Copthorne Races 100 mile 2024 – Race Report
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Date: Saturday 23rd November 2024
Official miles: 103 miles
Strava says: 107.78 miles
Elevation: 22,000 ft / 6,706 m
Weather: Storm Bert
Start: Mickleham Village Hall
Route type: 10.3 mile laps
Conditions: windy, wet quagmire, mild temperature
Website link: The Copthorne Races by Canary Trail Events
Describe the route in three words: Storm Bert quagmire
Route description from the Canary Trails website
The race, and each subsequent 10.3 mile loop starts at Mickleham Village Hall and heads straight up onto Mickleham Downs. You continue up the “runway” and into the trees at the top. After a short distance a sharp right turn takes you on a gentle decent, which gradually gets steeper and steeper as it turns into the infamous “Kamikaze” hill. Crossing the road at the bottom sees you climbing up towards High Ashurst before a quick decent takes you onto Headley Heath. At the bottom of the decent you encounter the first steps of the loop as you climb again and begin to weaver around the Heath, skirting the main car park. There are several twists and turns around the Heath before you exit via a gate and start a gentle upwards incline past houses on Box Hill. At the top of the road a right turn will take you to Box Hill Village Hall and the halfway Check Point. A loop around the car park (or stop to refill water if needed) and you head back the way you came before turning right and pick up the North Downs Way. A steep decent is followed by a short sharp climb brings you to a lovely gentle runnable decent down to Box Hill Road. Turning almost back on yourself a short climb takes you back to a trail which contours Box Hill below the viewpoint and brings you to the Box Hill steps where you turn left and descend. At the bottom of Box Hill, you bear right and cross the River Mole via the footbridge, before heading to the car park. Turning left there you head down to the river and cross via the stepping stones. You then climb up the Bix Hill steps all the way to the viewpoint, where you turn left, cross the road and head across the Donkey Field. A nice runnable descent brings you to the old tower above Juniper Hall where you do a right turn and take the steps down to Juniper Bottom and then to the car park. Then comes the delight of Satan’s Staircase, a relentless climb back up onto the top of Mickleham Down. Another sharp descent brings you back to Mickleham where you turn right through the graveyard and then at the road, right again and your back at Mickleham Village Hall and the start of another loop.
Copthorne Races 100 miles – Race Report
I got a taxi to the start and arrived at 7.15am, RD Allan was outside greeting everyone, I said to him “I’m back!”. Alan had really encouraged me last year to get back out on the course when at times I had felt like giving up, he actually ended up personally crewing me on my final two laps. I went to register and was handed my bib, Eros (who is blind) immediately started chatted to me, I commented on what a great memory he has. We had chatted at the end of the Copthorne last year and I was impressed he had remembered me! But then I quickly remembered that this is at the core of Canary Trail Events, no one forgets each other and it’s a lovely family atmosphere. So many people to say hi to. Sebastian (200 mile entrant) whom I’d run with a bit on the Beacons Way earlier in the year, Jade who confessed to Strava stalk me (50 km entrant), Stuart, James, Lawrence and Mike, all I had shared miles with at last year’s Copthorne Races. I then had plenty of time to overthink my outfit choice and keep changing my mind on whether or not I should wear a waterproof or a windproof jacket and if I should wear gloves. I opted for a waterproof and put the gloves in my bag.
Stuart and I were chatting on the start line and I nearly missed the “3, 2, 1, go!”. Off we went and coach Stu’s words of conserving energy kept playing in my head. I really made a point to hang back and got myself nicely at the back of the bottle neck to go through the gate a few hundred metres from the start and subsequently at the back of the first climb towards the gallops. I found myself with Lawrence, who funnily enough was the person I ran the entire first lap with last year! We had a great chat the whole way round. Stu had told me to refuel before the Box Hill climb. I have to confess that I use my long runs to get rid of food that’s been hanging around the house and I don’t really want (I hate wastage) so I had planned to eat my beetroot Voom bar here. I really love Voom bars, however the beetroot Voom bar is absolutely disgusting so my plan was to eat the 2 I had and finally get rid of them in the early stage of the race. I managed to get it all down me in time for the Box Hill steps. Lawrence and I commented on all the memories that were flooding back from the previous year. You spend so much time on this course you learn many intimacies about it which get forgotten until you are there again. For example, last year there was a branch after Cow Shit Alley that we all had to duck underneath. The gallops have random holes that you don’t want to twist an ankle in. Saturn Hill (this is my name for the hill after Kamikaze) has stones that look like potatoes. There are 15 speed bumps on the lane before the Box Hill village hall checkpoint. The path after the Box Hill village hall has a small section that can be treacherous due to the chalk. Both the stepping stones and downhill steps before Satan’s Staircase has one stone/step that is slippery. There is a tree root near the top of Satan’s that I always go to the right of as it is easier.
