2021

Going from being a non-runner to an ultra-runner I had to train as hard as possible and as smart as possible to avoid getting injured and learn as much as I could before I started doing these huge events. From January to May I spent many hours a week training in the gym, running, walking late at night in the dark, rain, sleet, wind and snow, which led to my first Ultra Marathon of the year.

Saturday 8th May 2021 – The Lap 47 Miles (Completed)

My first Ultra Marathon of the year, The Lap Ultra Marathon, 47 Miles/ 75km, a route that circumnavigates Lake Windermere and traverses over several near by mountains, in the Lake District which I completed in 10 Hours 56 Minutes.

Saturday 23rd May 2021 – Windermere Marathon 26 Miles (Completed)

Two weeks later at the end of May I took part in Windermere Marathon 26 Miles/ 42km which hugs the shoreline of and circumnavigates lake Windermere in the Lake District national park I did this as a training run which I completed in 3 Hours 53 Minutes.

Saturday 19th June 2021 – The Wall 70 Miles (Completed)

After a few weeks more of training I completed my second Ultra Marathon of the year, This was called The Wall Ultra Marathon and it was 70 Miles/113km from Carlisle to Newcastle following largely Hadrian’s Wall national trail which I completed in 15 hours 2 Minutes.

Saturday 14th August 2021 – The Dales Way 82 Miles (Completed)

Taking July to refocus and recover and start training again in August I tackled my third Ultra Marathon of the year and the longest I would do by far, The Dales Way Ultra Marathon 82 Miles/ 132km from Windermere in Cumbria to Ilkley in Yorkshire travelling along The Dales Way National Trail which I completed in 23 Hours and 10 Minutes.

Saturday 18th September 2021 – The Cumbria Way 73 Miles (Completed)

After what felt like a very short gap and a hard month of training it was time for my fourth Ultra Marathon of the year and this one had the most elevation so far over 10,000 ft in total, The Cumbria Way Ultra Marathon 73 Miles/ 118km from Ulverston in Cumbria to Carlisle travelling along The Cumbria Way National Trail which I completed in 22 Hours and 31 Minutes.

Saturday 16th October 2021 – Yorkshire Three Peaks Ultra 40 Miles (Completed)

My fifth Ultra Marathon of the year, The Yorkshire Three Peaks Ultra Marathon 70km/ 40 Miles. Many people know this route as a 25-mile walk taking in the three peaks of Yorkshire over a 12-hour average walk time, This Ultra Marathon is the same three hills with an extended, self-navigation route over 70km and over 8000ft of ascent with a cut of time of 18 hours. I managed this race in 10 hours 41 minutes.

Saturday 6th November 2021 – White Rose Ultra 30 Miles (Completed)

A last minute decision I added a extra Ultra Marathon to my calendar. Mainly as I thought not doing one in November left a gap in my challenge. This was the White Rose Ultra 30 Miles/ 50km of trails and roads with an 8 hour cut off and it was nice to do a race that i finished in daylight for a change. I did this race in a time of 5 Hours 58 Minutes.

Saturday 4th December 2021 – Lancaster Canal 57 Miles (DNF – 42 Miles)

I was due to be doing The Cheviot Goat Ultra Marathon on this day but late on Friday 3rd December the event got Postponed due to the storm in the northeast 6 days prior. Late on Friday night I came up with a PLAN B. To run from Kendal Castle to Preston via a series of footpaths, disused canals and the entire Lancaster Canal system. This is 92km/57miles, I thought my time for this should be roughly about 12 hours. Unfortunately, that was not how things went, I set off well at 6am running a nice steady 30km in about an hour. After this my legs completely failed me and I ended up walking for the next 38km. Trying to speed up but failing every time. I had to retire my effort at 68km/ 42mile at my home village of Catterall.

2022

Moving into 2022, I wanted to start moving into longer and harder Ultra Marathons and try and do my first ultra marathon that’s over 24 hours and 100 miles!

Saturday 26th February 2022 – Winter Whychavon Way 40 Miles (Completed)

Returning to my home county of Worcestershire I decided to take on the Winter Wychavon Way Ultra Race 70km/ 40 Miles. This was a tough country side trail through farm land and muddy fields. A great day out and a finish time of 9 hours 26 minutes.

Saturday 2nd April 2022 – The Northern Traverse 190 Miles (Completed)

This was my first multi day ultramarathon, after months of preparation I took on the Northern Traverse Ultra a 300km/ 190mile ultramarathon this was an eye opening test. It tested my physical and mental strength beyond anything I had ever experienced. I completed the race in 84 hours 23 minutes (3 Days 12 Hours 23 Minutes). This race took everything out of me as I was to learn a couple of months later.

 Saturday 14th May 2022 – The Lap 47 Miles (Completed)

Returning to The Lap 47 Miles/ 75km around Lake Windermere a race I enjoyed very much the year before and an opportunity to get more miles under my belt. I completed this race in 10 hours 38 minutes.

 Saturday 18th June 2022 – Grasmere Gallop Mountain Marathon 26 Miles (Completed)

Entered as a summer training run in the mountains, this was much tougher than expected. With masses of ascent, this was a tough day out and a finish time of 6 hours 41 minutes. Not your average marathon.

