Race To The Stones: Heather’s 100km Ultra Marathon Challenge!

[@canningsimon]

What a brilliant film. Absolutely conveyed the extreme highs and lows of the ultra. Georgie; total star. Buying shoes at 5 PM, no training, no food, got it done. You did great Heather. Really enjoyed watching your experience. Thank you and well done

[@heatherfell_oly]

Georgie really is ⭐️

[@dkirk5814]

Heather, you're my running icon. Thanks for filming this, especially when it got really tough.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks ☺️

[@Ljungcrantz]

"I am not an utlrarunner" - you just ran a ultrarace- you are an ultrarunner! hell yeah

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️

[@annybear3]

It kind of frustrates me to hear folks say they aren't something when they did the thing. The people who finished DFL are ultra marathoners... So definitely means the person who finished 4th is.

[@jobanski]

And placed in the top 50 overall!

[@MrAlexw1993]

Would anyone in the GTN team be tempted to tackle The Barkley Marathons? Feel like that would be an incredible video following the training journey for that

[@markthrelfall3577]

We spoken about it many times between us 😁

[@ThomDorian]

So that’s a yes? 😜

[@aerobrain2001]

Do it!!! :-)

[@odyseusjarhead602]

@@markthrelfall3577 Come to the colonies! We'd love to see ya'll.

[@heatherfell_oly]

You know we love a challenge ☺️

[@JackBrady]

Great work heather! Is that Ben Parkes at 18:57?

[@a.j.bozogian1446]

I saw Ben Parkes too! 🤣

[@JackBrady]

@@a.j.bozogian1446 😊

[@ultraruna]

Yeah thats him, not looking like he was having a good day.

[@LtSmith8302]

Yeh thought it was him! He did take part in the race. Fair play to both of them

[@Tonyr2]

Love Ben. I follow him on KZbin and as far as I know he's not put the video up of this race yet. He's been having some issues recently.

[@kevinterry5746]

Impressive feat, Heather!! Thanks for bringing us along to enjoy your random thoughts and the beautiful English countryside. @ 19:30 "Here's a piece of cake and you can't have it"

[@robertmelendez6677]

Great job Heather! And, you walked right by Ben Parkes!!

[@9blowtorch]

Chapeau! Thank you for carrying that camera the entire time, was amazing seeing the race unfold from your perspective.

[@heatherfell_oly]

My arms had DOMs the next day!

[@9blowtorch]

@@heatherfell_oly LOL! I'm sorry but that is quite funny :D I was also quite jealous of you in your 'two days after the race' segment. My quads were a mess for a good five days after my Country to Capital finish and I ran a good 2min/km slower pace. Going down the stairs was particularly hard

[@SBoots29]

I am awe inspired. Bravo to your accomplishment. The feeling of hours of training funnelled into race day and knowing you did it is a feeling one cannot describe. As for Georgi, I too run and workout fasted. everyone is different. I ran my first triathlon this year and now I to am looking for a new goal or maybe just keep training to do it faster. I keep watching GTN for training tips and ideas. Thank you.

[@georgierolttucker3650]

Let me know if you find out how to eat & run, it is a bit of Russian roulette !!

[@Rosherrim]

Is that Ben Parkes at 18:57 ?

[@rych7852]

Yes, and according to the results she was faster than him! And he's a properly fast Marathoner!

[@heatherfell_oly]

@@rych7852 I’ll take that ☺️

[@niallakers]

I'm not crying, you are! So much courage to display and describe how much pain you were in, well done Heather.

[@heatherfell_oly]

😆😆

[@jennifermcnuttmusic6353]

I’ve only ever ran 5 and a couple 10ks. Started training for a half in October and would love to do some trail races not sure about 100k but this was amazing to watch!! #queen

[@atlosass]

Amazing work, Heather!! I did my first (and probably last!) ultra, a 50 miler, last October and I was wrecked.

[@heatherfell_oly]

I reckon you’ll change your mind 😋

[@WittyTzipporah]

Incredible!!! Congratulations!! Thank you for being so real and showing us what it's like!

