In 2020, I was lining up to do my first ultra, when a certain global pandemic put a hold on my original plans. It was when a friend suggested to me the Virtual Race to the Stones, that my interest was peaked. So, in 2020, without any other options, I went ahead and completed 100km Virtual Race to the Stones in one run.
If you’re interested, the blog and video of this is here: Virtual Race to the Stones
Roll on exactly one year later, and I was very fortunate enough to get the opportunity to take part in a real Race to the Stones event.
Due to various niggles and general fitness levels currently, reluctantly, stepped down to the 50km distance, and do this on Day 2 of the event, so I can get that actually RTTS finish line experience.
Myself and Steve (@running.steve) arrived at basecamp at around 4:30pm on the Saturday afternoon. Arrival was super easy and once through COVID screening, went over to the Info tent to find our contact Georgia and get our race numbers and tent allocation.
I was immediately struck by the scale of basecamp, but also how well laid out everything was, and all with one incredible backdrop as we were perched high on the ridgeline.
After dropping our kit in the tents, which were brilliantly organised and spacious (get a 2 person tent all to yourself), it was time to explore basecamp.
Basecamp was a hive of activity, as you had the Start/Finish line with the day one atheletes, either passing through on their way to 100k, or the 2-dayers looking to rest following their first day of running, and even the single stage 50kers finishing their day.
The camp was filled with stories from the trails!
Arriving later in the day, I knew I’d have missed many friends who were taking on the 100k and will have already passed through basecamp. However, I got a text message from a friend who saw I had arrived, to say a friend was probably still at basecamp somewhere.
So I went off to find Danny, who was just getting a little TLC in the medical tent before heading out. I was so lucky to catch him and it was great to see him for a chat before he headed back out.
Obviously the next logical stop for us was the food tent to get some nutrition in before our day on Sunday. There were plenty of options and really well organised! We had our food within about 5 mins of waiting. This naturally was then followed by a trip to the beer van!
Once the rain had subsided, we were then treated to the most stunning of sunsets, whilst sat next to an open fire pit, sipping a beer and the Wimbledon finals on a huge screen nearby too. It was time to turn in and call it a night.
The starting line was open from 6am to 7am, with no fixed time to start, just rock up and go when you are ready. We opted to aim for a 6:30 start, and be in the starting area at about 6:20 allowing time to take a few pictures and grab some content before we got going.
I opted for a more casual breakfast approach, having stashed away a number of Perkier bars, so in the comfort of my tent, devoured a number of these. This seemed a much easier way to get in some good calories before the run without needing to go to the main tent to find porridge!
My gear for the day was a Soar running top (which I also wore when I did the 100k virtually), shorts, Runderwear, then the important bit – feet; I always wear two pairs of socks: Injinji Liner Toesocks, and then Danish Endurance socks. First I use Gurney Goo on the toes and forefoot, then I will split a pack of 2Toms Blister powder in my Injinji Liner sock. This has served me SO well and I can honestly say, in all the ultra’s I’ve done so far, not had one blister.
Onto the footwear, I’ve been using the ON CloudUltra for my longer trail runs and currently loving them, these have a much more versatile sole without the usual large On clouds which get stones stuck in them, but a more standard sole which works really well on any terrain, and surprisingly grippy for the size of lugs. These proved to work very well across this route.
I loaded up my Salomon pack with snacks, one bottle of tailwind, and one bottle of water, threw on the Buff cap, and we were ready to go.
The start line was a beautifully relaxed atmosphere – No pen to stand around in, as staggered starts are in vogue, once you are ready, start walking through the funnel and across the start line! Certainly a super chilled way to get started
The views at this point of the route, are just incredible. High up on the ridge line, it’s hard not to stare at the views when you are also trying not to put your foot in a hole!
Given the vast numbers of athletes tackling the course, the trails do become quite congested in the very early stages of the route, however, it’s a long way, there is no rush! If you want a more clear route, I would suggest setting off as soon as the start line opens.
As we approached the first checkpoint for the day, we were sent down what appears to be a single farm track, this was an out and back with the CP at the end. So everyone leaving the CP was on one side of the track, and those inbound, on the other. This did mean it got quite congested here too, as all athletes, whether a runner, or walker, bunched up. The walk in was welcomed though!
Now the check points. I’ll give Threshold one thing, they do some very well stocked check points. Pretty much anything you could have wanted was here, from fruit to crisps, perkier bars to chocolate, squash, flat coke, coffee tea, you name it. Having done Ultras where you only get water, and you carry all your snacks, I have to say, the choice was a little overwhelming and probably spent too much time browsing the options as I would do at an all you can eat buffet! After I refilled my tailwind, shoved in some food, we went back out the way we came, and back onto the trail.
The weather was very kind on the Sunday, following an incredible sunrise, the sun remained for most of the morning, and although some clouds looked a little threatening, there was no need for the rain jacket.
I had gone into this race with a few niggles, and the plan was certainly to take it as easy, and enjoy the journey. However, at around 25km in, I could start to feel my foot was not happy, and by 35km, it was starting to get very painful to run on. From this point it was then a march to the finish.
Now I want to just add, I’m still not quite sure why it’s Race to the Stones, because the stones are not your finish point! Anyone who is contemplating this run, remember that once you reach the stones, you still have a good 2km till you reach the Farm. But what appears more cruel, is you run all the way up a road beside the farm to the stones, around the stones, then back down the road you came, across a field, then back up the farm track to your finish line!
That said, once you are on that farm track, you know the finish is in front of you, and gives you a great opportunity to think about that ever important finish line picture!
I had an absolute belter of a day at Race to the Stones. It was so nice to actually cross the finish line and it feels like last years virtual 100k, and this years actual 50k, came together in a beautiful moment.
Huge huge thank you to Threshold and Perkier for the place.
Running To Feel 
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