Royal Marines from 42 Commando completed a 16.64 mile-a-day relay challenge over six days by handing the baton to Royal Marines Band colleagues.
The hand-over event happened on Plymouth Hoe with colleagues from the HM Band of the Royal Marines giving them musical encouragement.
The march is part of the 1664 Challenge, an annual event which marks the 353rd anniversary of the Royal Marines.
The 1664 challenge is raising money and awareness for The Royal Marines Charity, and this year will see Royal Marines from around the country running 16.64 miles over 100 days, totalling a distance of 1664 miles.
42 Commando, from Bickleigh, Plymouth, took the baton from the Royal Marines Reserves Bristol, last week and ran around Truro, St Austell, Tavistock, Torquay and finally Plymouth, raising £15,000 towards the global target.
The final leg in Plymouth will see a team from Logistics Company of 42 Commando, run their final 16.64 miles from the Hoe, around Plymouth and back before handing the baton to the Royal Marines Band to continue the challenge.
Two Marines Corporal Will Gingell, (of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines In Devonport Naval Base) and Corporal Jamie Thompson (of 42 Commando), are the only commandos running the full 1,664 miles over 100 days. Today marked half way for them and they aim to finish the whole route at the beginning of August.
Will said: “This is an important event for us because we are now halfway. The best point so far was running onto the pitch at Exeter Chiefs on match day with their match ball.
“The low point was the awful weather in the first week or so – it was much too cold.
“So far it’s been going really well. Running with a different set of runners every day certainly adds to the variety.’’
The pair will be finishing their feat of endurance at Buckingham Palace to hand over the baton with the Royal Marines Reserve London team to the Duke of Edinburgh.’’
42 Commando commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Mark Totten completed his unit’s 16-mile leg today.
He said: “It’s been a warm day for a 16-mile run. But I’m full of pride in the achievement of the two corporals who are running the whole 1,664 miles.
“I’m pleased to have done my minor bit to raise awareness of the Royal Marines Charity.’’
42 Commando Unit Physical Training Instructor, Sergeant Adam Sperry said: “The 1664 challenge sees the Corps come together under a unified purpose, to raise money for a really worthwhile cause, whilst showcasing the elite fitness which underpins the capability of the Royal Marines.”
Lima Company also from 42 Commando completed The Lift and Shift challenge, whilst on board HMS Ocean in February this year.
100 Royal Marines lifted the weight of HMS Ocean (21,473 tonnes) and ran the distance back to the UK (10,000Km) over a 24 day period.
A team from 42 Commando have also completed a cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in order to raise money for the 1664 challenge.
The just giving page for 1664 challenge can be found at www.justgiving.com/teams/RMGlobalChallenge
