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Thought you might like to read a report I found recently (when clearing out the attic)
Of Ron Hopcroft’s World Record 100 miles

I had always regarded 5 am as the most unearthly hour and swore that, once I left the army, nothing would ever get me up at this time, but, there I was at Hyde Park Corner all ready to tun a 100 miles to the little village of Box in Wiltshire, which is a short distance from Bath.

A foggy morning, but not too cold, and at 5am precisely wwe were away. We being three
John Legge, Bill Wortley and myself) hoping to run all the way, and half a dozen others including Percy Cerutty, the Australian coach, to see us on our journey.

First incident of note was that of Hammersmith Broadway, three club members turned out -
Jackie King (who first started me on this long distance lark) Terry Stacey with a full day's growth distincly showing even before the light of dawn, and Maurice Keating to run a couple of miles and wish us luck.

At Turnham Green (5 miles - 35m26s) I changed into a singlet for the rest of the way, parted company with the other two runners and faced up to the rest of the journey alone - the battle now being against the clock. At Hounslow (9.5 miles) I passed the office a 6.05am but I don't think they will ever believe me
Onto Cranford - how could I ever have thought that four laps for the 10 miles Cross Country was a never ending run? Here was Bob Chard out for a training spin, having been at work till 10 pm the night before. He kept me company until Slough (20.5 miles in 2hr 22m 51s) and then turned back for home - all this on a breakfast of one biscuit!
Maidenhead soon came in sight - the first marathon done in 3hr 2 min
Out of Maidenhead and my first bit of trouble - chased by a dog for a couple of hundred yards and no one in sight to help me.
30 miles in 3hr 28m through a very busy Reading and not the hills were starting. 40 miles in 4hr 36min and well into the open country and my first bad patch lasting 4 or 5 miles. 50 miles (5hr 46m 37s) the next objective being Newbury (55.75 miles) before it became crowded with racegoers. Newbury cleared and I had a quick wash and a good drink. 60 miles (6hr 59m 55s) 5 seconds inside the 7 min mile average I had aimed for.
Between 60 & 70 miles I had my first feed - a cup of tomato soup and a very thin savoury sandwich of wholemeal bread dipped the soup (gobbled down as quickly as poss. whilst half trotting)
70 miles (8hr 19m10s) - the countryside really looking its autumn best. A very steep downhill into Malborough (74.5miles) which was almost taken at walking pace (or so it seemed then through this sleepy old town only to find a terrifying hill out of it.
80 miles (9hr 36m26s) and I was really in trouble. For the first time I had two or three little walks – 20 yards or so. Another wash, with my attendants pulling the bucket away from me just as I was enjoying it. Another meal as before, and I was away to a really good spell of eight miles at a speed just inside 7 minute miles. This good spell fortunately took me over some pretty formidable hills. 90 miles (11hr 0m 10s) Chippenham – the last town, with quite a crows to cheer us on. ‘All down hill’ we were told, but just around the corner was a shocker –
up and up we went. ‘The last hill’ a young local cyclist told me ‘Yes’ I thought ‘it lasts all the way’
Downhill & uphill and still going well. 95 miles in 11hr 32m 28s. Exactly 48 mins left to beat the record – a ‘cert.’ everone thought, and by now we has a terrifc following of motorists, motor and pedal cyclists and pedestrians running etc Percy Cerutty was also in running kit dashing up to groups of spectators ‘A world record is being broken here – give him a cheer
Come on – a big one’

Only three miles left now. But what is this? Another hill – and this proved to be the last straw. I just couldn’t run up it. Pleadings and exhortations almost turned to threats in an effort to keep me running. Upon the scene came Harry Dennis who had gone onto Box to park his car and then run back. Fortunately, he had brought our last bottle of ‘pop’ which I quickly downed, and the welcome news that past the next big copse of trees it was definitely all downhill. Eventually. after what seemed ages, we passed the trees and amad run downhill began as time was very short.
It was dusk now and what a joy to see the lights in the village of Box, but where was the Bear Inn? Just around the corner….just around the corner….just around the corner … and all I could see was a straight road. At last we were round the corner – not another hill – but dismay quickly gave way to relief when I saw a big banner across the road with the wonderful word ‘FINISH’
Time 12hours 18min 16sec which I did not find out until the Sunday.
What a reception there was! Almost the whole village had turned out (population of Box -2,100) A garland of flowers round my neck and females queuing to congratulate me in the traditional manner. But, enough of that or we’ll have some of the juniors attempting this run.

What a wonderful team of attendants I had and what a marvellous job they did. The village of Box had never seen our club crest ‘vTh’ before, but we were very soon let them know it stood for ‘Very Tired Hopcroft’

If you click on the link below then click on the 1956 London to Brighton you can see Ron winning that race
http://www.roadrunnersclub.org.uk/johnJewell.htm

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"If you want to be a runner, run a 100 metres: if you want to experience another life, run a marathon"
Emil Zatopek

That's incredible!

Just to think, these days it could easily take that long to drive it!

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2013 Goals: Complete first tri. Run 750 miles. 50 minute 10k, 2 hour half (tick - 1:57:19).
My Garmin & My Blog

Cool! I used to live near Box!