Long time, no update. I feels like an age since I last wrote on my blog. I’ve struggled to find time among work and life in general. I now find myself ‘reset’ in a way, after having arrived in Sunny South Africa for a 2-3 month stay visiting family. This year I have a bunch of personal adventures on the cards, and I thought I would jot them down, similar to how I did for last year.
Writing down goals and challenges is a great technique I use personally to hold myself accountable in a way, but also to give myself targets to head toward as the year goes on.
13 Peaks
The first I would like to try is the 13 peaks challenge. It’s around 100km in length, with roughly 6400 meters of vertical elevation.
I will quote Ryan Sandes direct from the 13 peaks site where he explains what the route is:
13 Peaks was born from the idea of me wanting to link up some of my favourite peaks on Table Mountain and in the Cape Peninsula area
Ryan Sandes / 13peaks.co.za
I haven’t yet found a date that works well, although I do know of someone taking the challenge on over 48 hours in the next 1-2 weeks, so if I can find some time free I might see if its possible to join and support. It might be a good way to get a feel for the terrain myself, as well as set expectations for timing.
It’ll also help a lot to know where potential support points are along the route, and get a feel for what sort of times I would expect when it comes to planning out my own attempt.
Back to the UK
In early July I am going to try the Rollin’ 100 ultra, which is a 100 mile ultra marathon which includes running the Shropshire Way, Mortimer Trail, Offa’s Dyke and other connecting trails.
It should be a fairly small event, being the first time it will be held, but I know the hosts Alan and Katie from Running Monk Events, and I’m sure it’ll be a wholesome and well-supported event.
Circling the Alps, Tour du Mont Blanc
Then at the end of July and running into August I will be taking on the Tour du Mont Blanc, which is around 103 miles. I’m fast packing it with some friends over 4 or 5 days. The route itself circles the Mont Blanc massif and is a popular one. Last year, two sets of friends in my running circles completed the full route. Catrina over at keeponrunning.net blogged about her adventure completing the Tour du Mont Blanc, as well as running friends Ben, Cassie, Wilf, and Amy.
We’ll be stay in a number of refuges along the route. I spent time around the area with family last year, and we absolutely loved it, so it’ll be great to do the entire route on foot and really take in all the scenery.
Back to Wales, and the Coast Path
Next up I had a decision point. I was entered into the lottery to hopefully get a place in UTMB CCC. However, I wasn’t lucky with the draw this year either, so I have a place now in the Sirona 100, which will be a 100 mile ultra along the Wales Coast Path, further up from where we live in Pembrokeshire, mostly along the Ceredigion coast path.
The plan was roughly to take a camper van back to the Courmayeur area with the family and spend some time that side, with me diverting for a day or two to do CCC. Maybe next year!
My calendar has a bunch of gaps between all the events, which feels good in a way. I’ll be able to look for other spur of the moment challenges or events to pick up on if time allows.
Welcome to SA! It’s fantastic to have you here, Sean! 😄🙌
Your plans for 2025 sound amazing: a perfect blend of travel, adventure, and competitive trail running. It’s a shame the UTMB CCC didn’t work out, especially with your family already in Courmayeur, but the Sirona 100 seems like an excellent alternative. Plus, getting to enjoy a family holiday without the added stress of a big race will be nice.
Let me know how and when we can support you with the 13 Peaks challenge! Starting by joining someone else as support is such a smart way to get familiar with the trails, it’ll make your own attempt even smoother. You’re going to love it! 🎉
Thank you Catrina! It feels great to be back, and has been a nice hot start to kick off our heat acclimitisation. You’re right, a relaxed approach to the holiday is so much better, so if we do end up that side then I don’t have another lingering focus to worry about.
I really appreciate your offer to help support. I’m going to see if I can somehow get transport across to CT this weekend, but extended family have all just arrived here in Knysna, so it might be a bit of a stretch to join the 48 hour attempt this weekend… If that doesn’t work out, then a little later this week/end, I’ll start putting together some date ideas as well as schedule for the route, and see where the logical support point(s) might be. I’ll get in touch via e-mail then, and if things sound good we could move to whatsapp chat to make comms easier.
Exciting!
What an incredible year you have lined up, Sean. I remember Catrina sharing about her adventure at Tour du Mont Blanc. Your 2 photos you took from last years exploration are stunning. I had qualified way back in 2018 for UTMB CCC, but I didn’t bother putting my name in the lottery. It’s a long way to travel for a race. I have a runner friend in Canada who ran the same 2 races here to get the points to qualify. She did enter the lottery and her name was picked for CCC. She opted to run the OCC distance, as she wanted to have the energy for sightseeing with her family after.
Hope 2025 goes really well for you.🙏
Thank you Carl. Catrina’s post was certainly inspiration for me. I wasn’t expecting to do it, but after receiving an invite out of the blue, I couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity. It’s one of those things I would love to do once and call it at that, which will leave me more than content.
I just looked at the two photos again – such a beautiful place, but every time I see the glacier on the mountains in the distance I do feel a moment of sadness thinking of how long it’ll be till they’re no longer there.
You did well to qualify for CCC in 2018! I understand its a big undertaking in terms of travel though, and I know your priorities around travel and the environmental impact for you are especially important. Your friend made a smart choice there. I had a friend do CCC last year and he said it was a lot more challenging than he had expected, and understandably he was pretty exhausted the few days following. OCC would be way more enjoyable as a half-ish day out in the mountains!
I’m happy to say I have already ticked off the 13 Peaks challenge here. I joined with someone I had been messaging asking for advice/tips when he went out for his own attempt. It was great to latch on and run/hike with company and also leverage his brilliant support crew. We got it done! My family and I are over here in the Western Cape at the moment visiting my wife’s family side (I also have a brother who lives nearby). I’m using the time to explore all the local trails and mountains.
Thanks again, and wish you well for 2025 – may it exceed your expectations!