we go together…

From the front of the pack to the back of the pack and everyone in between.

Kev Gibbons (69) crushed his DNF streak, proving age is just a number and restoring his belief in what’s possible.

Kev’s story is everything:

"I was totally blown away by the whole event. Such a feel good factor the whole way. Okay, it did hurt every part of me too! But you must know, before Saturday I had tried 5 x ultra distance races since July last year and all ended DNF"

"Before setting off for Yorkshire, I told Angela, my wife, that I had a good feeling about the CT Cleveland Hills"

"Normally I am wracked with doubt about the long races"

"But there was something about the way you communicated the whole Community Traverse idea, ever since those days in late March"

"You guys, along with all the aid station helpers created something special. Down to earth, grass roots, all about the people. No razzmatazz, 100% real"

"So just to say thank you for restoring confidence and belief, for the best enjoyment since Lakeland last year"

At Community Traverse we want to celebrate every runner and Kev, our back of the pack superstar and a final finisher at Cleveland Hills, could not be a finer example of where the party’s at!

Prior to the race I’d spoken with Kev and agreed that as long as he was out there and moving ok, David and I would be there to see him in regardless of any cut off’s.

But, what we saw from Kev was a spritely effort that didn’t keep us waiting too long. Kev smiled the whole way and kept us smiling massively too.

Such a good soul and it was an absolute pleasure to host his race with us.

Will you be inspired by Kev’s outstanding effort?

We certainly are!

The definition of going together…

Meet Eva, and our biggest Community Traverse group finish. Alongside, Chris, Behzaad, and Paul.

Eva proved that with a little support and encouragement from the people around you, anything is possible.

“My name is Eva Kriki and I am 38 years old. I am a mother of two children, Rafa (12) and Elizabeth (10), and I work full-time as a nursery teacher. I have been a runner for the past six years and mainly train with Titans Bootcamp in Welwyn Garden City.”

“My coach, Chris Parr, encouraged me to take part in the multi-day event, the Northern Traverse, and to push my limits. We formed a team of four: my coach Chris, two fellow bootcamp members, Behzaad Ghouse and Paul Baxter, and myself, and signed up. It was going to be our first multi-day event and our training focused on building endurance and strength.”

“When Ourea cancelled the event, the shock and disappointment were immense, as it felt like all our effort might go to waste. We began discussing alternative ways to still take part, but our families were understandably concerned about safety and logistics.”

“Community Traverse completely solved that problem by taking care of every detail, only within 12 days. They organised over 40 volunteers, set up checkpoints, provided food, drinks, and energy gels, arranged sleeping areas and toilets, and even managed drop bags at two checkpoints. They also provided trackers to ensure safety throughout the event.”

“My teammates and I didn’t hesitate and we signed up straight away, as this was exactly what we had hoped for. They went above and beyond, even including thoughtful touches like a barbecue at the Patterdale checkpoint, which made the experience even more special.”

“My favourite part was the Lake District, which we were lucky to experience in beautiful weather. Nature at its best. The lake felt like heaven as we made our way along the narrow paths. Another unforgettable highlight was the Nine Standards, which we decided to climb despite the strong winds. Reaching the top and touching the stones gave me an incredible sense of achievement.”

“I also have wonderful memories from the Dales and the Moors. Stunning in their own unique way. The entire route offered such a variety of scenery, which made the experience even more memorable, especially within such a short time.”

“Starting the event by picking up a pebble from St Bees was a moment filled with excitement. That same pebble stayed in my pocket for the entire 305km journey, all the way to Robin Hood’s Bay. At the finish line, my teammates and I held hands, crossed together and threw our pebbles into the sea.”

“The feelings at that moment were overwhelming: relief, joy and a touch of melancholy that such a beautiful experience had come to an end.”

“It took us 105 hours in total to complete the Community Traverse. The group of 4 stayed together, supporting each other through injuries and pain. This was our recipe of success though!”

“Community Traverse is a highly recommended event! I can't wait for more events from the Community leaders, Kitty and David. Thank you so much for making our experience amazing, I can't thank you enough and I am deeply grateful!”

Community Traverse is founded on supporting one another to achieve our greatest challenges together.

Eva’s journey is a shining example of community mindset, her team stood together from start to finish and demonstrated the profound impact of mutual support and collective determination in overcoming adversity.

Watching this group cross the finish line together was an emotional and unforgettable moment.

We know Eva has shown her young family that any dream is within reach, and building this kind of lasting legacy is one of our greatest goals.

We feel so proud of this amazing team and hope their success brings hope and courage to many others too.