Ultra-runner and content creator Jonny Davies achieved his ambitious 'Race the Sun' challenge on June 21, 2026, the longest day of the year, by running 140km from Tynemouth Lighthouse to Bowness-on-Solway. He set off at sunrise (4.26am) and arrived at 9.54pm, just 30 seconds before sunset, spending almost 18 hours on his feet. The day after, he went out for a 10-minute jog.
Background and Previous Challenges
Davies grew up in Balham and was a rugby player for Wimbledon RFC before transitioning to running in 2019. In 2023, he ran the length of the London Underground, covering 570km in 11 days. In 2024, he visited every capital city across the UK and Ireland on foot. A few weeks before the Race the Sun challenge, Davies completed a 'last man standing' ultra-marathon in Texas, staying awake to run for 30 hours straight and covering 192km.
Training and Preparation
To prepare for endurance events, Davies emphasises the importance of getting out early with enough carbohydrates on board. He builds up to between 16 and 20 hours of training per week. 'The more you train, the more you’ve got to be conscious of nutrition and sleep,' he says. 'For me, it’s a case of taking it one week at a time and running a little further each week.' He also visited the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre in Salzburg, Austria, where his entire body was tested, receiving the green light for the challenge.
Nutrition Strategy
During the run, Davies aimed to consume about 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour and around two litres of fluid per hour. However, his body struggled to accept the fuel. 'The problem was my body just wasn’t having it, and if I tried to take on too much, it would just reject it. So I had to really, really dial back on my fuelling, just so I could have something that stayed in the stomach,' he explains. He uses a combination of sport nutrition gels and powders, including electrolytes and carbohydrate powder with zero fibre, such as G1M Sport. Post-challenge, he enjoys green vegetables, salads, and other fibrous staples.
Mental Challenges
Davies also faced significant mental hurdles. 'When you’ve been running for 14 hours straight, your mind starts to play tricks on you,' he says. 'Your brain is not a truth-telling machine, your brain is a keeping-alive machine. You’ve got to ignore it and go, “I understand what you’re saying, but we’ve got a job to do and I’m going to keep pushing forward”, and eventually that negative voice in your head slides away.' He rarely listens to music or podcasts for safety reasons and to unplug, instead focusing on his breathing, footsteps, and nature sounds. When needed, he plays upbeat tracks like Abba's Dancing Queen.
Inspiration for Others
Davies never used to like running. He got into extreme running because 'if I can become somewhat good at the thing I dislike the most, I’ve got no excuse for anything else going on in my life.' His story serves as inspiration for anyone contemplating a marathon or restarting Couch to 5K.
