So as I type this day 7 update we are at 150 hours on the race clock and over 300 miles for all runners.
Thats almost 7 full days of racing Britain’s longest Non-Stop race. (or race of any kind).
We still have 10 runners out there which is fantastic testimony to the field assembled this year.
2 ladies and 8 guys still battling the elements, terrain and sheer size of the beast that is this race. 615 miles non stop.
2 ladies and 8 guys still battling the elements, terrain and sheer size of the beast that is this race. 615 miles non stop.
They have been running for almost 7 days and yet most of them just under half way! Only 5 have passed that mark.
Amazingly it’s still a race at the front with the first 3 within a couple of hours between all three.
Just a 300 mile sprint finish from the 315 mile checkpoint at Netwood farm campsite.
Just a 300 mile sprint finish from the 315 mile checkpoint at Netwood farm campsite.
In front at the 315 mile CP but now in second place in John Stocker, John has now run further than he has ever done before and despite feet that are suffering as much as his legs is still banging out a pace most of us would be very proud of.
As the current Thames Ring 250 record holder he has form and won’t be giving up a podium without some effort.
Right on his heels at CP7 and now just stepping into the lead is Oriol Anatoli Sarrau from Catalan who has some impressive finishes to his name around Europe including some podiums on 500km plus races. He too is looking strong and seems to be in great condition considering the distance and conditions.
Only a few km behind is Joon Kiat Yeo or Chris to all and he is on a mission this year after his DNF last year. He looks fired up and is staying with the leaders for pace. And looking cool as he does it! Definitely the best dressed Ultra Runner here or anywhere!
Then some distance behind is Stephen Brown, again some impressive finishes like spine and TR250 in recent years and he is on ut like a car bonnet! Very motivated and moving well and focused.
Then comes Alan Cormack. The Scottish budgie Smuggler! He was the other DNF at 400 miles plus last year with Chris and he is also on a mission to get this done this year. He is looking after himself and in great spirits and churning out the miles in a steady determined way. He is hours up on his time last year for the same distance.
Then is Rick Clark, Rick would claim he is not as experienced as the others but he has shown he is as capable as any of them with a Thames Ring finish and plenty of other very tough races under his belt. By no means he is certainly of the calibre to finish this race.
Along comes Jonathan Rowles behind and he is not running as much but walking steady and although tired he is pushing himself on and really ticking off the miles like a metronome. Slow and steady finished the Ultra!
He is still full of humour and determination and is still very much in the running for a finish.
Currently with him is Ellen Cottom, one of the toughest women I know. 2 time finisher of the Thames Ring 250 and she has done more 100 Mile races than I can count and countless Marathons. She is goal orientated and still smiling and pushing her legs along.
Then comes Anne Green another very strong woman who has done very impressive runs over the last few years including Vol State 500 recently and Spine and Thames Ring 250 finishes under her belt. She has no concept of quitting and is powering on and her character is such as she smiles whilst she does it.
Finally pacing himself to the rear ready for a sudden surprise sprint is Peter Bengtsson who after feeling unwell a couple of days ago is now back on form and try to catch the others and get back onto the group in front.
Again a very impressive running CV.
Again a very impressive running CV.
The reason we have almost all still running is the overall standard of runner we have this year, strong and determined and nobody with a CV of only a couple of ultras.
These are all seasoned finishers of some of the UK’s and Worlds toughest races. Not races that say they are tough but races that show they are tough with low finish rates and a high standard of competitors.
These runners don’t yield easily to suff like sore feet and chafing like most of us would, they suck it up and crack on and it’s bloody impressive to watch.
They all come into a CP happy and smiling and cracking jokes. Then they eat crappy food we make for them and have a cup of tea/coffee. Then they get changed, get a few hours sleep or sometimes push on. Then we clean up after them and pack up and move on to do it all again.
We are lucky to have a dedicated small team of volunteers helping this year, from patching feet up and feeding tired runners to running errands and making brews 24/7.
Thanks also to all the spectators and support bthat has popped up onto the course to say hi. I know it is appreciated by all the runners and ourselves.
Great to see the event being followed by so many around the country and some further afield.
Great to see the event being followed by so many around the country and some further afield.
As a little bit of humour we sometimes play around with peoples tracker names and have a little fun. All based on conversations with runners and things they have done.
A little friendly banter is a good thing.
A little friendly banter is a good thing.
John Stocker is “Twinkle Toes” because of his feet.
Anne Green is “Purple Rain” because she loves purple and got absolutely drenched last night coming into the checkpoint.
Oriol Antoli Sarrau is “Kennels” because of the way he pronounces “Canals”
Chris is AKA “Poncho” as he lost one and found another.
Ellen is “Stars and Stripes” due to her home country and the amount of stuff she has with the Star Spangled Banner on.
Rick is “Something in my eye” because he has confessed to feeling a little in awe by a few stunning views in the Cotswolds especially at sunset and sunrise. Stunning place to see a sunrise or set.
Alan is “I still have my trousers on” because he never wears trousers and never for a prolonged period. The World is grateful though!
Peter Bengtsson is “Tortoise” because its clear he is playing the long game and will sprint to the front at anytime. Or maybe its the fact is takes him forever to get up and sorted after a sleep. I will let you decide.
Stephen is “Blackout” because he has brought his own tent that is a Blackout tent so he can sleep in the day easier. Actually a clever idea.
Jon Rowles is “Boxes” as he has two large kut boxes that are a pain to move around and store!
Everyone is putting in a sterling effort and showing just what you can do if you put your kind to a thing.
The battle all through the field to the back is evident on people faces and in their bodies. But still they move forwards.
The fact it looks like a race at the front after 315+ miles is epic and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next 100 miles.
The next two legs are huge, 51 and 54 miles on rough terrain and in the wet. The average time needed to achieve the linear cut offs does nit change but given the tiredness and difficulty of the terrain these will be long legs out on their own battling sleep depravation and personal demons. These are the two legs that finished off the two guys last year.
Below is a set of photos from the last couple of days with the first few being splits from the legs.
Lindley
Amazing
Keep up the good work guys!! Great effort
What a great read, it's a way of getting to know the other participants and just how talented every single one of them are in their own right. Wishing them all safe passage over the finish line. X
Amazing people,runners and crew alike.im in awe