The Last Post...

Well that's it for another year and for 11 special people, the dream and journey of a lifetime. They battled rain, torrential rain and even horizontal rain, to run thru floods and the wettest April for over 100 years. For all but one, their roads finished short of Land's End but we were with them thru their highs and lows and we were privileged to share the experience of setting off from John o'Groats with the aim of getting to the finish line.

It might be remembered as the 'Wet One' or the 'Record Breaking One' perhaps... What I know is that we will remember it as the 'Easy One' as everyone was just so fantastically easy going during the whole of the 16 days we were on the road.

Our thanks go to:- Katherine, Mel, Sean, Andy, Steve G, Steve P, Rainer, Tim E, Tim O, Tom F, Tom H - as you are ALL amazing and just getting to the start line takes huge courage on this ULTRA... and to get as far as you did took real guts...

We also thank Driver, Paul Derbyshire, and Chef, Ann White, for housing and feeding everyone during the event and my own personal thanks go to my partner Jenny for her love and support for 16 days.

All that remains to be said is that we will always remember the year that a very quietly spoken German called Rainer Koch came and ran from John o'Groats to Land's End and blew us ALL away.

Please tune in next time when we JOGLE again and if you are interested in taking part in JOGLE 2013 hurry up as we already have 9 looking forward to the challenge!

More then...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer's the Champion

Well it's no surprise but Rainer has reached Land's End in 1hr 09mins to reach the finish line in style and win the 2012 JOGLE Ultra.

The tears flowed and for once there was real emotion on the face of  'The German Running Machine'... He really makes a true 'Champion' in every sense of the word... and he's a totally humble person too, which makes his victory all the more pleasurable.

Big Congratulations to him from us at ULTRArace and from all of you too, I'm sure...

More later...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Land's End

Last Dawn of the JOGLE 2012

Well here it is, the last day of this year's JOGLE Ultra... Eleven amazing people took up the challenge to run the 860+ miles from John o'Groats to Land's End. Only one has survived the journey, the Super-Charged, Rainer Koch from Nuremburg in Germany.

We will add our testament to Rainer post finish... (must start thinking of other adjectives than amazing and brilliant)...

There's just 10.3 miles left for him to cover this morning and of course it's raining a little as it's just starting to go light in Penzance. We will report more from the finish when he gets there...

It's going to be Champagne and Tears all round...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 15 - Results

And here they are...

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

10.3 miles left...

Well he's here in Penzance and did today's stage in 10hrs and 18 mins... another great run. He actually beat a lady waiting for the bus 10 miles from the finish to Penzance Bus Station, as she got off just as he passed it... who needs a bus pass eh?

Also it's remarkable as you have to take into consideration that he went sight seeing and took lots of pics today of anything Kernow. Tonight, well it's a bit of a celebration on board our sleeper bus and a nice fish and chip supper too... that's if he can fit that in after a massive Cornish Pastie.

He'll be off at 08:30 in the morning to batter the last 10.3 miles in to Penzance and it will be interesting to see if he can do a full house of 'Stage Record Times'.

What I do know is that we'll be there at the line to cheer him in and celebrate the most incredible run we have EVER witnessed... We hope you'll be there too...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

The LAST CHECKPOINT!

Rainer got to our final JOGLE CP just after 3pm. There are 12 miles to the finish today and only 10 tomorrow. So less than a marathon to go!!

Rainer's still knocking out the miles at an incredible pace - maybe the thought of fish and chips at Penzance is spurring him on.

That said, we are all definitely feeling the tiredness setting in today so roll on Lands End tomorrow...:-)

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/ - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Sithney,United Kingdom

City Boy... 33 miles...

It's astonishing... he's still running 10.5 min miles including some whacking hills and a whistle stop trip to Truro Cathedral (where he went in and took lots pics of course). Good news is that the weather is still fine and we have promised him a good view of the sea as he comes downhill into Penzance.

However he's still not convinced that anyone goes on a beach holiday in Cornwall and has already said today that he hasn't got his 'Swimming Trousers' with him anyway... so 'he will not be swimming'...

