Support Joe Thomas running 103 miles for MDS UK!
30 Jun. 2023
This is an utterly awesome challenge! On the 5th August Joe will be attempting the North Downs Way 100, a 103 mile (yes 103 mile, 167km!) ultramarathon to raise awareness of and money for MDS UK.
Pete and Joe Thomas
Last August, Joe’s family were rocked by the news that Joe’s dad, Pete Thomas, was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS).
“Fortunately our family has had incredible support from MDS UK, an extraordinary charity that provides invaluable help and support to patients like my Dad, keeping them abreast of clinical trials and promoting awareness of the disease."
Joe is taking on this amazing challenge to help other MDS & CMML patients get the support they need from MDS UK Patient Support Group.
North Downs Way 100 - a 103 mile continuous trail
The North Downs Way 100 ultramarathon starts in Farnham in the Surrey hills and ends in Ashford in Kent. In addition to covering the distance, Joe will have to tackle an ascent of 11,000 ft (3350m) - more than climbing the largest mountain in England, Scotland, and Wales combined, as well as running through the night in order to try and beat the 30hr cut-off time!
Joe's training
When Joe took on the daunting 103-mile race, he'd only taken part in a 5K run back in 2018. Determined to conquer this new challenge, he embarked on seven months of rigorous training. In February, he completed a full marathon, covering 26.2 miles in just 3 hours and 54 minutes. Not stopping there, Joe further pushed his limits in May, finishing a 50-mile qualifying race in 11 hours and 7 minutes, securing his spot for the ultramarathon on August 5th.
