Less than two years ago, I laced up my trainers and went running for the first time in my adult life.
It was a pretty horrible experience. Despite being in reasonably good shape at the time, that 20 minutes of running, jogging and walking left me in a heap by my front door, gasping for air.
Running has become a little easier since then.
Last year saw me finishing the Virgin London Marathon, in aid of Jigsaw Trust, before taking on my second marathon six months later, this time a tough trail marathon along the Greensand Way.
I had ambitions at the time to step up to what is known as ‘ultra’ distance marathons; essentially anything longer than a traditional 26.2 mile marathon.
Debit card in hand, I duly signed up for the North Downs Way 50 – a 50 mile ultra marathon from Farnham in Surrey to Knockholt Pound in Kent, which takes place this May.
My training for this race has been going well, with my weekend long runs becoming progressively longer and my ability to tolerate discomfort improving as well.
Last weekend I needed to run something like 25 miles, as one of the last long training runs ahead of the big race (along with the Brighton Marathon on 6th April and a run along the Isle of Wight coastal path over the Easter weekend).
After struggling to find 25 miles between two connecting railway stations on the North Downs Way, another runner I know suggested a 50km race in the New Forest as an alternative option. So I signed up.
Leaving the house first thing on Saturday morning for an 80 mile drive to the other side of the New Forest, I was preparing to cross the start line with 100 other runners for my first attempt at an ultra marathon.
What followed was nearly six hours of running along forest trails, past herds of New Forest ponies and into battering headwinds along exposed country roads. Before this race, I had always thought of the New Forest as quite flat.
Despite making several rookie mistakes (including setting off far too fast and holding ninth place for the first twenty minutes), I was delighted to cross the finish line in 5 hours 41 minutes, an average pace of 5.5 miles per hour.
Going from couch to ultra marathon in less than two years has been an incredible experience, demonstrating to myself that anything is possible with the right levels of determination and training.
Being able to walk (almost normally) the next morning was another bonus!
As well as running 50 miles in 54 days time, I’ll be running over 100km in a day in August, all the way around the Isle of Wight coastal path, to raise funds for Jigsaw School.
After watching Davina McCall on TV last week and her Edinburgh to London triathlon challenge for Sports Relief, I’m tempted to start planning something equally as bonkers for 2015. I’ve got a few ideas for this, but welcome any suggestions!
