THAMES PATH 100 REPORT 2019

THAMES PATH 100 2019.

let's start at last years event. My 1st attempt at the 100 which was completed in 25:33:45. I also had Sharon running the 2nd half with me. Which was a huge help and I probably would not of finished without her, or at best added a few hours to that time, but I knew straight away that I really need to accomplish a 100 on my own, to see if I could do it.

Jump to September 2018 whilst on the Cumbria Way Ultra, while running that I thought I could really do myself a favour by losing weight. Less lumber to carry around surely makes for a happier runner.

The plan for the 2019 TP100 started on Oct 2019, so did the weight loss program. Both were very successful, weight went from 15.5 stone to 12.5. By the time TP100 2019 happened it was job done and time to get on with it. My aim was to get a sub 24 hour 100. Hadn't really thought by how much, 1 minute under and I'll be happy.

We travelled to Didcot to drop molly of at a friend's house, conveniently, not far from the finish line and then went on to London were it was time to get the pre race fuelling done, cod & chips, beer, cherry cakes. All very agreeable.

Was only 20 mins from hotel, parking up and being on the start line. Where I was met by my older brother who had to get up at 4:30 am to be there, was then joined by Caroline and her daughter Hannah. We had never met before but have had loads of dealings with each other as Caroline is one of the NSPKU charity heroes. Then just before the start, Alan from team AB rocks up having ran there from home. It was incredibly nice of you all to do what you did and meant so much.

After registering, which all went fine we all hung around chatting, sharon getting to meet up with a few folk from her Arc of Attrition adventure. I also met an old friend from my football days, who amazingly just done a 3 hour London 6 days beforehand.

All was relaxed though and there was no nerves, doubts, negativity whatsoever, it was just time to get on with it.

I best categorise the next bits as trying to remember a 100 miles in exact order is virtually impossible.

TACTICS

There wasn't anything really set in stone. I knew it just had to be steady all the way. I wasn't going to see sharon till mile 22 so thought I'd put in some quicker miles but still very steady, knowing that at some point I'd have to slow even further. To get under 24 hours I could hopefully go along at 12 or 13 min miles and definitely 100% no quicker than 10 min miles, so the first 22 were done averaging 10:30 to 11 min miles. Then making sure I dropped to 11 min miles at quickest. There were a few quicker and slower but overall average came out at 12:10 so spot on I'd say.

There was also a point where walk/run tactics would have to happen. At all costs I had to avoid a 20 mile death march at the end so a walk/run was essential for me to achieve that. There was nothing set with this but if eating I would walk for 0.2 at the start of the mile or 0.1 if not eating. This all seemed to work ok and there was no death march.

Another tactic that evolved throughout the event was with passing people. Though I never really worry were I come in the placings it's always nice to get a best placing as possible. I discovered along the way that when I passed someone then on the following mile I took a walk break, they would just pass be back. So everytime I did pass someone the next mile had to be full on running, this was a successful tactic. After that full mile of running I could walk on the next mile. Only downside to it was as the race went on for longer it was tougher not to take walk breaks. You had to dig deep. The other thing I normally do is run checkpoint to checkpoint but this took a back seat to trying to make sure I did 5 miles per hour, i.e 12 min pace, this largely worked out ok.

CHECKPOINTS

On Centurion events there are lots of checkpoints, probably too many. Checkpoints have been my downfall on many events but I was determined that wasn't going to be the case on this run. There was still 45 mins in my overall time that wasnt running, but I certainly did not hang around at checkpoints. The other issue was crews are not allowed at certain checkpoints so you can end up stopping twice in quick succession, so you have to be even more disciplined. The actual checkpoints are very well stocked and all the volunteers are superb but I had to get in and out as quick as. Which I did, even on the places I met sharon, it was swap water flasks, food etc and crack on. A couple of checkpoints I had a coffee and at the half way point, last year it was sit down, feet massaged and pasta. Not this year, straight in and straight out. Including checkpoints and other crew points there was probably about 15, again, probably too many opportunities to sit down or hang around. This was definitely my best checkpoint display.

The other thing about checkpoints was last year, whatever mile I was expecting them, they were 2 miles further, it was soul destroying. This year if I was told a checkpoint was at mile 51 ( Henley) I'd know it was 53. And my mileage from 2018 & 2019 was 102 miles. So checkpoints not arriving at the advertised mile was not an issue.

WEATHER

It was all very good on the whole. Was so much cooler than last year thankfully. From the start it was sunny but cool, pretty perfect. As the day progressed we had a few showers but nothing that gave you a good soaking. It always amuses me seeing people put their jackets on and then 2 mins later taking them of again.Mine never made it out of my bag. Early evening it started getting colder and around 10:30 ish I put on a base layer & gloves. That's how it stayed for the rest of the event. Throughout the night it was cool but not bad and no rain. Though I've seen many a comment from others about hailstones and how freezing it was, I certainly never saw or felt any hailstones and didn't think it was that cold. Was a clear starry night, rather pleasant. When the sun come up in the morning and mist rising of the river it was very atmospheric. I think weather wise, I couldn't of asked for more.

FUELLING

I took with me, or more precisely, sharon took with her, cocktail sausages, sweets, crisps and the all important cream Eggs. Drinks, was water.

2 hours before the start I had the regular malt loaf.

I started eating after 1 hour, even though you dont really feel like eating you have to. So it was little but regular throughout the whole run. Though in the last 20 miles I never really ate much. In the checkpoints sharon had a full flask of water ready and I just swapped it for the empty one. I made sure I drank all my water before each flask swap. I would also grab some ham and cheese sandwiches, maybe scoff some melon then carry on, eating the sandwiches on the go. There were a few checkpoints I also had sweet milky coffee, I drink coffee black but the milk meant i could just drink it straight down. All the fuelling went perfectly and the cream Eggs were just delicious.

