The countdown to another Endeavour event, is officially on!
This year the male team are returning to the place where it all began in 2018 - the West Highland Way.
The iconic trail runs across the heart of Scotland and also through the veins of the eight-strong team who will lace up their shoes and race against the clock towards Fort William (and back again).
Endeavour is more than just running
Endeavour has meant a lot to many people since the team first tackled a double WHW. Without realising it at the time, Endeavour became something much bigger than just a few friends tackling a bold running challenge. They had important conversations with friends and family, and were able to celebrate their sport in a much more positive way than doing well in races or winning events. Over the years they also forged lifelong friendships - especially when they ran 530 miles across Scotland in winter 2020. Endeavour came from the heart and still holds a special place for all those involved over the years.
Can running help others?
The Pyllon Coaching team certainly think so! They’ve been helping people train better for over 8 years and quickly realised that running has the potential to help people live better lives. Pyllon Head Coach - Paul Giblin talks about Endeavour being a platform to talk more openly about the general issues that affect our health and well being. In the past the project focused on mental health - raising awareness and funds for the charity SAMH. Since 2018, the mental health conversation has moved on, and Endeavour played a very small part in encouraging people to seek help or support if needed and the whole team at least are much more aware of how mental health affects those around us. This year, Endeavour is again bigger than just the running.
The simple act of running has had a significant positive impact on our lives and of those around us. We are healthier and happier humans for being outside more and committing to moving every day. With that in mind, we will be supporting the British Heart Foundation with this project. I suspect there isn’t one of us who hasn’t suffered in some way from the devastation that heart and circulatory diseases have had on those we love. My own Dad, Dennis suffered a fatal heart attack just the day after he celebrated with us at the finish of the Scottish National Trail as we completed Endeavour 2. My poor little Dad, like many others, should have been living a longer life. And that’s the work that the BHF try to do. (Paul Giblin)
Who’s in the team?
The male team will start at 16:00 from the train station in Milngavie - the official start of the legendary West Highland Way race - an event that many of the team have taken part in.
Rob Turner will start the event in normal high-paced style, as he did in 2018. Grant MacDonald will pick up the baton almost from his own doorstep before handing over to Robbie Dunlop (who had a brilliant WHW race earlier in the year). Robbie is new to the team, and he was especially keen to promote the life changing work that the BHF do. Robbie’s daughter Maisie was born with a congenital heart condition. Robbie said “if it wasn’t for the knowledge, diagnosis and treatment support that they help to research, we wouldn’t have our daughter Maisie here with us today.”
Gavin Taylor will cover the first of two tricky loch sections on a northward bearing. Gavin is another runner who showed his class at the WHW race in 2022.
From there, Dumbarton’s own John Connolly will take over. He’ll carry with him memories of Paul’s Dad who regularly showed up to support his races on the very course that means so much to us all.
Leaving the banks of Loch Lomond behind Craig Dinnet , Alan Hewitt and Ally McColl will take the baton right up to Bridge of Orchy across 3 night time sections. Fortunately all have past experiences on the course, and know how to handle themselves in tough conditions.
By 4am the team plans to be turning around in Fort William and taking the long trail back home again.
In 2018, the team reached the finish in Milngavie in 24hours and 6 mins. At the time those 6 mins felt more than a little painful to these competitive athletes. This time though they know that as long as they put their hearts into every mile - the outcome can only be positive.
Please donate today if you’d like to help us raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
If you want to support the either team, please:
FOLLOW: We will have live GPS trackers when we start and it will be with us throughout the challenge. You will also be able to follow our live updates on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook on the @PyllonUltra and @Pyllon accounts. Please follow for updates.
SUPPORT: It’s a challenging event to organise and support - so we’d really welcome any support out on the course during the event. Please get in touch if there’s any way you can help! Contact us
SHARE: We are trying to reach as many people as possible, and we’d love to get #PyllonEndeavour trending, so please help us out by sharing, retweeting, following and commenting!
DONATE: We are raising funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for the vital research they do into heart and circulatory diseases. The BHF are working towards preventing these conditions from developing and helping those with existing conditions to have better, longer lives. We all know someone who’s life has been cut short - and the important role exercise plays in health and longevity. If you can spare any money please show your support by making a donation.
MOVE: Exercise has so many positive effects and if more of us had the time, support and encouragement to make it an essential part of everyday life, we’d live happier and healthier lives. We hope that our own endurance efforts will encourage other people to get outside and walk / run more.
Meet the female Endeavour 192 team
Find out more about Pyllon Endeavour 192
Listen to the Pyllon Ultra Pod podcast: Apple / Spotify
Watch more about about Pyllon on YouTube
Find out more about Pyllon Coaching
