Centurion Running South Downs Way 50. 8th April. Time allowed 13 hours.
After finishing the South Downs 100 (have I mentioned that?) I was wondering what to do next that would be a challenge and could use as a fundraiser for Cureparkinsons. I knew that any more 100 milers was out of the question for several reasons: lack of training time, degeneration due to Parkinson’s, and the main one – having to overdose on the meds for over 24 hours. The meds was the serious one – it could lead to worse symptoms and not something I was keen to push.
So after a bit of thought, I realised I still needed to exercise (the best way of delaying the progession of the disease) and I had unfinished business with the Centurion Running 50 mile slam. I had started this back in 2017 but it was also the start of my Parksinson’s symptoms (although I didn’t know it at the time) and progressively slower running led to a DNF in the third of the four race series. So, four 50 mile races it was to be.
We toed the line at Worthing College for an 8.30 start on what was predicted to be an ideal day. I was slightly concerned at my lack of preparation. I’d done some running, but the apathy that Parkinson’s brings, along with the constant fatigue meant that when I should have been out over the winter I was finding every excuse to avoid jumping in muddy puddles (which is something normally guaranteed to make me grin from ear to ear). Still, too late now to do anything about that – best take it steady and not blow up half way.
My friends were ahead of me, including my usual wingman, Budgie, so I would have to make do without his sense of humour today.
The start from the College is uphill for several miles with a couple of bottlenecks and I deliberately started near the back to make sure that it would be slow and steady. It was nice to be able to chat to John, who was attempting the race for the second time. He’d done some serious miles over the winter so I didn’t doubt that he’d make the finish line this time.
The climb out of Worthing finally hit the South Downs Way and we headed East – destination Eastbourne. Up on the tops it was a spectacular view of the cloud inversion in the valley.
As we bimbled along admiring the views, I chatted to Shelagh who had completed the SDW100 in the same year as me – and I remembered her getting the maximum bang for her buck as she came in with just 10 minutes to spare. It also turns out she’s doing the 50 mile slam too so fingers crossed for her this year. I was faffing with tailwind in both my waterbottles at the first aid station at Botolphs (11.2 miles/18km) so Shelagh pushed on ahead rather than wait – which was a wise move.
Saddlescombe Farm was the next checkpoint at mile 16.6 (26km) and after heading up the hill from Botolphs my digestive system was giving me some serious grief. My stomach was fine but whatever was in my system further down the line was thudding into my pelvis and the tubes were seriously gurgling. There is a wise adage in running that you never trust a fart after 20 miles – I wasn’t trusting a fart after 10! Never was I so glad to see a loo as at Saddlecombe and the relief was immense (pun intended).
The skies were clouding over but it was still ideal running conditions. Housedean Farm was the next checkpoint at slightly over marathon distance 26.6 miles (42.5km). It gives you a lift knowing that you are over halfway and there are only 8 parkruns left to go. (Yes, I divide Ultras into Parkruns so there were 16 to do today). There is a nice steep slope on the descent to the barn and I gave it the usual “no brakes” treatment, after all, gravity is helping with free speed and I didn’t want to waste it. While loading up the bottles at the aid station my guts gave a warning twinge, and not one to ignore that after what had gone on at Saddlecombe, I decided to spend 10 minutes in the queue for the toilet. Not to go into gory detail, dear reader, it was a wise move.
I grabbed a cup of coke to sip on the ascent out of Housdean on the way to Southease where the aid station is set up next to the YHA at 33.9 miles (54km). It was on the approach that I remembered running the same section in the dead of night on the SDW100 where Budgie and I had turned off our torches and gazed in wonder at the stars. After running over the railway bridge it was into the aid station for a quick top up of tailwind and trotting off again. I was starting to flag at this point so hit the “break glass in case of emergency” caffeine bullet which certainly seemed to hit the spot and the miles flew by and I descended into Alfriston (41.6 miles/ 66.56km). I also passed John who was struggling with his left leg so kept my fingers crossed that he could walk it in (3 Parkruns in three and a half hours should be fine).
It’s a really picturesque village but you can see the ascent required after the aid station which dampens the enthusiasm somewhat.
After a quick top up of the tailwind I plodded up the long climb and over hill to drop down into Jevington. By this stage most people were heading past the aid station at 45.7 miles (73.12km) but I stopped to put on my long sleeve top as the sun was setting and it was getting chilly. I was doing the maths in my head and with any luck I could get to the finish before dark so could leave the headtorch in my bag.
After climbing up out of Jevington to complete the overall ascent of 1984 metres we went past the trig point and then headed down the slippery gully into Eastbourne. I ran down the gully with only one slip but was glad to not be going through it in the dark. I plodded along the streets, not feeling the love of pavement running after nearly 50 miles. As I neared the sports centre car park I started jogging again so to at least look the part as I ran past family and friends waiting at the start of the track. I picked up the pace on the track and overtook a couple of runners as I powered (in my dreams) to the line to finish in 11 hours 34 minutes 37 seconds.
It was a warm day’s work – and definitely gave me a kick up the backside to get more training in. Aside from the North Downs Way in about 6 weeks time, there is Wendover Woods in July and the course is brutal with 10000ft of ascent so I really need to get practicing on Butser Hill.
As always I give a massive thank you to the Centurion volunteer army whose assistance was impeccable and much needed. And also a shout out to the course markers who did a fine job on the Downs.