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Striding for Solent Mind: Managing Director to take part in Great South Run for mental health

Chris Pitt is the Managing Director for marketing agency Vertical Leap. We caught up with him ahead of the 2024 Great South Run to find out more about his mental health journey and why he chose to run for Solent Mind.

Chris Pitt, Managing Director, Vertical Leap


Chris Pitt is the Managing Director at Vertical Leap, an evidence-led search marketing agency. Chris manages a number of mental health struggles on a daily basis including generalised anxiety disorder, depression, and complex PTSD. He says running has been beneficial to his mental health and wellbeing.

As an advocate for raising awareness of mental health in the workplace, Chris is taking part in this year’s AJ Bell Great South Run on Sunday 20 October, to raise funds for Solent Mind.

Personal motivation

Chris didn’t have an easy upbringing, experiencing difficulties at home including alcoholic parents and abuse. He feels his diagnosis of complex PTSD fits his behaviour. Like many, Chris has up and down days with his mental health, saying:

“Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s not so easy.”

As well as depression and anxiety, Chris also says he has, trust challenges and imposter syndrome. He has worked with several therapists over the years, and really cares about mental health.

Mental health in the workplace

Vertical Leap often raises money for Solent Mind, completing various fundraising activities. Chris recalls that one of the previous Great South Runs he took part in was in aid of Solent Mind:

“I personally have a big focus on mental health and that's something I've encouraged in the businesses I run.

“I'm in a prominent position in the business, and I think being able to then be open about those things sets the right tone for or helps to set the right tone.”


Great South Run 2024

Chris fell out of love with running during the pandemic. He still went to the gym and lifted weights, but he found that running really helps him to maintain positive mental health so he decided to take part in this year’s Great South Run to help him get back into it:

“I needed something to motivate me to get back to running again, and I wasn't motivating myself enough, so I've forced myself to do it by signing up.”

Chris has taken part in The Great South Run several times before, his last year being 2019 when he ran his fastest time. A colleague of his was running the race for the first time and had only started running a month or so before, yet Chris said: “He literally sprinted past me, I was really struggling and my knees were hurting, and it kind of took the wind out of my sails…”

Chris is training for this year’s run when the weather allows, and says he is running far more and longer distances than he has since pre-Covid which is great. Chris says he’ll be enjoying a big burger and a beer, or a pizza… or maybe all three to celebrate completing this year’s Great South Run.

We’ll be cheering him and our other runners on every step of the way!

Has Chris inspired you to take on a challenge for Solent Mind? The money you raise will help us to provide much-needed mental health and wellbeing support to people all across Hampshire. You can also register your interest for Great South Run 2025 now!

Run for Solent Mind

Want to run for Solent Mind next year? Register your interest for Great South Run 2025 or the 2025 Southampton Marathon here...

Run for Solent Mind