This race is a bit different to the other 100 mile distance events I have entered in that instead of a point to point race, it is a set of four 25 mile out and back sections on the Ridgeway and the Thames Path national trails – all centred on the pretty village of Goring. The main benefit of this format is that you get to see all the other runners on the first leg even if they are miles ahead and right up until the last few miles there are still people going past in both directions. More on this later…
I have started 3 other 100 mile races – all of them the Thames Plath 100 – in 2013 I was beaten by the weather and stopped at 50 miles. In 2014 I made it to the finish in 26h 30 to claim my first 100 mile buckle. Earlier this year I suffered a humiliating DNF (Did Not Finish) when I quit at 40 miles with an ankle injury – and to this day I regret giving in so easily. I was determined not to stop this time.
All of my 100 mile runs have been organised by the excellent Centurion running – flawless organisation, really well marked courses, well stocked aid stations at regular intervals and support from an army of volunteers which is awesome and just gets better year after year. This event was to be no different.
I had a good knowledge of the two 25 mile legs on the Thames because of the previous races and I managed to find time to recce parts of The Ridgeway over the summer so I was confident of the route which did make a big difference on race day.
This event allows a crew at all times and a pacer running with you after 50 miles. I managed to persuade my wife Sharon and our next door neighbour Zoe to crew for me and then got two mates Jon and Tom to “volunteer ” their services as pacers for various stages.
Sharon and I arrived at Goring at 9 on the Saturday morning and I went through the kit check and registration process in the village hall which was also to serve as the “central hub” for the whole event. Then a short walk up Goring High Street over the Thames to the start line in Streatley where I joined the 200 others nervously waiting for the off. Centurion Running director James Elson gave his usual humorous but important race briefing but in a break from the norm he then handed over his race director role to two of his team, Nici and Drew, and then took a place on the start line with us. At 1000 we were off on the first leg, north on the Thames path. The weather for the last few weeks had been dry so the path was firm and not a puddle in sight. Ultra running for me is all about pacing – start slow and finish slower – and I plodded out the first 12.5 miles to the turn point at Wittenham in a little over 2 hours, enjoying the chance to just run on a familiar path and shut off from the world. A quick few pieces of fruit and some water from the aid station then back towards Goring keeping to my planned pace of just under 10 mins per mile.
I arrived back into Goring ( 25 miles) feeling fresh in 4hours 14mins, did a quick change of shoes and socks in the village hall then headed out onto leg 2 – East on The Ridgeway to Swyncombe. This leg is flat for the first 4 miles then follows a mixed climb (up to 600 ft) though woodland and fields with some great views across the Thames Valley from the top. I was still plodding on at an even pace and enjoying the social aspect of the run, chatting to other runners who were passing me and who I was overtaking. Most people are on a run/walk strategy on these events so after the first few miles you end up “leap frogging” the same people numerous times.
About 6 miles into this leg I was just starting the steepest part of the climb up through Grimms Ditch when I heard a runner coming towards me down through the trees. I looked up and saw James Elson, the race leader sprinting down the path faster than I have ever managed even on a park run! I just managed to say ” great running James” and he was gone – James went on the win the race in a course record of just over 14 hours – an awesome display of trail running. From then on there was a stream of leading runners comging towards me but I just kept my pace up the hill, arriving at the turn point at 37.5 miles still feeling good. I know from experience that this is often the first distance at which I start to doubt myself and begin to think of reasons not to continue. But this time I felt really relaxed. Most importantly no injuries, still plenty of energy in the legs and looking forward to the trip back down to river level. A quick few savoury bites at the aid station, a cup of flat coke and then off again. The downwards leg was enjoyable, the sun was just about to set and the views were stunning. I reached the flat section of the stage and found Sharon waiting for me. A quick stop, dry socks again, head torch on and away towards Goring. This was mile 45 and although now on a 2 mile run 1 mile walk strategy I was still keeping up a pace of around 12 min per mile.
I arrived back into Goring (50 miles) in just after 8PM, so 10 hours of running done and still feeling OK. A few aches in the quads and ankles but considering I was half way through this thing I was in remarkably good shape. Quick change of running top and on with the long tights for the night section and I was off with my pacer Jon Stow onto leg 3, West bound up The Ridgeway to the turn point at Chain Hill.
I crewed the night section for Jon on his attempt at the Grand Union canal ultra earlier this year and he volunteered to return the favour and keep me company on my night journey. I was very grateful to have an experienced runner with me as this section is very cold and bleak in places especially in the middle of the night!
Jon and I ran most of the first 3 miles then yomped up the never ending hill to the top of the Ridgeway. Once on the top we got back into running the flats and slight downhill sections and walking the uphill bits. It worked well and we maintained a good pace to the turn point at Chain Hill (62.5 miles). Sharon and Zoe ( who had arrived with her camper van complete with fairy lights ) kept appearing in the allocated crewing points with hot coffee, cakes, chocolate and anything else that they thought might keep me going forwards. At one point on the return leg I sat in the van to change my shirt and started shivering uncontrollably – for a minute I thought my race was done but some hard love from my team forced me out into the dark and cold again and once I was running i soon warmed up and felt better.
