Thanks to the mods for agreeing to my posting this and apologies for the long old ramble:
I’m doing something a bit different (for me) at the end of May, I’m completing an ultramarathon. Yes, non-athletic, Mr ‘the only exercise I do is lift pints’ will be walking from London to Brighton, 100km (62miles) continuously. Hats off to those folks who run these things, walking it is hard enough. We’ll be going all day and night, with the hope of completing this challenge around the 26/7 hour mark.
I’m completing it with a couple of guys from work and we’ve been out almost every weekend hitting up 20-30 miles at a time since the new year, sometimes doing night walks and consecutive days. It’s become quite addictive and I’m finally losing some weight.
Of course, these things have to have a purpose, whether personal or for a greater cause, it would be pointless otherwise. I’ll be completing this insane journey for the Alzheimer’s Society. I’m doing it in memory of my dear old Nanna, the classic Italian matriarch, full of love and passion for her family and the centre of all we were for a good while. As she became ill I distanced myself from her (and the rest of the family to be fair), it was something I couldn’t cope with and I found very challenging. So, this is almost like my (modern-day) pilgrimage to atone for it.
I’ve toyed with posting about this for a while, I know we all get hit up for sponsoring this charity and that charity in our daily lives and often become a bit desensitised and fed up by it. However, it’s the final pay day and it would seem wrong to at least not put my head above the parapet, tell you guys I’m definitely doing it and give folk the option to support, donate or follow as they wish.
Here’s the link to my just giving page if you fancy sponsoring me:
https://www.justgiving.com/Jamie-Jones2019So, have any of you done anything like this before? Any good advice (survival techniques)? What bit was hardest?
Oh and anyone who wants a pint in Brighton on Sunday 26th, we are heading to The Albion the moment we cross that finish line.
Comments
Good luck @Teyeplayer - if you're coming through Lindfield or Haywards Heath at a civilised hour, I'll throw a banana at you or something like that (Kendal mint cake? Bacon Buttie?)
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder
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@mcsdan, I am in awe: run 9 100milers in 2 years. Just WOW!
Your list of advice reads like the checklist of things we’ve learnt over the last 6months. We’ve been out almost every weekend doing between 20-40 miles at a time and sometimes that on consecutive days to build the 24 hour total. Each point you made was a moment on a particular walk -our failings have been a great learning curve. Though I will be keeping an extra eye on hydration levels thanks to your advice.
I must be honest, it’s more than a little scary, I’m not at all athletic and never have been.
I am planning on doing half marathon in Bournemouth and my friend is cycling from London to Paris to raise some cash for cancer support.
My own two penn’orth: nowhere even vaguely approaching his league but after two fortnight cracks at the Camino de Santiago, one with no training at all a blistered nightmare and the other like floating on air, and usually 2 or 3 walking ultras annually (82-100 km, albeit I’m a lazy borderline alcoholic who does it in 2 days with a tsunami of ale at the overnight stop), I’ve learned what works for me.
I’d echo and augment just two things:
1. Vaseline. A lot. Your butt crack and where your nutsack touches your thighs. Repeat often. Trust me on this.
2. Your feet. You need them in cracking shape. As a rule I tend to wear 2 pairs socks - a thin liner and slightly thicker outer. Received wisdom tells us they rub together and dissipate friction that would otherwise get to your feet. At every stop get your boots and socks off, Allow your feet to cool and dry off, inspect for hot spots and deal with them, applying zinc oxide tape or compress if necessary, and if damp change your socks.
On the ‘managed’ ultras they tend to have a pit stop every 10-15 km where they ply you with food and drinks. Otherwise as a rule of thumb get the boots off every 2-3 hours.
Dont linger too long at rest stops, and have a blast! The feeling of camaraderie on the road and achievement at the end is generally well worth it.
Donation incoming Best of luck!
Thanks again for the support, wise words of advice and of course the donations to the Alzheimer’s Society -it is all hugely appreciated.