WINNING A MARATHON! Final 42k long run before Comrades!

It's time for the final long run before we head to Durban for the one and only Comrades Marathon. Follow along today as we run the Fox Marathon on the Surrey trails!
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[@gerardswinley4736]

Congrats Ben! You make this look deceptively easy! I came 33rd and finished just after Sarah - the conditions were tough!

[@BenParkes]

Well done Gerard!! Yes, was a warm day out there!

[@CorvusVal]

Absurd that you can win a marathon with no nutrition. Seems like your engine is pretty well tuned! Looking forward to Comrades. Hope it lives up to the expectations

[@mthokozisitwala8392]

It definitely will....you'll enjoy every moment of it

[@rossholland879]

Recently Bruce Fordyce said “the only way to run comrades is to start like a coward and finish like a hero “ so remember to start slower than you think.

[@Ross867]

He also said nice to see you to see you nice

[@BenParkes]

Have been reading lots of his stories.. he’s mr comrades!! Thank you Ross!!

[@BenParkes]

Very clever Ross!! 🤣😂🤣

[@mthokozisitwala8392]

​@Ben Parkes are you going for silver?

[@jethrohealy3277]

I will vouch for this. Take the first half easy and you fill finish well and enjoy it more. You can definitely aim for a silver.

[@burgerkingbub]

wins a marathon while chatting to his camera and no nutrition, makes it look like a 5km easy trail run round his local park. nice work team ben and sarah

[@thescottishturd7594]

PB my marathon time at the Edinburgh Marathon race at 3hr 35, first ever time was 4hr 26, its crazy what you can achieve with a bit of dedication and effort!

[@timothytrewin]

Great run! It was tough out there yesterday! I ran the half and then supported a few friends that were running the marathon. If I don't get into London which is pretty likely I'll be entering the full next year I think😬

[@BenParkes]

Well done!! That’s a really good progression!

[@marcanthony2379]

@@timothytrewin It was awful, was aiming for 4:15ish got 4:40. Was unbelievably hot and I sweat an untold amount. No excuses however, need to train harder!

[@timothytrewin]

@@marcanthony2379 bro don't be too hard on yourself. The conditions were like you said awful 🥵 some races don't go the way we planned but also makes us stronger for the next 💪 if you're on Strava would love to follow your journey 👊

[@wordmunger]

Woot! Nicely done! Maybe I will see you at Comrades... I'm heading over there myself from America... it will be my longest run ever. Hoping to run my age in miles at age 56!

[@BenParkes]

Good luck Dave!! Wishing you a great race 🙌

[@alpinecobra8849]

I have my first ultra marathon in Innsbruck this Friday. 92km with 3600m of elevation. I used your 100k Training plan. So I’m well prepared.

[@BenParkes]

Good luck! Let us know how you get on 🙌

[@alpinecobra8849]

@@BenParkes hey Ben, Long story short - I finished. 92km and 4550 meters of climb was rough but what an amazing experience. I finished in 18 hours. Your training plan definitely helped me through some dark moment. I got to say that I started running in 2019 and have followed you for quite some time. In the last 365 days I have completed 5k, 10k, 2x half marathons, one marathon and now the ultra. Thanks to your motivation and inspiring videos. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️

[@Snerunseasy]

Congrats Ben , you make it looks so easy and all the best to your Combrades....well done to Sarah as well.

[@HitmanConan]

I love that even though you are such an experienced runner, you still forget things! Makes me feel better 😂

[@Keysladd]

Well done!! Just PB’d my Half Marathon time at Edinburgh this weekend buy 4mins…. Now 1:25:09, used your half marathon plan. Felt really strong!!

[@BenParkes]

Great stuff Keiron!! Congratulations, that’s a huge PB 🙌

[@Keysladd]

@@BenParkes thanks so much. GNR in September, see what I can do there 😂

[@Ninja-Cake]

Hope to see you Ben at comrades on the 11th - I live here in South Africa and it will be my first comrades 🎉

[@BenParkes]

Good luck David!! 🙌

[@julietmorrice3205]

First time I’ve heard of this race and I grew up in Godalming! (Obvs I wasn’t a marathon runner back then 😂) Lovely to see some familiar spots on the route, I’ll definitely sign up next year. Good luck at Comrades! 🙌🏻

[@mattwoodywoodRT]

Thanks for coming Ben! Well done and good luck at your next race!

[@runningdevers1852]

Congrats Ben! I'll be running my first ultratrail this weekend. 55 km with the 2800m of elevation in Belgium.

[@jackkasperski2912]

Ben! Congratulations!! Wow! Good Luck in the Comrades Marathon! My hat is off to you!

