North Downs Way 100 | NDW 100 | 4K | August 2022

[@DevRunner]

Amazing adventure and so well documented! I enjoyed this one! Thank you for sharing! I can't wait til I leave the roads for the trails! Keep pushing!

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, it was a great experience. Very challenging both physically and mentally. As for the trails - they’re far more fun than roads. It’s great to just take your mind away from normal life and just run in nature. Trails give you that. Good luck with your training 👍

[@simoncoplestone4523]

Was good chatting to you guys. Meeting people on these journeys is what makes them more palatable. Well done on finishing, it's a tough course but watching your video reminded me of how beautiful it was too. Simon (goat mascote guy)

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Brilliant!! We remember the chat about the mascots!! It was a great day and challenge. Congratulations on your time, great running 👍

[@OlgasBritishFells]

Congratulations you two, amazing effort! Hat's off to you.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, very tough but really enjoyed it 😊

[@martinpenrice]

Fantastic stuff from you two well done awesome

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, got a little tough at times but got there thankfully!

[@northender2006]

Amazing, well done to both of you 👌

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, taking time to fully recover!!

[@AndyUltra]

I've watched this twice now. Thanks for the memory of the route .ha! You did so well for your first 100. I did say it was flat after box hill......well it is, its just that box hill is a lot steeper and longer. On mile 67 at 14:00mins that field i ran across it with my eyes open and fast asleep the 2nd time i did that race. That's where i got really bad sleep deprivation. Probably because the previous night i couldn't sleep due to worrying too much. Regarding footwear, I mainly wear Speedgoats from the start for the padding. I know all too well what it feels like with the sharp rocks and stones. You say that you wished you had changed them at Detling but personally i think its just the feet that have got tired from mile 1 to mile 82. Well that's my view. Glad you enjoyed it and glad you kept smiling and laughing all the way. Once the smiling stops on races then you know you have problems. Best of luck on your next big adventure. Cant wait.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thanks Andy. Hills were a nice distraction as I doubt we would have been happy on a flat route. It was quite a nice and pleasant average of 100ft of ascent per mile. Luckily we’ve done the bulk of our training in Lakeland where that would be classed as pancake flat! Lack of sleep wasn’t an issue at all for us surprisingly as that was my biggest fear. However, we prepared well and went to bed around 9pm the night before so got a bit of sleep. You may be right regarding the foot pain but I think a more cushioned shoe would have got us to the finish quicker. We both took knocks - Cheryl’s knee is still bruised and swollen from an impression of Superman over a tree root and I’ve still got very sore ribs (suspected cracked) from a heavy fall at 47 miles where I landed on the chunky lens of my GoPro that was in my vest side pocket. I couldn’t breath and thought it was over for a couple of minutes. Paracetamol by the masses and crawl over the finish line if we must! Looking forward to the ballot for Lakeland 100 2023 on 1st September!

[@HJD1506]

Brilliant achievement. Well done to you both. Hope you were able to smile at the finish line! 😅

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Definitely smiling! The last few miles took their toll but our own fault for not changing shoes or choosing more wisely. Still more than happy with the finish time though. Thank you 😊

[@painterman235]

Another level .. Great result .. well done you two .. 👏

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you. Always wondered how we would do on a 100. Tough but very rewarding 😊

[@runtothetrails]

Exceptional performance from you both. Brilliantly put together Gary, after watching its clear how much effort you both gave to become "centurions" "commanders of the 100 miles". Your film demonstrates that. Cheryl & Gary Congratulations! Enjoyed tracking you both! Great Great film. Well done.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Got quite a ring to it! 😂 Thanks Steve & Karen, really appreciate your comments as always 😊

[@TheConnor67]

Well done Gary , Cheryl great effort .. a deceptively tough course and on a very warm day by the looks of it . Brought back memories of my 2017 effort . Keep the videos coming 👍🏼

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thanks Kevin, certainly was deceptive though prefer it to be undulating rather than flat. It was a tad warm too!! Appreciate your comments 😊

[@petersavage9938]

Well done!

