Race to the Stones 2022: 100km on the Ridgeway in a heatwave

[@stuartmckenzie6893]

Thanks for this I've entered for 2024 my first running 100km 😬 race to the stones. Nice to see a video at a more realistic pace too and well done for your achievement 👏🏼

[@Charlotte-nq3sw]

Well done! An amazing video!

[@danlane6849]

Great job! Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@markg99]

Another very entertaining race video. Well done 👍🏻 I hope the lady who fell is ok. That weather must have sapped your energy. Race to the cones 😂🏃‍♂️

[@KrisPeter]

Cheers Mark. I heard back from her, she is still on the mend but feeling better 🙌 At least the race was last weekend in 30°C and not this weekend in 40°C...

[@michellewilson6514]

Awesome achievement! Thanks for sharing -🎊🎉

[@PoetWithPace]

What a great memory of the day and thanks for sharing! Superb running and finishing before sunset is an epic time. Good luck at Western States 🏆

[@stewartliesnham6417]

Nice one Kris. Enjoyed the film. 👍

[@emlyngriffith5846]

Wish I could do that! What a lovely route. Good effort and well done 👍🍷

[@KrisPeter]

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

[@chrisdavies6175]

I love your videos Kris. So calm, whatever happens. Keep them coming!

[@KrisPeter]

Thanks Chris, that's very kind. "Dull", "bland" and "lacklustre" are all words I've had describe me, so I'll definitely take 'calm' 👍

[@neilgoodwin662]

Another great vid, bringing back the memories from 2018. It was my longest ultra back then and really struggled on those thin rutted paths at the end. Keep up the good work, your productions are really inspiring 👍

[@KrisPeter]

Thanks Neil. Yes I'd heard a lot about the thin paths in the second half, but in the end I didn't find them that annoying. I found the stoney/rocky paths more difficult but they were only for short sections. Cool to hear you did it in 2018, did they let you run around the actual stones??

[@runningcafe1]

Nice vlog of the race mate, running in the heat isn't easy but fair play to you for keeping on through it and finishing strong!

[@KrisPeter]

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.

[@runningcafe1]

@@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

[@adamfeder8128]

Well done! Another great video, good training for the real challenge on Sunday.

[@KrisPeter]

Nothing could have prepared me for Sunday

[@SimonBerry]

Great video, one of my bucket list races to do.

[@KrisPeter]

Thanks Simon. It's a good one to aim for, I think it's a great race for both beginners and experienced runners. I think it gets a bad reputation in some corners because it's a huge company trying to make profit, but at least they do it by putting on a great event.

[@tworunningbrooms]

It's an awesome event. We've seen a few Vlogs featuring it. Well done on finishing it. We'd love to run something like that one day. Have subscribed. Currently on our channel a 10k road time is our focus.

[@KrisPeter]

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?

[@tworunningbrooms]

@@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.

[@Quintinia]

Great video and great race! I'd like to do one of the 50ks next year, and from all the videos I've seen it looks like the first half is nicer in terms of scenery and varied terrain, what do you think?

[@KrisPeter]

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!

[@Str82ThePoint127]

Amazing achievement especially in that heat. Can I ask what u did about travelling and hotels. I'm travelling alone. Not sure whether to stay at the finish and get the shuttle to the start. Also don't think I need the sat night as I'll be looking at 18hrs I think to finish. Any tips would be useful. Thanks

[@KrisPeter]

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!

[@Str82ThePoint127]

@@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 .

[@jakeflintfilm]

Great overview of the day. I'm running it this year, would you recommend trail shoes for it?

[@KrisPeter]

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.

[@jakeflintfilm]

@@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

[@andrewjohnson4040]

Hi Can this be walked and if so how long do they give you to do it?

[@KrisPeter]

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.

[@tomrunner3908]

You know stones from utmb

[@tomrunner3908]

I got stones from peak District