Thanks Henrike. Nowadays I look back and smile, but to be honest it was the worst twelve hours of my life. I don't think I have the nerve to ever go back again! Are you thinking of running it next year?

I think it's right to be nervous! It's a great race though, and definitely one to be excited for - it's such a fun course and feels amazing in the hill up to the finish. You'll love it! (Well, afterwards you will)

Thanks Neil, glad you had a great day and well done on the time! Will you return to the race? I'd like to go back and try to beat my time, though I'm not sure I've got much more ability to spare.

Thanks Terrie. Would you consider the relay for next year? It's a really good intro to the course and terrain while also good practice for eating, drinking and other admin. Either way, good luck for 26!

@KrisPeter yes I am definitely considering the relay. Also doing man up and down tomorrow which is 12 miles from portreath to perranporth

Thank you! (Is this an Adam Buxton reference? If so, which bit??)

Thanks babe xx

That's a good point actually, it's priced really well - around £70, which is almost the cost of most big city half marathons in the UK now! And it's also good compared to other similar island races like Madeira Island Ultra Trail (£120) and Transgrancanaria (£150). Hope you manage to go and give it a try one day!

Thanks Mark, appreciate that. I said it wasn't the most physically or mentally challenging race because I kept comparing it to some 100 milers which have reduced me to a mere husk (and left me hospitalised). And this race was much more fun!

Thanks so much. Glad you've signed up, it's a great race. I'll be working at the race next year so may see you there! Also I think I recognise your name from my daughter's bookshelf, do you write children's poetry?? If so, your books are in her school library at the moment!

@@KrisPeter I do! That’s amazing 😊

Hi Jess, I think the first 50k is definitely more varied, so if that's what you're after, the first half would be great. I really love the second half - it feels a lot more remote and is less paved, with fewer road sections that run through towns, which I really like. Plus Avebury Stone Circle is really magical - especially at sunset. Different folks for different strokes. Good luck with whichever one you choose!

Hi Chris, really sorry to hear you were injured and couldn't do the race. I should have DNSd like you - I had been a bit unwell in the weeks leading up to the race, and took a chance that I'd feel better on the day. At 25km I felt sore all over, felt really cold, and running was generally very uncomfortable. I dropped out after slowing to a walk at 50k. I was the fourth person to drop (almost a podium DNF). Haven't really run that much since. I have some video footage of my short day out, but it makes for pretty depressing viewing, so don't think it really warrants a video! I will try again next year. Will you? Hope so. All the best.

Hi Jacob, given the dry weather in the lead up to the race, I found road shoes were fine. It'll depend on the weather this year, but unless there's a seriously unusual weather event, you shouldn't need trail shoes. As you saw in the video, what sections aren't on tarmac are usually on stoney and chalky paths, which I actually think would be harder with more grip as you can get your feet caught in stones and pebbles more frequently. One thing I'd say is that due to the stones, a well cushioned shoe may make for a more comfortable race. I used Altra Torin, which whilst being a road shoe, does have quite a big stack height (28mm) so doesn't let your feet get too beat up by the footpath. Sorry if this is way more info than you needed! Good luck to you for this year's race. All the best.

@@KrisPeter Thanks for the info. Sounds like road shoes with trail shoes as backup is the way to go.. I use Altra Escalante usually, but will check out the Torin as they seem a bit more cushioned. Thanks

Thanks Simon. Yeah your experience was similar to mine. Maybe it was the same bloke. Or maybe he didn't exist at all... Just another trail angel.

Hi Sergeant, thanks so much for the kind words. Really appreciate it. It was certainly an unusual race, with a very unique finish, and was glad to have filmed it. Wishing you all the best.

Agree 100%

Hi Andrew, yes it's a perfect event to be walked. You can either do 50km on Saturday and 50km on Sunday (with sleeping at the half way point) - or you can do the whole thing in one go. The first starting wave is at 6.30am on Saturday, and the finish line closes on Sunday at 8.30pm. So that's the theoretical time limit for the whole thing - so that's 38 hours for 100km which is pretty ample. If you're camping at the half way point, that reduces a fair bit - but it's still plenty of time for most hikers. Good luck.

Thanks Emlyn. I think this is a race most active people could complete, as there's a two day walking option which is a great intro to long distances. If it catches your fancy you should consider giving it a try! Thanks and take care

Hi Tomas, are you asking about the shuttle at North Downs 50? If so, it leaves the finish line at 9.15pm to go back to the start. Sorry if you meant something else. Good luck at Beachy Head and also for NDW next year! You'll love it (afterwards)

Thanks Eric. That's exciting, which race are you doing? Nothing like crossing the finish line at a 100 miler for the first time, wishing you the very best of luck.

@@KrisPeter Thanks so much! I am running the Yeti 100 in Abingdon, Virginia here in the US.

Hello! Travel and accommodation really depends on where you live and what time you start. For me, it made most sense to drive from London to the start in the morning in time for 7am start, then run to the end - and after the race, get the shuttle bus back to the start where my car was waiting. It got me home before midnight so worked well in the end. I assume you'll be driving to the race on the Saturday morning? If so, it probably makes sense to park at whichever end of the race is nearest to you I think. Then get the next available shuttle back before or after the race depending which end you parked. However you also have to be aware that starting waves range from 6:30 to 10:30, so if you're looking at an 18 hour finish, and you start at 10:30, that's a 4:30 finish and you may be unable to drive home at that time, in which case a local-ish hotel near Avebury would be ideal (if any allow check-in that late - I didn't use one though so can't recommend). I don't think there is any facility to sleep at the finishing area, although I did see a few tents set up in the field near the finish line. Not sure if this is an option (or desirable) for you. Sorry I'm not sure if this comment has been very helpful! If you have any other questions that I can answer, do ask - I didn't find the race website very informative, everything is hidden in PDFs and weird portal pages. Thanks, and good luck for the race!

@@KrisPeter thank you for your reply. I decided to book a b&b at avebury. I can walk to the shuttle then to get to the start and then I have access in the early hours to get in when I finish.(pre arranged). I live in Cornwall so driving up Fri and leaving Monday. I'm on my own so harder to work it all out. Website really isn't helpful at all as u said, just got to wait for start time now :) Thanks so much for taking the time to reply .

Thanks Motoko, was great to see you at the end; your various snacks, creams and kind words were very greatly appreciated. See you again soon 👍👍

Thanks Michael. Sorry if it dredged up some unpleasant NDW memories for you! It certainly did for me.

Nothing could have prepared me for Sunday

Thanks Craig. In some ways I think hot weather can make for strong finishes, because heat slows you down and prevents the legs from getting too smashed in the early stages.

@@KrisPeter that’s a really good way to look at the heat actually. It’s so easy to go running off the start line like a madman and then crash halfway in but I guess the heat would keep you in check and you’d be forced to pace it sensibly

Thanks guys. Race to the stones would be a great first 100k. A 50k would probably be a logical first step before that though if you haven't already done one. I noticed that your 10k times are already pretty nifty though, so maybe you could skip straight to 100k if you're keen! What's the current 10k goal?

@@KrisPeter the current 10k goals are sub 40 (John) and sub 43 (Dawn). In the past we've done 33s and 38s. John did one ultra a few years ago. 60k on the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Somme to mark to 60,000 British casualties that day. But we've never really focused on longer than marathons.