The ultrarunning season is now well and truly underway. So, let’s usher in a year of my riveting ultrarunning diary!
This weekend gone, it was Pegasus Ultra Running’s CANUM. No idea why I do it to myself. You have to have taken part to understand! It’s one we all love to hate. A different kind of ultramarathon beast. On paper – easy. 40 flat-ish miles along a canal. Easy peasy right? Wrong! It is fucking BRUTAL! What kind of footwear? It’s ‘trail’ route – but you could get away with road shoes. The weather was on our side – which made it a little more bearable – until it, once again, becomes unbearable!
Since the EPONA last June, I had built up to cumulating 100 miles a week.
Managed to peak in May last year ahead of the EPONA. Since then, the goal was to maintain this figure. Time on feat, increase strength and longevity – to make these ultras more ‘enjoyable’. By enjoyable, I mean of course less painful. There was the odd week in the second half of last year I may have missed the 100-mile goal – but this year I have remained consistent.
My personal target for this years’ CANUM was around 8 hours.
My moving time was 8 hours 6 minutes. Overall time was 8 hours 45 minutes. Can’t complain about that. Had a niggle on the top of my right foot. It felt like a bone pain. It was cause for concern, as the goal was to see where I was at physically – I was worried I’d fucked myself up already! 2 days later as I write this – gone. No trace of it. Not even a sore patch. I’ll take that. I did have a pain at the bottom of my right kneecap which again was cause for concern. Sunday after – it was a bit hurty. Still there Monday. Shit. Tuesday however – seems alright! 8 hours of pounding hard, compressed dirt trails took its toll a bit!
Pretty much recovered now, back to the routine on Wednesday (tomorrow as I write this). EDIT: fucking bottom of my right knee cap is bothering me still. EDIT – June – cleared up. All good!
If you didn’t already know, all roads lead to this years’ EPONA 100 (read about last year’s effort here), SIRONA 100 and finally a 104 mile backyard ultra to see if I have what it takes to try out the Wild Horse 200 in 2026. Probably got it in me mentally, but I need to make sure the physical game is there. I hear a lot of positive encouragement from my ultrarunning pals who are on another level to me, but I dunno if you guys are just being kind or honest, so I need to know for myself! Completing a 100 miler has been a goal since forever. Managed that, came back for more, level up my game and push my boundaries even further.
The Dragon’s Back race, SPINE race and the Wild Horse 200 are all there on the list – albeit it on their own with the label ‘Hopefully, one day’.
This year I upped my supplement game too with adaptogens. Doing absolutely anything to squeeze out an extra 1% wherever I can. Whether that be gear, supps, dietary tweaks or harder training. Managed to boost performance a bit with mushrooms and better still, they contributed massively to recovery. If I was going to undertake a massive multi-day event like those listed about, recovering is as important as the performance itself. Need to be able to go again – for several days. Adaptogens definitely helped so I absolutely swear by them.
Even talking to Si about First Light Coffee on the morning of the CANUM, their coffee is better than regular, instant coffee (which I was using before without thinking about it). After talking with Si, I was sold – and, again, looking to improve 1% here and there all contribute toward being able to ‘do’, and ‘do’ better. Thanks Si – order placed! Always great talking to like-minded guys and gals top help fine tune and tweak elements for the better!
Anyway, I’ve digressed a bit – with good reason. Urgh – the CANUM lol.
Any Pegasus event is great, regardless. But the people – they’re the one’s who make it! Always good seeing the gang and meeting new people. Running with Matt and Al, meeting Lloyd, seeing Ian (who I never realised lives round the corner form me!), seeing Kev, Owain (pronounced O-wine), Luke, Chris, meeting Rav the running streak machine, seeing the gang from She Runs Cardiff. You guys rock as always!
I haven’t decided whether to just update this blog or write a new one for each major event for this year’s ‘Ultrarunning Diary’. We’ll see. Thanks for reading as always.
EDIT: 2nd June – I have separate blogs, but I’ll summarise them and add to this blog.
Following the CANUM, I had a bash at a backyard ultra. I’m not terrible at going far – I’m just not that fast. That’s where the challenge lies with a BYU. It’s against the clock. Turns out I aint cut out for them, but I’m having another bash in October at one to see if I can avenge the Eastnor Backyard Ultra – which I was beaten by a mere 12 seconds as I stopped for a piss. Don;t wanna dwell too much on it, however, I learned a few lessons from failure in this blog.
7th June – The VOGUM
Normally a great event, this time it was a miserable and soggy one. Shitty weather, wet feet and blisters. Positive things were 8 minutes faster than last year’s event PB in a lot shittier conditions. Just gotta sort these blisters ahead of the EPONA in a couple of weeks. Cheers British summer weather. White Hokas now a beigey-brown colour. For fucks sake, they were smart as well.
As it’s about halfway through the year, thought I might post up some bits as an accountability check. Here’s my Runkeeper stats as of 10th June 2025:
In amongst all that, did manage a new Parkrun PB – 22:22:
Another year, another EPONA 100 completed. Having completed it last year, howver this year the route was reversed – and with it brought new challenges! Nevertheless, I managed it quicker than last year with a whole lot more rest too which is testament to my training. Read more about the event here.
Next up, the PIGUM. A last minute entry… Last minute as in I had to contact Rhys after entries closed to get a spot, no idea if I would wanna run again for a while atfer the EPONA. Turns out 2 weeks is plenty of not doing much so another one for the books!
The PIGUM
First time at this event. Last year, it was 2 weeks after the EPONA last year. I was in a bit of a state after that so couldn’t even entertain it. Different story this year though! Felt strong, so got stuck in. It was pretty much a third of the EPONA – 31 miles and 6000 feet of elevation. Downside? Got a pain in my knee early on. Tried to run it off, but it just got worse. Ended up reducing the event to a walk which was frustrating. Nevertheless, another couple of miles in the legs toward the SIRONA and edging closer to the coveted 1000 mile buckle!
