First 100 mile race in 2013 - Ultra / Adventure racing

Slow Duck

17/11/2012 at 17:51

I've signed up for the 2013 North Downs Way 100. It will be my first attempt at 100 miles - I've not run further than 100km up to now.

Anyone else planning their first 100 miler in 2013?

martin 35716

17/11/2012 at 18:00

Thats me maybe!

Slow Duck

17/11/2012 at 18:43

Hi Martin - I did think about a winter 100 but I thought the weather would be much more pleasant in August...

Kevin Payne

17/11/2012 at 18:45

Thames Path in March, and I'm in the Western States lottery, although if I could choose when I get lucky I would prefer that to be 2014...

Slow Duck

17/11/2012 at 18:58

Kevin - looks like you'll be the first - we'll have to pick your brains then!

JeremyG

17/11/2012 at 19:56

TP100 for me too. Coming up fast which is pretty scary!

Lingster

17/11/2012 at 20:06

Did my first 100 miller this year and in for all of centurions 100 milers next year !!!!!

touie2

17/11/2012 at 20:12

South downs for my first 100 next year!

martin 35716

17/11/2012 at 21:07

Lingster did you have a training plan? Doing my 2nd comrades next year plus s 40 and no doubt a few marathons in the build up. Also in a team for TR which will be my first night running. On paper I think I could finish but dont have a clue was at first thinking about 2014 but ??????!!!

Slow Duck

18/11/2012 at 19:53

Looks like we're all running Centurion races then...

Andy AFCB

18/11/2012 at 21:10

I had to pull out of the winter 100 this year and so am now on the waiting list for the SDW. Does anyone have any info on the waiting list with regards to numbers and likelihood of places arising?

mr f

19/11/2012 at 08:51

Another one here for centurion! Did TP100 earlier this year but when I reached the 96m checkpoint the race was abandoned due to the horrific weather. In again for next to settle some unfinished business and hoping that the forecast is somewhat improved.

runs-with-dogs

19/11/2012 at 10:41

You ran 96 miles then the race was abandoned?

That must have been a bit annoying!

Slow Duck

19/11/2012 at 19:33

Yikes Andy - that's really bad luck.

carterusm

19/11/2012 at 19:53

Mr f - you should have run quicker

Good luck for you next attempt !

mr f

19/11/2012 at 20:28

Ha! Well, we were smack on course with our projected pace. Had 4hrs left before the cut off when we got to that point. Was really gutting. Il stil be aiming for a.similar lace next year, just slightly quicker early doors.

T Rex

19/11/2012 at 23:12

Slow Duck - NDW100 was my first 100 this year. Excellent choice. I found I had to keep moving - 41% of the field were timed out which I was determined was not going to happen to me and I finished last but one in 29:44:00!

mr f

20/11/2012 at 08:50

Rex, is that 41% of the field missed a CP? that was a big problem at the TP. I planned my pace quite specifically to see me get in 'comfortably' in around 28hrs, 2 ahead of the final cut off. However, there were.a.few.checkpoints In the middle that were very close and many people got caught out despite them being well paced. I guess the organisers bank on runners being quicker early on and then slowing later as opposed to being evenly paced throughout. Just before one of the checkpoints at around 70m a spectator at around 6am told me and my friend that we were gonna be close to the next cut off so we had to put a sprint mile in to get there in time, but then we had somehjng like 2.5hrs to do the next 7m or somerhing.

T Rex

20/11/2012 at 11:17

mr f - I suppose some were retirements but I think the bulk of the DNFs simply did not make CP cutoffs. Whether this was because the CP closing times were erratic I don't know. Probably more that the course was more strenuous than people were expecting and they got caught out.

In these sorts of events the early CPs do close early, and you get more slack in the system as you go on. They don't seem to be geared up to exact even pacing throughout - probably because that's not what runners generally do!!

JeremyG

20/11/2012 at 12:00

I was hoping to be relatively even paced, never thought to look at CP cut offs!
Also on the site it says all drop bags will be disposed off?? I was thinking about having a shoe change, starting in road shoes and then trail as a lot of the first 1/3-1/2 is paths and road, fairly firm. The last part is more track, fields etc (gates!) so if it is at all wet will need trail. Not run more than 40 mile in my trail shoes, a bit less cushioning hence the change. Maybe I will have to look at new trail shoes then.........Dear Father Christmas please can I.....!