100 slam over due to dnf’ing SDW100 so why did I do A100?!? Good question really. The time off was booked, I didn’t die in the mountains so why not? It incorporates some of my favourite bits of running, Thames Path and The Ridgeway.
After CCC my legs were reasonably good, this I’m putting down to all the hiking rather than running. My coach Shelley had suggested 8ish miles the following Sunday to see how I feel. I got to 8 and felt fine so went to 10, all this on a running track. I’m ok doing longer mileage on a track, it’s weirdly satisfying “flat is back”.
It was only 5 weeks between ccc and a100 but I managed to get some good quality runs in. Some days getting up at 4 to get a canal run or a trail run in but it was needed. A good 21 miles along The Ridgeway with Conrad and Stuart and we hadn’t even touched any of the race route.
The Thursday before the race I’d done 30 mins easy just bimbling around my local streets when I noticed a sharp pain in my right knee. No worries I thought, iced it after as I often do but woke up the next day still sore. It was down the right side and I knew this was ITB territory. I spent the next 24 hours stretching and deep heating and crossing my fingers. I didn’t tell anyone and just hoped it wouldn’t flare up.
Saturday morning up I’m early no worries and I decide not to check or touch the knee. Me, Claire and boys drive to Goring which is about an hour. Get parked easily in Streatley and walk down to Goring for check in. See so many familiar faces including Stuart who is on kit check (and pacing me leg4), Jon (come over from Chamonix for retribution), Lauren (ran ccc) and her speedy mate Caroline (finished 3rd lady) to name but a few. Race briefing done and a 5 min walk to the start in Streatley.
Leg1 Thames Path
Off we trot, it’s raining but only spitting no need for a jacket. The paths through the fields are taking a bashing already with the wet and 200+ runners. I wait 3 or so miles before I employ my 9/1 strategy allowing the field to thin a bit. I overtake Ian Hammett a couple of times as he’s currently socialising with everyone. It doesn’t take long before I realise I’ve worn the wrong shoes. My Altra Olympus have some grip but not much and I didn’t bring any others. This did have some affect on my overall pace, I was aiming for 10mm but ended up about 10:20mm. The first CP at Wallingford I run straight past, the turnaround CP I run in and out and kept going, back to Wallingford and I run straight past again. My bladder can last me approx 6 hours and was full of tailwind. I also had a bag of salted potatoes and a sachet of custard. This meant I was self sufficient for a whole leg and didn’t need to stop except for Goring where I would restock. Back to Goring, restock and out time elapsed 4:30 which is really pleasing.
Leg2 The Ridgeway
This is easily the best leg out to Swyncombe and back. I know this route like the back of my hand, 3x RTTS and A100 previously. The field section along the Thames is sloppy but once we turn off it’s proper trails which is good under foot. It’s still raining on/off but not heavy so no jacket needed. Up to Grims Ditch and then Swyncombe, no stopping just close enough to hit timing beacon. As with leg1 you see people coming both ways so some hello‘s or high 5’s. Again no stopping at the halfway CP‘s and then a mile or so out from Goring it’s headtorch time. I don’t bother as I know it’s fine under foot and can’t be bothered to stop. Back to Goring in 9:50 which is really pleasing as I had 10 hours in my head. I restock and get ready for night section, jacket on and grab stuff to charge my watch. I also pick up pacer Alex who had very kindly volunteered at the last minute after I put a plea out over Twitter.
Leg3 - The Ridgeway
This is a odd leg, not the worst but not great. Once you get off the tarmac you go up but apart from the odd bit always feel like you’re going up a incline. I asked Alex a few times “are we going up?” Which he’d reply “no”. Halfway CP I stopped for 10 secs to say hello to Sonny who was marshalling then kept moving. Eventually Chain Hill CP is visible in the distance with its fairy lights and music. I stop here for 2 mins to sip some coke, fast American Claire (not fast or American 🤔🤣) spots me and we have quick natter. Back we go. My lower back is really starting to ache, especially when running. The paths are really rutted and sloppy and I’m not moving as well as I was. It’s starting to rain harder now, I put my plastic poncho on just in case. We pass Sonny’s CP I say hello but keep moving. We drop down and eventually hit the tarmac road and I can feel my stomach isn’t happy. I stop and puke except nothing comes up which is good but dry heaving is so uncomfortable. Alex gives me a ginger flavoured gel which I manage to eat washed down with water. We get back to Goring 16:33 which I’m really pleased about. I thank Alex and bid him farewell. Stu is now on leg4 pacing, I sort my stuff ready for next leg. I don’t bother with tailwind as it’s not tasting great anymore. Unfortunately every Goring stop I had to sort chafing, possibly the rain making it worse.
Leg4 - Thames Path
The horrible leg, any other day of the week it’s fine but 75miles in it just drains you. The housing estate, the welcome to Reading sign when you still have 6 miles to go. The field sections were really sloppy and some of the paths really stoney. Whitchurch CP comes quick, I walk in say hi and walk straight out. My back is killing me now, eventually we get to Reading and see our jogging mates Corrine and Lisa. I lay down to stretch my back out and Lisa sprays deep heat on it. I sit for a coffee, my first proper sit down since the race started. I know now sub24 is off the table, I’m ok with that as I’m still way ahead of 2017. Back we go to Goring. Bit more rain, more sloppy trails and fields. I’m drifting off at times and not moving as much as I should. Once it’s daylight I feel marginally better and the deep heat is working. I’m still dry heaving but I’m still eating too. We hit Whitchurch CP again and we walk in/out and keep going. We jog on/off until Goring and I finish in 24:36:32, about 1:45 quicker than 2017 and 88th place my highest finish in a 100.
Legs 3/4 lost me my sub24, maybe with better footwear I’d could be 37mins faster. I believe my CP etiquette was on point so who knows. Leg3 is always a head fuck for me and leg4 is a grind. Maybe I’ll go back one day 🤔 My dodgy knee never flared up and so wtf 🤷🏼♂️
Many thanks as always to Claire 😍 and the boys for helping her get home.
Alex
Stuart (also took me home)
Shelley (coach)
Running sisters (Corrine and Lisa)
Next up Wendover Woods 50, I’m going home...
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