[@heatherfell_oly]

My pleasure. :)

[@soctnights]

Impressive performance Heather! Great form the entire race. Beautiful scenery.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Well thank you ☺️

[@kingsley6236]

I completed RTTS (100k non-stop) this year, 2023. This video helped me so much, like when to run, walk, what to eat. Other 2023ers, do you remember the pigs at aid stop 5. I thought I was seeing things!!!!! Kind of intereting watching the last 10k. It was dark when I did it, REALLY thick fog where you couldnt see 5ft infront of you and mud like grease. Who else remembers that???? But....the best running experience in my life. Thanks Heather and the GTN guys.

[@Andyb431]

One of the best GTN videos hands down! Thank you for your honesty and in showing the range of emotions you go through on a race. I think it's nice for us beginners to see that we're not alone on this rollercoaster, and this is perfectly normal, when running (although, I felt like this on a half marathon, not an ultramarathon!). Congrats on the run, and keep up the great content!

[@orbitox]

Well done Heather! So inspiring. Searching for an event to take on now. One thing is that I'd definitely need some music or podcasts to listen to en route to keep me going. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience! 👏🏆

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you!

[@Itsmebuddy98]

That was an amazing effort!! Thanks for filming and taking us along, can't imagine how hard it must have been to share that journey with us. Well done! Eat well and rest up!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you!

[@chrispanther3031]

My wife ran this over two days..no idea how you can get up the next day from a tent and run another 30 miles. Kudos to you heather superb performance.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Hats off to your wife!

[@rodneyjones3376]

Fantastic! Really enjoyed the honesty of your run. Inspires me to give it a try.

[@graemesadd6971]

Fantastic feat, well done. Thanks for sharing your emotions and the journey.

[@toddkearney6464]

Thank you for sharing both the highs and the lows of the journey. I felt the emotion of your finishing and the "will" along the way to get there.

[@richcrompton6891]

So proud of you Heather 😊🏆 what an epic. A true presenter challenge ❤️

[@heatherfell_oly]

Cheers Rich

[@MrRunner10]

Wow that was so awesome! All of the emotions up and down. Thank you for sharing the experience

[@lynseyk]

Congratulations on completing this. I plan to do it next year, but the 2 day option, staying at basecamp overnight 😊

[@79devo]

Ahhhh that explains the tents at 50k 👌🏻

[@cursedrr8647]

Love you Heather!!! Your posts are unfiltered and you are such a genuine person!

[@sherylbogardus3062]

Awesome job! Congratulations! Thanks for taking us on your journey!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you

[@triroo107]

Always entertaining…. Brought back all the emotions of running an Ultra….. thanks for sharing your adventure 👍💪🙏🥂

[@angelaharvey2034]

Excellent video. Not a good long distance runner but took part in the 100K Cotswold Challenge in 2022 (over 2 days). Loved it and look forward to other challenges in the future. Love swimming, and cycling and the challenges in these events too.

[@cauchyschwarz9759]

Excellent Heather. Very inspiring!!!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Caunchy

[@emmahayes5654]

Just found this video. I did this last year as my first ultra. Got injured 3 months out so my longest run in the 3 months leading up to it was 5km. Ended up just walking it, I was one of those people probably still going when you woke up the next morning, took me about 25 hrs and 54 mins ish. You most definitely are an ultrarunner!!

[@urszuladonigiewicz]

That is an incredible run from you Heather. Good to see a true report and it really makes me want to do this run!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you 😊

[@Eleanor_Runner_102]

Heather @gtn this video is the reason why I'll be lining up on the start line for this race in 2 days! Hope life with a bebe is easier than doing this - that said, you smashed it!

[@jeffh7175]

Amazing run and fabulous commentary all while being fresh as hell !

[@anvo89]

Wow what an inspiration. Well done!

[@danieltaylor4882]

Great insight and inspiration. Thank you and well done

[@johnashby2653]

Wicked video!! Thanks so much...as a 69 yr old, I am signed up for '23... can't wait!!!

[@heathfalck3260]

Enjoyed the video....well done!! 👍👌👏💪

[@mandysweeney7622]

So amazing! Heather - you are my fave presenter. And yes you did look quite fresh at the finish.

[@johnflorio8425]

Brilliant job Heather and Georgie. What a fantastic achievement. I doing my second ultra in 2 weeks (Race to the Tower). Very nervous and apprehensive. Watching this has helped with that 😀

[@movado380]

Heather !! Fantastic job. The stop and starting is the most brutal part of any running event.

