Answer extracted from The Purpose People Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How did someone transition from being a non-runner to completing over 150 ultramarathons?
A casual remark and a 100-rand bet with her father sparked everything when Nicky Chrascina was 23 years old. Watching her stepmother train for the Comrades Ultra Marathon in Swaziland, she offhandedly said she could run a marathon—and her father wagered she couldn't. She entered the London Marathon in 1993 with virtually no training knowledge, using a walk-one-lamppost, run-one-lamppost approach, and completed it in four hours and 41 minutes, launching a running career that would eventually span over 156 ultras, marathons, and multi-day races.
From holiday remark to London Marathon entry
The moment that changed everything happened almost by accident. Nicky was visiting her father and stepmother in Swaziland and went camping to watch her stepmother complete a qualifying marathon for the Comrades Ultra Marathon. At the finish line, she made a throwaway comment—one of those things you say without really thinking—that she could probably run a marathon too. Her father took her seriously and issued the challenge: 100 rands said she couldn't.
Back in England after the holiday, Nicky decided to prove him wrong. She had no running experience, no coach, and no real plan. In 1993, entry into the London Marathon involved tearing an application form out of Runner's World magazine, filling it out, and posting it off with a stamped addressed envelope. She bought a pair of running shoes without knowing she needed to size up, grabbed some running shorts and her own T-shirts, and set out to train.
Her training approach was as unconventional as her entry: she planned a small route and realized within moments she couldn't breathe at the end of the street. But instead of giving up, she adopted a simple walk-one-lamppost, run-one-lamppost rhythm that would become her foundation. The method worked. When race day came, she crossed the finish line in four hours and 41 minutes—far from the fastest marathon time, but proof that the bet could be won.
Nicky Chrascina — Founder and Owner of Flancy Activewear, former registered general nurse trained in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (qualified 1984), and pharmaceutical sales representative specializing in oncology hospital sales for approximately 25 years. She has completed over 156 ultras, marathons, and multi-day races since her running journey began at age 23.
One marathon led to another, and marathons led to ultras. The running journey Nicky describes on The Purpose People Podcast became not just a personal achievement but a defining part of her identity and later, the inspiration for her business. Her racing career spanned decades and continents—from the iconic London Marathon to legendary ultras like the Comrades Ultra Marathon that originally inspired her. She has raced across deserts, mountains, and ultra-distance events, each one building on the foundation of that first four-hour-and-41-minute marathon in 1993.
The ripple effect: From running to building a brand
Completing over 156 races transformed Nicky into someone who understood the runner's mindset—their needs, their struggles, and their dreams. Nine years ago, this deep experience fueled her frustration with the running apparel market. She noticed that the majority of running kits were black, and as someone who describes herself as colorful and someone who loves bright colors, she felt runners deserved better. When you're struggling in a race, she believed, you shouldn't be wearing black—you should wear something cheerful and happy.
This conviction led to the founding of Flancy Activewear, a colorful running brand that launched at the National Running Show at the NEC in January 2019. As discussed in her episode, the brand resonated immediately with runners who had felt the same frustration. Skorts became the signature product, accounting for more than 50 percent of Flancy's total sales, and the collection has grown to approximately 85 different bespoke designs.
For more details on how Nicky's pharmaceutical background shaped her entrepreneurial approach and the philosophy behind Flancy's explosive growth, the full episode on Listenly offers the complete story.
Key takeaways
- A casual remark at age 23 and a 100-rand bet with her father became the catalyst for Nicky's running journey.
- Her first marathon in 1993 was completed with minimal training knowledge using a walk-lamppost, run-lamppost method, finishing in four hours and 41 minutes.
- Over 156 ultras, marathons, and multi-day races transformed her understanding of what runners need and inspired the creation of Flancy Activewear.
- Frustration with black-dominated running apparel led to founding a colorful activewear brand that launched in January 2019 and has grown to 85+ bespoke designs.
See also
What inspired the creation of a colorful activewear brand for runners?
Nicky created Flancy because she was fed up with the majority of running kit being black. As a colorful person who loves bright colors, she felt that when struggling in a race, runners should wear something cheerful and happy rather than dark apparel.
How long has Steve Mitchell been married to his wife Donna?
Mitchell and Donna have been married for 34 years. He proposed to her in an unconventional way while they were looking out over the bay of Weston-super-Mare.
What risk did Steve Mitchell take with his property investment that paid off significantly?
When Mitchell and Donna moved to their current property about seven years ago, the mortgage was five times more than the property they were leaving.