25 Aug 2026
St Albans personal trainer Ricky Houghton is believed to have become the first person to run the full circumference of Hertfordshire after completing the extraordinary 175-mile Herts 360 challenge.
Former Samuel Ryder Academy student Ricky, 29, set off from St Albans Cathedral at 7am on Friday, embarking on a gruelling journey around the county. He ran continuously through Friday and Saturday night before finally arriving back at the cathedral at 5.30pm on Sunday.
The 175-mile route took Ricky around the border of Hertfordshire, pushing himself to the limits of both his physical and mental endurance and creating what is believed to be a unique instalment in the county’s sporting history.
But the challenge was about the message behind the miles. Ricky undertook Herts 360 to encourage people to question the limits they place on themselves and to demonstrate that what can initially seem impossible may be achievable with determination, preparation and the right mindset.
“I wanted to show people that we are often capable of far more than we think. The biggest barriers can be the limits we put on ourselves. Herts 360 was about pushing beyond those limits and showing what is possible when you decide not to be constrained by them.”
The route also gave Ricky the opportunity to experience Hertfordshire from a unique perspective, passing through communities and landscapes across the county before bringing him full circle to St Albans.
As Ricky finally approached St Albans Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, he was greeted by a huge reception from friends and family, who had gathered to celebrate the end of his remarkable journey.
Their support provided an emotional and fitting conclusion to a challenge that had begun at the same spot more than two days earlier.
