From hitting rock bottom

Ben Wiley was having ‘terrible thoughts, so he bought a pair of trainers and just keeps putting one foot in front of the other. Lucy John reports

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Six months ago, Ben Wiley looked as though he was living the dream, travelling the world to the likes of Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and more.

But, in reality, his mental health was crumbling and he hit rock bottom in March during a stint in New Zealand.

‘That was until he bought a pair of trainers on a whim, went for a run and ended up completing a marathon.

Later that month, he completed his first-ever ultramarathon. Since then, the 24-year-old from Llanrumney, Cardiff, has covered 3,000km (1,865 miles), including back-to-back ultras.

He is now using his newfound passion to encourage others, especially men, to open up about their mental health and try something new.

Last Friday, he embarked on a 24-hour run around the 1.2km boundary of Eastern Leisure Centre in a challenge that tested his limits both mentally and physically.

Keeping a pace of around 6:50 minutes per kilometre, Ben covered an astonishing 206.43km.

The aim of the 6pm-to-6pm run was to raise money for a local charity close to his heart, the Jacob Abraham foundation, and to show that it is possible to overcome what might seem impossible.

Speaking ahead of the run, he said: “People say this challenge is going to break me, but I’ve been through worse, and if I remember that this will be a walk in the park.

“I’m in a lot better place now and I may feel low again, but things like this will prove to me that I can get through it again.

“There's a massive stigma on males, especially about not talking about mental health, and that needs to be broken. There is no room for that.”

Opening up about his own mental health, Ben said: “I was at a place at 18 where I felt suicidal and had awful thoughts. I was in a really bad place, and if it wasn't for my sisters and family noticing the change in me I might not still be here.