Our 6^th annual ASR Miles for Minds challenge has been completed!

Throughout the month of May, colleagues were challenged to walk, run, cycle and swim and log their miles as part of an initiative to promote mental wellbeing through physical activity during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Colleagues at our refinery in Lisbon led all sites with the most miles logged, with 5000 miles recorded by refinery colleagues alone. Over at our Thames Refinery, participation was strong, with colleagues from across a the widest range of departments taking part. Across all sites, 13,000 miles were logged this year, totalling 100,000 miles since the programme began in 2021.

This year, we speak to first-timer Olivia Haley and two of our most competitive participants, Vusie Mamba and Tom Sutton, on how they stay active in the challenge and what Miles for Minds means for them.

Olivia Haley

Brand Manager

Total: 43 miles, running

What types of activities have you been recording for Miles for Minds and roughly how many miles have you logged this year?

Across the month, I have been running and managed to log 43 miles.

How do you fit the challenge into your day‑to‑day routine, especially when work or life gets busy?

When I am able to, I like getting my run done in the morning before work. I am definitely a fair-weather runner too so am a lot more motivated if the weather is nice! Nothing beats a run in the sunshine around the parks in London.

Why did you decide to take part in Miles for Minds this year?

I do usually run so this was extra motivation to do some longer distances and be a bit competitive with it. It was great to see the distances others had covered – some seriously impressive mileage!

Vusie Mamba

Raw Sugar Supply Analyst

Total miles: 290 miles, running

What types of activities have you been recording for Miles for Minds and roughly how many miles have you logged this year?

Running is the main activity I log for Miles for Minds and it’s my primary way of staying active. During the summer, I typically cover at least 120 miles a week, so for me the challenge is really about motivating me to push beyond that. Moving the challenge from March to May this year definitely helped – the longer days in May make it much easier to fit in the extra miles and still maintain a healthy balance alongside work and everything else.

Why is taking part in Miles for Minds important to you, and what keeps you coming back to it year after year?

Running solo is how I usually stay active, but Miles for Minds adds that extra layer of motivation and a sense of being a part of a virtual team.

Through the challenge, I have covered distances I hadn’t quite reached before – whether in a day or over a week – and it is rewarding to come back each year and push those limits a little further.

What’s the most fun part about the Miles for Minds? Does it ever get too competitive?

There’s something oddly satisfying about heading out even when conditions aren’t ideal just to maintain your goal or position for that week. Sometimes you will catch me running through the wind and rain like it’s the most normal thing in the world. To anyone watching, it probably looks like a slight addiction – but that’s all part of the fun and the level of commitment it takes!

Tom Sutton

Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

Total: 1,110 miles, cycling and walking

What types of activities have you been recording for Miles for Minds and roughly how many miles have you logged this year?

Largely cycling, with a few walks during a week of holiday staying with my wife’s family in Warwickshire. Cycling is my main sport, and I’ve currently logged 5200 miles for the year.

How do you fit the challenge into your day‑to‑day routine, especially when work or life gets busy?

Most of my training is completed on my commute to and from work. It is a 23-mile distance each way so it adds up quite quickly. It’s a very interesting route, following the River Thames all the way from Surrey, through to East London – a veritable tourist trail passing Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Park, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London!

Why is taking part in Miles for Minds important to you, and does it have an impact your mental wellbeing?

Miles for Minds spurs me on to make an extra effort with my training in May. It is an important time in the cycling calendar with the racing season in full swing, and the longer days and good weather are perfect for long rides into the hills.

When I am on the bike it forces me to be completely in the moment, leaving stresses and worries of work and life behind, and just enjoying the freedom of being on two wheels and active, with a keen awareness of my surroundings and the changing seasons. 

What’s the most fun part about the Miles for Minds?

The most fun is seeing what sorts of cycling my colleagues around the business get up to – from the very hilly roads of Portugal to the flatlands of Florida. Sometimes it does get rather competitive, with reports of people jumping on their bikes to do local loops late on a Sunday evening to get into the lead!

Will Hodgson, Trainee Solicitor based at our Bedford Street Office, spearheaded this year’s initiative through his role on the Europe Sports Committee.

“With more than 100,000 miles now behind us, Miles for Minds has grown into something larger than a fitness challenge,” said Will. “It’s something our colleagues around the globe look forward to each year that inspires them to stay connected — and active — all year long. Congratulations to everyone who took part, and thank you for every mile!”