The weather at this point was not too bad, just drizzly and fairly mild. My plan was to come in off the first loop and leave immediately, this is exactly what I did, the first lap took me 2 hours 5 minutes, 10 minutes ahead of schedule (lap 1 10:05am), grabbing a banana as I went through. Lawrence caught up with me on Headley Heath and we chatted a bit, he commented on my speed through the first checkpoint. Lawrence moved away from me on speed bump lane.
During the second lap Storm Bert gradually increased his intensity and I realised that my hands were beginning to swell with cold, I was having problems opening my final Voom beetroot bar on speed bump lane. I got it opened and it took me the entire lane mostly walking to eat it, what a relief to finish it, I’m never buying them again! The cold hands meant it could be problematic for opening the wrapper of my next bar that I needed to consume before the Box Hill steps hike, I started wiggling my fingers around, it took ages but finally they felt okay, just in time to open the wrapper of my Country Crisp bar!
I came in off lap 2 at 12:15pm in 2 hours 10 minutes, arriving at the checkpoint 15 minutes ahead of schedule, I had scheduled a 10 minute stop after lap 2 – this was good because I was just beginning to get cold and knew I needed to change my top layers. I put on a new top and waterproof jacket and one of the event crew very kindly made me a cheese sandwich to take with me. In the 2 minutes I was waiting for the sandwich I made a last minute decision to put waterproof trousers on over the top of my soaked leggings, planning to do a full bottom half outfit change after lap 4. This turned out to be a very good decision.
I set off on lap 3 with my freshly prepared made to order cheese sandwich and Hula Hoops feeling a bit smug as normally I would sit and eat this in the checkpoint but I had vowed to myself to not spend so much time faffing around and chatting in checkpoints. I was now wearing my green waterproof jacket which I have not worn that much, it is still quite new. I was surprised to see lots of water on my right side, the top of my badder can’t be on properly. I adjusted it. Lap 3 was another great lap and it was on this lap I realised that the best way to conquer the odd weather was to change my top layers every 20 miles. I found it difficult to maintain a good core temperature because it wasn’t wet and cold, it was wet and warm, but on top of the warm was the wind which made me cold because of my sweat, getting clothing right I felt was going to be the difference between a DNF and a finish. I seemed to be wet the whole time, something I have not experienced before and I have run in some pretty epic rain in the past.
I came in off lap 3 and was alarmed to see it was 3:05pm, my race plan was for me to come in at 3pm and leave at 3:05pm, how had I lost so much time? I had done lap 3 in 2 hours 35 minutes, it felt as though it had been much quicker. Whilst the event crew refiled my waters I popped on my head torch and found my gloves and waterproof over mittens as well as my poles, the marshal informed me that my bladder had a hole in it. A wonderfully kind guy in a kilt called Brendon (whom was enjoying a hot cuppa having completed the 50 km) was kind enough to offer me his water bottle, it was a rigid one so I politely declined, but it wasn’t just his kindness of the loan that struck me, it was his words of how I was “on a noble adventure” that gave me a lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside, I was indeed on a noble adventure trying to run this bonkers race in the testing conditions of Storm Bert!
I knew I’d need to switch the headtorch on during lap 4 and wondered where I would be. I vividly remember it being pitch black on the straight path before the woods last year. I didn’t turn the head torch on until the end of this stretch where the woods start, and it certainly wasn’t pitch dark so I knew I was up on last year’s time.
