The team at Camino Ultra have created a very special event here. I absolutely loved the experience of traversing through London with fellow runners while the rest of the city flows us. Highlights included scaling some big climbs on the way to Crystal Palace park, being greeted by lively aid station teams on Hackney Road and Hampstead Heath, and the rolling descent around Holland Park (knowing that the finishing line was in reach)! The organisational and volunteer support from Camino Ultra is always exceptional. You really feel taken care of, and the positive vibes really contributed to my overall enjoyment during the race. One thing to note for first time sign-ups- you will be sharing the route with pedestrians, tourists and fellow Londoners, and you will be reliant on following a GPX tracker to complete the course. I personally loved this experience, and I appreciated the efforts that Camino Ultra made by offering recce run training groups in the lead up to the event. I would highly recommend the London 100. Hoping to come back next year to volunteer, and maybe run the 50km route!

The Camino London100 50km was my first ultra, and I really had the best day! I had lots of apprehension as I had never run more than 24 miles and have been trying to manage left leg-niggles, including plantar fasciitis after signing up. Having turned 50 recently, it seemed the perfect time to finally challenge myself to a bit of extra distance. It had to be with my favourite running community, Camino, and the timing in early May, together with one leg (North) being literally on my home turf taking in some of fave running places, helped me to decide on the London100 for my first official attempt. I had done the 25k south last year with my sister so that section was familiar to me, although i wasn’t thrilled to be hitting Sydenham Hill and Crystal Palace at peak exhaustion in the second leg this year! To tackle the plantar issues, I adopted a run-walk strategy for the day and in my training (6 min run, 1 min walk and repeat!). The Camino volunteers at the Victoria hub on arrival were amazing as always, happy to help, smiling faces, hugs from friends. The bib collection and bag drop were smooth, easy access to toilets and changing facilities if needed, and the pre-run pep talk by Paula was inspiring! I was introduced (thanks, Eleanor!) to another ultra first-timer doing the 50k and we hung out until our respective waves were ready to go. Nice cosy, start wave groups with a bubble machine and a smiley David to send us off! I ended up mainly running some of the first leg while chatting to fellow runners. Ironically I ended up being slower than planned during that time, but it was definitely more fun to have company. I fell back to the plan and music on my headphones when running solo which kept me focussed, but I met and ran for short periods with lots of other runners, which was a real highlight. Waymarking was generally ok but easy to miss and having the GPX on my watch and being familiar with lots of the route was helpful. The aid stations were great (despite telling my family the wrong pub in Hampstead!). Slightly awkward narrow side access to the Duke of St Albans so people squeezing past each other to get in and out but the support crew and supplies were fantastic - watermelon slices are my fave! Camden was busy as expected on a Saturday morning but the route only hit the high street briefly and was manageable. Brixton later in the afternoon was also busy but again expected and fine. Much nicer once headed into Brockwell park, but then the hills start! So grateful to bump into CeCe, the woman I’d met at HQ that morning, as we started the climb after Dulwich (~20 miles), as I really started to flag in the heat and I wondered how I would manage. We laughed and moaned and cursed all the way up to Crystal Palace aid station and kept each other going all the way back too. Grateful for my sister and other friendly Camino faces at Crystal Palace aid station. Then back down the hills (hooray!) for the final stretch, bumping into a friend running the 100k (what a hero! More hugs) and then approaching HQ with my family cheering us on and my boys running with me to the finish line! A beautiful, spinning medal, with more love and kind wishes from the Camino crew. Such a sense of achievement and very very happy! I have been reliving so many good memories since the event with the help of the fabulous official, and unofficial, photos. I thoroughly recommend the London100 and any events with Camino for friendly, entry-level ultras, and of course, for the serious, pro-ultra runners too! 💚

This event showcases not only the physical connectivity of linking different parts of London, but also the human connection among runners, supporters, and organizers. I have never seen so many participants exchanging fist bumps, high fives, and sincere cheers for one another. The energy even inspired spontaneous encouragement from passers-by in random corners of London. It made me feel incredibly special to be part of something so uplifting and united. This is more than a running event, it is an embrace of the ultra community.