It’s been a big couple of months of training (and racing) for me. I’m training for my first 100-mile race in May – the Centurion Thames Path 100 – and I’m equally terrified and excited.

My longest recent run was just under 30 miles and it blew my mind that on race day I’d still have 70 miles to go. Training has been going well and I managed to run a marathon PB (2.57.11) in the midst of training, which still seems like a dream.

Alongside a more-than full time job I’ve been averaging 65-80 miles a week as well as some strength sessions. This might seem like fairly small fry for all the high-mileage athletes out there but I’m pretty knackered. I’m normally a voracious reader but at the minute I’m lucky if I can get through a few pages of my book before bed and I’ve taken to having a nap on weekend afternoons. 

The day job

My day-job is as a veterinary anaesthetist. There aren’t many of us in the world (approximately 150 in Europe). To become a veterinary anaesthetist, it’s sort-of similar to the consultancy training pathway that doctors follow with some key differences.

Most vets qualify as the equivalent of a GP and then, after some time in practice, a small subset apply for training posts at specialist hospitals in their area of interest. I was lucky (and mad enough) to get a training post in Edinburgh some years ago and I qualified as a specialist anaesthetist in 2016.

These days I work 4 long days (10+ hours as a minimum) per week and a 1-in-4 on call rota which means that one of my long days is followed by being on-call overnight. I also work 1-in-4 weekends where I’m on duty from Friday morning until Monday morning. 

Veterinary practice is much like human medicine in that it’s unpredictable, often hilarious and occasionally chaotic. Unfortunately, the unpredictability doesn’t always tally well with my training program so there’s a fair number of runs that are shifted around and quite a lot of getting up too early.

The importance of good communication with your coach

Tom Craggs, my coach, is endlessly patient with late night texts to say that I’ve missed a run because of some disaster that’s arrived out of hours. For me, being awake between 11pm and 6am has a disproportionate impact on my fatigue levels, whether that’s due to work or training.

Every minute I’m up before 6am seems to require 30 minutes of extra sleep and sadly that’s not always possible. To those athletes who work night shifts, I salute you! 

Double runs require careful negotiation with my husband as it means I can’t fit in a morning dog walk with Goose, our English Pointer, and he has to do it instead. Even on single days it often makes sense to run early as it means training isn’t dependent on getting out of work at a decent hour.

That said, my early morning dog walk is balm for my soul – I love walking with him beside the river before the rest of the world is awake. Unfortunately, there are two swans nesting on our usual route at the moment. Goose isn’t interested but they try to attack anyone trying to walk past – it makes our morning wander a lot less relaxing.

Clearly Goose needs some serious walking and takes no prisoners. Photo: Karla Borland

Fuelling the bigger workload

With all this training, there’s a lot of extra fuelling that’s necessary. My Italian colleague at work is constantly disgusted by how much I shovel into my mouth between cases. Apparently, I eat like an Italian builder.

I’ve taken that as a complement but from his facial expressions, I’m not sure that’s how it was meant. The anaesthesia snack cupboard at work is legendary although much of it would not be considered nutritious – it’s mostly sugary sweets and doughnuts. I’m guilty of getting to 7pm and then inhaling a chocolate bar in an act of desperation. 

There are a couple of things that have really helped me survive quite an intense period of work and running. As I’ve mentioned above fuel is key. All mealtimes have gone out the window – if I’m hungry and fancy a panini in the afternoon, two hours after lunch, then I eat it.

After my recent marathon I had a bag of chips as an afternoon snack and felt a lot better about life.

Following some tough runs, maintaining my strength and conditioning sessions has been essential to getting my legs moving again. I’ve also been doing my best to get more sleep – Instagram scrolling is the absolute worst for keeping me up. Before I know it, I’m searching for nonsense and am wide awake.

Instead, reading a book makes my brain switch off from work and running. And finally, the most important thing. Wine. I’m not going to break any world records and running isn’t my job so if I fancy a large glass of red then I have it. I’m sure all those antioxidants are useful for ultra-training. 

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“We wanted to provide a way for the whole family to get involved,” said race director James Elson. “Not just our own dedicated community of runners, but the partners, children, parents and everyone else.”

And now over 3000 people have signed up. They can run anything from 5k up to 100 miles from 00:01 Monday 25th May through to Sunday night. Whilst some are doing their distance all in one go the Centurion Running coaches have been advising athletes to spread the running across the week.

“It’s a great opportunity to try something new with your training. Push the mileage a little as part of the challenge and adapt your future training because of it”.

