Endure24 – going solo

Published: 2nd Feb 2025

I don’t know if I’ve romanticised these memories, they say that you’ll struggle to remember pain that your body can no longer feel and look back with rose tinted glasses. But honestly, running Endure24 solo last year (2024) was such fun. Sure, it hurt. My feet took a while to get over it. I looked like I’d aged about a decade at the end. But thinking back only makes me excited for future challenges.

After running with Kimberley in 2023, we decided that we’d both run solo in 2024. Running as many of the 8km loops around Wasing Woods as we could in the 24 hours allowed (technically 24:59:59 as you’re allowed to finish the final lap you’re on).

2024 was going to be a fresh start. I was finishing the short postdoc I’d taken on, and moving (part-time) to Copenhagen. I had running goals, I had work goals, and 2023 (see 2023: the shit show) was behind me. The only thing I wasn’t pleased to be bringing with me into 2024 was some strange foot injury, which didn’t really get too much worse with running, but was just there. Worse in the mornings, but the pain would go as I warmed up into the day… I decided once I arrived in Copenhagen that it needed seeing to. Foot pain isn’t normal and it’s really quite irritating. So off I went to pay the 700 kroner to find out what was going on. The physio did some wiggling, checking range of motion and told me my ankle was “locked”. He asked if I’d twisted it before, which I had a few years previous, fairly badly when out running. It took some time to heal but apparently it hadn’t healed quite right. The joint was unaligned, and he gave my foot quite a sharp pull and “CLUNK”. I didn’t believe him when he said that was my issue, my mind going to those spiritual healers that run off nothing more than belief to “heal” people. But he asked me to stand and it instantly felt straighter, like my ankle was upright, and the dull ache on the inside of my foot lessened. Running felt amazing on it! For all of 2 days, until it slipped back. Unfortunately it was going to want to slip back apparently, after so many years of it being unaligned. However, every time it was popped back, it felt good again. Possibly one of the easiest injuries to fix that I’ve ever had!

Due to the need to strengthen the ankle and get used to running correctly again, I had to build up a little slower than I’d have liked for Endure24. I did get some good, long runs in beforehand, and a goal of 15 laps (120km) seemed perfectly reasonable. My “stretch” goal would be 20 laps, taking me to that hallowed 100 miles in 24-hours, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if I didn’t make that.

The runners in our group for this year were myself, Kimberley, and Sarah, all running solo. Then James and Beth were going as a pair, with 10 laps each as their goal. Finally we had a team consisting of Alex, David, Alice, Izzie, and Taran (team Slowly Does It). In the two previous years, we’d camped in the “teams” area very close to one of the entrances to the event village. It was a pretty convenient location, but not quite as close as the solo camping area. The team and supporters suggested that we all camp together again in the teams area as they weren’t allowed in the solo area, but I was adamant that I could not deal with the extra 100m walk every time I wanted a banana or a sit down. I absolutely, definitely would not be camping with them. And as I was using the big tent that Kimberley was sharing, neither would she. I had my delightfully Scottish friend Derek as my support team, and he too was forced to camp in the shared big tent in the solo area, ready to cater to my every need. We turned up on the Friday and pitched the tents, ready for the race to start on the Saturday. My nephew was going to run with Uncle Man (Alex) in the kids mini miles on the Friday event, which he was incredibly excited about. He spent the day zooming around the event village like Sonic the Hedgehog. That mini mile is one of Alex’s most cherished memories; they had such a great time together running and my nephew finished the race by waving to all his adoring fans on the finishing straight.

Due to childcare, Kimberley didn’t stay the night. As darkness fell, Derek and I took to our tent away from all the others in the solo area, and so began the most frustrating night of not-sleep I think I’ve ever had. Every noise roused me. Every zipping of tent doors, all the people stumbling to toilets, and when sleep eventually came, it was interrupted by some muppets going for a late-night joy ride in some horribly supped up car with loud exhausts. At about 2am, I messaged James in the hope that he’d be awake so I could pinch his car keys and head back to his to get some kip in a proper bed; our car was penned into the solo camping area with no escape. Alas, James had his noise cancelling earphones in and was fast asleep. That is the LAST time I go camping without earplugs. I am too old now to just sleep anywhere.

Dawn came, and I crawled bleary-eyed out of my sleeping bag. Poor sleep aside, I was excited for the race to come. That morning, Sarah reminded me that we get to put a box of a bag of food by the start line so we don’t have to wonder far. She’d bought a box, so we loaded up our food into it and found a spot on the table. Sarah always came prepared to these races, with enough food and kit for a small army, it looked like she was planning on staying the week!

We headed to the start line, glad of the cooler temperatures compared to 2023. I had agreed to run with James and Beth, pacing them at the start as Beth is known for getting exciting and running off like a scalded cat at the start of a race, only to flag and hate everything and everyone later on. I set off on lap one with Beth, and we had a lovely time hitting the 1-hour per lap target they’d set. After lap one, I collected James, and we also had a delightful time. We repeated this for another 2 laps, and I was feeling good after finishing lap 4.

