Running doesn’t have to be a solo sport, and at Endure24 we welcome hundreds of teams every year to take on the challenge of running for 24 hours. We spoke to Endure24 Leeds participant George about his experience running in a Large Team this year.
After having to pull out of Endure24 Reading in 2023 due to an injury, George returned this year, this time to Leeds, to set straight some unfinished business. George wanted to join his club once again on their quest for a podium finish and to get some “personal redemption after injury last year.”
George’s running club, Parklands Jog and Run, are no strangers to Endure24, having attended the event since 2013. Their goals for 2024 were simple: to stand upon that podium. With each team member completing 25 miles, totalling a whopping 200 miles, their team took a mighty 2nd place in their category and overall. “We were elated at this result as we had just missed out on the podium in the last few years. We also had a hugely mixed team with ages ranging from 18-64, showing the inclusivity of our club.”
Parklands Jog and Run entered multiple teams to Endure24 Leeds.
Track season may have interfered slightly with George’s training for Endure24, with his steeplechase races taking priority. But his success in track races gave him “great confidence heading up to Leeds.”
“The highlights included making friends with many other runners and sharing stories around the firepit whilst we warmed up waiting for our next lap.”
The 24 hours had a lot of highs and lows for George: “I was much improved from my Endure debut last year and managed to really capture the highs and lows of the race in my YouTube videos. The highlights included putting our team into an early lead after my first leg and making friends with many other runners and sharing stories around the firepit whilst we warmed up waiting for our next lap.
“The night lap was tough due to the very slippy conditions, meaning I had to keep it easy in the first half, which was frustrating as I still felt surprisingly fresh. The last lap was by far the toughest due to the lack of sleep, I thought I was going to nod off on multiple occasions. The presentation after the event was a great occasion to meet and congratulate the other teams and runners who made the podium!”
Has George’s story perked your interest? Gather your friends and share the load (and the fun) by signing up as a Team!
Did you take part in Endure24 this year? Tell us about your experience for a chance to be featured on our blog.
