Local running coach Lynn Emmett has completed an extraordinary treble this year after victory at the gruelling Endure24.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Lynn Emmett, who competed in the Endure24 at Leeds. Picture: Lucy EmmettLynn Emmett, who competed in the Endure24 at Leeds. Picture: Lucy Emmett (Image: Archant)

The event is open to teams, pairs and solo runners and challenges athletes run as many five-mile laps as they can in 24 hours.

Staged at Bramham Park in Leeds, the race started on Saturday at noon and continued through the night until noon the following day.

Lynn, head coach of Beccles and Bungay Harriers, took on the challenge as a solo runner having already completed a marathon and a 100k run this year, and her target was to get to 100 miles in this race.

Lynn was supported by her husband and daughter, who provided food and moral support throughout the event.

For the first six laps Lynn was second-placed female with an average time of 50 mins per lap, and after seven laps took the lead, but positions change often as athletes stop for food and rest.

After nine laps, at 8pm in the evening, Lynn took a longer break to change clothes and eat properly.

She went through a bad patch in the night, feeling unwell, but after some breakfast was able to run again, but had dropped to second place. On the 20th lap and now running strongly again, Lynn regained the lead and completed the 100 miles at 10am in the morning.

To retain the lead in the women’s race she had only a swift stop and then ran two more fast laps, finishing 22 laps, a total of 110 miles in 23 hours and 59 minutes, ahead of the second-placed runner who managed 105 miles.

She said: “It’s definitely all about mental strength and not giving up.

“Would I do it again?

“Probably, I have learnt a lot and feel that there are a few things I could do differently, but need to rest for a while before I consider it.”