Kit check, registration, race briefing, run 50 miles. Saturday morning, about 200 eager runners turning up for the start of the Centurion Running North Downs Way 50 were greeted by this simple checklist at the front gates. The race is a 50-mile point-to-point ultra marathon along the North Downs Way national trail, starting in Farnham in Surrey and finishing in the village of Knockholt Pound in Kent.
This was my first 50m ultra marathon, after taking up running only two years ago, and worries that I wasn’t ready to take on the distance were compounded by the soaring temperature. The prospect of climbing the notorious Box Hill steps in the forecast heat, after first running a full marathon, made me reconsider my life choices as I toed the start line.
Despite the sunshine, technical trails and 5,600 feet of elevation gain, I was delighted to finish in 11hrs 11mins, and 122nd place. Ultrarunning is an incredible community, something demonstrated by the army of 50 volunteers running six well-stocked aid stations along the course and the appearance of Spine Race competitor Allan Rumbles on his “bacon boat” stationed at a river crossing, handing out free bacon sarnies to runners.
One of the biggest challenges with any distance running is staying hydrated, especially on a hot day. How do you carry water and monitor your fluid consumption on a long run? For this race I invested in a Salomon Hydro 12 race vest with its soft flasks, which were far more comfortable to run with than my old Camelbak with sloshing bladder.
So what did you get up to over the weekend? Did you set a new distance personal best or road-test any new kit?
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