Nikki 2024 Annapurna Marathon Challenge

On a sunny but cold day in November 2023, Nikki Penty-Alvarez and Coach Vicky Brownlee made their way to the well-trodden paths of Northala Fields, to run a 10k race hosted by Nepal Run UK. Nikki was first lady across the finish-line, and with that achievement came the prize – or perhaps the ‘challenge’ – of entry into the 2024 Annapurna Marathon.

Nikki joined the club in late 2022, having only ever run solo and racing a couple of half marathons. As Coach Andy Torrance often likes to tell, she came to her first training session on a Thursday and was wearing a HAC vest for the opening race of the Met League two days later at Claybury! Taking the plunge to agree to run her first ever marathon so far from home is something more of a commitment though. The event will involve a six-day hike to reach the altitude of 4100m, before racing the 26.2 miles of technical trails around Annapurna base camp on June 3rd 2024, against the
back drop of the Nepalese mountain range that boasts the 10 th highest peak in the world.

Nikki will be fundraising for “the other HAC” in her life: Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support are a local charity that support families across the borough navigate the ups and down of life with Autism. They plug the gaps where other services are unable to meet the needs of people with Autism, supporting them and their families to “minimise disability and maximise ability”.

If you would like to sponsor Nikki on her run and see her progress with the journey at each stage, the justgiving link is: justgiving.com/page/nikki-runs-nepal

In an effort to crowdfund as much of her travel expenses as possible the clubhouse will help Nikki host a Fish & Chips Quiz and Raffle in the weeks leading up to the race – we hope to see as many of you there as possible!