150 intrepid adventurers lined up at our start line in London for our second race, eager to collect their info packs and uncover the surprise mystery checkpoints. 33 entrants were returning from last year, it would be exciting to see whether their experience gave them an advantage over the newcomers.
After a whirlwind briefing, the race was on! Many dashed frantically to catch the first available Eurostar, fighting the clock to make a tight connection.
Once across the Channel, we witnessed a fascinating mix of strategies. Some racers hopped off in Lille, opting for local transit to our first checkpoint in Bruges, while others sped through the Belgian capital, eyeing different routes.
Then came a crucial choice: a longer, simpler route via Berlin (Run Lola Run) to Graz, a shorter but more challenging journey on local trains to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), or the scenic route via the Contra Dam (Goldeneye).
Those aiming to set a blistering pace chose the first two options. They reunited almost simultaneously in Graz after facing a series of German rail delays, then forged ahead to the next stops in either Italy or Romania.
While the Romania route offered round-the-clock transport, many front-runners opted for the simpler path down the coast of Italy, committing to overnight ferries across the Adriatic to Durres in Albania.
The final night was tense as several racers were bottlenecked on the boats, while a few who had chosen the Romanian route made swift progress. At dawn, the pack on the ferries was unleashed, leading to a thrilling dash by public bus toward Tirana. In a heart-pounding finish, a group of seven racers sprinted across the city, with Alex L. clinching the crown in a photo-finish victory. Within the hour, the top 10, including our fastest Under-18 finisher, Katie T., had crossed the finish line.
While the sprinters raced for the end, the Country Counting category took a different approach. Several front-runners targeted 18-20 countries during the week, with Team JJ and John M. emerging as the leading contenders. Team JJ focused on the Balkans, while John M. pursued a micronation strategy, hitting San Marino and the Vatican before heading to the Italian ferry port.
The race tightened as both teams closed in on 19 or 20 countries, and it seemed the tie-breaker would hinge on who arrived first. Just when everyone assumed John was on a ferry from Bari to Albania like the others, he pulled a last-minute surprise, popping up on our maps in Greece before heading north into Albania, clinching his 20th country. Team JJ also reached 20 countries and was on track to beat John to the finish line, but disaster struck when their bus broke down, delaying their arrival.
After such a valiant effort, it was heartening to see Team JJ win our public vote for the People’s Choice Award, ensuring they didn't go home empty-handed.
The lowest spend award also showcased some incredible frugality, with the winners spending just £270 each on transport. Many other contenders maximized savings with discount German local train tickets and discounted travel provided by race partner FlixBus.
As the deadline approached the rest of our adventure loving entrants made their way into Tirana to collect their finishers medals and log their times before some well earned rest in the city.
The racers' hard work was celebrated at our awards party in Tirana. A new novelty award, the Castaway-inspired Wilson Award presented by Jack’s Flight Club, was given to the racers who faced the worst luck during the event. Kirsten and Lucy took home the trophy after enduring a string of transport mishaps and misplaced passports.
A massive thank you to all our wonderful entrants for making this event as thrilling as ever!
