100-Miler Experience Notes – Part 1: Pre-Race Reflections
Setting the scene – Pre-race arrival
When I booked the Centurion 100-mile trail race almost a year in advance, I knew it would mark something significant — not just the end of a racing chapter, but the beginning of my adventure year. A year to explore movement differently. To step back from racing and step deeper into experience.
So I decided to make a little holiday of it.
I’ve learned that I like to arrive early before a big race — ideally two to three days in advance. I can’t stand the rush of arriving, registering, and racing all in one breath. I like to settle in, breathe, and connect with the landscape first.
I arrived on Wednesday, with the race starting on Saturday. South Oxfordshire greeted me with open arms — autumn in full glory, golden leaves framing the river Thames, a soft chill in the air, clouds gathering playfully, and the occasional rain drops on a day in England in October. It was one of those still, cloudy days that make you breathe a little slower.
I went for a few short pre-race walks along the Thames Path, where the water glistened with quiet strength and serenity. I found myself pausing at every little bridge, gazing at the reflections of trees — and my own.
I asked myself softly:
Who do I see?
Who do I want to become through this race?
Passing through small, postcard-perfect villages with friendly smiles and stunning houses, I felt grounded. The simplicity of nature and fresh air somehow balanced the enormity of what lay ahead.
The cabin
My home for the week was a beautiful wooden cabin — spotless, cosy, and perfectly peaceful. Exactly how I like it.
Simple luxuries: breakfast in slippers and a gown (yes, I was wearing a gown — I’m surprised too:). There was no rush, no noise, just birdsongs. I even managed to sleep until 6:30 a.m., which felt like a small miracle in pre-race week.
Only one minor comedy moment: there was no oven, just a microwave. But I made it work — ready-made rice, potatoes, pre-cooked chicken, and vegetables, all microwave-friendly and perfect for carb-loading. Ultra running is about adaptability, after all.
My pre-race routine
Two days before an ultra, I stop all structured workouts. No running, no intensity — just mobility work, stretching, journaling, and rest. I go for short walks and stay mostly indoors, so that by race day I’m craving the outdoors again — and you certainly get enough of that in a 100-miler!
The day before the race is for final packing and logistics, which this time was… well, challenging. Trying to plan nutrition, gear, and clothing for a 100-mile journey gave me almost a headache. I’ll share more about the calculations in a separate post — it deserves its own space (read about it here).
Aside from that, I keep my routine steady and calm:
Bedtime around 9 p.m., up around 5:30 a.m.
Journaling and repeating my mantras.
Breakfast, getting dressed slowly, one deep breath — and out the door.
Then it was time to head to registration, drop off my bag, and officially step into the reality of it all: my longest ultra yet.