[@andrewstorm8240]

Ran the fox half, you made it look effortless

[@TravelRunner]

Great race and good luck to you both at Comrades!

[@savagerunemdown]

July 4th I have a 5mile race @ Budweiser plan on Running a PR and another podium placement 🎉

[@jdpjamesp]

Cracking stuff Ben. Nothing quite so nutty as Comrades for me, but I've got a 6 (ish) mile run across Exmoor coming up soon which incorporates a 100m open water swim (in full running gear) and a scramble through a pitch black cave too. I think I'm excited!

[@BenParkes]

Sounds exciting James!! Good luck 🙌

[@marathonmimmi]

So inspiring to watch. I will run Stockholm Marathon on Saturday. I will start close to last. I think that is good, since I will have the possibility to pass one or two.

[@BenParkes]

Good luck! Yes, it can help your confidence to pass people during the race. Hope you have a great run!!

[@ColeRunning]

Great video mate! Looking in good shape if you can just bang out a marathon long run at that pace! Congrats on the win too!!! Looking forward to seeing the comrades vlog 🤩

[@ColeRunning]

Sarah downplaying big achievements as always! So humble! Keep crushing it guys 🫶🏻

[@not_oscar8588]

Well done Ben! Your videos are always great 💪

[@Ben_Hugaboom]

You can tell how excited he was getting towards the end when he realized that he would win 🎉🎉

[@mikew6840]

After all this speedy stuff…please remember to start Comrades slower than you think…😬😅

[@OmahaTonyG]

You brought no nutrition on a marathon and won?!?!?! Amazing!

[@Ezechel.Trifan]

This might be the actual nutrition secret for marathons 😂

[@JCeeeeeee.]

@@Ezechel.Trifan It's not a secret

[@BenParkes]

Yes, although I don’t recommend it obviously. I was running pretty ‘easy’ effort, lower intensity.. (apart from up the main hill!) so you can last much longer. If I ran marathon effort I’d have hit the wall pretty bad like anyone else would.

[@jonh1958]

Congratulations and enjoy South Africa when you get there, its a beautiful country.

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Jon!

[@ingagade951]

Very much congrats Ben . I just think you and Sarah did a great effort in this marathon and quite outran the other runners and in that heat and humiddity you deserves the medals. I will follow you both in Durban in your lifes run when you head out in Comrades 2023. Inga Dk.

[@ladm.g.6043]

Congrats Ben. Well done. Love that you smile the whole way through like it’s just a fun run and not a marathon 😂. Congrats to Sarah as well🎉

[@DrHelloWorld30]

You're just down the road from me! You should try the surrey three peaks (more of a hike than a run), I completed that on sat, about 35km round trip with beautiful views.

[@cobusblignaut1780]

Hope to see you on the Road next week Sunday. Doing my 4th Big C. Take in every second of this Super Awesome Ultra marathon. Good Luck

[@richardantrobus7186]

great to see you out with a smile on your face - what running should always be about, love this video!

[@adrex09]

Well done you guys! Amazing run! Looking forward to hear from your comrades adventures! Loved the hat i got from yous btw! Especially the thank you card from your mum! I was glad i used it for Edinburgh yesterday kept me cool and in style i think.. looking forward to getting another one keep them coming! :)

[@BenParkes]

Thank you for the support.. and well done in Edinburgh!! Hope you enjoyed it in the sun!

[@alfiecurnow7429]

Love a Run Through race, will add this to my todo this! Good luck with comrades

[@mattb6873]

Congrats! I ran the ultra… my first one & loved it

[@BenParkes]

Well done Matt!! Impressive running!

[@rafaelpiarpuzan1435]

Congrats team Ben and Sarah. Great race. Well done. Thanks for your video. Good luck with comrades.

[@jeraldmccarthy785]

Awesome awesome .great job both of you.enjoyed the video.thank you for sharing.

[@gary_runs]

Nice one Ben! Great video and well dine to both of you! 🙌🏼 🙌🏼

[@TheRunningAccountant]

hahahaha the stone in the shoe, completely relate. So simple to remove it, but you wiggle your foot as best you can to put it off 🤣

[@runfilmsleep]

Great vlog and Good luck with the Comrades!

[@franco05]

Nice to see you chose the Nike Zeganas, great run!

[@Domsrunningjourney]

Congratulations Ben. I’m running my second 50 mile race on June 10th it’s going to be a tough day out. Good luck for comrades

[@BenParkes]

Good luck Dom!!

[@karlbautista2212]

Love the trail vids and of course road races keep it up and congrats mate

[@jjames1949]

I like all of your videos Ben but I do miss the old vlog type videos, love seeing what other runners get up to other than just racing.

