How showing up to the start line transformed Hemel mum from depression to belief
A Hemel Hempstead mum who felt “completely stuck” has shared how showing up to a local obstacle race helped her rediscover a sense of belief after years of struggling with her mental health.
Soph Halliday-Chambers, a single parent and mental health worker, states that the loss of belief had built gradually. Once someone who thrived on challenge and physical adventure during her childhood, years of avoidance, addiction and partying during her late teens, coping mechanisms, and survival mode gradually replaced adventure and confidence with fear.
Then came motherhood, which gave her a powerful sense of purpose and hope. But when COVID hit, the separation from the world and pressure of being a single mum at home slowly took its toll, leaving her feeling emotionally and physically stuck. Before she knew it, she has gained weight and following some disappointing work and personal situations, eventually, she was diagnosed with depression.
She added: “It wasn’t one big moment; it was a slow erosion. I went from being someone who ran towards hard things to someone who felt completely stuck, physically and mentally.”
Thanks to a friend, Halliday-Chambers has started to become more active, and took on the Spring Wolf Run 2026 with no training and had very little confidence she would make it around.
She said: “I genuinely thought I wouldn’t finish, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t believe I could anymore. I’d been sedentary for a long time and struggling mentally, so even being there felt huge.”
In the days before the event, she came close to pulling out altogether. A short practice run left her exhausted, reinforcing the fear that she simply was not capable anymore. What changed her mind was a conversation with the Wolf Run team, where she was reassured she could walk, skip obstacles or reduce the distance without judgement.
“I was given permission to just exist in the experience rather than prove something, and that shifted everything.” She added.
Arriving on the day, still overwhelmed and doubtful, Halliday-Chambers instead found an atmosphere that quietly challenged those fears, stating: “There were smiling faces everywhere and a real sense of connection. It didn’t feel competitive, it felt supportive.”
Watching her young son take part in the Junior Wolf event shortly before her own start became a turning point. She said: “I felt overwhelming pride. Seeing his determination and joy completely changed my mindset.”
What followed was far from easy. The physical strain set in quickly, bringing cramp, fatigue and moments of panic, but what stayed with her most was not the difficulty of the course but the people around her. She stated: “Everyone was helping each other, slipping, laughing, getting back up. Strangers were encouraging each other constantly, and that carried me through when I felt like I couldn’t keep going.”
Halliday-Chambers completed the 5k course by adapting when she needed to, but crucially, she did not stop. Crossing the finish line brought something she had not felt in a long time.
For her, the impact of the day went far beyond the event itself. She said: “I was exhausted and covered in mud, but I felt genuinely happy. That really caught me off guard.
“It didn’t fix everything, but it cracked something open. It reminded me that maybe I’m not as stuck as I thought, and that there is still something there to build from.”
She now hopes sharing her experience will resonate with others who feel held back by their own struggles. Halliday-Chambers will be taking part in the next Wolf Run event, Summer Wolf.
Summer Wolf heads to Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 13-14 June and will see thousands of participants run, walk and help each other across the 5k, 10k or junior courses, with the event also featuring a lively event village, with food, music and entertainment for spectators and runners alike.
5k and 10k entries remain for Summer Wolf, with Junior Wolf very close to sell-out. Visit www.thewolfrun.com