If you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right - I ran a 50km ultra with Parkinson's ~ Jeff Smith

as I wrote my goals for 2025 the black pen glided over the diary page, january 1st.

"run a 50k ultramarathon".

for context

i am 62.

i have two replacement hips.

and i have parkinsons.

for more context, i have run two ultramarathons before, race to the stones in 2015, and marathon des sables, allegedly the toughest footrace on earth, in 2016.

2025 i decided to push myself, and hopefully inspire others with parkinsons.

my 2025 was a busy one, and my other goal of doing 12 public speaking engagements had consumed me.

it was nearing the end of august and i only had four months left to train and complete my 50k.

i jumped back onto the race to the stones website.

and there it was. 

kerry’s 16 week 50k training plan.

it looked thorough, and very easy to navigate.

i was in.

i quit booze and chocolate 100%, and committed to kerry.

unbeknownst to her, as we had no contact, i stuck religiously to her plan.

i announced i was doing this to my friends and family, for accountability, which i find works well for me, and searched for a race with lengthy cutoff times, as i am very slow.

16 weeks took me to december, and i couldn't find a race at this time.

no problem, i will run 50k locally i thought.

obstacle removed.

i ran.

i rested.

i ran some more.

i did what the programme told me.

and i grew strong.

my legs.

my respiratory system. 

stronger and stronger.

and in december i was ready.

my planned day was saturday, and all week was predicted biblical rains, with wednesday being the only dry day.

so i shifted the plan, and on wednesday 3rd december i drove to a local park, three days ahead of plan, and set about running 50 kilometres, aka 31.06 miles.

so if you’ve run a marathon, just think about how you felt at the end, and then running another five miles.

i parked up, and set off, very randomly, the only sure thing being i was going to use my car as an aid station, with food, hydration, clean running kit, and spare running shoes, if needed.

i had run 35k on my training schedule, and this system worked brilliantly, so psychologically i was happy.

i had trained using everything i would be using, hydration, with nuun isotonic tablets, food, using clif bars and jellies, the same kit, with the addition of tape for my nipples, as the 35k had caused some chaffing.

i headed off.

the weather was dry and cool, perfect for running for me.

one thing that had gone wrong was i locked my car key, with a failing battery, and my phone in my car.

but rather than panicking, my watch recorded my mileage, and i found a guy fishing the parks lake, who allowed me to call my wife on his phone, even though he wouldn't let me hold the phone, i obviously looked dodgy.

she didn't answer, so i left a message asking her to meet me at the car at 10.30am.

we met up with the spare key, and normal service resumed.

the reason for telling you this, is to highlight that you can prepare as much as possible for lifes adventures, but things go wrong.

it's how you handle the obstacle that matters.

control the controllable.

i ran.

and i ran.

and i loved every minute.

with the blend of psychological and physical pressure, especially managing my parkinsons, all stretching me very hard.

but, i did it.

no crowd.

no fanfare.

no medal.

but a great pride in what we had achieved.

me and coach kerry.

so, after the dust settled, i decided to find kerry and tell her my story.

i reached out, and here we are.

i'd like to say a huge thank you to kerry, and her programme, i literally couldn’t have done it without you, and to anybody reading this contemplating running any distance.

if you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.

but, like everything in life, get a mentor or a coach, and they will help you achieve what might seem impossible, and can change your life, for good.

Jeff is the CEO of Bigmoose charity - https://bigmoosecharity.co