Here's What You Could Have Run

Ep25: You could have been running The Track 100. Mike did. And won it!

If you’d finished an ultra in A&E on a drip would you go back for more?

If you’d DNFd more 100 mile events than you’d finished would you try again?

If your PB was two hours OUTSIDE the cut-off would you toe the line of a track 100 miler?

Mike did when he took on the 25 Hour Track 100 by Mark Cockbain Events.

Mike did finish. He did better than that. He smashed it. With a measured approach and self confidence in buckets he went on to win and secure a Spartathlon qualifying time.

This is a long episode as his tale is one worth covering, and hopefully encourages you to dig deep next time you struggle!

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Cockbain Events head to www.cockbainevents.com

 

Ep24: You could have been running The Track 100. I did. A bit. DNF ahoy!

In a special (and short episode), it’s just me! 

I entered the 25 Hour Track 100 by Mark Cockbain Events - a 100 mile track race on the day the clocks go back, giving you that extra hour. 

Being fast and flat it it’s ideal for a 100 mile PB, to qualify for an event or even set a world record. 

I won’t let on how well I got on, but given I’m uploading whilst the race is still on, the outcome may not be surprising!

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Cockbain Events head to www.cockbainevents.com

 

Ep23: You could have been running The Autumn 100. Sonny did! Also an introduction to Black Trail Runners

In the third of their post Covid 19 hundred mile races, Centurion held the Autumn 100 this month.

For Grand Slammers like Sonny Peart it meant a very compressed few months to get three 100 mile races complete, and not leave himself too broken for the final, the South Downs Way 100 in November. Hear how he got on and the unique aspects of the A100 race compared to traditional point-to-point races.

Sonny is also co-founder of Black Trail Runners, which campaigns to increase the participation, inclusion and representation of black people in trail running. We discuss the lake of diversity in trail running and the reasons behind this, along with what he and the running community can do tackle the issue and introduce many more runners to the sport we love.

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Centurion events head to www.centurionrunning.com

Ep22: Do you remember your first time? Maff definitely does. Shires & Spires Ultra & Dorney Lake Marathon DOUBLE BILL!

Many of us run marathons but taking the step up to an ultra can be intimidating.

On this episode I talk to good mate Maff about his first time at the recent Shires & Spires.

Hear first hand what happens when you step outside the comfortable world of 26.2 miles and how you might bounce back from the experience to run a super fast marathon at the Dorney Lake event.

It’s a story of hard training, laying down in the grass, drinking Guinness and toughing it out to the end!

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Shires & Spires head to http://gobeyondsport.co.uk/

For Dorney Lake Marathon go to https://activetrainingworld.co.uk/

Ep21: You could have been running The Chicago Marathon. Stephen & Kathryn did!

It’s marathon majors time! October would normally see 45,000 runners take on the 26.2 mile course around the windy city.

For 2020 it’s yet another race casualty of Covid-19 so instead get the low down from husband and wife racing team Stephen and Kathryn who ran it last year.

You can also hear how the city got it’s nickname, and it’s nothing to do with the weather! Yep this podcast is educational and fun, like a clown with a dictionary.

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Chicago Marathon head to https://www.chicagomarathon.com/

Ep20: You could have been running The Coast To Coast (C2C). David did!

In this episode I talk to experienced ultrarunner David Harvey who decided to tackle a 140 mile race running from Whitehaven to Tynemouth along the coast to coast route. Within a 38hr cut off. Over the Lake District and the Pennines. With no aid stations. And a minimal support crew. And no listening to music allowed. So a bit harder than a parkrun.

Staged by the RD of ridiculous events Mark Cockbain, you know it’s going to be a tough one. I was sorely tempted to sign up myself!

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For Cockbain Events head http://www.cockbainevents.com/

 

Ep19: You could have been running The Fox 60k Ultra. Ellie did!

In this episode I talk to Ellie about her recent experience at the Fox 60k Ultra, held in Surrey. It’s a relatively unknown race so good to hear about it and add another event to your wish list.

Ellie is a relatively new runner and in a few years has gone from a tentative half marathon all the way to ultras and manages to sustain a very impressive consistent mileage, knocking out 100 mile weeks like they’re no big issue. You may notice we spend longer talking about her unconventional training than the race, so apologies for getting side tracked on this one!

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

For the Fox Ultra head to https://aat-events.com/

Ep18: You could have been running The Thames Path 100 – C19 edition. Lauren did!

In the second of their post Covid 19 hundred mile races, Centurion held the Thames Path 100 last weekend.

Lauren set off from Richmond to run a daunting 100 miles along the Thames to Oxford. Hear how she got on, her tips for training for a flat 100 mile event and the restorative power of a Calippo.  

We also discuss female participation in ultras as Lauren was one of only 28 women out of 230 starters. Are there barriers to entry and could the running community do more to encourage an even participation level?

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

https://centurionrunning.com/

Ep17: You could have been running The Great North Run. Anji did!

The Great North Run is an iconic event. The 40th Event was due to take place this year with an estimated 57,000 runners taking on the 13.1 mile route from the centre of Newcastle to the coastline of South Shields.

It’s often cited as the largest half marathon event in the world.

I talk to local runner Anji who has run the event more times than she can recall, about what makes this event so special and why you should add it to your event bucket list.

Anji is a running coach and co-host of Marathon Talk so is a veteran of slickly produced and professionally recorded podcasts. So her appearance on this must have made a nice change.

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

To pre-order her book head to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Midpack-Strong-Successful-Runner-ebook/dp/B08CNF62R8

https://www.greatrun.org/great-north-run

 

Ep16: You could have been running the North Downs Way 100. Andy did, in a heatwave!

The Norths Downs Way 100 is a challenging race at the best of times. Add in a heatwave, erratic training and a pandemic and you get a race with a 54% DNF rate.

Hear how Andy got on with his third attempt at the NDW100 and his experiences at the first post-Covid large scale trail race.  

There was a lot of anticipation for this event. If anyone could hold a safe race in the current climate then Centurion Running were doubtless the organisation to manage it, but would they be able to retain the friendly and supportive atmosphere that they’re so well known for?

For more irreverent running nonsense head to www.runlikeduck.co.uk

https://centurionrunning.com/