100 mile is the favourite

Of the 3000+ sign ups there’s been well over 1000 in the 100 mile distance. Maybe expected from a community used to covering the distance in one go, but somewhat surprisingly the 100 mile training week is a new concept for many.

“People will have covered this distance in race week before, but we get a huge range of training mileage in ultra running” said the GB 24hr runner. “It’s been interesting as the community has been alive with different plans for the week”.

The hope is that we see some example of social learning theory as the week goes on. The experienced community will provide  support for each other, as is often the case. The advice online might not always be solid, but it normally comes from a good place and the Centurion coaches on hand to help too.

Not your normal checkpoint. Photo: Stuart March/Centurion Running

The whole family involved

What’s brilliant about this event though is the wider community engagement. “We didn’t want to just put on something for our runners, but their whole family too.”

“When you run an ultra, especially 100 miles, it really isn’t a solo event,” smiled Elson. “On race day you have support from friends, family and our army of volunteers. But also in the weeks and months before the children get used to Mummy going out on her morning long run or your friends realise you’re going to start running with the club instead of going down the pub.”

So the event means the wider family can get involved and young and old have answered the call. Proud parents who supported their grown-up children to run ultras for years can finally join in the fun. As well youngsters, who look up to their parents heroics, can pin on a race number to earn their own medal, safely over the course of a week.

Starting early

Some could not wait to start. Fortunately not all are in the UK, so Fergus Edwards, based in Tasmania, made use of the nine hour time distance to start at 00:01 UK time, but at a more civilised local time of 09:01. The accomplished ultra distance runner is running the 100 mile distance over the course of the whole week.

Anna Buckingham wanted to make the most of the bank holiday. The experienced ultra runner decided she didn’t want to hang about so set off around midnight to run her 50 mile. The St. Albans Strider clocked 7:46:19 and finished in time for breakfast.

Don’t think that everyone is going wild though. Upon hearing of Anna’s early morning escapade Centurion coach Sophie Grant was quick to point out that some of us were still enjoying their morning coffee.

France based 24hr runner Sarah Cameron is taking on the 100 mile week with her son going for 50k, whilst Irish international  Nicola Duncan has recruited her hound Senna to the challenge too. We’re not sure if bribery by sweets/biscuits were involved in either case, but all have already clocked up some miles.

A potentially unknowing Senna is all keyed up for 50k this week.

The action should hot up as the week continues with leaderboards for all distances from 5k to 100 miles. The clock starts as soon as you do your first run and finishes when you compete the final mile. Ross Barkley won’t be winning this week.

Still time to get involved

The entries are open all week, although if you’re opting for one the bigger distances best to get chipping away at those miles earlier on. If you want to become part of the Centurion Running Community this week then jump on here.

So far over £7,000 has also been raised for NHS Charities Together and over £1000 will be donated to the Trees, not Tees initiative set up earlier this year.

Another beautiful aspect of the community is that runners donated entry spots for those who have been affected financially by the current situation. This means anyone who wants to get involved still can.

You can follow along with #centurioncommunity on Instagram if you need to see some pictures of wonderful running across the UK & Worldwide, with runners signing up as far afield as Tasmania and South Georgia, the island made famous by Sir. Ernest Shackleton.

Now, I’ve signed up to the 50k week so best get out for a morning run to kick things off. Got to be sensible when returning from injury.

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“Can we make it completely unacceptable for a race organiser not to offer an alternative?”

Those are the words of mountain runner Jim Mann, who this week announced the launch of Trees Not Tees, an initiative that gives race directors the option to plant a tree instead of giving out a tee-shirt to their finishers.

“Even a cotton t-shirt” often seen as a more sustainable alternative to cheap plastic tees, “uses the equivalent of 2.5 years of drinking water in the production process, as well as over 2kg of carbon, for each top.”

Mann, who studied ecology at university, said that having been inspired by the likes of Dan Lawson and Charlotte Jalley’s ReRun Clothing initiative, started thinking about commercially viable ways for us to plant more trees and Trees not Tees was born.

With a 480 acre site up in Scotland, although they are already looking for more viable land, the initiative will give race directors “a credible alternative to the countless “free” t-shirts that are given out at the end of nearly every single race”.

What about the people who really want that tee?

Not unsympathetic to the idea that some really do want and will use a race t-shirt to show off their achievement, it’s more about changing the default option of giving them to everyone.

“Psychologically we struggle in turning down the t-shirts as we feel like we’ve already paid for them” says the runner who’s representing Scotland over 100k this May. “We want to change the default and give organisers an option that doesn’t leave their runners feeling ripped off.”

