Hello,
I’m Ben… just Ben
I work, I’ve got three kids, I train early, I get tired, I get injured, I doubt myself, I crack on. And in amongst all of that, I keep choosing big, uncomfortable goals — not to prove I’m special, but to show that most of us have more in the tank than we think.
This site is a diary of my journey to run Badwater 135, the hardest footrace in the world, and a metaphor for my evolution as I train and prepare for that challenge.
AT A GLANCE
135 miles through Death Valley, July 2026
Three mountain ranges, 14,000ft of climbing, temperatures above 50C
45-hour cutoff, no aid stations, crew-supported only
One of 100 athletes selected worldwide
All funds raised go to The Allegr Foundation and its Walk+Talk programme
Ben is a technology leader working in AI - not a professional athlete
STORY ANGLES
The AI vs Human Connection Piece A CTO who works with artificial intelligence for a living is about to do something no technology can replicate. In a world automating everything, Ben is making the case for human connection - and backing it up with 135 miles of desert.
The Everyman Ultramarathon Story Ben is not sponsored. He is not a professional. He works full time, has three children and trains before the house wakes up. His entry into the world's toughest footrace is a story about what ordinary commitment looks like over an extraordinary distance.
The Charity Angle Every penny raised goes to Walk+Talk, a programme that tackles loneliness and isolation by getting people outside, moving and talking together. The irony is deliberate: technology professional funds a programme built on zero technology.
The Coach and Athlete Story Ben and his coach Fletch (Anthony Fletcher, founder of OneTrack Club) are offering a dual fireside experience for corporate partners - a conversation about resilience, trust, leadership and the real dynamics of preparing someone for the impossible.
THE INVISIBLE MOUNTAIN
A companion essay on privilege, purpose and choosing difficulty when life is comfortable.
SPEAKING AND PODCAST TOPICS
Ben and his coach Fletch are available for conversations covering:
Resilience under pressure - what ultramarathon preparation teaches you about sustained performance
AI and the case for being human - why a technologist is betting on people, not algorithms
Leadership and trust - the coach-athlete dynamic and what it reveals about how we support each other
The invisible mountain - privilege, social mobility and the search for meaning
Building something that matters - founding a charity, creating community technology and choosing impact over status
ABOUT BEN
Ben Burch is a technology leader, co-founder of The Allegr Foundation and an ultramarathon runner. He works at the intersection of AI and business transformation, helping organisations navigate the shift toward intelligent systems.
He is the co-founder of a community technology platform serving military veterans and their families, connecting thousands of people through real-world activity. He is also the CTO of OneTrack Club - a human-first run coaching platform.
In July 2026, he will attempt the Badwater 135 ultramarathon - 135 miles through Death Valley in extreme heat - as one of 100 athletes selected worldwide. He lives in outside Bristol with his wife and three children.
THE ALLEGR FOUNDATION
The Allegr Foundation is a charity dedicated to improving wellbeing through movement and human connection. Its flagship programme, Walk+Talk, is a free, community-based walking group that brings people together for a gentle walk and a conversation. No cost, no fuss, no barriers. The programme operates across the South West and South East of the UK, with a dedicated strand for military veterans.
The programme has shown clear evidence of improvement in social connection, loneliness and wellbeing among participants.