RACE COMPLETED!!!

I am delighted to say that I finished 18th in the Stockholm 100km Ultra Marathon (also the National Swedish 100km Championship) in a time of 8 hours 59 minutes 45 seconds. It was about 25 degrees so fairly warm out on the course and 156 completed the men’s race, with a fair few drop outs.

 

The start was quite quick, however I managed to keep a fairly consistent pace throughout (averaging 6.9 miles per hour / 11km per hour) and my 50 km split time was 4 hours 27 minutes. To put that into context, my average pace was roughly the equivalent of 3 hours 47 minute marathon pace throughout – a detailed breakdown of my split times can be seen at http://www.racetimer.se/en/runner/show/3058436?layout=marathon2&race_id=1436.

 

With about 25 miles to go, I was worried that I was starting to get cramp in my right hamstring but I poured large amounts of salt into my water and remarkably my body was so salt depleted that the first few gulps tasted vaguely ok! With about 15 miles to go, I felt ok and started to believe that I might be able to push for sub 9 hours. To my surprise (and I think it was the sheer relief that it was almost over), my last 5 miles was the second quickest 5 miles I ran all day, in just under 8 minute 30 mile pace. The last 2-3 miles really hurt and in fact at one point I was starting to stagger a bit from side to side but I put in a bit of a kick in the final stretch and was just overwhelmed with joy to look up at the electronic board to see that I had made it in under that magic 9 hour mark. It would have been impossible to get through the day without the support of my Mum and sisters who were supplying me with electrolyte drinks, gels and energy bars all day long, having to wait until I came past every 45 minutes. Without the right nutritional balance and energy, I would never have made it and it just goes to show that you’re only as good as your support team!

 

 

BACKGROUND

Having run the London Marathon in 2007 and received such fantastic support, I decided that I wanted to undertake a bigger, even more testing challenge...

In August 2013, I will be pushing myself to the limit and will be running the Stockholm Ultra Marathon. The ultimate endurance test, the race is 100km (63 miles) and I will be running this distance in one go. I am told that anything under 12 hours is considered to be pretty quick so this is what I'm aiming for!

Given the enormity of the challenge, I hope to raise as much money as possible for Haven House Children's Hospice, which is an incredibly deserving cause and fantastic charity. My involvement with Haven House started in 2011 when I set up a partnership between my department at CBRE and the charity.

I have seen first hand how much Haven House help life-limited children and their families, and any support that you might be able to give would be hugely, hugely appreciated - every penny counts!! Haven House is non-purpose built and is a really happy, inspiring place which gives so much to all those who know it.

Rest assured that I will be putting myself through the pain barrier. Despite recent injury problems, I am training hard and am extremely motivated for the challenge ahead!

Your support will go a long way and is really appreciated.