The Monarchs Way Ultra is a non stop 615 mile race along Britain’s longest inland footpath.
All the race info is here: http://www.challenge-running.co.uk/races/monarchs-way-ultra
The Before……
Its maintained and marked by the Monarchs Way Society chaired by John Tennant, they do a fantastic job of checking the route and updating the info the route website so walkers and runner’s can find their way as easy as possible.
Have a look at their website: http://www.monarchsway.50megs.com/ it covers all the history and any route diversions and you can buy the fantastic guide books of the route.
We have run the event two previous years and had 3 runners each year with no finishers to date…..
This year we have 12 entrants with 11 starters including 2 women and 4 international runners, all the runner have an impressive running CV and have completed multiple 100 mile race and multiday races. 6 of the starters are previous Thames Ring 250 finishers. http://www.thamesring250.moonfruit.com
I am hopeful for at least one finisher this year, maybe even 2 or 3.
The race is very much a self supported style race and there will only be access to their kit bags every 40-50 miles so about once a day along the route. This means they have to carry all the necessary supplies for a full days running. Though they can purchase stuff in shops and pubs as they pass through villages and towns.
Navigation is by the excellent guide books, gpx files or maps which are all provided by the race.
They need to cover an average of 43 miles each day to stay withing strict cut offs and have a chance of finishing. They have 14 days to complete the whole route.
The runners are being tracked all the way through trackers supplied by Open Tracking on this link http://live.opentracking.co.uk/monarchs_way_2018/ be warned watching the trackers is addictive.
The runner are supported this year by a small dedicated team of volunteers, myself, Maxine, Bruce (+\shadow the dog) and Brian. We will provide tents to sleep in and food and water at each CP locatation plus any medical needs or foot care.
The evening before the race we all meet up in the Premier Inn in Worcester to have a meal all together and cover the race briefing. It was great to catch up with all the runner and friends from previous race such as TR250.
Chris one of the guys from last year who flew over from Singapore for the race presented me and Maxine with North Face hats as he is sponsored by them. Peter from Sweden gave me wooden toothbrush.
Alan who also almost finished last year was back too for another go.
The Start……
Up nice and early for breakfast we ate with some of the runners and then started to pack all the kit bags into the vehicles and run the racers down to the start. We start the race at Powick Bridge the scene of the final civil war battle where Charles was defeated and began his escape.
John Tennant from the MW society was also there to set the runners off.
I blazing sunshine off they went at 10am promptly into possibly the biggest challenge of their running experiences so far.
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The Beginning…….
Its really interesting looking at the very differenet strategies during a really long race and seeing which ones work, there are too many variables to confirm or deny any single factor. So much has an impact, experience, fitness, weather, kit, determination, injury, illness, nutrition and rest and any of a dozen other factors. as expected Oriol from Catalan and John Stocker the current Thames Ring record holder went off fairly quickly and in fact smashed the first section at sub 24 hour 100 mile pace.
Chris is still the best dressed ultra runner ever.
Next Leg 1……..