Well, this was a long one… (this essay, as well as the race)
I had a feeling in the build up to this that I wasn’t quite prepared enough and this came to fruition somewhat. I managed to not fall ill in the days before which is nice, and my recent niggles (right knee, left soleus, adductors) calmed down a little so I wasn’t aching or sick going into this. Made a few errors before that should be addressed. I didn’t have the most relaxed week, had a few late nights due to work deadlines and was going to bed too late most days, so tired. The night before I ate too much too late and didn’t get to bed until gone 11pm. Woke up at 2am in a hot sweat and was sick in my mouth a bit, likely from eating too much too late. Doh! Took ages to get back to sleep so when my alarm went off at a horrific 04:20 I had not slept enough at all, probably just over 3.5 hours with a break in the middle. I was awake and up quick, started my morning routine well (lube the bits, get dressed, start breakfast, spray toes, tape toes, eat etc.) and things were going well for a bit, but as the time crept close to “bus departure” time I was starting to slip. Filled my hydration bladder to the brim, placed into vest… it was leaking. All over the place, from the hose nipple. Couldn’t stop it, went everywhere in the van and down me. Then I couldn’t find my peak, I’d put it to one side in the van to make it easier to find but in the leaking flap I’d misplaced it! Panic! Then realised I hadn’t applied sun protection so did that, pretty badly (amazed I didn’t get burnt!). Luckily I had mates around – Jamie was sent to make sure the bus didn’t leave without me, and Matt jumped in the van and found my peak. Phew! Ran to the coach but belly said “you must poo”. Lady at the coach said no loos at the start but if I was quick I could use the portaloo and she’d make sure I was on the bus. Dashed in, quick action, but no loo roll. AAAARGH. Had to just get on with things, not my finest moment. Bus was delayed due to roadworks, arrived at the rolling start just before 6am. I hadn’t loaded my gels properly into the right places, done my shoes up or warmed up! Chatting to the guy I ran with 75k race with last year which was cool, told him not to wait for me as I faffed around. Water still gushing out of my pack, what a sight. I was the very last one to start the race, a few mins behind everyone else. No warmup but did do up my shoes at least. Set off and was calmed by the coolness and gentle empty countryside, took it nice and easy and didn’t catch anyone for 10 mins.
Started picking off the slower runners nice and gently, wishing them good luck each time. Was keeping my pace super relaxed and walked up even the first hills. Perfect conditions this early, cool but not cold, nice breeze and overcast – lovely. First big hill on the route looked awful on the map, but it was a doddle – nice gentle incline that went on for a bit but was mostly on the lane, walked a few bits but was comfortably able to jog up most of it past about 40 runners. When I got to the top I was actually a little disappointed that it was done, had some nice downhills after. 10k in, feeling fine. I was fuelling every 25mins which felt very regular, maybe too regular, but kept at it for a while. Water still gushing, also had my hydration drink in a chest flask. A work colleague who lives near Haslemere came met me at 11km on his usual morning run which was nice, we ran for a few km together and he told me about the upcoming route, he left me at the first CP – I just dibbed in and carried on, nice to pass about 20 people all at once here 😉.

I caught my 75k running mate (Tim) after another few km and we ran together and chatted for a good 30k, taking it in turns to trip up. I almost took a nasty tumble but saved it, but twinged my back. When we got to a third of the way in I announced it and reflected, my average pace at this point was ~6:10 per km, not bad considering the hills but I knew it would be tough to maintain it, although lovely it was starting to get warm. We both felt it and went quiet for a while. Bladder had emptied already by this point! FFS. I ended up leaving him behind at ~ marathon distance but he wasn’t far behind, a huge hill before the halfway point really took it out of me and I had to catch my breath at the top and wasn’t able to start running again right away.
Cruised into the 50% CP, just over 50k done and did some things I’d never done before in a race, ever: 1. Went for a wee! Nice chance to wash my face and soak my peak and sweatband too – proper toilets here. 2. Sat down on a chair (!) whilst going through my drop bag to load up on gels. I hadn’t had all of the ones I took for the first half but decided to stock up as the 2nd half was going to be hard work. Grabbed some sarnies and set off after a few mins break, Tim was in my chair when I left, I didn’t see him again ☹.

Felt recharged after this small rest so headed off feeling good, was finding eating tough though so the sarnies took a while to go down. Soon enough I was on familiar turf with the 50k route, it was nicer than ever and I kept on going, not quick but feeling OK. It was really warm by now and some of the road sections (hills too) felt rubbish, stopped to look at a river and wanted to jump in! Had to take another rest at the next CP and poured water on my head, and another sit to loosen my shoes – feet were aching by now, toes very sore. Loosening didn’t really help much. A lady asked if I was OK, there were some runners just sitting in the field in the shade looking like they’d never move again. I was here longer than at the halfway point which felt wrong, but I needed it. Carried on, really feeling tired and sore, but legs felt fine – just a twinge in my upper left calf. Soleus had flared a few times on the faster downhills only, but not too badly.

I ended up running with a chap called Pete who I’d sat next to on the coach and we’d chatted lots – his first ultra ever! He set off too quick and was feeling rough as hell, cramping lots and with a stitch. I also had a stich, for the last 45km or so… not nice. I had to walk some flat cool sections because it hurt too much running as a result which was rubbish. I motivated him on and off for the last 40k or so, he had some quick bursts then walked bits. I devised a system where we ran the exposed hot sections then walked in the shaded cool sections. It was a good system, other runners doing the 100k commented on it positively. We hit a CP together and I made him run to it all the way up a slight hill, it was very busy and we ended up waiting a bit to top up on water etc. When we set off I felt a bit wobbly and ill, due to the stitch I’d stopped having food as regularly so thought this might be the result… smashed a caffeine gel and some crisps and walked a few kms. Eventually felt better, upon reflecting I think that run to the CP then stopping dead for a while may have been the cause as my heart probably pooled blood in my legs, should have kept moving!

Lots of exposed sunny sections followed and some country lanes. An absolute hero (family support to some other runner) gave me a calippo after I asked “whose is that?” – he said “yours if you want it” 😊. It was heaven.

The last 20k was run/walk/run – I didn’t have the energy to keep pushing for all of it, but running with Pete and motivating him at points helped me keep pushing probably a bit more than I was comfy with. I held gates for him and told him “nearly there, doing great etc.” I left him ~7k from the end, and was conscious of the time.. realised I could still get 100k done in under 12 hours so pushed a bit, then realised it was 101.3km but I could still get in if I ran well. It was hard work but I found some energy and ran a solid last 4km without stopping, passed Jamie and Matt ~2k from the end, no time to stop – had to make it. Felt like it went on forever, but it was nice not having a lot of congestion in those final stages like usual. I was dreaming of that finish line but it took forever to find in the last dark wooded section, I was excited again and emerged from the woods up a small hill pretty fast and managed a strong fast finish, dibber in hand. 29 seconds to spare! Phew. Pack off, lay in the first bit of shaded grass after the line and flumped. I had done it, thank god. Waited for Jamie and Matt for a finish photo, then for Pete who was 10mins behind me but 19th, amazing for a first ultra. I was pretty happy with 18th, not top ten and humbling at how hard it was, but that’ll do. Calf was very sore by now so I was limping and very tight, but didn’t feel too bad overall. Tired yes, but not destroyed. I learnt a lot and got to enjoy bits of the race more as was not chasing a time of position for most of it. Very happy to have been able to push at the end (in the 4’s) despite the exhaustion, stitch and heat. 100k time: 11:52:28.