Funnily enough, we won't be going swimming later either as it's celebration time not only right now as WE are at the last CHECKPOINT of this year's event but also that there is a Fish, Chip and Wine Supper tonight...

More from Penzance...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Run Fat Boy Run...

JOGLER Andy Wilmshurst was watching this movie last night, as you do, and reckoned it reminded him of someone... what do you think? Apart from the look-a-like luckily there are no other similarities between Simon Pegg's character Dennis, and our Rainer...

Anyway, got to go as he is here now... taking more photos...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

10 down...

Rainer's just gone through St. Austell and has <90km left now until Lands End. The sunshine and blue skies that we ordered arrived by courier at 9am precisely and will hopefully lift Rainer through the 1400 metres of ascent he has to climb today.

We thought he looked slightly tired as we passed him at 7 miles, but he's not and it's business as usual for The Machine. We are off to get more supplies...

More from CP2...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Bosinver Ln,,United Kingdom

English Summer Please...

That's all that Rainer has asked for this morning, well that and a couple of MASSIVE bowls of porridge. He is now totally convinced that it just rains ALL the time! Let's face it, what are you meant to believe when it's been the wettest April for 100 years!

And it's a Bank Holiday this weekend... so we are not too hopeful...

Anyway forget the Met Office, OUR FORECAST is for plenty of steady running all day, uphill and downhill in a Westerly direction spreading to South-west Cornwall later in the day. The Whirlwind that's been dominating ultra-running down the country during the last couple of weeks will have cleared up by around 10am tomorrow morning and bright memories and astonishment will remain for a long time to come.

We wonder if we will experience conditions like this EVER again...

More from Checkpoint one - now where's my raincoat?

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 14 - Job Done - Results

Our friend, Becky Healey came out watch Rainer complete Day 14 in 10hrs 12mins... another blistering day out on the roads in Devonia and Kernow. Becky witnessed for herself the remarkable Rainer bashing up hills at over 6mph.

It's crazy for us to see too, as really we had envisaged anyone still standing (let alone running) to be finishing just inside the 'Midnight' cutoffs at this stage but this just isn't the case with 'The Trans-Europe Express' in town. We even managed a trip to The Dragon Leisure Centre to get washed and scrubbed up before our evening meal of Chilli... a firm JOGLE Ultra favourite.

We did find a suitably sized Mars Bar for him at our stopover at Downend Garage but it did melt and at £140 a time, they are a little impractical and outside race budget for tomorrow perhaps...

As for the last stage(s), well no doubt that will also prove not to be a problem as there is only 65 miles to go and there's over 800 miles in the bag for our man.

Please join us for the leg down to Penzance and like we said, if you are in the neighbourhood, please drop in on us. His times for the race so far are below...

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

Night from Rainer, Rory, Jen, Ann and Paul...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Food is mood...

Well they say that food is mood and whilst most of the runners will pile down the sandwiches and pasties on such runs, Rainer is a Nuts and Milkshakes only ULTRA-runner. He throws in the odd Mars Bar and Tin of Coke or two but we can safely report that his diet like his running is Nuts!

With the last couple of days in sight, Rainer has re-written the rule books and we'll take away lots from his being with us on the JOGLE Ultra.

More when he gets here...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

There's no stopping him!

The hills just keep on coming and so does Rainer. We are perched at the top of another big hill at 43.6 miles and once again Rainer jogged all the way up it! He'd been going just under 8 hours when he reached us and there are only 10 to the finish.

So we can look forward to another knees up now as we are en route to the bus which is parked at Townend Garage tonight.

More from the finish - eta for Rainer is 17:15...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Woodcockwell Bungalows,Callington,United Kingdom

31.75 done...

Well we are parked at the top of a hill I think I would find hard for hill reps and Rainer jogged all the way up it before stopping for food. He's done 10.75 hilly miles in 2:01 so quite incredible pacing given he has now run over 775 miles, with <90 to go...