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you!

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

well done! massive congratulations to both of you - thank you for taking us along with you - hope you both are recovered now - stay safe and well xx ps hat very sensible in the sun - stops the heat/sun on neck

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, getting over it now. We both took a week off and did plenty of walking which helped. Back to running this week, taking it steady 😊

[@ryanc822003]

Excellent video as usual.. that was some effort well done 👏 to you both

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, it was a very tough day out but so rewarding 😊

[@titothetroddler]

Really incredible effort Gary and Cheryl, what I have found fascinating is, it has taken you to step up to the hundred to experience what a lot of people on the lap feel at 50 when you are out for 20 plus hours. That’s what I thinks so fantastic about ultras, there is so many different levels of competitors who are all willing everyone to complete. It’s a testament not only to your fitness, but also your determination to complete this. I’ve been suffering recently from metatarsalgia , love my speed goats, but have also added enertor insoles, real game changer, my legs recover far quicker. Massive congratulations again 👏👏👏

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you Tito, I totally agree with what you say. There’s always somebody who runs further but no matter what distance we cover we all put maximum effort in. We’re all in it together. As for the Enertor insoles, I’ve looked at them so many times and always wondered what they would add for us. So many good reviews so it’s about time we tried them. Hope you recover soon, hate the niggling issues. Thanks and lovely to hear from you 😊

[@swfsnapper2]

Amazing effort… that’s a hard race on a tough trail.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you, loved it but found it very challenging at times especially being our first 100 miler.

[@Tarpon65]

Congratulations on the run!

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you 😊

[@JamesPearce]

Amazing effort guys. Puts my hope to get an ultra bagged soon into reality.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

They’re all tough, just go into it motivated and show the event no respect. You’re better than it. When it becomes tough just take a moment, you’ll have those. Sometimes many of them but it’s worth it as the feeling days and weeks later is epic knowing what you’ve achieved. Good luck and thank you 😊

[@vicbriceno]

Well done! great video too. It's a tough challenge, I did it in 2020, the heat was extreme. You should do the SDW100 by Centurion, another amazing race.

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thanks Victor, tough indeed. We do like the sound of the SDW100. We covered some of that route at the Race to the King a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

[@NorthernFellRunning]

What an amazing achievement guys!! Really well done!! 👏👏 Cant believe how dry everything looks too. 🥵🥵 Marathon Des Sables next? 🤣😉

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Very dry and very hot!! It’s been ages since the south had seen rain so it was like a desert at times which made it tough going. Would love an event abroad but I think our next target may be the Lakeland 100 is we get through the ballot. Thanks 😊

[@archieaenox2711]

How do run a 100 miles 😂 great work guys 👏 xx

[@TrailRunningCouple]

It’s tough, especially in the heat but with an attitude of not wanting it to beat us we managed to get to the finish line!! Thank you very much 😊

[@runningcafe1]

Nice video guys, really capturing the highs and the lows which is important! I passed you and you passed me several times, looked really strong. Hope the heat wasn’t killer for you (I almost threw up 😂). Agree with you that the iced coffee at wrotham was awesome. Do you think the hat flap on the back of your neck makes a different in the heat? Never tried one but been looking at them for a while

[@TrailRunningCouple]

Thank you Craig, nice to hear from somebody doing the same event. Great wasn’t it? As for the hat, yes. I think it made quite a difference. We did a 50 three weeks ago and I used a standard cap which gave me no neck protection. I suffered with heat stroke in the latter miles. This hat protected me from that and felt quite cool to be honest even though it looked far from cool! In the end it wasn’t really the heat that got us, more our feet. Shame really as I’m sure we could have come in under 24hrs but really happy with what we achieved. Thanks 😊

[@runningcafe1]

@@TrailRunningCouple Cheers guys, great tips. I think I'm going to get and try one based on that. The heat was killing me but my feet were also destroying me as well so it was best of both worlds haha. Keep up the good work

[@TrailRunningCouple]

@@runningcafe1 Thanks, definitely worth a try!