My Personal Reflections on the Centurion A100

🎯 Why I Ran The Centurion A100: One Buckle, One Shot

I ran the Centurion Autumn 100 for one reason: the Centurion buckle. Deep down, I knew this could be my one shot at the distance. I have other ambitions—other races I want to excel at—and this was the moment to get it done. I approached it with focus, strategy, and a quiet determination to lead from the front as a coach.

🗺️ The Centurion A100 Route: Four Spurs, One Challenge

The route itself is a beautiful beast: four out-and-back spurs from Goring, alternating between the Thames Path and Ridgeway trails. Flat and fast in places, but with 13 hours of darkness and unpredictable autumn weather, it’s no easy feat.

🧠 Mindset: Redemption and Resolve

I’d failed this race before. Leg 3—the overnight Ridgeway stretch—this was my nemesis. Last year, I slowed to a crawl and timed out at 66 miles. This year, I was ready. I researched every leg, memorised terrain cues, and committed to a deliberate pacing strategy: run/walk on the flats, walk/run on the climbs, and hold back early to stay strong late.

💥 Discomfort: Box It and Move On

Discomfort came early—hip pain at mile 10, sore feet by mile 30—but I boxed it up mentally and moved on. My physio Dan had reminded me: pain is part of the deal. Control what you can. Accept what you can’t.

🍽️ Fuelling the Centurion A100: From Real Food to Survival Mode

Fuelling was solid early on: real food, frequent top-ups, and a pasta-bean boost at halfway, but after mile 50, my stomach shut down. From then on, I survived on tea-dunked chocolate digestives, a 4:30am rice pudding, and Precision Fuel & Hydration gels and chews. Not ideal, but enough.

🌧️ Weather: A Perfect Autumn Day

The weather? Perfect. Cool, dry, and calm—until the final miles, when light rain added drama to the finish. My emotions were bubbling, but I held them back. I needed every ounce of energy to reach that line.

🎶 Music: A Surprise Companion

In the loneliest hours of the night, I did something I never do: I reached for music. I dusted off my 20-year-old iPod Nano—untouched for just as long—and let it carry me through the dark. I usually avoid music on runs for safety and presence, but this time, it was magic. Familiar songs unlocked old memories, softened the discomfort, and gave my mind something to hold onto when my body was flagging. It wasn’t essential—but in that moment, it was everything. And when I did flag—cocktail-sausage toes, mystery bruises, and all—I was met with everything I needed.

🤝 Support: The People Who Got Me There

Owen Kimber, who supported me for two full days, popping up with encouragement when I needed it most. PFH, who nailed my hydration and fuelling plan. Juliet Parker, waiting at the finish with a promised hug that meant the world, despite her own challenges. Along the way, I met incredible people whose energy carried me through the dark patches, and the support from my very own team, Team NLRC and beyond was nothing short of extraordinary. The Centurion army of volunteers—topping bottles, offering quiet encouragement, and showing kindness when words just failed me—were a lifeline in the hardest moments.

🏁 Finish Line: Buckled and Battered

I walked to Owen’s van after 165km, toes and legs sore but heart full. I’d done it. I’d earned the buckle. And I’d gained insights I’ll carry into every coaching session from here on. 

And what did Garmin have to say the next morning? “You slept long enough but the quality was low. Your poor sleep may be a result of your naps. Napping late in the day can impair your sleep quality.” So… nothing to do with running 100 miles then?

It’s a good reminder that post-race data—like sleep scores, recovery metrics, and readiness ratings—can be helpful, but they’re not gospel. Take it with a pinch of salt. Your body knows what it’s been through. And sometimes, the best recovery tool is simply sitting still, smiling at what you’ve achieved, and letting the soreness remind you that you did something extraordinary.

🧠 Takeaways

• You may never find the perfect sock-shoe combo. Accept it.
• Running 100 miles hurts. It’s how you manage it that counts.
• Knowledge is power—research the route.
• Know your limits, then go beyond. No Limits.
• Endurance isn’t just about enduring. It’s about transforming discomfort into purpose.
• And toenails? Still not sure what they’re for.

💡 Want to see how this race shaped my coaching? I’ve turned running the Centurion A100 it into a full case study here 👇