The Manchester Half announced last year they would no longer be giving out finishers t-shirts as standard and there was a backlash on social media from some of the runners. For a business it can sometimes seem an unappetising option. For the environment it’s an important step in the right direction.

“I realise we’re in a bit of a bubble in the hill running community as generally we’re more likely to value the great outdoors, but it’s a good place to start making a change.” If it comes from the runners, of they start demanding the change from race directors, then it’s going to be easier for everyone involved.

Has Jim turned down every t-shirt in the last few years?

“I understand that some people really do value the finishers t-shirts and I certainly have mine from the Dragon’s Back race as I’m really proud of the achievement, but do we need them from every event?

“We don’t want to take away the t-shirt option from those who really want to wear them, but educate on the production process and change the default” said the man famous for running big mountain loops in the winter.

Providing an alternative doesn’t take away the option for runners to have a finisher’s top, it just makes them choose. So many of the tees travel halfway around the world just to end up in our bottom drawer at home or in the charity shop unworn.”

Some of the thousands of races tees at ReRun HQ

Dan Lawson, of ReRun Clothing, often states that the best method is for people to “opt-in” for t-shirts instead of a choice to “opt-out”. Even going as far as asking race organisers to ask on multiple occasions if the runner “really does need another t-shirt?”

Lawson should know as they have thousands of race t-shirts donated and stored in their office, often unopened and unused.

Recently at the National Running Show ReRun were at the front door and many handed off large bundles of unwanted, but perfectly usable, clothes before trotting along to the nearest stand to buy new, feeling like they had done their part for the environment by donating, missing the point of ReRun by a country mile. The most sustainable item of clothing is the one you already own.

Lawson puts it like this “Does the world need another t-shirt or another tree?”

Making it affordable for businesses too

Back to Trees Not Tees and Mann is aware of the backlash races might get from their athletes but wants there to be a credible alternative.

“We have a base cost for tree planting, but we’re also happy to price match to the cost of the tees if a business sends over the pricing from the year before. We do have a limit of £2.50 per tree though” which seems very fair. If you’re getting your t-shirts for less than that then they’re probably extremely poor quality.

Centurion Running, who organise 50k to 100 mile trail races, got on board straight away. “The race tees for long events in particular are still really popular with a lot of runners,” acknowledges race director James Elson “They are proud of their achievement and will wear a good quality tee with pride.

“For those who don’t want or need it however, Jim’s initiative is an alternative that will make a fundamental difference to the battle we are all facing. At no additional cost to the organiser this has to now be under consideration for all presenting tees as an included option.”

Will people take the choice?

It’s no surprise that Centurion Running’s Elson co-hosts a podcast with ReRun’s Dan Lawson, but the race director has been trying to reduce his races’ carbon footprint for many a year, but people really do enjoy wearing their 100 mile finisher tops. The hope is this gives an option to some and provide something for all to think about.

If business give people the option of a t-shirt or a tree then they’re not disappointing people or losing money. If the default option is to plant a tree, then runners have the option of a t-shirt then it might cost more for those individual t-shirts, but organisers could offer a higher priced, higher quality t-shirt for those that really want it.

Mann laughs that he’s “still got Helly Hansen tops from when I was 15 years old and they’re still going strong,” after which we have a good conversation about brands that produce high quality, long lasting kit, as opposed to investment bank owned business cutting cost margins and lowering quality just to make a profit. Ultimately the consumer can help with their choices.

So ask yourself the question again

Do you need another t-shirt? Or is the world going to be a better place with another tree as Lawson suggests.

“We need to reduce, reuse and recycle” says Mann, “but if we’re not reducing first, then it’s madness.”

Often people talk about climate activists scaremongering and the climate crisis not being as bad as people make out, but think about your options and the consequences of the path we take.

If we keep trying to be more environmentally friendly then we’ll have more trees, less pollution and less junk filing up landfills. Generally the world is going to be a better place in 10, 20, 100 years time if we make an effort.

Choosing to plant a tree instead of taking a t-shirt might not solve everything (hint: it won’t) but it’s a start. It’s improving our current model to make the hobby of running more sustainable. Ultimately who does it harm?

The other option? Choose to ignore everything. Then we fuck up the planet beyond repair. So do you really need that t-shirt?

If you want to find out more then visit the TreesnotTees website or the Rerun Website.  For ReRun you can also follow them on Instagram for good times and knowledge, all in one account. If you know a race director then why not tell them about the option of Trees instead of Tees? 

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