Gordonstoun School pupils go ‘Back to the Future’ by biking and running over 1,100km for 12 hours during darkness hours to complete gruelling endurance challenge
Students at a Moray school raced for 12 hours over 1,100km through the hours of darkness across woodland and mud to complete a gruelling endurance challenge.
Nearly 200 Gordonstoun pupils aged between 15 and 18 took part in a cross country fitness challenge called Dark Skies, involving cycling and running off-road with the final five hours taking place in darkness.
The school says it has adopted a ‘Back to the Future’ approach drawn on the founding principles of Gordonstoun, as explained by principal Peter Green.
“Gordonstoun’s founder Kurt Hahn identified the importance of better equipping our young people to cope with the pace and challenges of modern life,” he said.
“His solution was to focus on four key areas - fitness training, expeditions, special projects and rescue services.
“These principles remain just as relevant today. So, this year we have gone ‘Back to the Future’ by looking to the past to reimagine the Gordonstoun week and provide a better future experience for our students.
“Some of the challenges facing young people today require resilience and adaptability. The Dark Skies event was a great physical challenge for the students and a real test of their fitness and resilience.”
The event involved cycling on mountain bikes on a 4km loop for the first six hours, while the second half consisted of competitors running a 3km loop.
Seven of Gordonstoun’s boarding houses took part with the winning boys’ team (Bruce House) completing a total of 49 laps and the winning girls’ team (Hopeman House) finishing first with 43 laps.
Gordonstoun is renowned for its co-curriculum which includes getting students involved in adventure activities.
“Although everyone was exhausted by the end, they took a lot out of the event,” said the school’s Outdoor and Adventure Learning Coordinator, Ibrahim Park. “It was a unique experience which I hope will ignite a spark in the students to take part in further challenges.
“For some it was the most exciting thing they have ever done, for others it will be an experience they bank and draw on later in life.
“A key part of the curriculum at Gordonstoun is pushing students out of their comfort zone,”
“Not only was a large part of this event in the pitch dark but at various points the students were on their own for around 10 minutes between marshal points.
“However, they were equipped with a head torch so they could navigate around the course. There was a tremendous competitive spirit amongst the teams and even as we approached the 12-hour mark, there was only a lap in it.
“We had students of all abilities taking part, some who could run a marathon and others who were more comfortable cycling or running a few kilometres.”
