Running Forever | A Why We Run documentary

Rising from the deeply positive impact that sport can have on our mental health, we bring you a documentary project that delves deeper into understand why so many people who struggle with mental health gravitate towards endurance based events.
Set over the course of a 5 day 250km multi stage event in Wales we speak to real people who share their real thoughts and ultimately address very real consequences.
www.itswhywerun.com
@itswhywerun (insta)
This video comes with a TRIGGER WARNING that we address mental health, depression and suicide.
Ultimately we hope that you are able to reflect on your own journey, see yourself in someone else's words and speak out if you are struggling. We hope this helps people find the strength to have a conversation with a friend or college who may just find it easier to ask you if you want to go for a run/ride rather than openly declaring their struggle.
TRIGGER WARNING.
In 2019 a close friend of mine reached out and asked me if i was free the following week to go for a run. He had been struggling but the conversation we had was about 'training hard', 'smashing races' and ultimately about getting back into the pain cave while things were tough. We had arranged to meet outside his office Monday lunch time to run, laugh and revel in how stupid we were when it came to signing up to hard events.
We never got that opportunity to go for that run after Jules couldn't see a life for himself after that weekend.
Jules had run MDS, won ultra races and one of my fondest memories will always be flying to Norway to race the original Tromso Sky Race. Over 100 runners took part in a marathon with a 10hr cut off time. The course was so physically demanding that only 10 people completed the full distance of the race in the time allowed, Jules and I coming in 9th and 10th. Jules and i laughed, as we stood adjacent to a ridge line in Norway's Arctic Circle, looking at the peak off into the distance that we would have to eventually reach and then return from. This is the same race that Professional athlete Hilliary Allen almost died on in a near fatal fall a few years later. My friend was indestructible.
There is a simple goal here- If we can help one person see themselves in the worlds of our protagonists then perhaps they might be more comfortable asking for help.
WhyWeRun:
This concept was born by accident, when there was a need to raise money and awareness for those that needed it. It just so happened that part of the challenge the founder, Lewis, had set himself was to run five multistage ultramarathons in 2022 and the last of them was cancelled.
WhyWeRun is a 250km multistage ultramarathon, a collective effort absent of time based competition, an opportunity for people to come together, find out what they are capable of and to fight for a purpose that is much great than ourselves. Each year the runners aim to raise a minimum of £500 each for mental health charity, Bigmoose.

[@daisychainsawed]

What the lady says from about 4:40 to 8:00 min really resonates with me. As someone who has social anxiety and struggles with my confidence in general life, ultra running has given me another focus and I feel so much more comfortable and more confident in that environment.

[@piaruns7928]

Exactly the same here! I could not agree more!!!! I guess that is proof that runners are all the same at some point... 😊❤

[@Seby-biketrial]

It touched my heart. Very well produced because you allowed people to express their hearts. The WHY is the most important. I started running in the lowest point of my life. iwas terrible at running in school and i never saw myself being a runner. but when i reached point of depression, lack of energy i found a video like this and i knew i need to run to heal myself. I felt in love with myself by running❤

[@user-jd4qm8hs4c]

I wasn’t expecting to see such a powerful and beautiful video. Amazing job. Very inspiring and sharing of deep and raw emotions. And I love the connection between life and ultras. Thank you!

[@lindsaywillcocks8586]

So beautifully and sensitively produced x

[@challengesophie_]

Very moving and powerful film Max. Thank you for making this and for asking me to come along and do RTTS on a whim with you and Jules in 2017 xx

[@Chester-Blackwell]

Sorry to read of the loss of your good friend Max. I look forward to checking out this in afew hours. Fair play to you.

[@marneymcgovern4285]

What a beautiful documentary!!! You all do great work, with a wonderful community 💕

[@alesiabock9305]

This was such a well-done documentary. Thank you for sharing! I wish there was a group like this in the States I could work for or get involved in. Keep up the good work!

[@hagakuru]

Absolutely brilliant Max. You've made Jules proud.

[@alireynolds740]

This is absolutely incredible! I was emotional right from the beginning - the work you’re all doing is amazing and from someone who LOVES popping into Big Moose on a lunch break, this movement goes above and beyond! Thank you so much for sharing this with the world ❤

[@itswhywerun]

What a beautiful comment, thank you so much! Bigmoose has been there and will continue to be for so many of us - we can’t think of a more meaningful cause to give back to!