[@desmondb757]

Congratulations!!

[@MrBigz48]

Congrats Ben!… Looking forward to having you in our beautiful country. Running in the Ultimate Human Race.

[@Run_Farah_Run]

Congrats and well done Ben and Sarah!

[@Kenjamin86]

Nice work Ben!

[@ivylovesrunning]

Well done Ben! Congratulations!

[@Runforyourwine]

I was there a few hours behind you! Gorgeous route but such hard work - some of those descents were a bit gnarly.

[@BenParkes]

Well done on getting your finish JDawg!

[@user-uj1uk6cn8p]

tooo coool that you coming to KZN, Comrades marathon will change you forever,,, best race on the planet

[@pljortega]

congrats... I hope to meet you there.. maybe at the Expo because at the starting and finishing line, definitively is not going to be the case... 😄..

[@BenParkes]

Good luck! Hope you have a great race Paulo!

[@iws963]

hey Ben - congrats! that's incredible. I've run only half at The Fox, there are few hills there :) Loved the event and every step of the run.

[@lauraf5390]

Congratulations!🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@sizwemaquba7685]

Hi Ben, Good luck on your comrades marathon, I am a South African, I follow you and I am also doing Comrades, would love to see you

[@BenParkes]

Good luck, see you there!!

[@marsme7511]

Congrats 🍾

[@garethhornby4694]

Nice smooth roads for Comrades? 😆😬, well ok then 😂😅. Good luck for your taper and for Comrades, hope to catch a glimpse of you in SA ❤

[@BenParkes]

Well I meant tarmac, as opposed to trail! 🙂

[@FrancoisBothaZA]

I'll also be doing my first Comrades next weekend, but I'll be amazing for a more modest 11h.

[@davidspencer8233]

Lovely event and congratulations 🎉

[@alfiecurnow7429]

Well Done Ben!

[@dilochetty9332]

well done.. enjoy comrades. it will be an easy Bill Rowan for you..

[@rizontherun9684]

That looks easy on you hahaha. Congratulations

[@shayneknox6247]

Masterful! 😂

[@ABucc]

Congrats Ben! Smashing this and while filming it too.👏💪 How do you stay on course with nothing in front of you? Is it just knowledge of the course?

[@BenParkes]

There were little flags the race organiser puts out to mark the way. They usually put them out the day before and remove them after the race. Plus I had the route on my watch, so you can follow it like you do a Sat nav. Works well!

[@mitchatkins7402]

Congrats, Ben, on your win! Did they not give you a trophy for coming1st for a marathon? There would bea furore over here in Thailand if there weren't any trophies for the top 5 or at least 3!

[@BenParkes]

No trophy. I did get a bag of Epsom bath salts though!

[@tedland3016]

marigolds. Nice one Ben

[@Thegreat772]

omg you are super fit lol looked like you were barely in threshold. well done 🙂

[@macau.friend]

Congrats! 🎉 Will you be running the Asics 10K London this year? Seems like the next best thing if one can’t get into the London Marathon.

[@BenParkes]

No plans to run it this year. Focusing on longer races over the summer. Good luck if you are!!

[@spacesentinel1287]

This was my first trail marathon, exhausting but satisfying

[@BenParkes]

Well done!!

[@somebodypaintedtiger]

Well done Ben! Love the way you commented on the heat, yet wore gloves the whole way round 😂

[@BenParkes]

Yeah.. I don’t understand this one either! Was too hot for gloves!!

[@scottmacmillan1000]

I have been watching you for a few months man and I think you are going to smash Comrades up!! We are doing our 4th run, Im aiming for 11 hours but my BFF is going for 7 hours. His name is Aaron Duffett, you will see him as he goes past you ha ha ha ha ha. If you are bored the finish, you can run back up to Cowies hill and second me back home . Sho Sho Loza

[@laszlokovacs9596]

Grat! -here too! 🤣

[@Visablehand]

Well done mate Running in my bit of Surrey, we are not all mega wealthy lol

[@jennysmith8835]

Congratulations both, looks a stunning route, good luck with Comrades, dont think you will need to wear gloves though, 😄

[@DaedalusLabyrinth]

I absolutely share your dream of Comrades! My partner is South African and we visit often. We even lived there for a year some time ago. Ironically I never took part in a race there, only a park run last New Year's Eve. I was signed up for the Two Oceans Half Marathon 2020 but had to cancel our plans due to Covid. Congrats on the win and good luck with Comrades! I'll try to make it there at some point, 2025 at the earliest. Oh and... any thoughts on the Berlin Wall 100 Miles? Have you heard of it?

[@tiaan777]

can you bring some merch with you to South Africa when running the Comrades so we can get it here?

