A Winter Challenge Like No Other
Our 2020 Endeavour, will be more audacious than ever - we will attempt to run the entire Scottish National Trail from North to South, and set a new winter record on the 864km course across Scotland. We will start on the 23rd January from Scotland's, remote and rugged Cape Wrath, all the way South to Kirk Yetholm (at the border with England). It is one of Britain's toughest and most varied routes, and this has never been attempted before in the depths of winter. There will be just 9 runners and the relay will run continuously from North to South. We are aiming to complete within 100 hours. Chamonix resident and ultra long-distance specialist Kaz Williams is joining the team this time. She was excited to be involved from Day 1:
“An adventure of this scale is going to be an experience of a lifetime. The terrain and conditions are going to test us. Even with the best planning, there will be many challenges that will require us to adapt and overcome. Because that’s why we do it! It’s why I love stepping into the unknown. And the fact no one has attempted this route in winter, gets me even more excited. For me, it is an unbelievable opportunity to explore Scotland’s beautiful landscapes, up close and real. Plus, I get to hang out with a team of dedicated, passionate and steely-eyed trail runners. Bring it on!”
January can be a very difficult time of year for many people in Scotland. Depression levels can peak after the Christmas holidays and many suffer without ever asking for help. So we will again be running to support our local mental health and wellbeing charity SAMH. They do incredibly important work, and we hope to raise awareness of what they do, the support that is available to people who are struggling with their own mental health and raise vital funds for them to continue their work.
The sport has done so much for each of us, so tackling this incredible challenge as a team, is our way of celebrating the challenges we face individually every day.
James Stewart (GB 24-hr athlete) has more experience than most when talking about teamwork, in what’s normally a very solo sport:
“The camaraderie and belonging that being in a team in this sport is incredible. Events like the team 24 or this Endeavour project throws the petrol of team, extrinsic motivation, into the fire of all that solo hard work. It is almost quite literally and figuratively an accelerant and I for one love it and the energy it brings.”
So, we’re hoping you’ll also get involved, by tracking us online, supporting us on the day, and / or by making a donation to SAMH. All details can be found on our Endeavour page and will be updated when we go live.
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