[@heatherfell_oly]

So I found out!

[@Arrow352]

Awesome job Heather! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[@heatherfell_oly]

My pleasure ☺️

[@alisonwilks302]

Ahhhh bless !!! Well done both of you xxxxxxxxxx

[@killerqueen9298]

Awesome run Heather. I'm in awe of you. Congratulations 🎊

[@jujuryan9632]

Wow, what a crazy effort, Heather! Chapeau!

[@darrenhall5783]

Fair play to you and everyone else who took part in RTTS. Did my first big Ultra the weekend before on the Serpent Trail and pulled my hamstring and glute 18 Km in but pushed through and finished the 100km. Completely agree with you; despite the pain, the elation on finishing was amazing. Well done.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Well done too!

[@king_has_no_clothskul8635]

ONE GOOD THING IS, IT IS SOFTER LANDING AND NOT A TARMAC, SO THAT HELPS. HER ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS! GREAT WORK.

[@mitchelllegge5813]

Massive inspiration Heather and Georgie!

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️

[@gcor8623]

Congrats , awesome event, thanks for sharing

[@CandidatePay]

hahah this was a very human version of you, and funny in a special way :) happy to see this side of you Heather!

[@debjames774]

Wow! Thank you Heather! This is Amazing! You have really inspired me. Thank you!

[@gtn]

You are so welcome! Thanks Deb

[@adamwigley1318]

Brilliant effort and video. Always appreciate people telling it how it is! And maybe a little cameo from another great channel… Ben Parkes at 18:57 ???

[@heatherfell_oly]

I was unaware 😆

[@adamwigley1318]

@@heatherfell_oly Totally having a “🤩 She wrote back!” moment. Love the ultra content, but will we see a return of Mark v Horse?

[@giampaolocaputi5410]

Congrats! You’re GREAT!! 🤙🤙🤙 Ciao from Italy 🤗

[@heatherfell_oly]

Cheers!

[@davidstacey4721]

Well done. Great achievement. I completed the 50k version in 2018, my one and possibly only ultra, in 30c heat and perma sunshine. An unforgettable experience. 👍

[@JoshuaLeigh1995]

Amazing vid, my friend is running this soon and has been motivated. Such a great vlogger ❤️

[@MaartenAnna]

I am soooo impressed. Started trail running this winter, will do my first 21k this summer, and my first 30k later this year. I CANNOT begin to imagine doing 100k.... 😲😱 Hats off!!

[@heatherfell_oly]

You’ll get there!

[@aurboda]

I was waiting for this one!!! I knew Heather ran it but i didn't know if there was going to be content on it :)

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️

[@waltersjonathan]

Brilliant! Love it. Well done Heather.

[@steveb9658]

Love these ultra based videos more than any other. Got my first half in Sept hopefully stepping up to full next year but I've oddly got a real hankering at the age of 50 to go on to ultras. Mad I know! Great stuff Heather 👌

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh you’ve got the bug! Good luck 😊

[@steveb9658]

@@heatherfell_oly I know! It must be your videos obviously that make it look so appealing 😉 great work and thanks so much for the reply 👍

[@martinfabregas7263]

Finally watched this video and it was a good one! Inspirational for me as I am training for my 1st marathon in October (Chicago Marathon). Well done HF!👏👏👍

[@markcobbold3539]

Great video. Loved this. Amazing effort!

[@SimonJamesBayman]

Amazing run Heather , really inspiring to watch your performance. Oh and as has been said a lot in the comments overtaking Ben a 2.25 marathoner (though I think he was on an easy day) but even so chapeau an over take is an over take:)

[@heatherfell_oly]

Ha yes I feel a little guilty for not saying hi!

[@neilgoodwin662]

Great effort Heather, fantastic time and brought back so many memories for me from 2019. What to do next, well, I used my finish to get entry into the Thames Path 100 miler. Did that in May and was the best experience of my life!! Plus I'm sure you'll do another great vid to commemorate your first 100 miler!!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Well done, that sounds Uber tough!

[@ck346]

Great job Heather. That’s an amazing accomplishment.. The views in the countryside looked awesome.