He seems to be enjoying the hills ('waves' in Rainer's language!) and has definitely perked up now the rain has stopped.

We are now off to Merrymeet for the final checkpoint of the day. More from there...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Sand Hill,Gunnislake,United Kingdom

CP2 - 21 miles

Rainer just came through 21 miles in 3:45, so he's doing circa 10:40 miles today which is decidedly hilly.

We feel very privileged to be able to witness such an incredible running performance, one which no doubt will take a very long time to be beaten.

Based on his current form he is likely to finish between 3.5 and 4 WHOLE DAYS ahead of our 2010 finishers. And that is in no way meant to belittle Neil Bryant, David Miles and Mark Cockbain who all ran outstanding races 2 years ago. It is more to demonstrate how off the scale Rainer's performance is proving to be - surely he has to be the Best in the World at this kind of race format?

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Lewdown,United Kingdom

CP1 - it's getting hilly...

Rainer's come through the 10.1 mile point in just under 1:55. We had 3 very sizeable hills on the first section, and as we are driving on to CP2 we are being reminded just how hilly these last couple of days are...

Still, Rainer is still referring to them as 'slopes' and seems unperturbed as he runs up all of them!

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Bowerland Rd,,United Kingdom

It's Raining:-((

Rainer didn't look quite so keen this morning as, guess what, it's chucking down again:-( Barclay from Mid Devon Caravans (where we parked last night) PROMISED me the sun always shined in Devon - guess we must be jinxed as we just can't shake the wet weather.

Still, it's 'only' 53.5 miles today, with 54.1 tomorrow then a 10 miler on Saturday and he's made it! So the end is palpable now...

We are looking forward to seeing Becky Healey later who is coming out to see The Machine as he passes near her hometown of Bodmin. Maybe you could bring some sunshine with you Becky?!

More from CP1...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Station Rd,Bow,United Kingdom

Kernow the Last County...

Here in Devonia..., it's raining AGAIN!!! Let's hope that our trip into Kernow will give us more blue skies and our last three days will be sunny memories when we look back at JOGLE Ultra 2012. What do you do when your running superstar finishes the days stage early? do you give him rest? sleep? massage?... no you take him down the pub! Namely the Tom Cobley Tavern in Spreyton... a 'Proper Pub' selling some very strange ciders and pub of the year, every year it would appear.

Anyway, it was mighty strange to hit these parts in daylight and hopefully we will do more of the same today. Rainer is still totally 100% as strong both physically as well as mentally as day one and will no doubt bash out another blazing day on the road.

More from CP1...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 13 - Results

And here are the latest results... we are enjoying an extra 10 hours of rest time today compared to 2010:-)

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 13 - Finish

This is just getting plain daft now... Rainer's just finished in a ridiculous 7hrs and 51mins for the 43.4 miles of the days stage and there is still no sign of him slowing...

His camera might have some fatigue today as there were lots of 'Chocolate Box' cottages for him to photograph and he did manage time to go in and visit Crediton Church. He'll be walking on water next you see...

Anyway, 'The Machine' marches on and enjoy watching him cover the last 100 miles or so with us down to Lands End.

What a glorious day!!!

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Final CP done - off to finish for late lunch!

Well there was an almighty hill in the last stretch and Rainer still covered 11 miles in 1:55!

So it's only 11 miles to the finish now. The sun is shining and we are all looking forward to catching some rays and having an afternoon off. What a luxury! The Colemeister might even go out for a run too...

More from the finish...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Pleases Row,Crediton,United Kingdom

CP1 in 1:40

Rainer's just come through 10 miles at a 6mph pace which, if you could see the undulations and the traffic, is a very good pace indeed. What we have come to expect now but nonetheless quite incredible after over 700 miles of running. We have refreshed our supplies of Banana Milk for him and he's topped up and off again...

For the first time ever we are thinking we may have to investigate the local tourist spots later else we will be twiddling our thumbs!!!

