Running 100-miles… how hard can it be?

The pros make it look easy. Smashing 100-miles in 16 hours, crossing the finish line looking like they’ve just run 10km. But, for us mere mortals it’s anything but as first-timers, Steve Cole explains…

Running 100-miles had been a secret dream of mine for some time. Whilst I consider myself an OK runner – I’ve done a few marathons and a couple of 40-mile ultras – the thought of running for over 24-hours was not really on my radar…yet. And then came the first Covid lockdown…I had three ultras planned for 2021: Waterways 30, Manchester to Liverpool and Race to the Stones. Lockdown saw me running more than ever, watching inspirational ultra-running videos and generally questioning whether this was the year to attempt a ‘100’. The races seemed perfectly lined up: 30-miles in March, 50 in April and 100km in July: they would each act as a training run for the next. I just needed to find a suitable 100-mile ultra for autumn. In a moment of madness, I entered the Centurion Running North Downs Way 100 on August 7. Being just four weeks after RTTS wasn’t ideal but it looked an incredible, yet tough, route.

I’m not going to attempt to keep you in suspense as to whether I achieved the 100-mile dream – I think the pictures give the game away – but despite looking fresh (so I’m told) and the beaming smile, the pictures don’t tell the whole story of seven months of training and 27-hours on the trail. Let me explain…

Rookie error 1: Training Plan

My training up until April had been focused on getting miles in my legs. Most weekends would include a 25+ mile road run and I’d generally be doing 50+ road miles each week. Even though Waterways was cancelled and I had to drop out of M2L due to logistical issues thanks to covid, I still ran the distances locally. I felt pretty good as I set about the ‘real’ training for the NDW100.

I had read articles and watched videos about various training plans. To be honest, they all seemed overly complicated. Surely I just had to keep adding miles to my runs? Enter ultra-running coach, Alex McMunn.

I had watched a couple of Alex’s Youtube videos and loved the simplicity of his training methods. I found him on Facebook and sent a cheeky message asking if he’d take a look at my plan. I was certain he’d say it was fine. I was very wrong!