Centurion A100

The Centurion race series is often called a family. As a runner it is a chance to spend 24 hours or so being looked after by aunties and your nan with the odd crazy uncle to keep things interesting. The A100 is the last leg of the Centurion grandslam and my second Centurion 100 of the year.

The A100 is 4 out and back legs with two flat Thames legs either side of 50 miles on the Ridgeway. It is known for people setting off too quickly and I would be no different. This was somewhat planned as I wanted to get some miles done before darkness set in.

Registration and the start

This was the usual Centurion precision machine with a quick kit check and number collection. I stayed in the Goring YHA which I can recommend so I was able to stay in bed late before a gentle walk to register and on to the start line. Sam Robson was behind me - another tick on the blog roll spotters list.

Leg 1

I ended up at the front at the start. This was more by accident as I happened to be stood at the start line. I spent the last few minutes before the start chatting to Paul Russhard who is a friend of a work colleague and was easy to spot as he chose a bear onesie to run in. Suddenly it was time to run.
I remember this as mile after mile of dark wet fields from the TP100 but in the daytime on a dry day, it was much nicer. The front of the field disappeared out of sight and it would only be a matter of time until they were speeding back towards us. After 10 miles or so the front runners were coming back towards us. It makes this race unique. The front runners hit the turn at close to 90 minute half marathon pace which is ludicrous for a 100 mile race. I reached the turn in about 1:55 which was a bit keen. It was definitely at the thick end of the field with at least 50 ahead of me at this point but was nice to turn and see at least 50 coming the other way.

The rest of the leg was fairly uneventful. I felt very good and decided to skip the walking breaks to keep the pace up until dark. Back to base in a scary fast 3:56 - almost sub 4 hour marathon pace. A quick grab of some food and bottle top up and I was on my way up the Ridgeway. I saw James Adams on the bridge and complemented him on his book(a good read) and another tick on the blog roll of honour.

Leg 2

The first 4 miles disappeared quickly and North Stoke appeared. A quick bottle top up and cheeky coke and I was almost on my way. I then knocked over a cup or two of coke which I tried to apologise for before heading up the road. I had a quick chat with Rich Cranswick in the chicken suit and I was on my way. I finished the TP100 just ahead of him but not sure the clown suit had helped him that day.
After  a couple more miles, the Ridgeway proper started and the first hills of the day. I shared a few miles with Sarah Sawyer and Paul the beard. It was good to hear about his Spartathlon experience - maybe one day... The hills forced walking breaks which were much needed. I caught up with with Rich Stewart and we formed a small group to get through Grim's ditch. At this point James Elson flew past grinning like a loon. That settled the debate on who would win. It was a while before the next runners came past.


After a couple of false starts, I eventually found the right field to do my bird impression (thanks Stuart March)

A couple fields and a lovely Golf course later and 37.5 miles was up. Then came the chance to see the people behind us. A few more bloggers ticked off plus I got to shout some support to runner 78. An epic story behind his Grandslam buckle. The most memorable part was kicking a root which resulted in cramp  in my groin which luckily went away quickly. Soon enough I was back at North Stoke and tried to apologise again for spilling my drink and manage to mess up putting the top on my bottle and spilt more drink on the floor. My number of 180 which I had been shouting bullseye style all day was now more like a bull in a china shop. 
Now it was a race  against the sun. I was getting dark but I really wanted to get to halfway before the head torch came out. The sun beat me but the lights of G&S got me home. Halfway in 8:47 which isn't bad for 50 miles. At this point I saw Rich Stewart tucking into a McDonald's - each to their own. 50 down 50 to go. I take 58 to be halfway by time. Also my 10/24 for 50 miles rule meant that I was on for 21:XX pace.