As I approached Box Hill village has on lap 4 event crew Mike was turning his head from side to side, as I approached him he said, “I’m being a lighthouse”, “Yes” I thought, “you are my kind of person!” He asked me if needed anything and I asked him if I could be cheeky, of course. Could he please possibly get my snacks out for me and unwrap it? He bravely delved into my wet with rain and sweat pack and located my Chomp and Curlywurly which I had picked up from Mickleham, he took the wrapper off from the Chomp and I ate it out of his hand, why waste time taking it from him with my own hand?! He handed me the now opened Curlywurly and off I went. There was a really odd fog patch which remained throughout the night on the descent shortly after the village hall. I find that trail difficult at the best of times what with the combination of tree roots, chalk and wet leaves, together with the fog I found it even harder.
It was so nice to have my poles with me from lap 4 and as I used them on the Box Hill hike I thought how much my training with Stu had paid off, yes I was using them but after 35 miles they were just a nice thing to have and not a dependant that I was desperate for.
I shared some miles with a chap on lap 4 (I can’t remember his name!) and told him about the legendary buttered crumpets and cups of tea, I had been caffeine free for 2 weeks prior to the race and was therefore soooooo looking forward to my cup of tea! As we came in off lap 4 at 6:02pm (now 37 minutes behind schedule) we were asked if we needed anything, the chap just said, “yes, get this woman a cup of tea!”. I went for a FULL outfit change, we are talking the works: pants, bra, waterproof socks, shoes, leggings, waterproof trousers, tee shirt, windproof jacket and waterproof jacket. I changed my head torch batteries and Hezel made me a jacket potato and vegan chilli, I was handed a cup of tea by Jade and she went to refill my bladders, I showed here which one was laking and asked her to fill it to just before the hole. I also opted for some mouthfuls of Biscoff spread, it was amazing!
I had scheduled a 20 minute stop here but I was probably closer to an hour, peeling wet clothes off, applying talcum powder and Sudocreme to the necessary areas, getting dressed and eating a full meal seems to take me a long time. Hezel said he’d turn my clothes to try to get them as dry as possible for me and I told him that the next time I saw him I would be half way through, exciting!
As I was nearing Box Hill on lap 5 I realised I was desperate for a wee. Every time I had been through Box Hill village hall Mike or Boris had asked me if I needed anything, this time I said, “yes, I am desperate for a wee!” Mike took my poles and helped me to get my gloves off, as I emerged from the bathroom he was there poised and ready like an F1 pit stop crew, he actually put the gloves onto my hands and then placed the poles into them, what a star!
I came in off lap 5 at 9:49pm and was delighted to see Hezel, “I told you the next time I saw you I would be halfway”. I was pretty quick through the checkpoint, ensuring I had enough snacks in my bag and taking something to eat on the next lap.
I was aware that the laps seemed to be taking me around 3 hours 20 minutes. I was now thinking about my favourite lighthouse Mike, I was really looking forward to seeing him. When I am on long runs, I tend to get fixated on specific things, wether that be a person or a landmark, it works as a milestone and helps me get through. At Box Hill I popped into the hall, Mike was not there, how dare he! Boris was though and he kindly changed my head torch batteries (I don’t usually change them so much but I was just a bit paranoid! Boris also opened a Chomp and Curlywurly for me. He told me he had spare batteries with him if I needed to change them again, what a lovely guy. I came in off Lap 6 at 1:05am, exactly 2 hours behind my race plan, this Storm Bert chap was really cramping my style! My plan all along had been to do quick stop, longer stop, quick stop, longer stop, and this matched up well with the need to change my top layers every 2 laps. I took my tee shirt, windproof and waterproof off and went to check out my various layers that were drying, everything was still so wet! I must have pulled quite the facial expression because Jade immediately said to me, “I’ve got a long sleeved top, do you want to borrow it?!” “Oh my, yes I do and thank you so very much!” Jade went to grab it from the car, it was so nice to be dry and snuggly whilst drinking my tea and eating my divine buttered crumpets. i told Jade that Mike had not been at Box Hill, she informed me he was likely taking a nap, oops, I felt a bit guilty, poor guy! Of course he needs to sleep! I was sure I would see him again later. My friend Kev was coming to pick me up at the finish and had messaged me to say he’d arrive a little early, did I need anything? I replied with a list of things I would like for him to bring: thin long sleeved top, lightweight waterproof jacket, thin gloves and waterproof over mittens.