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Ashbrittle,United Kingdom

Rainer's set off on Day 13

Unlucky for some, but bar an act of God I can't see anything stopping Rainer getting to the finish now...

Rainer set off just before 07:20 this morning donning shorts. His legs look no different to day 1 and he ran off easily with no stiffness in his legs whatsoever.

He is currently weaving his way through Taunton before reaching us at the 10 mile point just west of Wellington.

More when he arrives...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Taunton Rd,Bridgwater,United Kingdom

Only 43.4 miles today...

I don't know what we will do later this afternoon as it's only a 43.4 mile stage today from Taunton to Bow (that's in Devonia). It's not that Rainer actually needs a shorter day of running but it's just the way the mileages and stopovers worked that throws in a shorter stage today.

He says he is going to catch up on his email and internet... A long lie down and a 750 mile service might be my weapon of choice...

We are off to the start and more from there...


www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 12 - Results

And here are the results for Day 12...

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

An astonishing 10:28 for today's 57.5 miler.... and making him some 70 hours quicker than the 2010 event at the same stage!!!

Unbelievable...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Stage 12 - Mission Complete

Rainer finished the stage today well before 6pm in 10hrs 28minsin a. Yet another staggering time. Accompanied by 2010 Champion Neil Bryant, he had another remarkable day out on the road where they endured torrential rain and tropical sunshine.

It's been a bizarre day to say the least... the only thing that's been normal is Rainer's very, very consistent pace. I've started to set my watch by him!

Tomorrow, we hit Devon, the penultimate county of the JOGLE Ultra... and that really means the miles are whizzing by... especially with Rainer going at his current pace. The results or is that result? will be online shortly.

Lastly, thanks to Neil Bryant and Quentin Somerset for coming out to play... and also to the lovely Katherine for letting us stay at the http://www.junction24ltd.co.uk/ which now has a fanstatic restaurant and lovely hot showers!!!

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

50 up...

It was a quick dash into Bridgwater for the guys as the pace was even and relentless this afternoon... it also got even HOTTER... we even dispensed P20 suncream...

Yes, there was a high level of UV to contend with and Rainer is starting to look very brown from the days on the road, although it's more likely to be rust than anything else.

The good thing is that Rainer has enjoyed having some company today and if you live on the route please come out and say 'Hello'.

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

40.3 miles and it's HOT!

Rainer and Neil just got to CP4 which is 40.3 miles. Rainer has run EXACTLY the same time for 40 miles as he did yesterday so he must be using his cruise control!

In the space of 10 miles we have gone from serious floods to boiling hot sunshine which will hopefully lift the spirits. We are now heading for the final CP of the day so more from there...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Bristol Rd,,United Kingdom

Sun is shining...

What a crazy time we are having today... it's bright warm sunshine now! And 14 degress C... let's hope that Rainer isn't pulsing along now he has the 2010 Champ Neil Bryant alongside him on the road. It's been really humid all day in fact and we are so glad that the roads are now dry.

We just passed a sign for Weston-super-Mare which always sounds a long way down south where I am from and we are getting ever closer to that finish.

More when they get here...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Raining on Rainer...

It's a New World Record as we have reached a new high in rain and surface water... We are on the A38 at the halfway point and Rainer is going to need flippers at this point as where the trucks pass each other.

On the upside Neil Bryant has just managed to catch 'The German Express' up and they are now clipping along at a great rate towards CP4 at 40 miles...

More from there...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer's through CP2

Rainer's still looking fresh as a daisy... Quentin found him along the Avonmouth Gorge and ran with him for a short while and was pretty astounded at the blistering pace.

He's just come through CP2 having navigated his way through the tricky Bristol roads perfectly. Neil Bryant is currently trying to catch him up having missed a rendez-vous at Clifton Suspension Bridge. Let's see how long it takes him...!

The rain did ease for short while but it has just started to chuck it down...:-(


www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Ashton Rd,,United Kingdom

CP1 - 08:50

Rainer is surprisingly upbeat given the rain which looks like is set in for the day. He did the first 8.8 miles in 1.5 hrs which is great going on these busy, wet roads.