The ground up on the trail was so hard that I could feel I was beginning to get blisters on the balls of both feet. Despite changing shoes to more cushioned road shoes and putting on yet another pair of socks I knew this would be a problem later.
Back into Goring at just after 3AM ( 75 miles done) and still going at only just over 13 mins per mile. Jon had been briefed to try and get me up and down this 25 mile section in no more than 7 hours and ideally close to 6 hours – we did it in just over 6.30 – happy with that and at the back of my mind there was the thought that maybe I could just about finish this thing in under 24 hours. Maybe….
I then made the mistake of sitting down in the Goring village hall – it was warm and cosy and they had hot chilli on the go. I lay down on the floor and put my feet up on a chair to try and stop them throbbing – 30 mins later my team had to literally push me out of the door onto the final stage – it would have been so easy to stop at this point. My feet ached and I felt tired. Who would care if I stopped now?
Sharon joined me as pacer for the next section, back on the flat Thames Path towards the turn point at Reading. I was surprised to realise that I could actually run still and we jogged the first mile and a half at a good pace before I started to feel sick. After a few hundred yards of walking I knew the Chilli was coming back – and it did. Another 15 mins lost. Shortly after this, I had just got back into a good walking pace when I tripped and stumbled over a large tree root. Looking down I could see that it had ripped a hole in right trainer over the big toe and almost certainly damaged the toe itself. The pain was immediate and intense but I knew that if I stopped again now I would be out of the race and with only 22 miles to go, I was sure I would regret it forever.
I hobbled on for a few miles with Sharon cajoling and urging me onwards – finally getting to the camper van in Pangbourne where Zoe took over from Sharon for the seemingly endless 3 mile section across the water meadows towards the bright lights of Reading. Last year on the Thames Path 100 these fields had been full of cows, their bright eyes shining in the reflection of our head torches – this was something I had told Zoe about and she had wanted to see but this year – nothing – not a cow in sight.Back into the lights at Purley and up to the railway station at tilehurst where Sharon switched with Zoe again and we marched / jogged the last 4 miles to the turn point at Reading sailing centre.
We arrived into Reading at just after 7AM and I knew at this point that the blisters on both feet and the damage to my toe would prevent me running any more and that my 24 hour target had gone. But I was sure I was going to finish which was the main aim of this game. The final cut off time is 28 hours – I had been moving for 21 so seven hours to do 12.5 miles – easy. I therefore decided to take my time at Reading – use the toilet, have some more food and prepare mentally for the journey back. Zoe took on pacer duties and we marched at a good pace ( 15 mins/mile) back thought the town centre and out along the river bank. Several times the pain in my feet became too much and I had to stop and take the weight off them by sitting on a bench. As well as almost force feeding me jelly babies, Zoe also changed the plaster on my right foot at least once – now that’s dedicated crewing considering the state they were in at the time ! Thanks Zoe.
At mile 92, Tom joined me for the final 8 mile push to the end. He tried so hard to encourage me to run but I didn’t have anything left physically or mentally. Knowing that my 24 hour target had gone and realising that a good paced walk would bring me home in a new 100 mile PB I really couldn’t face more pain in my feet for no real gain. Looking back now, maybe I should have pushed it a bit. Back across the water meadows, up though the church yard in Whitchurch and then down those horrible 40 steps towards the river again. Knowing this section of the route so well really helped mentally as I was able to visualise where each turn was and how far I had to go. A further glance at my watch showed me that I was well inside my PB time of 26 hours 20 mins. Under the railway bridge, through the last narrow gate and then I can hear the water running over the weir at Goring again. Tom left me to run ahead to the finish and let Sharon know I was coming. I walked past the last few boats moored up on the river bank – on one someone was cooking bacon and eggs on a BBQ and shouted out encouragement – I think I replied politely but not quite sure.
As I turned the final corner with 100 yards to go I could see the village hall and a large crowd outside. Come on John – run the last bit for the glory ! The video of this shows me barely moving but it felt like I was running at 10 k pace after 3 hours of constant walking. A high 5 with the crew and into the hall – time check – 11.36 AM so 25 hours 36 mins. 101.6 miles. A new 100 mile personal best by almost an hour. Average pace 15 mins / mile. 124 place out of 206 starters.
My prize – a new shiny buckle and t shirt presented by James Adams, a hug from race director Nici, a chair, more hot food and coffee, clean dry clothes and I could finally stop. Blisters on both feet, a very swollen and bruised toe but all in all nothing too horrendous considering the distance covered.
A word about my team – Zoe with her van and the plasters, Jon with his banter and support through the dark bits, Tom for getting up at 5 AM to walk a few miles with me and of course the long suffering wife Sharon who puts up with this madness year after year – thank you all – I hope I didn’t moan and grumble too much and that you enjoyed it a little. I seriously could not have done it without you.
And so it is all over for another year. In 2015 I’ve run 4 ultras ( 100 miles, 50 miles x 3), 1 marathon and countless half’s and 10ks. And set new PB times in almost all of them. My legs feel like jelly and I need to stop this madness now – I’m too old to run stupid distances any more.
NEVER AGAIN – unless, maybe, I wonder if I could just ……..
thames path ultra 2014 