Into the night on lap 7! It was on this lap that my mood went a little up and down, I was happy because I was on my seventh lap but then I was also thinking that I had another 3 laps to go and 30 miles seemed like a lot. Just as I was thinking that thought, I saw a head torch! Great, I can lap someone! Any residue negative thoughts evaporated and I turned into a hunter, off to get my prey! It was Stuart, we were on the leafy muddy path before the grassy muddy path over Headley Heath, we had a bit of a chat and I carried on. After some time, I saw another headtorch! It was Louise, we were on the grassy muddy path on Headley Heath, I greeted her and continued on my way. On the short gravel climb before the speed bump lane I passed one more person, incredible, I had lapped 3 people, this is very exciting! As I got into Box Hill Boris was waiting for me seemingly very excited, practically bouncing up and down:
“I’ve got good news for you!”
“Have you?”
“You’re first!”
“First lady?”
“No, first overall, Mike’s just having a sleep, I don’t know for how long for but he’s in the hall now and you are passing him!”
Wow! I hadn’t realised I was so near the front of the race! This was good news! Off I went, funnily enough, a little bit quicker. I’ve never been first overall before, this is exciting. If I can quicken my pace a bit now, I can make a bit of a gap between us. I then had lots of thoughts bouncing in my head. Is Mike asleep because he is supremely confident with his abilities in this storm with the tight cut off? Is he asleep because he felt awful? Is he going to wake up refreshed and be out that hall like a greyhound and come bounding past me? Why does my tummy feel like this? Oh my, it’s nerves! I’m now super nervous because I know I have a chance of winning!
As I trotted along the narrow path along the fence line immediately after Cow Shit ally, I got my head stuck in a bramble. My pony tail, my cap, my head torch, it was all stuck in the bramble, this is so not cool. I am the race leader for the first time ever trying to put some distance between myself and Mike yet here I am stuck in a bramble. I didn’t want to rip my waterproof over mittens so I was not using my hands, I was just bobbing my head around like a loon. In the end my cap and head torch fell into the mud. My pony tail was still stuck and the head torch was shining directly into my eyes. I finally sorted myself out and sheepishly continued on my way.
I got to the woods near the stepping stones and was now so nervous I thought I could pee my pants, I darted off into the bushes for an emergency pit stop and could not help but laugh, what kind of self sabotage is this? I’m in the lead desperate to create a gap but here I am now wasting time behind a bush in the woods! I started the Box Hill climb eagerly looking for Mike’s head torch, I could not see it. I knew this meant I had a minimum of 15 minutes on him, time to crack on.
I came in off lap 7 at 4:43am and took the opportunity to add to my list of things I wanted Kev to bring, waterproof socks! Setting off at around 5am for lap 8. I knew that the head torch would be switched off on this lap, thrilling stuff! I grabbed some roast potatoes and greedily stuffed them down on the climb out of Mickleham, some went down the wrong way so I was coughing, choking, spluttering but somehow still eating them, drinking loads of water to help wash them down. It’s a good job I spend so much time on my own during these races, I must look and sound like such a mess. Especially now my hair was so wild after the bramble altercation.
The weather started to ease off and I was beginning to get hot, I took my cap off. I wondered where I would be on the course when I needed to switch my head torch off. At the Box Hill hall Boris asked me if I needed to use his batteries but I told him I’d be fine as the sun would be coming up soon. I removed my jacket and stuffed it along with my cap into my bag. I told the boys that I was really stressing that I wasn’t sure if I could make the cut off and that I was also stressing about being in the lead and wanting it to stay that way, Mike and Boris both reassured me, Mike then told me that Boris had offered to pace me on the last lap, is that allowed? Isn’t that against the rules? Nope, you are allowed someone to pace you on the final lap. I said “Yes please, I would be delighted to have the company.”
I then proceeded to think about how fun my last lap would be finally having someone to chat to having been on my own for so long. I started focusing so much on the final lap, that I kept forgetting that I still needed to do lap 9 oops! I had to keep reining in my excitement. I turned my head torch off just before I got to the Box Hill steps. I also thought a lot about Kev on this lap and I really hoped he would be at Mickleham at the end of this lap.
