Congratulations on completing your Epic adventure to tackle one of the hardest races on the ultra marathon circuit Le Grand Raid Des Pyrenees, how are you now feeling looking back at the race?

Felling pretty good and still on a high realising the achievement. 167km 10700m of assent across the Pyrénées on tough mountain Terrain is something to be proud of. 42h is not fastest time but a long stretch but it’s so many memories, up and down that  I will cherish for ever. 

How did it compare to other ultra races you've done?

It’s very different than the races I did in the UK. The amount of elevation is hard to replicate here. When a 100 miles will have 2000m ish in the UK. There it was 5 times the amount. So training for that is difficult but none the less I needed to accept it and tick each climb one at the time and move forward.  Last year race in France, l’Utra Marin was pan flat 1500m of assent across 175km. There was a lot more running because of it. This year at the GRP dur to the amount of climbing you just can’t run as much…. Hence it takes longer! 
How did you find the training set you from Rich, your coach?The training was really good. After setting à plan with you one when I can train, how much, fitting it around family life and work life too. Plan worked well I felt prepared, challenge, and very importantly injury free. So a good preparation all in all. It’s very easy set the plan with you and I just have to follow it !

Was it the right amount to fit in with your lifestyle?

Yes it did very much. Setting out the plan at the beginning really helped to make sure it would fit in my lifestyle. 

How did your body respond to the 10,000m of elevation in the race?

Well it was very much the unknown. I knew I could cover the distance as I did a few times now but the elevation was very much the unknown. From a training point of view also it was difficult to have meaningful elevation gain around the field of Oxfordshire. When we got to the race I could see half of the first climb and there a télécabine to get there! So that was a wake up call reallly. But the body during the race was fine legs were tired of course, sore, stiff but still moving ok on the uphills. The downhill however was the big surprised actually I was nowhere compare to local runners. Their speed downhill was unbelievable even after 100km! Their ability to run fast down technical terrain was impressive. I lost most of my time in downhills for sure. Not technically prepared enough, not strong enough physically to run downhill that fast for that long, and don’t have the confidence to commit on those downhills step after step. That was for sure à big lesson learnt. 

From the pictures you've sent through , the scenery/views must have been amazing?

Which was your most favourite view whilst competing in the race?

Yes the sceneries were amazing. Pepper mountain race in the middle of a National park through reserves of even more protected areas. Moon landscapes, baron mountain territories, most of the race was between 1800m and 2500m of altitude. It was such shock to my normal running trails here. For me the best view were when we were crossing passes leaving one valley behind and going down to the next. Finished the up and starting the down. That change of views

/ sceneries every time was spectacular. 

How important was your support crew through the event?

It was the first time I had a support crew following me. My wife and daughter came each day. My cousin, a chilwood friend and his wife support me throughout. And know I N they would be at next aid station was such a high for me. To see them to stop 30s, 1 min or 30 mins for a sleep was great. Mentally such a good tool to keep my moral up knowing familiar faces would be there. They provided all the standard drinks and gels but their banter and more importantly chips! It was brilliant. Thank you to them!

Any particular things that you would say went well?

What did not go well and what would you do differently?

The preparation went really well. Physics and mentally. I only do 1 race a year so there is a lot that needs to happen to make I get on the start line in a good shape. And once I was on the start line in a good shape I only to start the race and keep going until I finished it , which is the easy part and the part I need to enjoy. So yes the preparation was big positive thing for this race. The mental resilience and capacity was also a huge positive learning. I love more knowing what. I am capable of doing, specially mentally. We are so much more capable than we think!On the negative side, technical downhill running was a surprise really. But I was fine with that during the race. I accepted and kept going

So what’s next JP?

I don’t know to be honest. Dragon’s back race, Marathon des sables. I really enjoyed the trails in France, so maybe another one there? They are so many in France across all the mountain ranges. Lots of choices really. 

Would you recommend others to take on the monumental challenge of an adventure?

I guess I started now training with you 10 years ago! I was overweight and not exercising to this now. So yes with the right preparation and training anything is possible!