Robin Hood 100

“When you run for 10 miles you have ideas. When you run for 100 miles you have epiphanies.” Michael D’AULERIO A 100 mile run. ONE HUNDRED miles. Who’d have thought when I started this running journey back in 2015 that I’d be towing the start line of a 100 mile race – I certainly didn’t!

Birmingham Canal Canter 26.2

The Birmingham Canal Canter is organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) and is open to both walkers and runners alike. With the option of either 18 or 26.2 miles, they offer a circular route exploring Birmingham’s extensive canal network – with it’s mix of rural countryside, industrial heritage and state of the art

Conti Thunder Run 24hr – Solo

The Conti Thunder Run is the original 24hr trail race consisting of as many 10k laps as you can muster in 24hrs. Held in the grounds of Catton Park, Derbyshire, it attracts thousands of runners each year and with the option of running solo, in pairs or relay teams of up to 8, it’s inclusive

Ham & Lyme 100k

The Ham & Lyme 100k follows the stunning Liberty Trail which runs from Lyme Regis in Dorset to Ham Hill Country Park in Somerset, before turning around and heading back to the start line to finish on the promenade. I went into the event both physically and mentally unprepared. On-going Achilles and knee issues meant

Bluebell Challenge

The Bluebell Challenge is organised by Big Bear Events and challenges you to run as many 2.9 mile laps as you can muster within a 6-hour time limit. I’d come across this event fairly last minute via social media and the ‘lapped format’ immediately caught my attention. Held in the grounds of Hartshill Hayes Country

Millennium Way Ultra

Well, I f’ked that up! The Millennium Way Ultra – despite milestone PB’s at 30 and 40 miles – left me feeling somewhat disheartened and proof that not all races go to plan. For anyone who wants to know how not to race an ultra, read on… The race itself is a 41 mile point-to-point

Ashby 20

Ashby 20 – now in it’s 30th Anniversary – is a 20 mile road race ‘organised by runners, for runners’. Based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch – a small market town in Leicestershire – the race attracts over 1000 runners and is considered to be ‘one of the last long runs’ in the calendar before the major spring

Imber Ultra

I first ran this event in 2020 and was keen to give it another go despite last years event falling victim to the pandemic. The Imber Ultra is a 33 mile mixed-terrain race taking in the Salisbury Plain and the Imber Range Perimeter Path. Jointly organised by Avon Valley Runners and the Rotary Club of

Country to Capital Ultra

The Country to Capital Ultra is a 43 mile point to point race from Wendover in Buckinghamshire to Little Venice in London. As the name suggests, the route covers approximately 23 miles of glorious countryside, woodland trails and muddy tracks before hitting the Grand Union Canal for a further 20 miles of canal tow path

Endurance Life: Gower Ultra

Another race that’s been on the radar for quite some time. The Gower Ultra – as described on their website – is a 32.9 mile trail race ‘set against an awe-inspiring natural backdrop of cliff tops, downland, woodland, sand dunes and world famous beaches’. With over 4,000ft of elevation and the prospect of gnarly, wintery

Conti Thunder Run 24hr – Solo

My first 24hr event. The Conti Thunder Run is the original 24hr trail race consisting of as many 10k laps as you can muster in 24hrs.  Now in it’s 12th year, it’s held in the grounds of Catton Park, Derbyshire and attracts thousands of runners who are up for a challenge – whether that’s running

The Piece of Cake Trail Marathon

The ironically named ‘Piece of Cake Trail Marathon’ which proved to be anything but… Located in the spectacular Carding Mill Valley in the Shropshire Hills, this is another one of Denzil’s ‘How Hard Can It Be Events’ which have now become a firm favourite of mine in the calendar. With options to run either a

Westcountry Ultra Hilly 50

The ‘Westcountry Ultra Hilly 50’ – what a blast! Organised by Albion Running, the race is part of a three-race series; the Westcountry Ultra Flat 50, the Westcountry Ultra Hilly 50 and the Westcountry 100 – all running over the same weekend.  I’d opted for the 50 mile hilly version.  With over 8,500ft of elevation,

4x4x48 Challenge

The challenge: run 4 miles, every 4 hours for 48 hours. I stumbled upon the 4x4x48 challenge a couple of years ago and it has resonated with me ever since. Popularised by American fitness guru, ex navy seal and ultra runner David Goggins, it’s now an annual event featured heavily across all social media platforms.