PHYSICAL

I was in good a shape as I'd ever been since starting running 6 years ago, 3 stone lighter and no niggles whatsoever. I was in and felt as good as I could be. From the start all felt good but the route means there lots of repetitive running, all hard ground, no hills. So the legs started feeling things from around 25 miles ish. From then on they just ache, not in a niggle way, they just ache and continue to ache. In previous events I'd let that aching get to me, not today though, just soldiered on through it. I was constantly telling myself, you haven't spent 7 months hard training and weight loss to let the aches get the better of you. I continuously reminded myself that this run is what I've been building up to, dont screw it up. As the night, miles, time on feet etc went on, so did the aches. Luckily never to the point where I thought I couldn't cope with it. I just kept telling myself why I'm here.

At 78.5 miles, I know because I looked. I was trundling along following my circle of light and was literally praising myself that I've avoided all tree roots, also thinking it's been a good few years since I took a fall, and at that precise moment I hit a rock and over I went, no damage done though.

Feet were fine throughout, I had put blister plasters on before I started, in my normal blister places and all was good. Feet survived very well and no sock / shoe change was needed. I did however get a new blister but never felt it on the run.

Then, when at Abingdon checkpoint, mile 93, I suddenly felt a pain in my right knee which hurt straight away but only when walking. Once I started to run again all disappeared, but was really painful when I walked which gave me the incentive not to walk.

All in all I think I was very lucky to come out of a 100 relatively unscathed.

KIT

Shorts, top, Kalenji back pack and New Balance 1080's road shoes. Had to put precautionary tape on the neck and the shirt had a collar, this was because the bag rubbed on my neck on its last outing. There was no issues on this run. The shoes were absolutely fine and I did not need to change them at any point.

Head torch was used from Reading checkpoint at about 7:30 PM and stayed on till about 5:30 am.

The watch was my Garmin 630 which I recharged on the go and all was good.

SUPPORT.

As I mentioned at the start there was the support of NSPKU charity hero Caroline &daughter Hannah, then my elder brother David & Alan from team AB. Alan was later joined by Bi who then, with sharon met me at Windsor and Marlow. It was great to see them and was very grateful that people go to such measures.

Last year, my ex boss & friend turned up out of the blue at Reading. No such luck this time as I went through much earlier. I was very disappointed. 8 miles later I had a huge surprise, my ex boss, Rachael, another friend Vicky, Sharon, Molly and Jane ( who molly was staying with ) were all there, with their kids. It was a huge surprise and a massive boost. I thank you all.

All the other runners and volunteers were also a big plus, everyone really helps each other on these events.

I am very grateful to each and everyone of you.

And of course Sharon. Not only did she write the plan she was also my crew for this run. So Sharon has been there from day one. Crewing is never an easy task, anyone who crews would if they are a runner, prefer to be running the event. Its tiring work. I could not of asked anymore from sharon though. Was always superb seeing her everywhere and the crewing side of it went perfectly, thank you very much wifey, without your belief and you being there, it wouldn't of happened. xx

MIND GAMES

Now believe me, I have often let the demons get the better of me. Not to the point where I've ever quit but they have certainly made things difficult. I'm never one for being fully confident of myself, never think I'm going to smash this etc. But I started in a happy place with the mindset that I'm here at point A and I need to get to point B. I've trained for it so get on with it. That's what i did, got on with it. Throughout all of it the head was in a good place, actually, the further i got the better the head was. You always know something can go wrong in an ultra but just think of here and now, that's what i did. I was occasionally told that i was moving up the rankings so that also helped. Everytime it was feeling tough out there, again, i just told myself what i need to do. Toward the end, last 10 to 15 miles i just wanted to push on, so i did the best i could. Last 10 to 15 last year was more like the death march.

The other thing that helped was i had decided that sharon should not run 1 step with me. But as I went along I thought if I get to the 100 then I'll run the last 2 miles and cross the line with sharon. ( last year we never crossed the line together). But I thought, I may never do this again, so what's more important, me saying I ran every step myself or sharing the finish line with my wife, I chose the latter and it was fantastic.

 So mentally this one couldn't of gone any better.

THE FINISH & AFTERWARDS

We crossed the line, in daylight. Last year it was much later in the day and I just wanted it over with. Still an element of wanting it over with but not as much. This time I was chuffed with the fact I had actually executed the plan and ran as best as I could. I was really pleased with everything.

My legs ache good and proper, it's been a long time since I've had the I cant do stairs feeling but its here now. The knee is not so bad but still hurts a tad. The feet coped very well, did get a blister on my left big toe which i popped and my hips hurt a tad. Just a good old aching really.

THE STATS

Finished 42nd in 20:45:44

( 4:48:09 quicker than last year ).

212 finished

35th Male

5th in the 50 - 59 category

At the live update places

Walton ( 12 miles ) placed 202

Dorney ( 30 miles ) placed 142

Cookham ( 38 miles ) placed 119

Henley ( 51 miles ) placed 97

Streatley ( 71 miles ) placed 67

Clifton Hampden ( 85 miles ) placed 47

Lower Radley ( 95 miles ) placed 42

Oxford ( finish ) 42nd.

Few last thoughts, 2 things stuck in my mind, 1, how light it was at the halfway point and 2, last year I had to fight for a place in the showers, this year bar a chap ( dressed ) who was fast asleep, I had the place to myself.

And lastly, I dont feel the need to go back to this event. Not saying I wont but after last year I had unfinished business, this year, I dont.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and followed this latest adventure.

Ps, I have rewarded myself with my favourite ever dinner, sausage, mash & beans with lashings of brown sauce, and of course, cheesecake.