Running Hundred Hills 50km (Centurion Running)
Hundred Hills 50km is an ultramarathon by Centurion Running. The route takes in 50km of beautiful countryside in the Chiltern Hills, starting at Stonor Park in Oxfordshire, England.
I was thrilled to be part of the inaugural edition of this race in March 2023, which I’m sure will become a highly sought after classic. Just like the others in the impressive Centurion Running race catalogue.
Being my first ultra of 2023, I was excited to rock up to the start line and get back onto the ultra-saddle. With rain forecast throughout the entire race, and the fact it had been raining in the days leading up to the race, I was in for a treat. A slippery, muddy, boggy, wet kind of treat.
Gear I used during Hundred Hills 50km
Fenix HM65R-T Headlamp (in my bag, but not used)
Hoka Speed Goat 3s, wide fit. Linked to Speed Goat 5s, as I'm not sure they offer new Speed Goat 3s anymore
Go Pro HERO 9 Camera for filming my YouTube video
About Centurion's Hundred Hills 50km
This 50km goes through the heart of the Chiltern countryside, with stunning views and environments every step of the way. Included are a few visits in countryside villages, and plenty of running through ancient woodland. Featuring two different 25km loops, it starts and ends at the 850-year-old Stonor Park in Oxfordshire. A charming way to start and finish this fun ultramarathon.
Despite being a 50km ultra, this race is fairly hilly and lives up to its name with 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) of elevation gain.
It features five aid stations sprinkled through the route, roughly every 8 kilometres, with a large key station at the Stonor Park base. A very well resourced 50km, and a perfect entry race for runners looking to cut their teeth in the ultrarunning world.
Race start to Ibstone, 0 – 10.1km
I arrived at Stonor Park at 8am on Saturday morning to pick up my race number for the 9am start. Runners were arriving in their droves, and a buzz of excitement filled the air.
The time soon rolled around to start, and everyone lined up. A short briefing was given by the Centurion race Director, James Elson, before he counted us down and sent us on our way.
I crossed the field and past the trees of Stonor park, onto an agricultural trail and past some cows, and went straight into the woods. Very early on, something that become very clear was that the race would be an absolute mud bath.
Less than 4 kilometres out of the start line, my relatively clean Hoka Speedgoats were already caked in a decent layer of mud sloshed together with water.
Across a few fields and muddy woodland trails, I sipped from my Tailwind filled water bottles every now and then. I like to try and make getting on top of nutrition early a priority, when there’s no issues, rather than scrambling to fix nutrition when things go wrong later.
Eventually, I came to the first big hill of the race and remarked during my video check in that the race was called ‘Hundred Hills’ for a reason. Up the first climb, my quads started feeling it immediately. My training, up to that point, had been light in hill work and elevation gain, so I knew that the climbs could be a weakness from the start.
By this point, the promised forecast of constant rain had turned into a reality and we were being battered with a steady stream of heavy rain.
At the top of the hill, still with many runners around, I headed onto a country road before darting my way down a long descent strewn with brown crunchy leaves. I appreciated these leaves, as they provided some needed grip. Looking back, I probably should have worn some sturdier trail shoes like my Salomon’s with deeper lugs and more aggressive tread. I did slip a fair bit during this race. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Up a steep field, along a single file narrow path with gorgeous views of the Chiltern countryside, and back onto some grassy fields, I continued.
I did a quick video check in, commenting on the heavy rain we were having, and my Go Pro started to go blurry from the rain hitting and resting on the lenses. At this point, I actually enjoyed the rain. It was giving a nice cool off from the running, especially the hills. I tend to run very hot, so I’m always glad for an opportunity to cool down.
Suddenly, I reached aid station 1. Ibstone, 10.1km in.
Ibstone to Skirmett, 10.1km to 17.2km
At Ibstone aid station, the brilliant Centurion volunteers gave me words of encouragement before taking my bottles and replenishing them with Tailwind and water. I thanked them, wished them well, and headed back on my way.
Leaving Ibstone, I was at 1 hour and 1 minute on the clock.
I carried on and made my way back into some woodland trails. The ground underfoot started to become a mud bath, and my legs had already accumulated a decent sprinkling of mud.