We are parked at the 11 mile point to help him onto the A4 before carrying on towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge where the lovely Quentin Somerset is joining us to say hello.

He's just whizzed past on a mission - more from CP2...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:St Andrew's Rd,Bristol,United Kingdom

Back in England!

It was a very wet 'Severn Crossing' this morning and our planned photo extravaganza was more like a few limp photos in the rain. As we crossed the bridge Rainer did say that Wales has been his favourite country as it has better weather - that's a most unusual accolade for Wales!

Rainer has now turned for home and Lands End is just days away.

We are off to CP1 - more from there...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Olveston,United Kingdom

Morning from Wales...

Arrggghh... would you believe it - it's raining AGAIN. In fact it's been persisting down during the night and most folk on the bus said it woke them up. (Must have missed that bit myself...) But anyway, it's business as usual and Rainer is now well into his second bowl of Porridge and getting ready for a 7am start from the Severn Bridge approach over in ARAF (should be 'ymprydio' really as that means 'fast' I believe, well that's what Google suggests)...

We are looking forward to seeing Neil Bryant, today (JOGLE Champion 2010). Rainer enjoys running company along the way and with Neil being a Bristolian, his local knowledge will prove most useful as well as something to look forward to during the 57.5 mile stage.

More from the otherside of Passport Control...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Turn for home..

Tomorrow's a favourite part of the journey for us as we turn for home after crossing the Old Severn Bridge out of Wales... (I won't mention that I went across it first when the toll was -2/6 back in 1966, as it makes me sound old but)... Two years ago Neil, David and Mark came over arm-in-arm - tomorrow Rainer will also enjoy the 3240ft span across the Rivers Wye and Severn and run back into England for the last time and head on towards Lands End.

Can't wait to take the photos... and it feels like we are getting closer to our 4th ever JOGLE Ultra finisher and the possibility of him setting smashing the record.

Hopefully you will be back with us for a 7am start and if you live along the route please come and say 'Hello' as Rainer quite likes that... and we do too.

Good night from us on the bus and see you tomorrow.

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 11 Results

And here they are...

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/ - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer finishes 61.6 in style

Rainer has just completed the last 60+ stage in 11 hours and 21 minutes.

Awesome running Rainer... it's been a warm and undulating day today...it's the Severn Bridge tomorrow :-)

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Smoking Mars Bars...

We'll have to have a word with Rainer as we just found him smoking a Mars Bar at the very same bridge that the guys got to on this day back in 2010. Is that why he is so quick?

He has now covered a massive 50.2 miles, with just over 11 to go for the day and will be finishing in sight of the Severn Bridge where we will be hopefully be taking the best pictures of the race in the morning.

More when he finishes...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Panic Over

After venturing down the blocked off road and calling the police, it seems the road block was for a fallen tree not flooding which we were mire concerned about.

The tree has been removed and Rainer has thankfully managed to avoid what would have been a very testing diversion towards the end of a very testing day...

We are now sat in Chepstow overlooking the River Severn waiting for Rainer to finish before driving him a short distance to the centre of Chepstow where the bus is parked... We reckon he'll arrive around 18:30...

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/ - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Mathern Rd,,United Kingdom

Rainer reaches 50.2..

Rainer has just stopped for his final checkpoint - he's covered the distance 'til then in 9 hrs 20 mins. The weather is glorious as is the route, although having just popped out for a 20 miler myself it is certainly pretty lumpy. Here he is at Bigsweir Bridge, an elegant cast iron road bridge, which was built in 1827 as part of the new turnpike road constructed up the lower part of the Wye valley between Chepstow and Monmouth. The bridge connects the English and Welsh sides of the river, with an abandoned toll house on the Welsh side.

It comprises a single arch of 50 metres, and was designed by Charles Hollis of London and cast at Merthyr Tydfil. Because of its narrow width, modern traffic is controlled by traffic signals at either end. The bridge is about 600 metres upstream of the ancient fishing weir and ford of Bigsweir, which is close to Bigsweir House.

