Race to the Stones (50 km)

Now that I feel my body has fully recovered from Race to the Stones (no kidding, it’s taken about 4 months) I thought it was about time I write a race build up and summary.

So the build up to race to the stones was interesting. I was doing okay building my mileage, running trails, really getting into it and enjoying the grind. I wasn’t worried before race to the stones about the technicality of the trail as I picked this ultra intentionally because the elevation wasn’t bad and the trail was nice and consistent. I started training after Bath Half, by just keeping the training going, continuing with Lululemon run club once a week, starting to run to parkrun (which varied between 12 and 16 km depending on the route) and doing more consistent runs in the evenings. At the end of April, I was part of a backyard ultra relay team, which went surprisingly well, we ended up winning for the 3-4 team and I ended up running 33.96km (so close to 34 km!) that day. So training was going surprisingly well, until it wasn’t… I tested positive for covid in early May, which was rubbish and really took it out of me. I definitely didn’t let my body recover as much as I could have, and I still pushed through running (even for a parkrun). I look back now and think I really should have just taken the time out to recover. However, looking back near the end of May I was still able to get some decent mileage in and build it up again.

Next up, I moved to Bergen. This was a great decision, however finding new running routes quickly which were manageable for my level of running was slightly difficult as you can end up very quickly upping the elevation to 600m + in 15 km. I wanted to keep running on trails, but just didn’t know where the nice manageable ones were (now I do and I so wish I had known this sooner!). however, in Bergen in the 4 – 6 weeks before tapering I was able to gradually up my mileage to a maximum week of 45 km.

Then I went to Germany the week before my ultra for lab work. It was hot, it was flat and it was busy. No time for much running, but good conditioning for a potential heatwave weekend for race to the stones.

On the day, we had an early start. The race opened at 6am and I wanted to start as close to that time as possible because I had a feeling the day would be hot and long. The drive to Wantage was stunning, we were treated to rolling green hills covered by low fog. At 5am it was relatively cool but the early morning haze preempted a warm day.

We arrived at basecamp and I was overcome with respect of the incredible runners who had completed 100 km straight through, or were about to continue their 100 km journey, after completing 50 km the day prior. At basecamp it was easy finding a place to park, no one was checking parking passes and it was close to the start so we didn't have to walk far. Pippa was overstimulated so we ended up carrying her. She gets overwhelmed at running events as she thinks she's racing.

The views from the start were something else, with the rising sun, low fog, and coloured flags, the golden light touching everything. A perfect match for the Threshold Racing orange livery. The race start was eery, with a few inspirational words before a count down, and we were off. The quiet descending as we ran away from the starting basecamp. All you could hear was the rise and fall of everyone's steps around you, trying to get into a rhythm.

The first couple of km I felt good and I settled into my comfortable pace. I’ve had a small Achilles niggle since March so have been taping it. However, my longer training runs were in Norway and never as warm as race day, so inevitably the tape came off around 5 km in. I saw Kieran soon after this and together we tried to retape but it wasn’t sticking. I carried on with no tape, ran through checkpoint 1 at 8 km as I didn't need any top ups and kept myself calm and collected. I knew Kieran was parked about 8 km further down the road (at 17 km) and there we swapped my water out along with a gel so I was topped up for the next stint. I felt strong, albeit for the minor hip pain which I was getting but I pushed on with the views from the ridgeway making for a good distraction. I was keeping to my strategy of running the flats and downhills and walking up the hills. I also had the distances where I would see Kieran written on my leg so I could look down and know it was only a few more kms until seeing him again, an encouraging thought.

The path became a narrow track in places, the long grassy verges taking over the track where we were running. I recognised the route around Uffington White Horse, a section which Kieran and I had checked out in springtime. Just after Uffington White Horse Kieran and Pippa joined me for 2 km, and it was really nice to run with them up until 18 km! I carried on after, and reached a hard hill into Foxhill which was mentally tough. Some of my friends had sent me encouragement voicenotes for the low times, so I listened to a few and wow did they help. They really pushed me on and I am really really grateful for those friends!!

When I made it to checkpoint 2 I sat down for a bit and ate some salty crisps, a few orange segments and topped up on suncream. I carried on rather swiftly as I knew Kieran was just down the road waiting. I bumped into Peter and Nea after another awful hill. They were out running towards me, Peter carried on on his run but Nea joined me for a few km which was nice. We ran together until just before Ogbourne St George where Nea went to find Peter and Kieran was parked up. It was nice to know others were out on the route. I skipped a gel at this point because my belly didn’t feel up for one, but luckily I caught myself before I depleted too far and took on some more fuel. After seeing Kieran I then knew I had about 10 km until the next checkpoint and seeing Kieran again. The 30 to 40 km mark was so hard. It was a lot of uphill, walking up to Barbury Castle, however Kieran started to walk towards me which was nice as I got to see him and Pippa and walk together. I really couldn’t have done it without him. Seeing them come over the hill was like a scene out of some cowboy movie with the slow music playing. He had food for me and it was like a mirrage. We talked our way into checkpoint 3. I sat down and ate some more crisps and orange slices, knowing it was only 10 km to the finish! Until I finished a 50 km ultra!! I had done reading prior to the race and knew the last bit was mainly downhill, except from a slight incline and an out and back to the stones. I still kept up my nutrition but my legs hurt. The terrain was pretty terrible, loose stones and chalk, not the best on already tired feet. It was getting hard.

I ran down the never ending hill, past Peter and Nea who told me I was close to the finish (and it was flat from here…not going to mention that again haha), I had 5km left but I knew I was almost there! I ran down towards the famous stones and past my parents who were out cheering me on. The race route then turned back in the opposite direction. Back past the stones and along the old farm track, slightly uphill then finally, into the farm yard. With the finish in sight I found something extra in my legs, finishing my final km with one of my fastest splits of the race unbelievably. The elation of finishing, of crossing the line I thought I was going to cry. Swallowing back tears, I was given my medal, and hobbled over to Kieran and gave him a big hug. I could not have finished it without him there. I am so happy to have finished my first 50 km, to have kept going and enjoying it despite at times how much it hurt.