10 years of running the Centurion North Downs Way 50 ultra-marathon

The idea at my first North Downs Way 50 ultra was to survive. And maybe if I’m being a little honest with myself, I also wanted to beat a few of my friends too. Though as the many years have gone by my attitude, training, and finish times have all changed.

My outlook on running has changed

I was young(er) back when I first toed the start line. 11 years more youthful. I could run and run. Training was for the nerds. For the try hards. I just didn’t need it. I didn’t have goals of winning, but was good enough to be in the top third or more for this race and others. And I was happy with that. I presumed too that there would be no reason this would change.

However, that youthful energy and robustness didn’t last long. My apathy towards training and my boastful presumptiveness of past results led to slower times, less fitness, and less physical maintenance. I was good enough to get through a 50-miler, so why try harder?

Well, it’s a lot less comfortable and satisfying when you don’t train. Especially, I’ve found, when you’re not as light as you could be. When you’ve not put the time and effort into maintenance on your ageing body. It’s simply harder and less enjoyable.

I’ve seen more injuries creeping in over recent years, and they’ve stayed longer too. Kids came along and made time a premium along with the delicate balancing act of priorities and attention. So, how has my outlook changed? If I could offer some advice to my younger firmer self, it would be:

• I’d recommend you train. Get a coach and learn. See the benefits of training for yourself
• Lose weight to make training, running, and recovery all the easier
• Find balance in your training (running, speed work, maintenance, gym, and other sports)
• Accept that maintenance and injury prevention will make you a better runner

Speaking of injury

Just two weeks before the 2025 race, I rolled on my ankle. Agony! It ballooned up, bruised horribly, and crushed my hopes of a 10th finish (let alone a start). Fortunately, after some good advice on the Centurion Running Facebook page, I visited a Physio. They’ve given me sound advice, a fair warning, but a green light to go ahead and start the race. I was giddy with excitement and relief.

Under their guidance, I’ve been busy with mobility and balance exercises, and I have all my fingers and limbs crossed that the big day goes well. I’d hate to miss out on a 10th consecutive finish.

How my views of the NDW 50 have changed

I love the trails on the North Downs, but maybe that’s somewhat skewed by the month of May. It’s warm, it’s light, the trails are hard and the running fast. I know the trail well, I know what’s coming up, and I know when to walk and take it easy as a result. I know when I’m cruising too much, and I know how long I have to the next aid station (for better or worse). I have my favourites bits of trail and some less than favourite.

My favourite parts are the woods. Twisted old trails made by travellers of old, carpeted with tangy smelling wild garlic. Gaps in the trees offer glimpses of sun drenched valleys, villages, and enticing criss-crossed meandering trails. The trails hide their ups and downs, their roots and rocks, and shroud your progress across the South of London against any landmarks. You can feel cocooned on your way to Knockholt, which is one of the main draws of this route and similar ultras. Freedom.

Overall, there’s not much on the course that’s not to like. However, when the weather is less than expected – and I’m talking specifically about rain here – then certain parts of the course can turn to swampy mud. Especially the last few miles of open fields (which are far from my favourites anyway).

A perfect day on the North Downs looks like

• It’s warm – 18 – 22 degrees
• It’s not rained for a week or so to keep those trails hard
• The National Trust and councils have been out hacking down any trees, branches, and the nettles
• There are lots of people on the course offering encouragement and distraction
• I’m fit, some-what light, and I’ve got no injuries to speak of (so not this year then)
• And there’s just a gentle wind to keep you cool when you reach open fields

