Tomas Svitorka

Running 100km is not normal.

Last weekend I ran the London to Brighton 100km Ultra for the 3rd time.

In 2023 I finished in 13h 48min
In 2024 I finished in 12h 52min

Last Saturday I finished in 11h 27min.
12th out of 1,600 participants.
33 degrees at peak. 270 people didn’t finish.

The first time I ran it, I was nervous. My first 100k.
I was making the most of every aid station.
Taking photos to document it.
I had proper highs and lows.

This time, at around km 70, I turned to my good friend Vlad - who ran the whole thing with me - and said it felt just like a long day out.

After several ultras, 24h track race, and many back-to-back 100km weeks in the last 8 months, this felt strangely “normal”.

Running 100km is not normal.

But that is the point.

Whatever we do repeatedly, we normalise.

Good or bad.

→ Eating clean or eating junk
→ Reading or scrolling
→ Creating or consuming
→ Focused work or procrastination
→ Early mornings or hitting snooze
→ Exercising or skipping it
→ Discipline or laziness
→ Showing up or waiting to feel ready
→ Doing the hard thing or making excuses

Running 100km is not normal.
But you can make it feel normal if you do it enough times.

Most of the things on that list are easier than that.

Whatever you do repeatedly, you normalise.

Choose carefully.

I’m 43 today.

I thought I’d write something profound, but...

The older I get, the more I understand a good life is about simple things like:

- Good morning coffee
- A relaxed dog walk
- Doing great work
- Being a good person
- Being with people who care about you
- Friends who get you and will have your back
- Challenging yourself every now and then
- Not worrying what others think
- Letting yourself be excited
- Not arguing with idiots
- Not worrying
- Good health
- Good nap
- Early bed

And then there’s this stuff I’ve learned the hard way:

- A beaten up Garmin is a bigger flex than a shiny Rolex
- Everyone is winging it. So don’t feel bad if you do, too.
- Rest isn’t a reward for hard work. It’s part of the work.
- Being reliable is more valuable than being impressive.
- Impressing yourself is better than impressing others.
- Consistency > Intensity
- There’s never a good time to do most things in life.
- If you can’t trust your gut with regular milk, maybe don’t trust it with big decisions.

Oh, and I remember my dad being 43.
I thought he was old. Lol.

Here’s to another year of keeping it simple. 🥂🍾

PS: I don’t know if my dad had it all figured out at 43. I sure don’t.