24 Runs, 24 Hours: One Man’s Parkrun Challenge With a Powerful Purpose
What sounds impossible to most people became reality on a quiet hill in Western Australia, where one runner turned a community fitness event into an extraordinary test of endurance, resilience and meaning.
Ben Castlehow didn’t just show up for parkrun. He showed up 24 times in 24 hours. Every hour, on the hour, he ran the same demanding five kilometre course on Mount Clarence in Albany. By the time it was over, he had covered 120 kilometres, roughly the distance of three marathons, on one of the toughest parkrun routes in the country.
Parkrun, for viewers unfamiliar, is a free weekly five kilometre run or walk held in communities across the world. It’s about participation, not pressure. But Albany’s Mount Clarence course adds a twist, with steep climbs and relentless hills. Doing it once is challenging. Doing it through the night, again and again, pushes the human body and mind to the edge.
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What makes this story matter is not just the distance. It’s the reason behind it. Castlehow ran with a purpose. He raised more than twelve thousand dollars for a charity that supports people experiencing homelessness. That cause is personal. Years ago, he faced addiction, homelessness and the collapse of his own life. Support from the charity helped him rebuild. This run was his way of giving back, step by painful step.
He wasn’t completely alone. Other runners joined for single laps or multiple hours. One young participant, just twelve years old, ran enough laps to complete a full marathon distance. Support crews stayed through the night. Headlamps cut through the darkness as runners pushed on, tired, sore and determined.
This kind of challenge is growing across Australia, with similar 24-in-24 parkrun efforts happening in other regions, each tied to fundraising and community causes. It shows how a simple grassroots event can become something much bigger, without losing its heart.
The impact goes beyond money raised. Stories like this reshape how we think about fitness, recovery and community. They remind us that sport does not have to be about elite medals or records. Sometimes it’s about showing what’s possible when purpose meets persistence.
As parkrun continues to grow around the world, this story from Albany stands as a powerful example of how ordinary spaces can produce extraordinary moments.
Stay with us for more stories that show how local actions can create global inspiration and keep watching as we bring you the moments that matter.
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