Things I’ve seen through the years

• Bacon sandwich, sir? There were a few years of the bacon sarnie on the canal. You’d run up and they’d offer you a freshly bagged bacon sandwich. I never quite knew the why or the who, but it stopped after a few years. Being honest, I never actually finished one of the sarnies, ever. I’d get a mouthful of fat, bacon, and bread, and my hot dry mouth wouldn’t know what to do with it. Still, it was a nice distraction and very kind of them
• The best. THE BEST – part of any NDW was finding someone handing out jelly and ice cream at Caterham aid station from an ice cooler. You haven’t lived until you’ve been so spoilt
• Ice cream for sale. There was also one year with someone selling ice creams a mile or two before Putney (I think). I had hoped that would be a regular staple, but wasn’t to be
• MTN Dew. There was also a regular Centurion runner, and his sprightful kids, who would offer Mountain Dew and other drinks, plus Haribo, to passing runners later in the course (thank you!)
• For Box Hill. I’ve seen steps flooded, runners taking to the water to get pass the queues, kids falling down the stairs, runners falling up the stairs, people asking directions half-way up whilst I’m beetroot faced and breathing like a vacuum cleaner. It’s most certainly a high point of activity
• Fly past. You’re often treated to the sounds and views of Spitfires flying alongside the M25 near the finish, which for me is a thrilling perk
• More gear. Everyone is coming better prepared than ever before. Lots of new brands. Lots of colour. Poles are becoming more common too. I remember being in awe of a chap in Umbro shorts and a regular back-pack, with a 2 litre bottle of water on his back. Very impressive

How Centurion has changed

Centurion has always been a premier-tier running company. They’ve always had excellent organisation, thorough course markings, and helpful crew, but they have also changed with the times.

• You used to have to check-in at the aid stations showing your number to a frantic volunteer desperately trying to check numbers for a near endless line of hot and tired runners streaming in
• They then moved to chip timing for major aid stations, with check ins at the smaller aid stations, but you’d get an earful if you went outside of the white metal-detector-esque panels
• Then came the GPS markers, allowing James, Nici, and co. to keep an amusing eye on just how far off course you were heading
• I do miss Stuart March (photographer). He’d pop up in all sorts of places to get a good photo (many of which are below), but greatly appreciate that photos are still part of the event
• Gender and race. From 2018, I started to see gender and age added into their (excellent) results pages, and was encouraged that their frequent and helpful comms were actively talking about women and race in sport
• Medals have grown. They used to be small neat circular medals with a plain blue ribbon, but the trends has been for bigger and better. Though I still quite like the understated simpler medals of the past
• Vegan sausages. This hurt. I think it was 2021 or 2022, but I’d just finished 50 miles. I was hungry. I went to get a handful of a hotdog, as I have done for many years, and my stomach lurched with the offer of a vegan hotdog. I get that vegan is better for you. But running 50 miles isn’t necessarily good for you in the first place. I did find a pizza truck around the corner one year, and that was almost as good
• T-shirts are out, trees are in. I liked the t-shirts at the start of my time running with Centurion, but after a number of events I was starting to use them as (gasp) rags. I then gave a number of them away to a re-using running company. I’m now glad to see they are optional. It’s also great to see you can get a tree for your reward as well

Would I recommend the NDW 50 to someone?

Absolutely. But I’d recommend running anywhere along the North Downs more. It’s a wonderfully accessible and beautiful location, with enough trails and views to keep anyone entertained. Here’s a nice North Downs Way marathon route for instance.

If you’re looking for a shorter race, but just as hearty, then do consider the Midsummer Munro half marathon. It’s a brute, but a fantastic morning out.

Personally, I’m looking forward to the next ten years on some of the running best trails in the UK.

Ten years of running the NDW 50

TL;DR, I’ve gotten slower with age and weight.

Year	Time	Weight	Rank	Ran the NDW 100?
2015	10:06:45	–	83	28:13:40, 103
2016	09:49:38	–	68	–
2017	09:30:05	84 kg	58	25:06:21, 48
2018	09:34:26	86 kg	50	–
2019	09:03:18	84 kg	49	22:56:10, 42
2020	N/A	–	N/A	–
2021	10:37:27	90 kg	132	–
2022	10:27:19	94.5 kg	98	–
2023	10:45:58	91.2 kg	147	–
2024	10:51:36	90.2 kg	159	–
2025	TBC.	TBC.	TBC.	Fat chance

A few photos through the years

Photo credit: Stuart March photography

Other times I’ve written about the North Downs Way ultras