[@heatherfell_oly]

They were ☺️

[@Sanko1960]

Great job Heather! And I really appreciate your commentary about how you were feeling as the kilometers clicked by.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you ☺️

[@christinaclementson2685]

Fantastic achievement Heather! You most certainly are an ultra runner!!!! 4th woman!!! Amazing

[@heatherfell_oly]

Aww thanks ☺️

[@MrBrownie77]

Amazing job! So strong. Incredible how you retained the ability to describe everything even as you were falling apart. I know that indescribable feeling of pain. Like it’s deep routed in your bones and you know nothing will stop it - not even walking. Great job. Very inspiring.

[@heatherfell_oly]

It’s so real! Thank you ☺️

[@Hestyjka2]

Wow, that was an amazing achievement! Huge congratulations! :D

[@lifeisabeautifulride]

Amazing effort, great results! Congrats! You made me feel inspired to continue my little workouts!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Nice to hear ☺️

[@sdn7087]

Great work!

[@Dave-kq9cv]

Congratulations on doing this! Such an amazing result.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks

[@will_hargreaves]

Great effort Heather. And thanks for paying homage to us mortals who went through the night to get it done. Kudos to you though for your amazing time! And I see you had a cameo appearance from a certain Ben Parkes doing the 95km shuffle at 18:57 into your video.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Oh hats off to you too!

[@moretome9529]

You guys have been very inspiring. I am a major beginner and have only walked (with slight jogging) a 5k but lately I’ve had the desire to do a marathon. Once I get moved and settled I’m going to start my training for running a 5k and try to get do one in Apr right before my bday. Endurance has never been a strong suit but I’ve always loved walking and jogging so I look forward to following your beginners guide to build my endurance!

[@ReepaOne]

Inspirational! An ultra is on my bucket list. Looks like such an experience

[@heatherfell_oly]

Do it!

[@Hypothetischer]

An Ultra is a Rollercoaster. Well done and congrats. Nice video

[@heatherfell_oly]

Cheers ☺️

[@adrianthompson3692]

I'm running the 100KM this year and your film has made me decide to cancel it...only joking but I will watch out for 70KM. You both did amazingly well! Thanks for the great film I'm now actually really excited!

[@neilianparker6487]

Well done Heather great video 👍

[@heatherfell_oly]

Cheers

[@neilianparker6487]

@@heatherfell_oly it’s not very often you have presenters give an honest coverage of a race especially an ultra and how tough it can be including the emotional ups and downs 👏

[@WimukthiBandara]

My inspiration! Well done Heather

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks 😊

[@nicmarlow6388]

Amazing work! I'm signed up for day 2 of RTTS this year and i'm nervous as hell. Your vid was really helpful to know roughly what i'll be up against, the terrain and emotional highs and lows of ultra running. I cant wait but by god i'm nervous... x

[@RoelCuylaerts]

I saw every stage I went trough myself when running my first 100k last December. Kudos for keep going, at a point it all gets a mind game and you just have to get through it. Great job!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Well done to you too!

[@paulmwanza8708]

Well done Heather. Defo looked fresh - you made it look easy!!!

[@PeterPutz82]

Very cool, doing that huge effort while filming, amazing.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks John

[@lukaspaulus6408]

I´ve done a 24h benefit run at my peak condition without proper training at younger age than Georgina and i sure did not look as fit as her after that was over :D What an absolute legend.

[@stompthepedal7401]

I've been watching this whilst taking the tree down. So many times I wanted to cry for you Heather. Then I get inspired. I feel I would like to do this. Not sure when as I need to build a lot more of running consistently. Great episode

[@mariop8101]

