As many of you know, from 10am on Saturday to 10am on Sunday, Steve, Max, and I took on a 24-hour workout to raise money for Macmillan. With no sleep allowed and only a few short breaks lasting no more than 5–10 minutes, along with our amazing members we managed to accumulate over 1.2 million metres, using the bike, rower, ski erg, sled, and treadmill. To make things even more interesting, we spun a wheel on the hour, every hour, which meant taking on an additional challenge depending on where the wheel landed. A couple of these challenge included carrying the 90kg ‘worm’ 500m around the block, or doing an hour of pull ups!
So, what were some of the learnings from the 24-hour challenge?
- The MSC Community is incredible!
We already knew this of course, but events like this really emphasise the unrivalled strength of the MSC community. We had an incredible amount of support from members, many of whom came in and took part in the workout alongside us and were a huge help to get us over 1 million metres! They also brought in an abundance of food and drink to keep us fuelled, and have very generously donated money to the cause, with over £3,500 raised so far. During the 24 hours, there was not a single hour where the three of us were by ourselves, including having about 25-30 people in the gym at 2am cheering us on and getting on the rower on the bike to do their bit! MSC have always lived by the words ‘together – stronger’, and this was proved once again over the weekend. It was an incredible help having so much support, and as gruelling as the event was, the support made it fun and spurred us on to cover as much distance as we did! Together, this community really can achieve anything! Thank you!
- The body achieves what the mind believes!
If there’s one thing I came away with regarding the physical aspect, it’s this: the body is capable of far more than we often give it credit for, but only if the mind is willing to go there first. We hear the phrase “mind over matter” all the time, but it’s not just a motivational quote, it’s a principle that defines what endurance is really about in my opinion.
At some point during a hard workout, the muscles ache, the joints stiffen, the eyes get heavy, and the body is desperate for rest. That happened to me more than once during those 24 hours. But here’s what I realized: your body will listen to your mind. When you make the conscious decision and decide that stopping isn’t an option, the body somehow finds a way. Every time I felt like I hit a wall, it was my mindset that had to change first. I had to convince myself that pain wasn’t the enemy, that fatigue didn’t mean failure, and that the discomfort was temporary but the pride of completing the event with my mates would last forever. That shift in thinking unlocked energy I didn’t know I had to be honest. Endurance isn’t about being the strongest or fastest. It’s about refusing to quit when everything in you says you should. Whether it’s a workout, a competition, or a challenge in your personal life, the same principle applies: the body achieves what the mind believes. If you believe you’re capable, if you decide to keep going, your body will rise to the challenge. This experience reminded me that the limits we feel are often just suggestions from the brain trying to keep us comfortable. But growth never happens in comfort. It happens when we override that voice, stay focused on the goal, and keep moving forward one rep, one minute, one breath at a time.
So the next time you’re in the middle of a tough session and the thought crosses your mind to quit, remember this: your body will follow your mindset. Choose strength. Choose belief. Choose to keep going.
- A visit to the hurt locker is sometimes necessary!
There were moments when my body felt completely drained, but what kept me going was the purpose behind it all: raising money for Macmillan and supporting those whose daily lives are shaped by the relentless challenges of cancer. It reminded me that choosing to step into discomfort, even voluntarily, is a privilege. And it’s a powerful way to show solidarity with people who don’t get to choose their struggle.
The hurt locker isn’t just a place where we test our limits, it’s where we build perspective. For us, the pain is temporary, and the choice is ours. But for those facing cancer, there is no off-switch, no countdown clock, no guaranteed recovery. By pushing ourselves to our limits, we honour their fight in a small but significant way. We remind ourselves what strength really looks like – not just in a gym, but in hospital rooms, recovery journeys, and in families trying to stay hopeful.
As a community, showing up to suffer a little together forged something powerful. It deepened our connection not just to each other, but to a bigger cause. And when you see someone beside you digging deep, whether it’s in a workout or in life, you’re reminded of what we’re capable of, especially when we fight together. Visiting the hurt locker reminds us that we can do hard things—and more importantly, that we should, when it’s for something bigger than ourselves.