@Hursty Can’t remember if you’re a zero drop guy or not, but if you are and need a pair of race shoes, the Mont Blanc carbons are magic. Tried them out on two long runs so far, they’re comfortable and fast.

2 months later

Here’s the last update that no one asked for …

Ended up having to drop from the 100k to 50k distance because of a calf/tibial tendon issue that I’ve been dealing with since June. It forced me to drop the mileage on my two biggest training weeks and I wasn’t confident in medicating myself through a 16+ hour race.

After all that, I ran so well in the 50k. Last year it was 21 degrees and it took me just over 7 hours. This year it was 33 degrees at the peak and I finished in 6:39, ended up 18th overall out of 173 runners and I think 7th in age group. The heat caused some absolute carnage, especially for the 100k/100 mile runners, one person ended up in hospital and the dnf rate was the highest they’ve had in 25 years.

It was another really amazing experience, so happy that I got it done. 8 months of training was rough at times and I’m ready for a break, but the reward of finding out what I was capable of doing was totally worth it. I can’t recommend doing something like this enough.

    Fair fucks mate. That’s very impressive.

      Millsy Thanks, the heat was insane. I’m pretty proud of this one.

        And on a serious note, that is top effort, really is, well played that man!

          Smallman1 Cheers. So glad I dropped distances. I passed a few of the hundred milers who were out there since 8 am the day before and they looked wrecked. Only 17/50 of them finished.

            Ed’s always banging on about running and broccoli and treacles and roofs and builders and restaurants and Eternal, but I’ve never heard of him taking part in such things.

            Gauntlet across the face from 303 here.

              I’ve hung up my long distance shoes.

              It was the picture of the old lady pipping me to the post at the Brighton Marathon wot dun it.

              That bastard Dermo never let me forget it!

              Along_the_Wire Thanks, it was a great experience.

              Millsy Let’s set up a collection to send him to Canada, we can run it together.

              Hursty Thanks, I really did. It felt like I could have done it in 6 hours without the crazy heat. No idea what happened to my injury either; didn’t show up during the race and it appears to be inexplicably gone.

                      Here’s a video from one of the 100k runners, it’s a really cool landscape.

                        303abuser easily below 6 with training I would say but it’s hard to predict with Ultras.

                        I’m on the start like of a 102 miler this Saturday, it’s going to be interesting having spent august enjoying the sun and drinking 😆

                          303abuser

                          I’ve never really got the whole Ultra Running thing, most of them walk most of it. It must be fucking boring. I think that the most that I have run in a day is about 40 miles (actual running). I’ve run 230 miles in a week a few times.

                              Dry-Tinder there is a vast range of abilities, much the same as you would find at your local 10k

                              For me it’s the challenge, both physically and mentally, can you push yourself beyond the limits of endurance

                              I find a balls out 5k or 10k harder as it burns the lungs

                                303abuser Let’s set up a collection to send him to Canada, we can run it together.

                                If Mill’s can hold him still, I’ll stick a postage stamp on his head Thursday.

                                Should be with you in a week or so 👍

                                Top work on the run too, ant even contemplate how you do it!

                                    Dry-Tinder Is that a typo or did you actually do 230 miles in a week? My peak weeks this summer were around 115 km and that was rough.

                                    Of the 6.5 hours I was out there, I ran a little over 4 hours and walked/power hiked the rest. It wasn’t a mountain race, but it was about 1400 meters of elevation. Unless you’re an elite runner, walking is pretty necessary, especially in the heat.

                                    And Like Hursty mentioned, it’s the personal challenge. I didn’t run this one to finish, I raced it. I left everything I had out there and don’t think I could have finished any faster on that day. After I crossed the line, I laid in the shade for 20 minutes with ice on my head. I like the feeling of accomplishment, the race is just the celebration lap for the months of training.