Lap 8 was done at 8:15am and sure enough, there was Kevin! The hall was looking pretty sparse at this point, there can’t have been many of us left in it now. I took my saturated waterproof socks off and put Kevin’s waterproof socks on having dried and talced my feet, they were so snuggly! I switched my Peregrine 13 STs for my Peregrine 10 STs. The event crew filled up my bladders, the guy that did it had been the same person to do it so many times now, I never asked his name, Kev was impressed because the gentleman even knew which of my bladders had the leak and where he could fill it up to! I had a cheesy pot pasta, a mug of coke, a cup of tea and I excitedly told Kev how I was allowed someone to pace me on the final lap and that Boris had offered. Kev informed me that he had brought all his running gear and he’d gladly do it, okay then, that would be amazing! Allan then very kindly told Kev that if he wanted to, he could join me on lap 9 too. Hurrah!
Kev and I set off on lap 9 at 8:46am. It had finally stopped raining and the wind had died down. I loved being the tour guide and enjoyed showing Kev the route. Here are the gallops, here is Kamikaze Hill, here is Saturn Hill, here at the stones that look like potatoes and so forth, we had a good chat and when we got into Box Hill village hall I introduced Kev to Mike and Boris and told Boris that although I was super grateful to him, Kev would stay with me until the end.
The descent down through Cow Shit Alley was pretty epic as I ran the entire way, immediately after though I felt a bit dodgy, I think I may have over exerted myself. This made the ninth climb up Box Hill steps long and arduous., Strava tells me that was my longest effort, 9 minutes 13 seconds (I’d been just over 6 minutes on the laps 1 and 2!).
Lap 9 was complete at 11:53am, I really wanted a speedy turnaround as I knew I was chasing the cut off time of 32 hours. I popped to the loo, ate a rice pudding, had a bladder refill, had some Coke and the one of the crew asked me if I wanted a Curlywurly and a Chomp as she knew I liked them (yes please!) and then off we went at 12:04pm, an 11 minute turnaround, that’s pretty good. We took 2 bags of crisps, 2 bananas and 2 hot buttered crumpets with us. To my dismay, I was unable to swallow the crumpets but I also didn’t want to get rid of them in case I got super hungry and we ran out of food. I made Kev carry those 2 crumpets in their little paper bowl for 10 miles! I most certainly was beginning to feel weak now, I think more than anything this was to do with my health issues during the week as I was still moving well, no aches or soreness. I ensured I ate strategically, half a banana coming out of Mickleham hall, packet of crisps at Headley Heath, half a banana out of Box Hill, the other packet of crisps and banana was also consumed, and I had the SiS Beta Fuel (chews) just before the Box Hill steps.
We marched on, a real mix or walking, shuffling and some running. Coach Stu’s words were in my head, “The last lap is all out course warfare! Run with the mind, finish strong, fly like it’s the first lap!” I told Kev that I wanted to leave it all out here on the course. I wanted to make that cut off and I wanted to still try and shave some time off last year. We pushed on and on, we were straight though Box Hill village hall, no stopping to chat, just a big thank you and I bid them a fond and final farewell, they had been great! I told Mike I would return the favour next year, he is planning to run the 100, I said I would volunteer and help him out.
I’ll tell you what, that Satan’s Staircase really was a devil on the last lap (by the way, crew was taking the sign down, I really was the only one here, they were all hanging around waiting for me!) The Hail Satan sign was still up though!
I knew I was in with the tiniest chance of beating last year’s time, I told Kev I wasn’t giving up. I marched on up those steps, even breaking into a run at the top, I really tried to push myself to get there that little bit faster. We climbed the stile for the final time, just the church yard and lane to go now, the guys at the hall could see us coming through the church yard and I could hear the cheering and the whooping, I started to cry and I ran as fast as my little legs would carry me up that lane and under the finish sign, I put my hand on the wall of the hall and then realised everyone was shouting at me, “cross the line, cross the line!” I looked down, spotted the timing mat and leapt across it.