Judging by his time he doesn't seem to be too concerned about them so far. That said, we have just gone up an enormous hill as part of a diversion at Llandogo. We suspect it's because of floods and are hoping the road below is only closed to traffic else Rainer has a very tough final section of the day... We'll find out when we get to the end of the diversion and let you know...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Downend Rd,Bristol,United Kingdom

40.2 miles - easy peasy today...

There's no surprise I am sure to you when I say Rainer breezed thru CP3 and has just made it to us at the 40.2 mile point in just 7hrs 20mins... he agonisingly close to the Welsh Border and I thought we had made it when we got to Welsh Newton but bizarrely we are still in England, although noting surprises me on this event now.

We are still enjoying a lot of race coverage in France of all places and being switched onto Multi-day running so much longer than the UK, they seem most interested in watching their running hero Rainer conquer Great Britain! 'Merci beaucoups' to our French audience.

It will be good to be in Wales although sadly north of our home in Caerdydd but we will say a happy ARAF as we enter the homeland as we cross the border. I've told Rainer to have his passport ready for the Severn Bridge back into England tomorrow.

More form the last CP of the day...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

What a difference a day makes...

What's this? Blue Skies...White Fluffy Clouds, Green Fields and dare I say SUNSHINE... This can't possibly be less than 24hrs after the day when Noah was getting 'The Ark' out of dry dock! It's an unbelievable 14 degrees out here and it feels almost summer like.

Jenny might get one of her 6 coats off very soon...

Oh Rainer, well he has a light layer of sweat on his forehead, either that or it's condensation as a result of the speed of the moist air airflow passing over his head. He still looks effortless running and totally makes you want to hang up your trainers for good.

Anyway, he is on his way to us at 30 miles and the halfway point for the day... more then.

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

22.6 in 3:38

Rainer is going very strong today and eating up the miles (and the peanuts!). He's over a third of the way through the day now and it's getting hot!

He's eating more high-energy food as other food won't provide him with the necessary calories he needs. He did drink 28 cans of coke in a day on a stage in America, but we won't be making that recommendation on the JOGLE as that much coke should probably come with a warning!

He's now running through Hereford where he might go sightseeing at the Mappa Mundi as he is really interested in seeing British history, but we'll see eh?

We are off to the halfway point which will give us a good idea of his stage finish time today.

More from CP3...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer is through 11.8

Rainer has upped his speed this morning. He has just come through the first CP in around 1:50 for 11.8 miles...

It's turning into a beautiful day and it will be great to see a lot of places in the light that we don't normally.

The event has gained momentum each year and is now being followed all over the world. We have already received 5 potential 2013 entries this week!

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Proberts Close,Leominster,United Kingdom

Rainers on the road...

Well Rainer’s back on the road and probably like you I am wondering if he is ever going to slow down or show ANY sign of fatigue in the last six days of the event. He ran off from the start this morning the same as every day with no stiffness of the legs or signs of hurty feet. Last night he was telling us of the 70,000km he has walked/run in IVV events in Europe and that probably goes a long way to getting as conditioned as he is to this type of running.

We look at his times so far for JOGLE and believe that he would smash Andy Rivetts, JOGLE record BUT it’s not what Rainer is about it.

It’s the experience of racing across countries, running huge distances and seeing new places that he enjoys most – and maybe enjoying ULTRAs is something that we something we all forget.

More from CP1…

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Morning from Day 11...

Well, it's stopped raining... and we have been PROMISED sunshine today, although looking at the forecast for Hereford and Chepstow I'm not so sure:-( For the moment at least it is dry and the wind has dropped so let's pray it stays that way...

This is the course profile for today - so a few little ups and downs for Rainer to enjoy:-)

Today is the last stage >60 miles at 61.6. We will be finishing in Chepstow tonight before crossing the fabulous old Severn Bridge tomorrow for the long home straight to Lands End. Rainer has stocked up on masses of porridge again this morning and Rory is just taking him to the start 5.5 miles down the road.