Leg 3

This was a beast with a massive hill which went on for miles. Before long James was speeding past us and plenty more coming past. This seemed to go on for ever before we emerged into a world of headlights. The cheers from other runners were getting less as fatigue kicked in. You could spot the pacers as they were chatty and keen to talk. The runners could just about grunt. 62.5 miles up in sub 12 hours at halfway. I have limited memories of the next 12.5 miles except there didn't seem payback for the climbing on the way out. Back to base in just over 15 hours just before second place arrived. James Elson was home well before that. Quick refuel and out again

Last leg
I got the first 4 miles out of the way to Witchurch ok and then it crashed from there. It took a while to get to the Welcome to Reading sign and the 4 miles from there were horrendous. It reminded me of the night section of the TP where you keep hoping the CP is round the corner and it never comes. It was mainly walking now and sub 22 finish unlikely. I got a lift seeing my "4 park runs to go" sign on the steps. Some gin cake and I was almost ready to go. My running buddy Ben who I had shared the previous 87.5 miles wasn't. He was out on the floor with exhaustion as weeks of nights with a teething baby caught up with him. I abandoned him in the hands of Sarah Barker who fed him cake but it wasn't enough to stop him refusing to continue.

I buddied up with Daniel Youds and Claire before getting dropped after Reading West station as I couldn't keep pace with 15 min mile walking. Pace dropped to nearly 20 miles as the sun came up. Everything hurt at this point but I was almost there. I got a lovely surprise as my friend Dom met me by the Bridge with a Mars Bar and we walked into the last CP. I had a nice chat with a volunteer coming up the road to the CP and realised how ruined I was and I suspect I didn't make any sense. A quick chat with Donna Bullock and off. Just 1.5 park runs to go before the pain would stop. The 180 thing had definitely worn off now.

My ankle was in a bad way and had to walk one legged and literally drag my leg up the super steep bit (you

know if you have done the TP100 or A100). I had a lot of people go past over the previous miles and had a chat with a pacer about how long I had left. I thought it would be about 70 minutes and she reckoned 50. At this point I figured I might as well run so the pain would stop sooner. It started as short bursts but I got finish line fever and started running. I retook a few people over the last mile or two and almost sprint finished. I look back at Garmin afterwards suggests the "sprint" was actually a 12 minute mile - it is all relative. Soon enough the sound of the Goring weir grew louder and the finish was upon me. Time for a final "one hundred and eiiigggghhhhtttyyyy!!!!" and the medal was mine.

Final finish time was 22:40:36 for 22 minute pb. I would love to have cracked 22:30 for Sparta qualification but I don't think I am ready for that yet (is anyone?). Mentally it was a lot better race than the TP100 were I struggled the last 40 miles. That was a race where I really questioned why I was doing a 100 whereas this time it was only the bit in and around Reading where I questioned my sanity.

It would have been great to hold onto the first 70 miles form and pace for the last 30 miles but I guess that is the lure of the 100 miles race...

Thanks again for Centurion team and 73(!) volunteers for putting on a great race and see you again next year. It was great to chat with James Elson who was still chatting to everyone after the race. Now to time to start planning for 30th April in Richmond...






























Leg 4

Finish

NDW100 - Just as a spectator

I was hoping to run but it was deemed too close to a transatlantic trip to the in-laws. In hindsight probably the right call. The trail goes a few miles from my house so I thought I would take my daughter to get her first taste of ultras. I did the TP100 in May so she was excited to watch a race. The day belongs to the runners, volunteers, crews and pacers but hopefully having a few cheers from me and my excitable 6 year old daughter with pink hair helped your day. I was planning some live blogging in the style of irunfar.com but was foiled by poor reception and a flat iPhone battery. I got the first 30 or so runners on film but cheered through to about 80th place before heading home.

Congratulations to the finishers, and better luck next time for the DNFers - always better than a DNS or DQ... I watched the live feed on Sunday morning and was pleased to follow the finishers and very sad to see a grandslam dream or two fall short.

If you want copies of the photos, drop me a line and feel free to use on any blogs. I am signed up to the A100 so hope to see some of you there...

 

Centurion North Downs Way 50 Race report

I have been intending to write a race report on this for quite a while but a minor injury has given me the nudge to put some words down. Hopefully you take one thing from it to help you if you race it this year or maybe sign up for 2016. I am recovering from surgery on a broken hand caused by slipping while out running along the Thames. Surgery is a lot like an ultra - compression socks, fear of intense pain the day after and you are glad when it is all over. However the nil by mouth thing wouldn't be a great strategy for an ultra.