Running Review of 2020

What a year! No-one could predict what 2020 had in store for us and as I type this, things looks pretty bleak as we head into the New Year. Running feels pretty insignificant compared to what’s happening in the real world but I’m trying to normalise things as much as possible. Running has always helped

‘Robin Hood 40’ – (Unofficial) Ultra

Sherwood Forest: Nottingham – the legendary stomping-ground of Robin Hood and the setting for my latest (unofficial) ultramarathon. So how did this all come about? Bloody Covid-19 again, that’s how! Back in July, I made contact with Ronnie Staton at Hobo Pace UK who organises events in and around the Nottinghamshire region.  I was interested

“A Coventry Way” (Unofficial) Ultra

“A Coventry Way” is a 40 mile route circumnavigating the city of Coventry. Although you’re never more than 5 miles or so from the city centre, the large majority of the route is off-road and passes through mainly agricultural land in Warwickshire and Solihull. A couple of friends had completed the route and having lived

The Edale Skyline

The Edale Skyline is a 24 mile circular run around the stunning vale of Edale in the Peak District. With over 5000ft of elevation, the route summits Win Hill, Kinder Scout, Brown Knoll, Rushup Edge, Mam Tor, Black Tor and Lose Hill. I’d been planning a visit to the Peak District for a few weeks.

Worcestershire Circular (Unofficial) Ultra

I’d got the idea of running the Worcestershire loop from Kate, a friend from club who had devised the route and posted it on Strava. The route was a 32 mile circular starting and finishing at her parents house in Bromsgrove. I lived a couple of miles away so starting and finishing from mine would

Normal is no Longer the Norm: Covid-19

It’s been 4 months since my last race – and subsequently my last post. The world has changed. The Covid-19 outbreak has been a global pandemic which has threatened our health and lifestyle choices; causing so much fear, stress and anxiety to many. The norm is no longer normal and daily routines are non existent.

Imber Ultra

My first official ultra of the year and a run I thoroughly enjoyed! The Imber Ultra is a trail run covering approximately 33 miles of the Salisbury Plain and the Imber Range Perimeter Path. Conditions underfoot are a mixture of mud, grass, gravel and hard trail. The race wasn’t on my radar until Paul, a

Bromsgrove to Worcester Circular (Unofficial) Ultra

The ultra that almost never was… Storm Ciara was expected to cause havoc across the UK and with winds of up to 80 mph forecast, there had been Amber weather warnings in place prior to ‘race day’. Not technically a ‘race’, a group of fellow runners had come up with the idea of running from

Running Review of 2019

In reflection, 2019 has been by far the most successful, rewarding and challenging year since I started this running journey back in 2015. It’s been a year of personal achievements and milestones as well as having it’s fair share of tears, injuries and mental health issues. Running has turned from an addiction into a lifestyle

The Sunset to Sunrise Challenge

The Sunset to Sunrise Challenge had been on my radar for a number of years but had always clashed with other events. Fortunately for me, this years race fell on a free weekend so I signed up for it without any real expectations. The race itself challenges you to run as far as you can

Post-Race Blues and Stuggling to find my Mojo

It’s been two weeks since I completed Lakes in a Day and I’ve done very little in terms of running. In all honesty, I’ve struggled with fatigue and illness but more worryingly, I seemed to have lost my mojo. It’s not uncommon, I know I’ve felt like this post marathon or milestone run before. It

Lakes in a Day

It was 07:59 and I was standing at the start line for the Lakes in a Day 2019 ultramarathon. Everyone around me looked nervous, it felt unnervingly quiet and I felt sick to the stomach. What lay ahead was a 50 mile race from Caldbeck to Cartmel covering the length of the Lake District from

Additional Kit, Nutrition and the Final Long Run

Week 19 – Taper Phase w/c 23.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 14 milesActual mileage: 28.1 miles I’d booked Monday and Tuesday off work. Ruth was away in the Lake District, enjoying a relaxing week at Centre Parcs whilst I got to spend some quality time with Thomas whilst James and Oliver were at school. It also gave

Sports Massage, Stretches and a Last Minute Half Marathon

Week 18 – Peak Phase w/c 16.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 60 milesActual mileage: 35.2 miles On paper, this was to be the toughest week of the training programme. The final ‘Peak Session’ with a recommended mileage of 60 miles, after which, I would start to taper. I woke up Monday morning feeling exhausted. The boys had

Trailffest Half Marathon

About to board the train to the start line What a brilliant race! The Trailffest Half Marathon is billed as ‘one of the most scenic you could hope to run, with dramatic changes of scenery and terrain the whole way to the finish line’, I wouldn’t disagree. Everything about this race, from the steam train

Working Away, Night Running and a Return to the Malverns…

Week 17 – Peak Phase w/c 09.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 55 milesActual mileage: 40.3 miles I was fortunate enough to be working in Cornwall this week but only managed to get in a couple of runs due to work commitments. Both were circular coastal runs; one from Cardis Bay to Hayle and the other slightly further