My first Marathon, I was 26, (by the time I've done 25k in a good time) went so bad, I was ready, but I've made a mistake, looking for company, I've thought I've lost him in the confusion and I was behind him, and picked up the pace. By the 15 k on a turning I've seen he was 100 behind me and not ahead, so I've waited and went together. By 21 km I've hit a first wall too soon, I couldn't keep 4 min 10s/km to beat the 3hours, and fall to the 4'40''s by the 30 k I was already in the 5' and the 35k on the 5'40'' not stopping but catching a guy who stops and runs every 100 m. I couldn't believe I was capable of making the last k under 4:30''. When I finished, I've almost couldn't walk to the car that was almost 500 m from me. I've should give up from the race after the half marathon, I've damaged my knee with the strain of running so slow in the tarmac, and spend almost one year with a knee injury. My second experience was some years later on a beach marathon of 43 k, I've trained a lot on beach, on the dry sand. We went to the place of the start of the race do a 3 hour training race, that went fine (but to close to race 2 weeks before). The first 25 went well but I've felt the first wall, and stopped for a while we went to the water to height of the knees, put the shoes on and start running again, on 28 k I've taken off my shoes, by the 35 km hit a second wall, and stopped and eaten some dry fruits bar, laid down for 2 minutes and went to the end for 5h and 19''. In the next year I've didn't train enough for long running, but I've trained my feet to running shoeless. I've started the first 2 h hours just walking and eating and drinking, when the beach became easier (I've learned that running in the soft sand I was doing 13' per km and spending my energy) I've started running close to the water and picked up a good pace, only felt some kind of a wall on the last 3 k, I've did in 6h 20'' but was ok compared to the year before, and the beach was more sandy. A few years later I've started also riding a bike, first MTB, two years later I've Bought a carbon Road Bike, and started training alone, I've started working in a zone where cycling was a tradition, but was a flat zone, and made some friends and training companions, but was harder for racing. My first ride above 80 km I've went into trouble and was no easy to make the final 20 k. A year later back on my home, I went for a 100 k solo race into a another town and back, by the 70km I've didn't had more isotonic drink and had to fill the bottles with water in a gas station. The sun was picking hotter and I was less than 6 km from home but I couldn't continue peddling, I've sited down on a bus stop for a few minutes and then gained the courage to do the last k. I've never felt the same kind of trouble, I've learned the hard way how to feed well and very early to avoid trouble. I've did a train into the mountains (we went for the Strava KOM), we were already with over 130k, and taken the boat to other side of the river and I was supposed to take the train or go home alone for more 50 k, but naah.. waiting for a train, I've hit the road and made it ok with a total of 183k. I've gained confidence to go back to running long distance again. I've used the bike to adapt the body to long training without the stress on my knees.

[@jaiveer7701]

Super Duper Inspiration Heather. You're my virtual tutor, basically your Tempo, Interval, VO2 max sessions are my 5K training. You are da best. ❤️ From Chennai, India.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Great to hear it. Keep it up!

[@kathrynhilder9609]

Fantastic job Heather! 😁 Ultra running = allllll the emotions!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Totally!

[@Cenyon]

Very inspiring! And congratulations on a great performance

[@bhagathkumar5367]

Awesome job by Heather!! Georgie is a badass!! 🤣🤣🤣 That one exception case 🤭

[@juangiron7348]

Congrats!!!! You are a GREAT inspiration!!!!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks ☺️

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congratulations- not just on finishing, but finishing so well!! And that was a beautiful place to torture yourself! I've only done 50ks, but I haven't trained well for them (my longest runs were 12 miles), so I'm familiar with that deep pain. I'm training for an extremely tough 50k in 6 weeks, and this has motivated me to get out and put in the work. I can't WAIT to see your next challenge!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Great to hear, go for it 💪🏻

[@josephlaviolette146]

I know that pain. It's impossible to describe unless you've been through it. I've been trough it more than once, so the memory of it fades quickly. Quite an accomplishment with the 4th place finish!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Glad you understand but sorry to hear you’ve experienced it too!

[@mtndoc1]

Crazy Amazing. Heartfelt, inspiring and so real. You are Crazy Amazing….

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️

[@lukecp]

Incredible performance. Inspirational. Well done Heather!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thank you!

[@toon_8552]

Incredible effort, well done!

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️

[@alisontriathlonlover]

Congratulations 🎉 Very inspiring! 🤩

[@lenavalavani8887]

HEATHER YOU ARE AMAZING!!AND BEN PARKES AS WELL!!!!BRAVO

[@heatherfell_oly]

☺️☺️

[@daveh9790]

Well done, definitely one on my future list

[@olliesmallwood8600]

Such a good run! Well done. Did the RttS back in 2015 in 20 hours. Stress fractured my foot around 50km. Torch ran out of battery after 1 hour in the dark (yes, going through the night was awful!). One of the most mentally challenging things I have ever ever done - I guess like your last 30km. A tear or 2 at the finish line. Pain for the next day or 2 was unbearable! So kudos!!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Sounds like you had a much tougher experience, hats off to you!