“Most of the things I have done are just for the challenge!”
Many could run a mile, perhaps even a marathon. But 100 miles? This is a different class and takes a special type of will. Sergeant Ken Ivory has that will. I caught up with the athletic sergeant who has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of his passion, running, and raising thousands of pounds for Forces charity, SSAFA along the way.
During school years Ken realised he had a talent for running, competing in the 100, 200, 400 & 800m races and making decent times. Competing in county championships helped push him to take on longer distances. It was only when joining the military in his 20s after a civilian career in Lloyds Bank & Tescos that the joy of running was rekindled. A military career demanded a greater degree of fitness and with more time to run, cross country events became more appealing. He had been well and truly bitten by the bug and in his words, “loved it!” The greater his enthusiasm, the longer the distances. Once he and a friend decided to do a 45-mile stretch “as a bit of a laugh…all in one hit!” Another time he ran 100 miles from Hull to Waddington in 27 hours “to get to know the guys he was working with a little better.” Some would never contemplate this in their lives, but it did not phase Ken. And to understand his actions, you must understand the man.
The old adage ‘still waters run deep’ comes to mind when I met Ken. Quiet, unassuming and relaxed, his demeanour changes when he talks about running. He becomes animated and empowered. This is his territory, and he knows it. Discipline – in mind and spirit is all important.
So, how do you mentally train yourself to do a long-distance run? For Ken, be it 20 miles or 100 it is all about breaking it down. The longer races have check points along the route and you can mentally calculate the distance between each. The South Downs 100, for example, is particularly hilly so the course can be broken down by setting each major hill as a marker. “There is no hard and fast rule…it is just a way of breaking down the distance. Once you get to the next checkpoint you reset,” commented Ken.
Each runner will inevitably hit that ‘invisible wall.’ It is that point where pain and fatigue set in, and you feel you cannot go on.
“In races like the 100-milers you must acknowledge that you are going to have a bad patch. This is the bit you have to work through. It is so easy to give up and adopt the ‘I won’t bother’ attitude.”
For Ken, having a focus takes his mind off any physical pain he may endure. “I like to mull over what is happening in my life. It is a great way to destress. I don’t use headphones…..I like to listen to and watch nature and wildlife,” said the dedicated father of three.
You may be thinking, what is that magic ingredient that spurs a runner on to reach that final hurdle and touch that finish line? For Ken, and many other seasoned runners it is down to one word: Challenge.
“I know I am never going to win these races. I do it for my own challenge. I like to do different challenges. I have done the London Marathon 7 times since 2006. I have done mountain races, flat ones, coastline runs. The Mont Blanc took me 9 hrs,” said the sergeant in a manner that would leave many breathless.
Ken is restless. I get the impression that his mind is forever chasing that next big race, that next big goliath to slay. With such single-minded determination, it can often be difficult for family to understand the psyche of such impassioned people. His wife, Tracey has recently become involved in running and can share in his experience.
“You cannot understand someone who has just gone through a 100-mile race if you have not done any running,” said the sergeant, “If they run, they have a better understanding of what you are going through.”
Though it has been a large part of Ken’s life, he does not feel he has sacrificed anything major in the pursuit of his sporting goals – except maybe not drinking or going out as much in his teenage years!
Ken’s toughest race is the Malayan Marathon that took 6.5 hours to complete over difficult terrain and exhausting heat – “going downhill is not as easy as many people think!” His favourite? Undoubtedly it is the South African Comrades Marathon – considered by many to be the oldest ultra-marathon in the world. Competitors run a road race of 56 miles. Last run by Ken in 2013, you are not deemed a true ‘Comrade’ unless you have completed the ‘Up’ run and the ‘Down’ run. Televised over 13 hours, the national event sees competitors run the distance in 12 hours or less or risk disqualification. Over 20,000 runners compete annually for the glory of doing this arduous race with Ken having run a respectable 8hrs 26mins and just over 9 hours on a couple of other occasions.
To secure a place in the Comrades, competitors need to have run at least one 5-hour ultra-marathon. A normal marathon is 26.2 miles long, ultra-marathons are 27 miles and over. For those who complete 100 ultra-marathons a special status awaits; membership of the coveted ‘100 Marathon Club.’ The steely sergeant is well on the way to being its next member. He has completed 70 so far, with 16 marathons lined up for this year and another 15 peppered through 2024. This is the dream before he finally leaves the RAF next year after 30 years’ service. I already knew the answer, but had to ask: “Will you make it?” “Yes!” was the quick reply. And I believe him.
Although he runs for the love of the sport, it has run in tandem with his life-long affinity to SSAFA, the charity that supports the armed forces, both serving and veterans. Since 1990 and even before he joined the military, Ken has held the post of Honorary Treasurer, quietly raising thousands for this worthy cause. “It is just something I do,” said the sergeant, modestly.
With the inevitable march of time, age has crept up and the need to readjust. Ken is sanguine about the fact times have got a little slower. But the plucky sergeant has the tenacity of a man half his age. The next challenge is to pass the Dark Blue Fitness Test. Involving sit-ups, press-ups and multi-stage fitness, Dark Blue is the gold standard of military tests. “Not many have the Dark Blue. There would be immense pride for me in achieving that,” commented Ken in his very humble manner. The other big challenge on the agenda now is 3 marathons in 3 days in October, finishing at Land’s End.
Is there any advice to someone wanting to take up running? “Start small, with a 5k run, build up the distances and get fit.”
Running, for the reserved yet assured Ken is not for the glory of winning. It is for something far simpler; “I feel better for doing it. That is the big motivation. It breaks up your day.”
The dedicated runner has a cabinet full of medals to prove his staying power, but I suspect there is room for more from pursuits other than running. Skydiving and wing walking hold a particular fascination now and I get the feeling that, should these be sampled, he will excel just as he has with pounding the roads. This is a man who will never stand still. There will always be that next big mountain to conquer.