More as the day unfolds...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Day 10 - Results

Rainer finished in 10:50 today... here are the full results:

http://www.ultrarace.co.uk/events/results/

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer finishes in sub-11

Rainer has just finished his 10th day on the road - a horribly wet 59.2 miler - in under 11 hours.

How does he do it? Today has been one of the toughest yet as the rain just hasn't stopped all day and temperatures dropped to 4 degrees excluding the significant wind chill factor.

We keep getting asked what we are feeding him as our viewers want some of what he is on! Although Ann is cooking some fine dinners and buckets of porridge, I'm afraid there's no magic ingredient we can recommend to turn you into Super-Rainer - he's a superstar...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Shrewsbury Rd,Craven Arms,United Kingdom

An hour to go...

Rainer was happy at the final CP of the day at 49.2 miles. The rain has finally subsided a bit, the aftermath is pretty shocking though. All the local surrounds are flooded.

So Rainer finishes 5.5 miles ahead of the bus tonight. Rory and I are driving out to pick him up - his eta at the finish is 19:55 (he reckoned 1:45 for the final 10 - incredible)!

The bus is v quiet now and we will miss Tom this week:-(

More once Rainer has finished...


www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Shrewsbury Rd,Craven Arms,United Kingdom

Rainer is through CP4

Rainer came through the 40.3 mile point at 16:26. James, Gemma, Mark, Alex and Dave all waved him off. His comment of the day was, 'it could be worse, there could be hills and snow'!

So we are now back at the bus dropping off Tom and Dave who are being collected. Linda, Tom's Mum, is only a few miles away.

Tom said the thing he is going to miss the most is intimate moments with Rory taping his feet!

More from CP5...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Main Rd,,United Kingdom

Just passed Rainer en route to CP4

Having picked up Tom and his running buddies, Dave and Mark, at CP3 we have now set up camp in Dorrington for Rainer's 4th checkpoint of the day at 40.3 miles.

He was moving freely when we passed him along the way. The rain is causing some serious flooding around here so we hope we don't encounter problems along the route...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Bank Dr,Shrewsbury,United Kingdom

Tom is out:-(((((

Well we are gutted to say Tom has called it a day after an agonising 10 mile stretch to CP3 in torrential rain... His Achilles and calf have become unmanageable despite his valiant attempts and he is now warming up in the car...

Tom has run an outstanding race and we are all so proud of him.

Congratulations Tom you're a legend...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Shrewsbury Rd,,United Kingdom

Mark Cockbain joins Tom and Dave

Mark has just joined the lads en route to CP3 at 30.5 miles. Alex, Mark's girlfriend, has just joined us in the ULTRArace mobile and apparently they are 3 miles away...

More when they get here...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Haywood Ln,Market Drayton,United Kingdom

Battling on...

We've just passed Tom in Wem and he is going great guns and again he has now been joined by David Miles who is an invaluable running partner for Tom right now...

Who will get to 30 miles first today?

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning

Rainer has just reached 20.4

Both of the guys are battling with absolutely HORRENDOUS conditions today. There has been driving rain all morning and if anything it's getting worse:-(

Rainer has just come through CP2 barely stopping and has run off looking very comfortable. Maybe he's finding it too comfortable as he seems to have run an additional 5km to the marked route so far to add to the already challenging day.

Well done Rainer - impressive as always...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Wem,United Kingdom

Tom going for CP3...

Well, we've worked some magic and had a close look at his Achilles and Tom's shown just how courageous he is by going back out onto the road and moving onto the 30 mile point. It's still 'pi55ing down' and it's been a tough call for him to make to get out of a warm vehicle and get back to it.

999/1000 people wouldn't have been able to do that - and its what has impressed us most about Tom over the last 10 days. Let's hope this is a 20 mile blip and he can get his mind together to get to Ludlow today... as it's one CP at a time now and 'mind over matter' for our Tom.

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning