My Journey to 100 miles!

How do you get into running ultramarathons? I’m still not too sure, but it happened quickly!

I seem to enter nearly all events very last minute. This wasn’t true when it came to my first marathon. I knew quite early on into running that I wanted to do one and I knew exactly which one to do – The New Forest Marathon. A place where I spent much of my childhood and made the most special memories. So after doing my first half in February 2022 that was all I needed to enter the full in September, plenty of time! The months flew by pretty quickly and even though I went rouge and didn’t follow a plan I had lots of people giving me advice and tips and always felt like I was on track so it was fine! September came around and with my amazing family and crew of friends we had a lovely weekend and I had successfully completed my first marathon, happy days! Nevertheless a month or so earlier something else had caught my eye, a lady in the running club, Emma (who at the time I’d never met but now she’s a great friend!) had posted about a 50 mile ultramarathon she had completed. I’d read through the post twice! Once in amazement that someone could do that and wow they must be an amazing runner. And then again, this time thinking, wow she makes it sound like the best thing to do and so much fun and maybe just maybe I could do it too?! But I hadn’t done the marathon yet so the thoughts were squished until I crossed the line. I celebrated with the family and on the drive back home I told Lauren, my sister, what I had been secretly thinking of since I’d seen the post, I want to do a 50 miler!

Lauren’s reaction was ‘classic’ for her and she pretty much had me signing up at the service station! I really didn’t know if I could so I took the plunge and gave Emma a message asking her advice and she said book as they fill up quickly and she would be on hand for any help I needed. So that was that I was then entered into my first ultramarathon, The North Downs Way 50 which is organised by Centurion that took place in May 2023.
Again the lead up to this didn’t feel very structured but I covered lots of miles and recced lots of the route with Emma’s help. Also went on a few longer runs which was nice and I remember at the time someone saying about going longer than 50 to which I replied absolutely not, little did I know!

Before I knew it I was standing on the start line and then crossing the finish line of my first ultramarathon! The day was just amazing and I really enjoyed every mile so much so I think I even said that I hadn’t wanted it to end! I’d learnt so much, met some amazing people and seen friends supporting along the way. Perhaps beginners luck with no ‘low’ moments but it couldn’t have gone better for me and I was so grateful to have been able to have had so much fun!

Through conversations it had come up how much you can learn by volunteering at an event so I decided to give it a go at the North Downs Way 100. Being a Marshal also means you get a place next year for free if you want it and I thought if I want to do a 100 anywhere it has to be the North Downs. Off I went to Detling which was roughly mile 80 and was just fascinated with each runner and got the opportunity to chat to some of their crews as well. After an overnight stint I drove home thinking yep I want to do one now so took them up on the place for 2024 thinking it would be the ‘big’ event of my year!
Again I just surprise myself! It’s a tough one so got to thinking do I really want that to be my first 100? No fear! There’s a flat one, also by Centurion, on the Thames Path in May, looks much more suitable. Even though Tim, head coach of the running club, had said that the flat poses its own problems! I quickly asked him if it’s a yay or neigh situation but think I had actually already entered (?!) so was relieved when he said go for it. So now I was in 2. The grand slam is 4 so I’m already entered in half! So that was that, before I knew it I had entered all 4 of the 100 milers and here we are.
The Thames Path, South Downs Way, North Downs Way and A100.
Start of January and the training ‘officially’ began, I’m trying hard to follow my watches plan and have joined the gym for strength training! I’ve already learnt a bit about myself and have lots of runs/races planned which I will post about.

It’s all very exciting!

Jade x