[@AllWhoWanderarenotLost8604]

This is by far a breath taking , real and authentic video about running. I loved every minute and reminds me why I love this community and running!!!!!!!

[@thewattlife]

Than you, appreciate this

[@tiger_katten7043]

Beautiful documentary! Very relatable as a runner myself, who was saved by running

[@thewattlife]

Glad to hear that you have found something that brings you joy. Thanks for watching

[@ianwarner1429]

Brilliant ❤ I run to find me, or at least who I think I could be. A better version of whatever I am. Thank you 🙏

[@jorgedanielvivas3633]

Very Good motivation !! Thanks from Nevada!!!

[@Aleyna_roblox10]

What an incredible work

[@dczwifter]

Sorry to read of the loss of your good friend Max. 🙏 I look forward to checking out this in afew hours. Fair play to you.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you Darren, thanks for supporting

[@Mookiethedog]

Really awesome doc! Thank you!

[@mickcassey9852]

That was incredibly powerful. Especially the talk about asking for help. I think a lot about running and why I run. It's a very powerful thing to think about and also to understand in yourself, why you run and the incredible people, connections and experiences you get from it when you allow it

[@thewattlife]

Thank you Mick, appreciate this, just happy to share the inner minds of people who like to get out and do wild things. Appreciate you taking the time to watch

[@pathalderman7051]

I am in tears. What a beautiful documentary!

[@thewattlife]

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch

[@Nathan_runsultras]

Really looking forward to this Max. Gutted I couldn’t come up Friday for the launch.

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Nathan, will see you this evening. In the virtual world anyway

[@justabean1455]

I havent run for awhile- im a rower- but I just decided to run on the treadmill for 45 ish minutes and listened to this the whole time. It was incredible, and of course what they were doing made me feel like what I was doing was easy!

[@thewattlife]

Thank you for taking the time to watch/listen

[@garethmarshall5245]

Well I’m no runner ..! But I’m sat here over looking the sea awaiting this ?)) oh and the sea I’m looking over is the one everyone ran alongside .. at the whywerun in October :

[@itswhywerun]

Small world!!

[@tanner5873]

5 minutes in can tell this is a quality video awesome job

[@thewattlife]

Thank you

[@marcosebastianelli3903]

No words to describe this.. just thank you

[@thewattlife]

Appreciate that

[@crankgreenwatts]

Amazing 👏 Sharing this with my running club "South Derbyshire Road Runners" 💛💙

[@itswhywerun]

Thank you! Registration for next years event will open Monday on the website 💪🏼

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Nicely filmed. Best wishes out there.

[@ZRaceCentral]

cinematography was simply amazing! would love to see a BTS video covering how you make these videos!

[@burbeckuk]

Beautiful film ❤

[@Dipstick67]

Damn max, you have come a long way from some cool and interesting zwift videos to this, as a avid zwifter and ultra runner this is awesome.

[@thewattlife]

I really appreciate this comment, thank you. Thanks for taking the time to watch this. I think people who run ultras know just how difficult it can be to get out of their own head and i wanted to give people the chance to really share their thoughts

[@imoboddy]

INCREDIBLE.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you Imo ❤️

[@alastairgallichan986]

Brilliant work champ! ❤

[@thewattlife]

Thanks buddy

[@jt.8144]

Starting out running.. and trying to see the reason. This I've discovered. Thank you.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you for taking the time to watch

[@1crabby1]

So love this.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you, hope it resonates with you. 🙏🏻

[@leerunsultras]

WOW wow wow .... powerful

[@thewattlife]

Thank you Lee, the things that these runners have to say speak volumes and we hope people connect with that

[@leerunsultras]

@@thewattlife massively mate, I know a few of them. Amazing people ❤️

[@sigmatau8231]

raw truths

[@thewattlife]

Thanks for watching

[@sumydiok]

❤

[@adamlibbey7764]

Great work

[@thewattlife]

Thank you man, hope you’re well Adam.

[@kentokorie2938]

That girl, how do you make your eye lids like that?

[@livelovelaugh182]

13,5 km 5:26 pace! ❤❤

[@KayRunsUltras]

At 05:00 this!!❤

[@thewattlife]

Jen certainly knows what shes talking about

[@livelovelaugh182]

Ich liebe dich ❤

[@Nyelands]

The girl at 4:29 I really hot!!

[@julesemmerson8117]

❤