Endure 24 - a festival for runners!
Early in June, AAC sent two teams to Endure 24 in Reading.
For anyone who doesn't know, Endure 24 is a 24 hour relay race with camping. Some people run as solos or pairs, but the most fun is to be had in teams.
The basic idea is that all teams send out their first runner at noon on Saturday. That person runs the 8 km course and then hands over to the next runner. That continues up until noon on Sunday.
We entered a team of four men aiming to be competitive, and a team of six looking for a more relaxed time.
We faced some 'challenging' weather, including heavy rain and strong winds. However, it wasn't too cold and was actually good for running.
Our competitive team managed an incredible third place in the small teams category (out of 64) and 13th overall! This is even more impressive when you consider they were a team of four racing teams of five!
Team Abingdon Intense receive their third place trophy. From left to right: Chris Lamb, Sean Cooke, James, Pheysey and Neil Butler.
Our relaxed team also had a great result. We were the 39th mixed large team (out of 159) and 87th overall (out of 1142).
Team Abingdon Awesome doing the traditional Endure 24 all the team finish together. From left to right: Liz Fraser, Jen Swarbrick, Mark Lewy, Tim Foxall, Becks Compton and Ali Buchan.
Here are some words from our team members.
“As an Edure 24 rookie, I really enjoyed it. Surprising what the body can endure(!) when you push it a little. It also makes for a good DryRobe fashion show.”
Ali also noted that "run, rest and repeat" is a unique challenge.
Also a first timer, Neil said, it was "really fun to do something so challenging and different as part of a team and push my legs (and stomach) beyond what they are used to."
Tim made a great point when he noted that "you don't have to take part to feel part of E24. One of the nice things about this year was the support from wives / girlfriends / small people who turned up throughout the event to show support."
Liz didn't let injury stop her from coming along and enjoying the event.
"The atmosphere was incredible – supportive, fun, and truly inclusive. Whether running fast laps, jogging, or walking (like I was!), you're part of the team and the event. There was no pressure to do more than I was comfortable with, and I never once felt out of place. Walking in the rain in the middle of the night has never been so much fun!"
A colourful campsite
Sean ran in our smaller, competitive team and had this to say:
“Despite the challenging weather conditions and heavy rain turning the course into a muddy and slippery adventure, our spirits remained high, and the event was nothing short of amazing.
“The rain may have made the course tougher but added to the sense of achievement and fun. The support from fellow runners and the vibrant atmosphere kept us motivated throughout the 24 hours.”
We hope to send even more people to the event next year, so if this has sparked your interest, look out for details nearer the time. I'll leave you with these comments from Liz and Sean:
“Endure 24 is about community, challenge, and camaraderie—not just speed. I'd encourage anyone, whatever their pace or experience level, to join us next year. You won't regret it!”
“Endure 24 offers a unique challenge and a chance to bond with your teammates. Let's make next year's event even bigger and better!”
