It’s Easy to Sign Up for the Thames Trot 50 Miler When It’s 5 Months Away

If you start Googling ultra running, it won’t take you long to come across some of America’s more famous 50 or 100 mile races. It won’t escape your notice that these are all done by guys called Cody or Chad or Sage. They have beards and live in the mountains.

Fortunately these aren’t pre-requisites for these races or ultras in general, a particular relief for me which you’ll understand if you’ve ever seen me try and grow a beard. No, I’m just called Tom and live in Northamptonshire and, right now, a 50 mile race seems well out of my league.

So I signed up.

It’s the Thames Trot 50 miler in Feb 3rd 2018. It sounds really rather pleasant doesn’t it? Very benign. Almost pleasant. I suspect on Feb 4th 2018 I’ll have a different view.

I’ve only just begun my training for it, there is a lot to learn but it’s five months away yet so I’m feeling positive. I’m certain the realisation will sink in at some point over the next few months. The truth is, from a training perspective, it’s not a huge step from marathon training. The long runs are a bit longer and a bit more frequent but hopefully manageable.

For those of you who love this kind of thing, like science geek yours truly here, this is it in its 26 week glory:

Pretty straightforward? We’ll see. I’m now just starting week 3 and, I must admit, the runs in week 1 and 2 were a pleasure. A nice change from the more technical plans of marathons, just keep it slow and get through the miles.

The weather’s been great, there’s been no wind and I even came across a 20p on my long run at the weekend. Win.

It’s been a while since I got up and out on a Sunday morning for a long run so this weekend was a shock to the system. It was worth it to run with this backdrop though

I’m not too great at mornings. I just can’t imagine ever being. I’ve come to terms with this though and learnt to lay all my clothes out on the floor in the order I need them. That way, zero thought is needed and I overcome every urge in my body to stay in bed. I must be quite a sight leaving the house. Picture a mole staggering from his hole into bright daylight and you’d be close. It doesn’t matter though, I’m up and I’m out and, after a couple of minutes, feel like a true smugpants.

Plus I usually then get to spend the rest of the day eating my body weight in snacks.

My Strava Activities