In honour of 10 year anniverary
contributed by John Pearsons
12 April 2025 marked the 10-year anniversary of the 24-Hour World Championships held in Turin, Italy – a day etched in our memories not just for the results, but for everything that surrounded them.
The men’s team walked away with a proud silver medal and a string of personal bests. But as time passes, it’s clear that the numbers, while still meaningful, aren’t what shine brightest. It’s the camaraderie, the shared struggle, and the unbreakable bond that truly define that experience.
We began that race as teammates and ended it more like brothers—connected through every high, every low, and every ounce of effort.
Fast forward to a weekend in late March:
To mark the anniversary, we reunited, a slightly rustier version of the original crew and decided to recreate our old training camp, starting with parkrun at Kedron. The pace was slower and the effort higher and the facial expressions. It looked more like a grimace contest than a run.
We followed that up with some “elite skill testing” on the crazy golf course (where precision was questionable and sportsmanship selective), whilst the banter was top notch.
Next up was some top tier hydration and nutrition work, aboard a river cruise ( 50 cents council ferry) strictly in the name of recovery. Before unwinding over a pleasant meal and a few more leisurely beverages.
In the end, it was another unforgettable weekend. Six slightly slower, balding men coming together again—not to win medals this time, but to celebrate something even better: the kind of friendship that doesn’t need a finish line.
Ten years later, the memories of that championship still run deep. But the medal? That’s just a bonus. The real prize is the connection. The shared experience of digging deep—for yourself, and more importantly, for each other.
So for anyone chasing medals, PBs, or leaderboard glory—keep chasing. But don’t overlook the magic of the journey. Because when the splits fade and the stats blur, it’s the friendships that stay with you.
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