LOCAL runner Daniel Masters is preparing for the Centurion 100 mile Grand Slam and is hoping to beat the record for the fastest time.
The Centurion 100 mile Grand Slam consists of four separate 100-mile races held across the South of England. Starting in April, they take place every six weeks finishing in October.
Daniel said, “I’ve always ran as a mixture of wanting to keep fit and as part of training for my rugby. After an injury three years ago I decided to give up the rugby and concentrate just on running.
“From starting on shorter 10k trail races I gradually built up to marathon over the course of a year. Finding I had greater success in the longer distances, in 2015 I heard of the Somerset-based Albion Running that held some local Ultra Marathons and I thought why not try one, it’d be a mighty achievement. From that first ultra I was hooked. I entered several more and ran my first 100- miler in March of 2016 where I came second. With a win in a six-hour race, Albion Running approached me and asked if I would represent them at future races, which I was honoured to accept.
“I chose the Grand Slam because although running 100 miles is very tough, I strangely enjoy the distance and the satisfaction is incredible. Being able to run four over the summer, with the recovery from blisters etc. to your legs, that sense of achievement would be something truly special.
“I started training at the end of November, trying to run an average of 75 – 85 miles per week. So far, although hard, training is going to plan. I hope I can avoid any injuries and continue right through the winter, before easing off a month or so before the first race. I’m hoping to run each different course in under 20 hours and at the same time, help promote Albion Running which has a race right here in Frome.”
Dave Urwin, who set up Albion Running jointly with Natanya Squire said, “Daniel got our attention with some superb performances in our races, and recorded a quite remarkable sequence of finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the races of ours he entered, all in a row! Even more amazingly, he finished 5th in his next race, which was the Ridgeway 86 miler. He took 1st in a six-hour race at Longrun Meadow, Taunton, then 2nd at the Westcountry Ultra 100 Miler, 3rd at Ham & Lyme 100k and then 4th at the Mendip Marauder.”