I let Beth run on ahead for lap 5, as I needed to get some more significant calories down. My nutrition strategy for the long races is to eat what I’m craving, which tends to be mini cheddars, McCoy’s, chocolate bars, bananas, and Mr Kipling’s angel or lemon cakes. Each lap, I was eating a bag of crisps or cheddars on the first hill, and cakes on the second hill, using the walking break as an efficient opportunity to eat. Then every few laps Derek would lovingly prepare a Nutella wrap for me, and I’d maybe eat a banana or something more. All very simple to chew, high calorie foods that I know sit fairly well in my stomach. Granola bars I’ve learnt, are a no for me. I cannot work up enough saliva to chew them; they’re too dry.

Lap 5 passed uneventfully for the most part, but Endure24, every year, flairs up an IT band pain. It’s a pain that I had when I first started running longer distances, but have largely got on top of in recent years. The camber of the course, plus the single direction, seems to make the issue resurface. I requested Derek cut some tape for lap 6, which if applied correctly, takes the edge off the pain. With the tape applied, lap 6 passed again fairly uneventfully.

Lap 7 was when the sun started to dip a bit, and the fatigue started to appear. The Red Bull car was out on the course, so I decided to take one. I drank it whilst walking up a hill, and slightly regretted the decision… Sicky burps galore. I didn’t take another….

The sun went down on lap 8 or 9, and so began the headtorch laps. The torch and the fatigue start to do funny things to your eyes, with the shadows constantly moving around. Focus is required when running at night, however less and less running was happening with each passing lap. It was lap 8 or 9 that Beth caught up with me, and I was glad to have some company even if her chest light was completely fucked and wobbling all over the place. That really makes the shadows dance!

Lap 11 bought the sunrise, and this was the point where I decided to treat myself to using my poles. I’ve not mastered running with them, but by this point, I was mainly walking and the poles turned that into a fast hike and took some of the pressure off. They were a welcome addition. James was also a welcome addition as the sun came up, and he joined me for the majority of a double lap, much to Beth’s cold disappointment.

David from the Slowly Does It team caught up with me shortly after I took this sunrise photo, and walked with me for a short while. He asked how I was doing, and I proceeded to list body parts that were hurting. The shorter list would have been body parts that didn’t hurt. I was still feeling optimistic however, as it was nearly impossible for me not to reach my goal of 15 laps. I had hours left and only needed a few more laps. I set off on lap 15 around 6:30am, and was very ungrateful for the positioning of the cameras out on course for this final lap. Who puts a camera down to take photos from below chin level whilst going down a hill?! The results are horrific!

Towards the end of this lap, my calf started cramping on my left leg, and my achilles was feeling less than fresh. Having suffered for months previously with achilles tendonitis, I decided that this was to be the last lap. I’d achieved my goal, and 20 hours on course was plenty enough for me. I crossed the finish line around 8am and stumbled to the team camp, with thoughts of brushing my teeth keeping my legs moving. After munching on cakes, crisps, and other sugary foots for 20 hours, my mouth was disgusting. With teeth brushed, I collapsed on the beanbag in the centre of the team camp and didn’t get up for a good long while. Time passed strangely as I kept falling asleep without warning, then waking up an unknown amount of time later.

I have to thank Derek for his unwavering and emotional support – he’ll say it was hayfever but he was really just moved to tears by the tremendous efforts of all the runners at the event. Also thanks to him and the others for taking my tent down once the event finished, as I was in no state to want to help. The tent that I did not visit once after the event began, and did absolutely not need to be in the solo area. Lesson learnt, the way I tackled the event, it didn’t matter where my tent was.

James and Beth made their 10 laps each goal, both doing a fantastic job of managing their nutrition and pace throughout the event, finishing fairly chipper. The team also did a fantastic job, with each member achieving goals and giving it their all. Kimberley took an interesting approach to the event, having not had much spare time to do training (or not wanting to make time… only she will know), it was a bold move to complete 4 laps without rest or much food. It did break her, as she suffered from severe hunger and knee pain and decided to go home to sleep in her bed, and return the following morning to complete 1 more lap. I think she will take training slightly more seriously for 2025… And finally Sarah – she finished 9 laps fantastically fast, but sadly succumbed to injury and was forced to pull out. But even 9 laps is an achievement to be proud of! 72km is no easy distance.

Training is already underway for those of us running in 2025. Alex and David have stepped up their challenge, entering as a pair to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity: Second Breakfast Sprinters Fundraising. Kimberley is running regularly in an effort to not flop like last year, and is running to raise money also. I am training for the South Downs Way 50 first, but that training will hopefully build a foundation for Endure24 (if it doesn’t break me). Endure24 this year for me will be run for Macmillan, who provided excellent care for my Dad at the end of his life, retaining some dignity for the family. If after reading this, you feel that Endure24 is challenge enough to warrant a donation, my link is here: Ami Nash is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.

To anyone thinking of venturing into ultra running, this is a fantastic event to do it your way. There is no requirement to run at a certain pace, and should you get tired, you can just have a sit down and something to eat!