Through the trails I went. Suddenly, a runner ahead of me tripped over a rabbit burrow beneath and went face down in the mud. Some runners nearby came and offered help to get her back on her feet, and luckily she seemed okay. Though I like to think optimistically, it was a reminder that trail running comes with risks. Even from wildlife and their natural ways creating the occasional hazard.
The rain increased in ferocity, and I started to get a bit wet. I was still quite warm, so didn’t opt to put my jacket on which I had stowed in my pocket for easy access. I thought about how nice it might be to instead be inside, next to a fire, with a coffee. Dry. Relaxed. Whilst that may have sounded nice in the moment, I was having 10 times more fun doing what I loved. Ultrarunning. Adventuring. Being out on in nature.
I climbed a long ascent on a field, before heading back into the ancient Chiltern woodland. At about 14.5km in, I suddenly saw a few grey creatures darting about in the trees. Knowing I was in the English countryside, and not in a country like Austria or Germany, I knew they weren't wolves. I suddenly clicked that there were deer in the woods, living their best lives and going about their business.
There were a few easy going sections in this leg, with steady downhills and lots of leaves. Still, there was lots of mud and slipping to contend with.
At 17km, I did a video check in at 1 hour 40 minutes in. Over a third complete. Despite being at the front end of the pack, and running constantly up and down hills, I was feeling great. My nutrition strategy, getting on top of it early, seemed to be working. At least for this short ultra distance. I aimed to get 200 calories in every hour, and I’d already had two energy gels by this point with plenty of tailwind mixed into my water.
Skirmett to Stonor, 17.2km to 25km
In and out of Skirmett, aid station 2, I got my bottles filled up. The rain continued hammering me on my first small ascent. A muddy, single file trail beside a large field.
This trail really felt like an ice rink for me. I slipped all the way up and struggled to get a decent grip beneath me. I really started to question my choice of footwear. Perhaps the Hoka Speedgoats, as brilliant as they were for drier conditions, were not the best choice after all. Still, I loved the challenge.
I continued up the ascent, with fields of sheep in the distance in my sights. Slowly but surely, I made my way back into the woodlands.
During this leg, I started to run a bit more solo as the starting pack naturally spaced out. I soaked in all of the lovely views. The peaceful woodland. Trees lining the sides of the trail. It was a fantastic moment for me, and I really appreciated being out in nature taking part in this race.
Still feeling strong, I made my way along another muddy path with thick trees adjourning it from either side and suddenly the big white gazebo from the start came into sight. I had made it back to Stonor Park, aid station 3, and I’d soon be starting loop number 2.
Coming into Stonor Park aid station (25km), I was at 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Stonor to Hambleden, 25km to 31.2km
At the Stonor aid station, I had some light sweets and some banana bits before carrying on. Out onto a road I went, before joining back onto the trail.
Immediately, the rain started coming down harder than it had done and I was greeted with a monstrous hill. Whilst it was heavy going up the muddy hill, I was in a fortunate position. Being in the front end of the race pack, the trail was still in fairly good condition, and it wasn’t too churned up. My quads started to feel a bit uncomfortable, possibly from ploughing through all of the mud and climbing, but nothing too crazy. The climbs hadn't been as much of a problem as I'd initially anticipated, with filled me with confidence to plough on.
In my video check in (about 8 minutes in the race vlog video above), I shared one of the main reasons I love trail running. Being in the moment. When you’re trail running, there’s tonnes to think about. The elevation gain and descent, navigating a challenging patch of terrain, taking twists and turns around the trail. You have to be truly locked in and in the moment. Living. This contrasts to road running, where you can easily ‘switch off’ mentally with nice, smooth tarmac paths and pavements with only the occasional car and pedestrian traffic to worry about. Just to clarify, I love road running. But, for me, it's not the same incredible experience of trail running.
Through this leg, the rain started soaking through the ground beneath and made the already wet and slippery conditions extra wet and slippery. I made my way along a thick, muddy trail, resembling a kind of paste, and ducked underneath a fallen tree to continue. It felt like being in a gameshow, with all the obstacles to match. Takeshi’s Castle or Total Wipeout. It was great fun.
I passed along a trail with white tubes either side, presumably providing structure and support for new trees which had recently been planted. Some older, more established trees had either been chopped down or fallen onto the path due to the weather. I had to scramble over these which was (luckily) simple work.
