Two & a half years ago in the summer of 2020, I fell in love with the South West Coast Path.
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Category: Race
Autumn 100: The one that went right.
29 minutes in & my watch beeps at me. I stop & slow to a walk as a steady stream of runners pass me, several pausing to ask if I’m okay. I guess they’re not used to seeing someone walk quite so early on in a race & I appreciate their concern.
My walking is intentional though as I have a plan.
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Thames Path 100: A race of three thirds
It’s mile 51 & I’m having a one-woman sit-down protest. I’m sitting on the grass by the river in Henley refusing to move.
I’ve spent the previous ten miles listing all of the reasons why I’m stopping.
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Wendover Woods 100: The one that didn’t go to plan
I shout about the good ones so it’s only right that I also shout about the ones that *don’t* quite go to plan.
At the end of 2019, I ran the Wendover Woods 50. The hilly woodland trails were everything I love about running & it instantly became one of my favourite races. When Centurion Running announced they were holding Wendover Woods 100 for only the second time, I knew I had to be on that start line.
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South Downs Way 100 2021: The one where I prove I can
I’ve been pondering over this blog for days, weeks, not really knowing what words to write. Mainly because I’m a typically reserved Brit who doesn’t like to shout about their own successes. But there really is no other way of writing about this race. Because you know what, I did good on the South Downs Way.
In fact, I did bloody good.
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North Downs Way 100: The Race of my Life
My stomach turns in nervous anticipation as I see the sign ‘this way to the finish’. Turning into the stadium grounds I hear the excited buzz of the finish area. I hold myself back for a moment & take a deep breath. A few quiet words as I compose myself.
I’ve done it.
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Wendover Woods 50, 2019
Wendover Woods 50, where do I start?
I wasn’t going to write about Wendover Woods 50, in fact, I’m only now sitting down, a few months post-race, with some words to say.
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The South Downs Way 100
How do you condense the story of 100 miles into just a few hundred words? You don’t. Mix a G&T, this is a long one.
A few weeks later & I’m still not sure if I have the right words to accurately tell my SDW100 story. I sit here, trying to think of the words I need, not just to paint the picture of the physical journey from start line to finish line, but also the words to describe the emotional journey because this adventure was as much about the mental challenge of completing 100 miles as it was the physical. Continue reading
The Secret One
South Downs Way 50: 2019
With 5 miles to go I thought I’d blown it.
I had a goal time in my mind for the South Downs Way 50 but at the bottom of the final hill I just couldn’t see how I was going to do it. I was tired, my knees were in agony, my stomach was churning with every faltering movement. Every step was a painful effort & I still had what seemed like a mountain to climb. Continue reading
Photo Girl Runs 