 Saturday 18th July 2022 – The West Highland Way Ultra 95 Miles (DNF – 76 Miles)

In June I went to Scotland to take part in the tough west highland way ultra marathon. A gruelling 95 miles along the spine of Scotland. With a fatigue building in my body from an overload of ultramarathons the inevitable happened and 76 miles in I broke. No energy, nothing left I had my first race DNF. At 76 miles in and 24 hours of running it was over. Lessons were learnt but the bubble had burst and my success of finishes came to an inevitable end.

Friday 26th August 2022 – King Offas Ultra 185 Miles (DNF – 50 Miles)

Following on from my DNF on the WHW my recovery was to slow and the race came around too fast. Approaching my second longest race the entire length of the border of England and Wales from south to North. When setting off the feeling of unease going into the race was high and my fatigue had not improved. Ending with a disastrous DNF 50 miles and 18 hours in. It was time to reflect and get back on track if the goal was to keep going and raise money and awareness for the charity.

Reflection

After the two non-finished of 2022, still a successful year but a tough one. It was time to go back to the start. Rest, Recover and train again. Taking at least 6 months away from Ultramarathons it gave me time to get my energy levels back again and refocus on the end goal.

New Focus for 2023

Ultimately my goal was to take part and complete the longest and toughest race in the UK. I now understood this to be the Winter Spine Race 268 miles in the dead of winter, along the entire length of the Pennine Way. This was now my final goal, meaning I switched my attention to less but longer races in that terrain. Hoping I can ultimately get a place in January 2025 to take part in the Spine race.

2023

Wednesday 19th April 2023 – Pennine Bridleway Ultra 168 Miles (Completed)

After some time off and coming back from two DNFs it was important I finished this race, well and in control. The PB270 was a testing race, 270km along the Pennine bridleway from Derbyshire to Cumbria over similar terrain to the Spine Race it was the perfect training ground. I completed this race in 91 hours 1 minute (3 Days 19 Hours 1 Minute). This race helped me develop my skills for travelling for long periods of time on minimum resources.

Tuesday 23rd May 2023 – Coast To Coast Challenge 156 Miles (Completed)

Shortly before my Pennine Bridleway Race, Nici Robinson (Charlies Mum) contacted me. She asked if I would help her and her friend Julie with a personal challenge to hike from the west to the east of England. 156 miles in total with a twist, on our 5th day her husband John would set off on his bike on the same route and race us to the finish. This challenge took us 5 full days, 156 miles and was a fantastic challenge and raised a lot of funds for the charity and was one of my best ultra experiences.

2024

Saturday 13th January 2024 – Winter Spine Challenger South 108 Miles (Completed)

With 2024 seeing my attentions turned to the Winter Spine Race, I needed to get ready in the hope I could get a place during the entry process in February. I decided to enter the winter spine south race as a recce for the full race in the suture. This was a tough experience, over 108 miles of the Pennine Way. Full winter conditions with temperatures dropping below minus 12. This race took me 54 hours 29 minutes and was a great eye-opening experience in preparation.

Saturday 3rd February 2024 – Pendle Way Ultra 45 Miles (Completed)

Following the Spine South race I was interested on doing a ultra a bit closer to home, the Pendle Way was a fantastic trail around beautiful countryside and over the impressive Pendle Hill. A fantastic day out and a tough challenge that I finished in 12 hours 1 minutes.

Saturday 6th April 2024 – The Lakes Traverse 60 Miles (Completed)

With three years passing since Charlie lost his fight against his brain tumour in his memory, I ran the lakes traverse a 60 mile race from the Cumbrian coast to Shap across the mountains of the Lakes. A tough challenge and a fitting tribute to Charlie. I completed this race in 21 hours 18 minutes.

Monday 17th June 2024 – Summer Spine Challenger North 160 Miles (Completed)

With a place secured in the Winter Spine Race in Jan 2025, I took part in the summer northern section of the Spine as an opportunity to complete my recce of the route. This was 160miles of the northern section of the Pennine way. It was a tough undertaking across fells, moors and mountains. But an utterly great experience and one of my favourite Ultra races I’ve entered. I completed this race in 83 Hours 15 Minutes (3 Days 11 Hours 15 Minutes)

Friday 23rd August 2024 – King Offas Ultra 185 Miles (DNF – 100 Miles)

After 2 years since my last attempt on this race ended in a DNF I returned to try again, hopefully a bit fitter and smarter than last time. I took on the Offa’s Dyke Ultra a 185 mile race along the entire Welsh border from the south to the north. This race is unique compared to the others I have done due to its very tight time limits on each checkpoint and once again I am afraid, I did not have what it takes to finish this race. I hit the 100-mile checkpoint with 7 minutes to spare and I was done. Will I return next time when it runs again in 2026? I did 100 miles in 42 hours 26 minutes.

2025

The final chapter!

As I went into 2025, one goal, one final race for Thumbs Up For Charlie. After 4 years and over 21 races I was days away from taking on Britain’s most brutal ultra Marathon. The Montane Winter Spine Race. 268 Miles (430km) over 7 days up the entire length of the Pennine Way in the dead of winter, completely unsupported and carrying everything I need to eat, sleep and survive the race. The biggest test of physical and mental strength I will have ever experienced.

Sunday 12th January 2025 – The Winter Spine Race 268 Miles – Pending…….

Final Report Coming Soon!