and every sore muscle is worth it. My goal is to complete the 50 km Ultra Trail Race in 8 to 9 hours.
The furthest I have ever run is 32 km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fifty kilometres is a completely different challenge. It will not only be my first 50 km Ultra Trail Race, but also the greatest physical and mental challenge I have ever faced. I know it won’t be easy, but I believe I can cross that finish line within the goal I have set for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In less than six weeks, I’ll know my final finishing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until then, I’ll keep showing up.
I’ll keep running.
I’ll keep training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because every step today brings me closer to the mountains tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movement. Fitness. Persistence. Motivation. Strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The strongest people aren’t the ones who never struggle; they’re the ones who refuse to stop moving forward. Every step you take today brings you closer to the person you’re becoming.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the beginning of July, I set myself a challenge: run a half marathon every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month. By the final 2 km of my eighth half marathon, I felt every step. My legs were tired, my body was exhausted, and every kilometre demanded more than the last. But I had made […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[25,30],"tags":[201],"class_list":["post-994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fitness","category-the-challenge","tag-ultratrailrunning-halfmarathon-nevergiveup-trailrunning-motivation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":339,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/14\/breaking-barriers-my-valentines-day-half-marathon-triumph\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":0},"title":"Breaking Barriers: My Valentine\u2019s Day Half Marathon Triumph","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"14 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Run with love, and every step becomes lighter.\" Valentine\u2019s Day 2026 will forever be etched in my memory\u2014not for roses or chocolates, but for the pounding rhythm of my shoes on the ARC Irene road, the cool breeze on my face, and the moment I shattered my personal record in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Road"","block_context":{"text":"Road","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/10km-arc-road-race\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/dancing-with-heat-and-rivers-my-trail-marathon-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":1},"title":"Dancing with Heat and Rivers: My Trail Half Marathon Story","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"8 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The sun was already fierce when Connor and I lined up at the start. At 29 degrees, the air shimmered, heavy with promise and challenge. My German Shorthaired Pointer wagged his tail, eyes bright, already scanning for the rivers he knew would be waiting.\u00a0 We set off at a steady\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail"","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":984,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/the-trail-runner-part-iii-beyond-the-finish-line\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":2},"title":"The Trail Runner: Part III \u2013 Beyond the Finish Line","author":"admin","date":"30 July 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"From Struggle to Service Every step I\u2019ve taken \u2014 through tremors, through fatigue, through triumph \u2014 has led me here. The trail no longer feels like just my personal battlefield; it has become a classroom, a sanctuary, and a place of calling. I began by running for myself, but now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Part III"","block_context":{"text":"Part III","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/series-books\/part-iii\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image_1784746374312.jpeg?fit=864%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image_1784746374312.jpeg?fit=864%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image_1784746374312.jpeg?fit=864%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image_1784746374312.jpeg?fit=864%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":664,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/01\/flowers-mud-and-victory\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":3},"title":"Flowers, Mud, and Victory!","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"1 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"What a day at Prime View! The streams were irresistible\u2014our dogs dove in every chance they got, splashing with pure happiness. The road was lined with bursts of color: fiery orange blossoms, deep and light purple petals, crisp whites, and bold reds, all swaying gently as the trees whispered in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail"","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":818,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/16\/building-strength-the-day-i-chose-health-over-cigarettes-and-alcohol\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":4},"title":"Building Strength: The Day I Chose Health Over Cigarettes and Alcohol","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"16 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Five years ago, my mornings looked very different. Before the sun had even risen properly, I would be standing outside with a cigarette in my hand. Coffee in the other, smoke curling into the morning air. It had become routine \u2014 something I hardly questioned anymore. Alcohol followed closely behind.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fitness"","block_context":{"text":"Fitness","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/fitness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":210,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/arc-irene-10km-race-recap\/","url_meta":{"origin":994,"position":5},"title":"ARC Irene 10km Race Recap","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"7 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I took on the ARC Irene 10km race \u2014 and what a challenge it turned out to be! With 121m of elevation gain, an average cadence of 157 spm, and my heart rate sitting between 156\u2013172 bpm for 92% of the race, it was a true test of endurance.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Road"","block_context":{"text":"Road","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/10km-arc-road-race\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph3bPZ-g2","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/file_00000000d54481f4b8ece53d2a1016f1.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/994\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}