Luke Willett
Running 100 miles
Fundraising for PROSTATE CANCER UK
Story
100 miles...
Is it even possible to run 100 miles?
This is what was flowing through my head back in 2015 after watching a video online about an average guy completing one of the toughest 100-mile races in the US.
In 2015 I was already what I thought a good runner. After starting back in 2010, I had already successfully run a half marathon and was searching for my next challenge. The obvious choice was the marathon, but I felt that I wanted to do something different. I enjoyed running off-road rather than the pavement, heading out to somewhere and exploring places is way more fun than nearly getting run over!
After getting addicted to long-distance runs, it was time to test out my running legs and enter my first Ultra Marathon. It was 53 miles and I completed it in 12hrs 37mins, since then I have improved year on year shaving hours off my time and even gone further. My longest race to date is 62 miles (100km) and in the world of Ultra Running the next step up is the big one! 100 miles....so why not?
Don't get me wrong, its sounds absolutely ridiculous, but so did 53 miles and I have completed that distance 3 times now. I feel like it is achievable but it's a completely different beast.
My goal is to do this in under 24 hours. There is a cut off of 30 to finish it by but if you do it in under 24 hours, you get a special buckle that says "100 miles in one day" and I want that buckle!! I'm getting that buckle 😆
It's the ultimate achievement with a high risk of failure. My physical and mental strength will be challenged, including the limit of my endurance and speed. Everything will hurt, I'll most likely feel sick and I won't sleep for 24 hours+
Some say that running 100 miles is 16 times harder than a Marathon...and a marathon is usually flat. The South Downs Way is hilly...really hilly. The elevation gain is the equivalent of climbing Snowdon 3.5 times, so it isn't going to be easy.
So enough about how horrible it is going to be. I'm not just doing this for a personal goal but also to raise some money...and what better way than someone suffering 😂
In 2018 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, It was crushing to hear that the person who has always been there for me could suddenly not be. I was thinking the worst as soon as I heard the news, but he was fine. He was strong and calm, even though he was going through this and not me. Most of you know that cancer has affected me many times now, it saddens me when I hear that horrible word mentioned, it seems to often nowadays. I guess I was scared of what the outcome would be. I am so grateful to still have my loved ones in my life. My wife and my Dad have pulled through and beaten this horrible disease, but some lost their battle.
So...Please give whatever you can but if you can't, some encouraging words can help me along my journey to that finish line.
This is what was flowing through my head back in 2015 after watching a video online about an average guy completing one of the toughest 100-mile races in the US.
In 2015 I was already what I thought a good runner. After starting back in 2010, I had already successfully run a half marathon and was searching for my next challenge. The obvious choice was the marathon, but I felt that I wanted to do something different. I enjoyed running off-road rather than the pavement, heading out to somewhere and exploring places is way more fun than nearly getting run over!
After getting addicted to long-distance runs, it was time to test out my running legs and enter my first Ultra Marathon. It was 53 miles and I completed it in 12hrs 37mins, since then I have improved year on year shaving hours off my time and even gone further. My longest race to date is 62 miles (100km) and in the world of Ultra Running the next step up is the big one! 100 miles....so why not?
Don't get me wrong, its sounds absolutely ridiculous, but so did 53 miles and I have completed that distance 3 times now. I feel like it is achievable but it's a completely different beast.
My goal is to do this in under 24 hours. There is a cut off of 30 to finish it by but if you do it in under 24 hours, you get a special buckle that says "100 miles in one day" and I want that buckle!! I'm getting that buckle 😆
It's the ultimate achievement with a high risk of failure. My physical and mental strength will be challenged, including the limit of my endurance and speed. Everything will hurt, I'll most likely feel sick and I won't sleep for 24 hours+
Some say that running 100 miles is 16 times harder than a Marathon...and a marathon is usually flat. The South Downs Way is hilly...really hilly. The elevation gain is the equivalent of climbing Snowdon 3.5 times, so it isn't going to be easy.
So enough about how horrible it is going to be. I'm not just doing this for a personal goal but also to raise some money...and what better way than someone suffering 😂
In 2018 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, It was crushing to hear that the person who has always been there for me could suddenly not be. I was thinking the worst as soon as I heard the news, but he was fine. He was strong and calm, even though he was going through this and not me. Most of you know that cancer has affected me many times now, it saddens me when I hear that horrible word mentioned, it seems to often nowadays. I guess I was scared of what the outcome would be. I am so grateful to still have my loved ones in my life. My wife and my Dad have pulled through and beaten this horrible disease, but some lost their battle.
So...Please give whatever you can but if you can't, some encouraging words can help me along my journey to that finish line.
Thank you
Luke
Luke