Every year we are joined by thousands of people who take to the trails at one of our ultramarathons, completing either 50km or 100km. We’re showcasing a series of stories from our 2024 Threshold Trail Series participants, from the front of the pack to the back.
Claire took on the 100k Non-Stop event at Race to the Stones this year, her first 100km distance after completing 50km previously. Claire wanted to take part for “the challenge, to see if I could do it” and as a 50th birthday present to herself. Let’s hope she treated herself to a slice of cake at the finish line!
Training went well for Claire, but she developed knee niggles two weeks out of the event, which meant she had to taper earlier than planned. Due to this, Claire didn’t expect to finish, and after her injuries flared up at 4km, she thought she was out. “My only low was very early on in the event. I took some pain relief and once that kicked in, I wasn’t not going to finish. I think the thought that I might not make it took the pressure off and enabled me to actually finish.”
“Emotional, elated, disbelief.”
After her friend had to pull out, Claire was on her own, but her mum’s support for the last stretch helped her reach the finish line. “I have not spent too much time with my mum alone for years. So that was valuable,” Claire told us. She completed the 100km in 19:55:07, feeling “emotional, elated” and in “disbelief”.
Fancy taking on 100km yourself? The ballot for 100km non-stop at Race to the Stones may have closed, but you can enter for charity or spread the 100km over the course of the weekend.
Did you take part in a Threshold Trail Series event this year? Tell us about your experience for a chance to be featured on our blog.