The NDW goes near my house and a few years ago, I saw markers out for a Centurion race and wandered what it was about. I looked up the website and thought was mental and wandered what kind of weirdo would do that kind of a race. 3 years later, I was one of the strange people on the start line.

I had read a lot about the Centurion organisation and it really is good. I was registered with minimal fuss and picked up Harvey's map which I didn't need but was compulsory and takes a lot less space than 2 OS maps. A quick race briefing from James Elson and off to the start line.

The start was fairly low key. I started at the back so I didn't go off to quickly and was into a steady pace of about 9min miles. My aim was to go sub 11 as this was the old Western States qualifying time before it became too popular which would be 13 minute miles.

The first 24 miles was fairly uneventful. I was sticking to a run 20 mins and then walk 5. I thought this worked well as I had drank and ate plenty during the 5 minutes. I also walked every incline. I made it to Box Hill in just over 4 hours which was 25 mins ahead of plan. I figured the wheels would fall of at some point but would crack on.

I had a fear of Box Hill and this was pretty tough. However the 1-2 punch with Reigate Hill slowed things down a lot. Definitely worth taking slowly and just getting one foot in front of the other. Lots of day walkers on Box Hill but they were very kind with support and moving out the way. I felt a bit guilty when an 80 year old woman moved off the path for me. A massive bees nest at the top got me up and running again.

My slow start was paying dividends as I must have overtaken a dozen runners on the way to Reigate and 31 miles. There was a good crowd at the checkpoint and the cheering was a big lift. I had a funny moment with time keeper as I thought she had got my number wrong but turns out she was telling me was 60 at this point but I was telling her, no I am 30.

I had run the next 15 miles in training and it is a lovely stretch with woods and rolling fields. I saw a runner who was in terrible shape going through Gatton Park school. He was chucking up and had left it too late to start refuelling. He recovered well and overtook me 10 miles later and beat me by 30 minutes. Goes to show that an Ultra is never over....

The Caterham aid station was a high point due to the Ice cream and Scotch eggs. I drew the line at Pork pie though. I was here in just over 7 hours with a buffer of 40 mins ahead of plan.

My favourite stretch is the next 3-4 miles which are part of the Woldingham loop which is a favourite run of mine. All was going well at this point. There are some tricky steps which I walked very slowly down and still managed to almost fall. The NDW runs alongside the M25 at this point which isn't the best but it was going to better than Botley Hill.

Botley Hill looked to be the last hill of the run and all was flat from there. To make it more difficult, I decided to kick a root and thought I had broken my toe but it turns out it was just my toenail coming off. The last aid station was at the top and just 8 miles to go from here.... I was here in 8hrs 10 so in great shape with not far to go.

I had massively underestimated the last stretch. It looks flat on the profile but has lots of short pitches and twists and turns. It is the hardest to run (except Box Hill) especially if you aren't prepared. Some of it is vehicle paths with deep ruts so the choice is to run in the mud/puddles or in the long grass. There is also a sign for Knockholt (3/4 miles) but you have 3 miles to go. I thought I almost done with a 9hrs 30 in sight but but the finish is at Knockholt POUND.

As my watch hit 9hrs 50, the Centurion Tent was in sight across a corn field. Turns out there is still a long way to go from here. I battled on as the course took me further from the finish and onto the roads of Knockholt. I had got the hump at this point and it seemed a long way to the finish. I got into the sports ground and there was still quite far to go. I had massive cramp in my hamstring but attempted a one legged sprint finish to dip just under 10 hours and 61st place.

Things I learned

Makes sure you eat and drink lots - walking breaks are good for this
Cherry tomatoes are great trail food - and Scotch eggs too
Remember which way up your Camelback bladder should go
Look at the map of the last mile of the race
Centurion aid stations and volunteers are fab
Be wary of running shorts with cycling style inners (the rubbing of 50 miles is considerable)
Inov8 trail shoes are awesome with foot damage only due to root kicking