Adidas Thunder Run 24 - only days away

The Adidas Thunder run 24-hour is now just three days away. It will surely be a unique occasion due to the numbers of solo runners, pairs and teams that I heard enter.

When colleagues at work or friends have asked me about how this race works I simply say, you have 24 hours to cover as much mileage as possible in the form of 10km loops. This format is something I am used to as most of my previous races have worked liked this. My goals in this race are:

1) Finish
2) Complete 100+ miles
3) Finish in top 30% of solo runners

My approach to this race is based on what I have read, heard from others and what I have come to realize during long runs is to focus only on what I am doing and not be dragged into other runners game plans. There will be so many runners on course doing their own thing and it's important that I just focus on what I am doing especially in the first half of this race where a lot of people will be going out very quickly especially within the team races.

During the last two weeks I have tapered down and the positive news is that all niggles / muscles feel supercharged compared to normal weeks. I have only been out once this week on Tuesday and did an easy 4 mile jog. As of today, the forecast for Saturday is looking quite warm with temperatures peaking 23C and on Sunday around 20C so appropriate apparel will be needed to keep cool and a solid hydration strategy especially early on in the race.

This will be my last post until the race and I am very much looking forward to what should be the most exciting and challenging ultra race to date for me. I wish all the runners taking part the best of luck and also to any other runners racing this weekend.

4 weeks to go

What an amazing week it's been in the ultra running world. I was pretty much glued to Twitter feeds last weekend with regards to the fabled Western States 100 miler and this possibly didn't help sleeping patterns for a couple of days but it turned out to be an amazing race. Well done to Kilian Jornet for winning the overall event. He is one hell of a mountain runner and some of the things he does it quite mind boggling. Also well done to Nick Clark, Jez Bragg and Ian Sharman who all finished in the top 10 plus James Elson who put in an awesome effort to finish within the 30 hr cutoff despite not being able to run literally weeks before.

Now back down to Earth..The last 3 weeks have been some of the best training runs I have done since taking up running. I have clocked some great long runs (21 miles fast paced, 25 and 27 miles at race pace), some great tempo runs and recovery has been fast. Definitely feeling like I am in great shape and with tomorrows long run I have one more week of big training ahead before starting a three week taper leading up to race day.

I had planned to do a two week taper for this event but have decided to take a longer three week taper to see whether there is benefits to how I will feel leading up to the day. I will be on my feet for 24 hours so to be honest I want to be as fresh and pumped as possible on race day.

During the long runs I have felt good and eating wise it has all worked out ok. Ho but the next couple of long runs being in the 5-6 hours range we shall see if that changes. If tomorrow works out well then I will hit 65 miles for this week which will be my biggest volume in a week ever. Not long by some peoples standards of course but i have been happy how things have worked out as I have mixed in quality tempo runs, hills and long runs throughout my build up to Thunder Run 24hr so far. If this week goes well then another 60-70 miles next week will follow before I start tapering for what will be completely new territory for me and to be honest I just cannot wait.

Happy running all.