Getting Ready for Race to the Stones 100km

So, time has moved on and we're now just a week away from running the 100km Race to the Stones, which is one of the qualifying events for Western States (and probably one of the 'easiest' events that fit into that category, with it being 'only' 100km, and not massively hilly). Looking back the December challenge didn't work out so well......trying to push the body through illness and blisters meant that I ended up just getting sick and had to back out halfway through. Things have improved since then, with ever increasing mileage for every month so far this year, now coming up to around 320 km/month - not huge distances, but starting to build up a decent endurance base, and it's been pretty consistent over the last few months, with no time out for illness or injury. There has been a little knee niggle - trying to play football again, not a great idea for a 48 year old - but this meniscus injury hasn't stopped me running yet. Currently waiting for the results of an MRI to see if it's worth doing anything about it, so we will see. 

So, the Race to the Stones, a 100km A to B route, starting from near Oxford, before travelling south west on the ancient route of the Ridgeway, to finish close to the famous stone circle at Avebury. It's a stunning route through classic English countryside, along pathways and tracks, a few fields and some short sections on asphalt.

A photo from out on the course 

It's not hugely hilly, but it's bobbly enough in parts - apparently it's around 1400m elevation in total along the route. Last year it was hot, and like I very often do, I went off too hard, and massively paid the price in the second half, with a 4:20/7:20 very positive split. I think I felt cooked at about the marathon distance, and it just got progressively tougher after that, with a LOT of walking in the second half (also with a sore right ankle ligament). 

At around 60km (?) after seeing Matt out on the course, who was a great help,
but I was already toast by this point  

At the finish, looking happy, but also like a schoolboy somehow

We'll see how things go a week on Saturday. I'm pretty well prepared it feels like, but you never know over long distances. And we will see if I have the discipline to keep the pace over the early stages of the race. Currently the weather forecast is looking hot again, but we will see. Excited to get it done!