[@stephencrawford8097]

So for all the gear you wore for this race I have to say I’m the most curious about the gloves. What kind of gloves were they that your hands weren’t uncomfortably sweating?

[@jh230377]

Came first with no nutrition and running with a go pro. Well done Ben…..and Sarah 👍

[@HshshsHshshssh-fb7ih]

Go for Comrades Silver Medal. A sub 3hr marathon should get you a silver medal. Gold for top10, possible but tough.

[@virtuocitygowf7272]

The wee runner facing the wrong way on your elevation profile / progress image annoys me more than it should 😂 amazing running!!! Great prep not always necessary haha

[@BenParkes]

Ha! Sorry about that! 🙂

[@bencarr9606]

Thanks for catching my wife and I in the vid :D

[@BenParkes]

Well done to you both!!

[@Cussie]

Would you ever consider running the Two Oceans Ultra, also in South Africa?

[@BenParkes]

Would love to one day!!

[@connoryoung9771]

That's awesome you running comrades, I'll be on the start line with you running my 4th. I've seen some of the comments, slow and steady and I can not agree enough. I would say run atleast 30sec to a minute slower than your normal pace in the first half or maybe just over and the slowly pick up and also don't get sucked in by the atmosphere of the crowds because before you know it you are running a 3:30pace for about 2 to 3kms and that could hurt you in the later parts. Also what batch you starting in?

[@grgr6720]

Ben makes it look so easy it is annoying 🤣🤣

[@Jess-Rabbit]

Ben, are you guys doing Berlin again this year? I saw last year yall did a group shake out run and I will be going this year. Would be amazing to run with you

[@BenParkes]

Not this year sadly. Sorry. Will be back in 2024! Good luck 🙌

[@RunEdinburgh]

Won a marathon without nutrition and while filming 🤣😐

[@LARKRunningUK]

Maybe that’s the future Ben…..rock up really late and just run! 😆 even more impressive given you were lacking in nutrition 👍🏻

[@dhdavidholloway]

I looked at the check list.If somebody doesn't own a mobile phone, are they not allowed to take part?

[@BenParkes]

If the kit list is mandatory, which it was in the ultra distance in this race, then you must have all the items on you or face getting disqualified if they check.

[@GoneFishingVlog]

Good man, why gloves ?

[@TrueFilter]

What’s the point of gloves?

[@ChairmanAntelope]

To keep your hands warm.

[@ivylovesrunning]

It's been cold in the morning. I've worn gloves every day if it is before 10.

[@BenParkes]

Usually simply to keep my hands warm.. as always suffer. But didn’t really need them today!

[@ajaymodi5220]

Well done Ben what’s your target for comrade run sir one more thing I will like to know which camera are you using for recording during run sir pl

[@BenParkes]

GoPro hero 11. Will do a goals video very soon!

[@christopherferguson5938]

See you at comrades what's your plan sub 6 hours ??

[@zacdann1878]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@A-betterMe]

sooooo lemme get this straight... you came 1st...overall, not just in your age range, whilst filming, without nutrition and having a boulder your shoe 😮 I'm surprised you didn't get a pb... nice one hope Comrades goes just as well... without the boulder and with NUTRITION haha 👍

[@quwers]

Were there feed stations?

[@BenParkes]

There were. I stopped at the second one for a water. But that was it. 5 aid stations for the ultra, 3 for the marathon and 1 for the half.

[@gabgab11]

Why didn’t you just take out the stone?

[@BenParkes]

I tried.. but needed to take my shoe off and it seemed like a faff. I would have done if I wasn’t nearing the finish.. just thought I’d sort it out at the end!

[@alexemarian6075]

👏👏

[@DanRuns]

The Fox ultra was my least favourite of all the ultras. Perhaps it’s improved now RunThrough has taken over. Didn’t enjoy the blind corner country roads

[@BenParkes]

Yeah the road sections weren’t great and not the most interesting course at the start.. but the second half was nice once you got on some better trail. Good organisation from run through.. first time I’ve done this one.

[@rodlambert1425]

Might be a stupid question, but is there a lead runner or cyclist on trail runs.

[@BenParkes]

No silly questions 🙂 .. no you don’t get that on trail. The race organiser (99% of the time) will mark the route with flags, or something similar.. so you follow them as you go. Plus if you have a compatible watch, you can load the route to it and follow it like a car Sat nav. Will show it better in my next trail race video!

[@barryrichardson1789]

Have you ever suffered with plantar fasciitis? ...I have it now and its ruining my running

[@Bart0vds]

Switch to zero drop

[@marcof.6080]

Brad Pitt runs marathons?