On the weekend of the 17/18th September 2016, over 1500 runners gathered under the gaze of the iconic Belvoir Castle. These were no ordinary runners, and come rain or shine they were on a mission, preparing to embark on a 24 hour long run from 12pm on Saturday, through dusk and dawn to 12pm Sunday.
The Equinox24 is in its fourth year, and with record numbers and an event sell out in 2016, pre-registration has just opened for 2017 with VIP invitations scheduled to be sent on the 6th of October, and general entries opening 24hrs later on Friday the 7th of October.
The Equinox24 course is one 10km loop through the undulating grounds of Belvoir Castle, with stunning views of the estate and floodlit castle throughout. The 24h race involves running as many laps as possible within the time frame. The runners pass a baton take turns, as the laps are tallied up by chip timing, prizes are presented across all four categories at the close of the event (Solo, Pairs, Small Team (3-5) and Large Team (6-8).
The entry fee includes free camping for up to three nights (water, hot showers and toilets provided), and as such competitors begin arriving through the gates on Friday morning to pick their tent pitches which surround the event village. The village was the centre of the event, where competitors could find race HQ, food, merchandise, yoga classes and massage. Sponsors and retailers (Skechers, CEP, Chilli Tech and Reward My Fitness) were open over the whole weekend, some through the night also. A selection of local caterers fuelled runners with their every craving in both daylight and the early hours.
The festival vibe of the event village which was adjacent to the finish line, created an energetic and excited atmosphere which remained strong at any given time throughout the race. On Friday evening a beer run was held, which involved drinking an alcoholic beverage as quickly as possible, before running one lap of the field. On Saturday morning a kids fun run (sponsored by Reward My Fitness) set off an hour before the main event, with over 200 children participating and a medal to every finisher.
With close to 300 solo runners entered, the winning male and female solo runners Gary House and Kirsty Sarah Williams, ran a staggering 18 laps each which equates to 180km. The winning large team racked up an unbelievable 34 laps (340km), with the winning small team not that far behind on 30 laps (300km). The pairs team ‘Tag Two’s’ pipped ‘Turtle Power’ to take the pairs title with 24 laps (240km). Full results are available online.
The Equinox24 is not just a great event for the runners; it is inclusive for the whole family and caters for a weekend away. The event is family owned, and subsequently a safe and fun family feel is there. If camping doesn’t take your fancy, there are caravan pitches (no extra cost) and glamping pods available to book, an excellent persuasive tool to take any reluctant supporters! The course is perfect for spectators, who are able to see their runner every lap and also have the option of running with them as a ‘support buddy’, during daylight hours. Well behaved dogs on a lead are more than welcome at the event.
You can register for the 2017 Equinox24 at
www.equinox24.co.uk. Any queries or sponsorship requests please email Katie@equinox24.co.uk
