01/05/2026
Well done to Kelvin who completed - NODNOL - So what is is?
NODNOL is Takeshiâs Castle for runners. Imagine an obstacle course where the obstacles are:
Starting at midnight
Running through the pitch black
Navigating Londonâs painfully uneven, cobble-choked streets that seem personally designed to trip you
Being hunger-stricken by mile 8 because your pre-race meal was just a dream and a slightly squashed banana
But hereâs the brilliant bit: itâs run by an amazing community of like-minded lunatics who all chose to sign up for ârunning backwards-ish in the dark on cobblesâ instead of, say, getting a good nightâs sleep. Weâre all slightly mad, slightly frozen, slightly hungry, and 100% committed to the bit.
And the best part? You get a medal.
"This kinda fits my personal mantra: âSleep is optional and rest is overrated.â đ´đŤ
I joined around 2,000 like-minded âcrazyâ people for a glorious, slightly unhinged giggle, running around London in the dark, armed with nothing but questionable navigation skills (because, yes, I forgot my watch â performance-enhancing confusion, anyone?). The course was basically Takeshiâs Castle meets ultra-running: imagine 26.2 miles through the very uneven cobbled streets of London, in the pitch black, backwards, dodging curbs, bin lids, bewildered pedestrians, and the occasional very enthusiastic drunk person who thought you were part of their late-night street theatre act.
Every step was a gamble:
Try not to face-plant on the cobbles (not all of us succeeded).
Try not to get lost in the dark labyrinth of Londonâs backstreets.
Try not to laugh too hard when someone behind you yells, âAre we even going the right way?â and nobody has the first clue.
I reached the end...presented myself with a medal and set off to find a cafĂŠ. After a full English I met the Royston runners coach to embark on a full day of supporting. Cracking day.