Lap 10 3:11pm, I had done the lap in 3 hours 7 minutes. I had a big hug with Allan, that man is great. I walked into the now mostly empty hall, there was one lone chair calling me, I sat on it and looked round at all the now familiar faces.
There was an additional three there though! My friend Ruth, her husband Andy and their daughter Catherine! What a wonderful surprise to see them there, apparently Ruth had been dot watching the whole time, even checking on my progress at 3:15am in the morning! Alan did a little award ceremony with me. I was first lady, first overall, first to have completed the course twice, first to retain a title and had even got first female in the British-Polish Ultra Sekret Trail Running Championships (whatever that is!), that’s a lot of firsts!
I was aware of someone else being there, another runner, but I was so out of it I didn’t register until in the car on the way home that it was Alan Risk. Alan had been the only one of 16 starters to complete the 200 mile event which had started at 4pm on Thursday, I do really regret not cottoning on as to who he was, I do wish I could have shook his hand and offered him my congratulations. Alan and I have since connected on Facebook and it turns out that the positioning of the lone chair was due to Alan’s thoughtfulness! This is what he had to say
Not long after I finished I fell asleep in the corner and only woke when a friend arrived to see me. I asked where you were and within a few minutes everyone went outside to cheer you in. I was initially lying down, but I had a word with myself and got back to my feet to clap you in, but just before I did this I noticed there was nowhere for you to sit. So I dragged one of the chairs from the corner and planted it right in the middle of the room, knowing you too had been through an absolute ordeal and would welcome a well placed seat at the first opportunity. – Alan
My finish time ended up being just 20 seconds slower than last year, but you know what? I’m happy with that. I had Storm Bert with me the whole time, I had run 2.5 miles extra doing the long course as the stepping stones were under and I had health issues during the week, in the grand scheme of things, I think that time is pretty good, don’t you?!
What’s in the snack pack?
Drop Bag
What I wore: Saucony Peregrine 10 ST, Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar, buff, Sweaty Betty power leggings, Stance socks, Montane merino long sleeved top, Inov 8 Trailshell waterproof jacket, Buff cap, Dirty Girl gaiters, race belt, Salomon Adv Skin 12 running vest.
Lead up: I started a training plan with Obree Coaching in September so my runs were much more structured leading up to the race. I did a mixture of hill efforts, intervals, easy runs, long runs and of course kept up with my Blaze boot camp 3 – 4 times a week. It’s been surprisingly enjoyable being told what to do having never been coached before!
15 days leading up to the race, for the first time I had menorrhagia, the 3 days prior it was so bad I lost 3 lbs in weight and by Friday morning I was very weak, I did make a dramatic improvement throughout the day and the bleeding eased off to the point where I felt I could manage it during the race at the checkpoints. I therefore had no expectations of myself for the race and was just grateful to be on the start line. My original goals to beat last year’s time, get sub 30 hours, and to win were adjusted to try to complete!
Morning preparations: My pre race mornings are always the same, have porridge with a mashed banana and fruit inside plus a cup of caffeine free tea. I must confess, I did not bother with stretches, I do usually try to.
Summary
I definitely feel that being a coached athlete has 100% paid off. I felt really strong, taking my poles after 30 miles but not feeling desperate for them, just thinking they’d be a nice little boost. It didn’t really feel like hard work until the later part of the race (around 75 miles in). Looking forward to seeing what more Stu can get out of me!
Lessons learned
Results
Chip time: 31 hr 13 m 41 s
Overall: 1/14
Lady: 1/3
Copthorne Races 100 mile 2024 results: click here
Strava link: click here
A few historical statistics on the Copthorne races
There were two finishers in 2019. The first ever female finisher and holder of the course record is Michelle White who I had the pleasure to meet earlier on this year in the Wild Horse 200, Michelle won and got the course record on that too! Chelle completed the 100 mile in 2022 in a time of 25 hours 47 minutes. There were two other female finishers that year too. The men’s course record set in 2023 is held by Richard Shlovogt in a time of 22 hours 49 minutes 19 seconds. The 2023 saw only two finishers, myself and Richard, 2024 just one finisher, myself.
Allan kindly worked out these fun facts for me!
The video from the 200 mile event is an inspiring watch.
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