Let’s go round again…and again…and again…

Well, it’s big ultra challenge time again and this year I am doing something that I have never done in an organised ultra event before – returning to a previous event. I’m not sure if this is a good idea or not (familiarity can bring both confidence and over confidence), but here goes.

So, in June this year, I am back at the MK24, the Milton Keynes midsummer 24 hour event – a ‘do it your way’ event consisting of a 6.55 mile route (1/4 marathon) which can be run once, twice or many times within the 24 hour period, either solo or as part of a team. So, if you wanted to run a half marathon you would do 2 laps, 4 for a full, 5+ for an ultra-marathon and so on.

When I first did this event in 2021, I trained hard and had just one target; to simply keep going, to stay on the move (excluding kit and shoe changes, food and loo stops etc) for the full time period, and I surpassed my own expectations by completing 13 tough laps (over 81 miles), and came in as first placed female (setting a new female course record), and 3rd place overall. This was a huge achievement, it was tough, but I kept going which is what I had set out to do. This year, my target is the same, but I know from my growing endurance and ultra marathon experiences that although the event is the same, no one run, race or challenge is completely comparable to another, so who knows what this year will bring. My memories of how challenging this event was, and how much pain I was in both during and afterwards, are still very recent, so I am going into it with my eyes wide open with a healthy, respectful fear! I am also positive though, as knowledge is power as they say, and I know that I can do what I set out to...

What I do know is that I have been training hard since January with my eyes clearly focused on my goals: my average monthly foot mileage is around 250 miles and I’m feeling (mostly) good!

As is always the case when I set myself a tough challenge, I hope that some good can come from it for other people. I gain a huge amount of personal mental growth in training and competing with myself, so why shouldn’t others benefit too. This year, I am raising money for The Jigsaw Club, a fortnightly social club for people with physical disabilities living in Ampthill and the surrounding villages. The club is run solely by volunteers and is reliant on fund raising to continue to provide a positive meeting point for people who may otherwise be socially isolated. Any contribution to this wonderful club will be put to good use by the small army of volunteers that run it; I know first hand as my sister attends and the club is a lifeline of social interaction for her. All members of the Jigsaw Club will be extremely grateful, and I thank you very much on their behalf.