HARP24 our solo winners

Last weekend saw over 360 runners striding out to end homelessness at HARP24 the 24-hour endurance race organised by HARP, Southend’s Homeless charity.

Now in its 11^th year, a staggering 1803 laps of the continuous 5-mile course around the beautiful Cherry Orchard Country Park near Rochford, Essex were completed over 24 hours. Money is still coming in but to date, the event has raised over £20,000 for HARP’s work supporting people to overcome homelessness in Southend.

Prizes are awarded for a series of categories but the solo runners for this year both have great stories, meet them below:

Solo Female Winner – Kelly Unett aged 37 completed 16 laps of the course (80 miles) despite only ever having run a half-marathon in the past.

Kelly says: “It is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and the furthest event I’d completed was a half-marathon! My aim was to get to six laps but after I’d done that I just kept going, not sleeping but just taking on food and drink between laps. I’m a member of Castle Point Joggers so our team was great with different members running with me throughout the night anything. Before I knew it I’d run 16 laps! I wasn’t expecting to do anything like that but I’m really chuffed with myself. I’d definitely consider doing the event again as the sense of support from staff, volunteers and other runners was great.”

Solo Male Winner – Eren is a member of Tunbridge Wells Harriers and regularly runs the Tunbridge Wells Park Run, which got him into running three years ago, but completed HARP24 as a solo runner. He hadn’t completed a 24-hour endurance race before taking on HARP24 but he had completed a 100km event. He tells us his experience:

“I completed HARP24 for the first time this year and it was also my first 24-hour endurance event. I hadn’t intended to try and win but as I saw my laps adding up on the website and that someone was on my tail, my competitive streak kicked in!  21 laps or 105 miles later, I really chuffed with what I achieved, particularly as it was a tie with another participant Ian and I just pipped him to the post on my time.

I was using the event as training for a 215 mile run I’m doing across Scotland in August I’d definitely do it again. It was really well organised and everyone was positive, friendly and supportive, particularly to solo runners. HARP is such a great charity, doing amazing work to help people experiencing homelessness so I’ve decided to make them one of the charities I support through my Scotland running event.”

Thanks to everyone who took part and to our event sponsors IPECCO, SoloPress, Mark One and Stibbards.