Ultramarathons, marathons and training for long days

I have run marathons, ultramarathons and a few things that were mostly just very long walks in the dark. These are the race reports and the training behind them, written honestly enough to be useful if you're preparing for your first one.

2024: verified results

Official race records, selected public checkpoints and clearly labelled planning analysis.

From the first marathon to longer events

Start with the original diaries; use the overview to connect rather than duplicate them.

The first two marathons, retold

Official splits from 2009 and my own 2010 race diary.

Practical guides from experience

Frameworks and reflections, not individual prescriptions.

Travel, preparation and repeated race days

Different challenges, not one universal training plan.

The race record: from Madeira to 200 miles

My original Chicago marathon story begins in 2009, followed by races around Europe, Madeira in 2014 and later longer ultras. In 2024 the official event trackers record South Downs Way 100 in 22:43:38 (126th overall, bib 561) and Winter Downs 200 in 69:14:32 (18th overall, bib 167). I have run 30+ marathons. Port Elizabeth is an Ironman finish and Maastricht a DNF in my recollection; dates, time and their sequence remain unconfirmed, so they do not appear as dated result entries.

How to go from nothing to a marathon

I ran my first marathon at 23 off about three miles a week, which I do not recommend and would do very differently now. What works is unglamorous: four or five easy runs a week, one longer one at the weekend, and months of not missing them. Speed can wait. The single biggest predictor of finishing well is how many uninterrupted weeks of easy mileage sit behind you.

Marathon to ultramarathon

The jump is less about pace and more about time on your feet, eating while moving, and being comfortable walking. My 42-mile prep and the 30 hours in Madeira are both stories about food, feet and pacing rather than fitness. Back-to-back long weekend days teach you more than any single monster run.

What repeatedly goes wrong

The new result-led features distinguish checkpoint timestamps from memories, elapsed time from moving pace and planning advice from a claim about what happened. Check kit, supply access and assistance rules with the organiser for your edition. Practise the practical parts of a long event rather than treating another runner’s finish time as your training prescription.

Reader questions

Did you finish both 2024 Centurion races?: Yes. The official event trackers record Finish for South Downs Way 100 (22:43:38, bib 561) and Winter Downs 200 (69:14:32, bib 167). Each feature links to the original result.
Is your finish time a moving pace?: No. It is the whole elapsed race interval. Stops, terrain and the different events make a uniform mile-by-mile target or direct performance comparison misleading.
Can I use these stories as a training plan?: They are experience and planning reflections, not an individual training prescription. Read the organiser’s current requirements and obtain qualified advice suited to your experience.

The questions people ask

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