After the woods, I passed through the small village of Hambleden in Buckinghamshire. It looked traditional and fitted in well with the countryside rustic feel. Not a native soul from the village could be seen, and only the occasional Centurion runner passed by. Presumably, the residents were inside with their feet up enjoying a nice cup of tea. I don’t blame them.
Across a swamped cricket field, aid station number 4 came into sight which was based at Hambleden Cricket Club.
Hambleden to Bix, 31.2km to 42.4km
At Bix aid station, I made the most of being in the dry. A quick stop to the toilet, a handful of jelly babies, a GU energy gel, and my bottles topped up. I thanked the volunteers who were in excellent spirits and went on my way.
Very quickly, I encountered a section of the trail that almost looked like a river. It was totally flooded, and I jumped to the sides to avoid getting my feet soaking wet. I’m too not precious about getting soaked feet. Especially during a shorter distance ultra, like a 50km. But if I can avoid it, I will. Once your feet get soaked, they tend to stay wet. That can cause chafing, rubbing, and its just not very comfortable. My feet were already wet, but I didn’t want them to get drenched. As I was soon to find out, they would become drenched whether I liked it or not.
Along a country road I went before heading back onto a flat, long muddy trail. More new trees lined the route, and this was a good opportunity to get a chunk of solid running in. I ascended a large hill on a field, before coming into a more muddy ascent. The course was so waterlogged that the trail had started to form a makeshift aqueduct in sections, with water pouring down the hill towards me.
Eventually, I came to a winding trail adjourned with hedges at the sides and there were massive puddles blocking the path. I couldn’t go around them, I couldn’t go over them. Naturally, I had to go through them. The second half of the race was fairly decent (or so I thought) up to that point, but this part was waterlogged. I bit the bullet and sloshed my way through. Only a few kilometres to go, I thought. Then, a nice towel and pair of clean socks and shoes.
I then traversed through some long straight trails high up, with views of the countryside villages and fields on offer in all directions. Up a long alley way, I eventually came to a charming looking stretch with large conifer trees on either side which temporarily blocked most of the light out.
Then, I came to Bix. Aid station number 5, based at Bix and Assendon Village Hall. The final aid station before the finish.
Bix to Stonor, 41.4km to 50km
I reached Bix at 4 hours and 13 minutes. The sun suddenly came out and the rain was starting to subside, which felt a nice way to run the final leg.
I topped my bottles up at Bix, but didn’t grab any nutrition. I was still feeling strong, and enjoying myself. I’d had a fantastic day and I was excited to finish.
I headed through and past a couple of crop fields, with slightly nicer trails than before. The mud was denser and harder here, meaning the rain hadn’t seeped into it and made it swampy unlike in earlier sections of the course.
After a short stint back in the woods, I headed down a farmer’s field and along some big tractor tracks before going through a gate. The route features a fair few gates, so you need to get used to opening, going through, and closing them as you progress.
After another crop field, I came to the bottom and headed left up a steep trail path cut into the side of the clearing. This path went on for a while, and I enjoyed the initial climb which broke up the flats and downhills of the leg.
There were a few more pockets of mud, and choppy conditions underfoot, but I didn’t let them phase me. I was close to home.
Suddenly, I made my way onto a large field and the race HQ gazebo came into view. I’d made it. As the sun shone above and the clouds continued clearing from the sky, I glided across the Stonor Park field and through the finish line.
Hundred Hills 50km 2023. I’d done it.
Performance and my thoughts about running Hundred Hills 50km
I finished in a time of 5 hours, 13 minutes, 26 seconds, in 29th place out of 312 finishers. I was pretty pleased with the performance. I felt strong, loved the route, and - most importantly - I enjoyed myself.
Overall, Hundred Hills 50km was a really fun and well organised race by Centurion Running. The course was stunning, well-resourced with a generous amount of aid stations, and the hills provided a good challenge to open my year of racing.
And, despite it being a massive obstacle at the time, the mud added a layer of challenge and fun to the race. I was absolutely covered in the stuff after crossing the finish line, and took a few shots on my Go Pro. Here’s the aftermath, seconds after finishing…
I had a blast taking on Hundred Hills 50km. If you every get a chance, I’d highly recommend it. Let me know if you’re thinking of taking this race on one day, or if you’ve already booked on for the next edition.
Thanks very much for reading.
Craig
Running Cafe
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