That’s a wrap on my training runs—now it’s time to ease into a limited taper ahead of Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) at the end of May.
Reflecting on the journey so far, I’ve clocked 1,000 miles this year, with 224 of those covered during five major training events: the Country to Capital Ultra, XNRG Pilgrims Challenge, Rose of the Shires, Manchester Marathon, and most recently, the Shires & Spires Ultra.
If you’ve run less than me so far this year, perhaps you’d consider donating to my fund to make up some metaphorical miles!
Sunday’s Shires & Spires marked the final event in my training calendar for 2025. The weather in the lead-up was ideal—cool and sunny—though the forecasted heatwave certainly arrived right on time for race day. I can only hope it’s not this hot for all of LEJOG!
Race morning greeted us with clear skies and rising temperatures. I slathered on the sun cream, knowing it would be essential. I happened to park next to Tom, and we quickly struck up a conversation—sharing race strategies, balancing running with family life, and our hopes for the day. We ended up running together for the first 20k, until the rolling hills gradually put some distance between us.
The event offered multiple distances—10k, half marathon, marathon, and ultra—with staggered starts. The ultra runners were last off the line, adding to the anticipation. The atmosphere at the start was upbeat and full of energy.
This year’s clockwise course took us through the charming village of Naseby and a string of picturesque rural communities, all connected by scenic stretches of road, trail, and farmland.
The run went smoothly—until we hit the infamous 10k loop after Great Creaton. By then, the sun was blazing, and I could feel the heat sapping my energy. The exposed road sections were now radiating heat, and it became a mental game as much as a physical one. Thankfully, the aid stations were brilliant—well-stocked and wonderfully staffed. I made sure to hydrate generously and took full advantage of every opportunity to soak my cap with water. In that kind of heat, it’s a game-changer.
The sun was unrelenting, and shade was scarce, but eventually the loop was behind me. From there, just 7k remained—through Cottesbrooke, up two testing climbs near Haselbech, and then the final stretch back to the village. At around 2k to go, we passed the site of the 1645 Battle of Naseby—a fitting moment, as many of us were fighting our own battles with heat and fatigue by then.
The finish line eventually came into view, with Race Director Simon Hollis giving each runner a warm and enthusiastic welcome. A solid medal and a cold drink were the perfect reward—and this time, I even remembered to hand in my tracker.
Thank you, Naseby, for a challenging but stunning route.
Now it’s time to dial things back for a couple of weeks and prepare for the big one—LEJOG at the end of May.
