Chasing the Coast
with Ciaran Grimmer, Harry Parkes & Joe Randon
Photos: Ciaran Grimmer, Harry Parkes & Joe Randon
Taking on a 100km ultra requires more than just showing up fit. For Ciaran Grimmer, Harry Parkes, and Joe Randon, this race started months before race day — in cold morning runs, strength sessions after long workdays, and back-to-back weekends spent on their feet.
Each brought something different to the table. Ciaran, a sports massage therapist, used his injury recovery experience to guide smart training and recovery. Harry, now working with Arthrex UK, brought clinical precision and planning from his physiotherapy background. Joe, a carpenter by trade, approached it with steady consistency — quietly stacking weeks of training and never missing a step.
There were no big claims or last-minute scrambles. Just a clear plan, followed properly.
The race began just after sunrise in Old Deer Park, Richmond. The first 20km felt manageable: a flat stretch along the Thames Path, winding into Bushy Park, and through green spaces that encouraged a natural rhythm.
It would’ve been easy to get carried away early — the terrain invited it. But they stayed patient. They all knew the second half of the course would ask harder questions, and the real work was still ahead.
By 30km, the terrain began to shift. More elevation, more uneven ground, and signs that the challenge was beginning to unfold.
From Surrey into West Sussex, the elevation quietly built up. The smooth early roads gave way to narrow trails, loose gravel, and rutted bridleways. Climbing sections near the North Downs Way began to break up the rhythm.
Fatigue started to settle in around 50km. This was the longest many had ever run — and they weren’t even halfway done. The quiet moments between checkpoints became just as important as the energy gels and water bottles.
By the time they reached 75km, the surroundings opened up. They had entered the South Downs National Park, and the hardest climbs were still to come.
The final 25km was the most exposed part of the course — steep ascents and chalky trails cut into the South Downs Way. The route rose sharply around 80km, including a particularly brutal climb that pushed each of them into the red.
Wind hit hard on the ridge, but the view stretched far — all the way to the sea. With Brighton now visible in the distance, they held their effort steady and worked together to manage pace, fuel, and mindset.
The long descent toward Brighton Racecourse was quiet, reflective. A mix of tired legs, sore feet, and the knowledge that they were nearly there. At the finish, their individual efforts reflected both preparation and experience.
Ciaran crossed the line in 12:32:08, running with control and discipline throughout. Harry finished in 12:50:17, maintaining the steady, methodical pacing that’s defined his previous ultra performances. Joe completed the course in 13:32:02, successfully finishing his first ultra at this distance with the same calm, patient approach that shaped his training.
With roughly 1,500m of elevation gain and a route that never settled into a rhythm for long, the London 2 Brighton Ultra Challenge is a test of patience, control, and preparation.
It wasn’t about pace. It wasn’t about performance metrics. It was about doing something properly — from start to finish — with the right people.
For Ciaran, Harry, and Joe, the finish line wasn’t a moment of celebration, but of confirmation. That they’d prepared well. That they’d backed themselves. That they'd done it their way.
For Rando Training Club®, it was another clear example of what can be done when you train with intent and show up with purpose.
Follow their journey:
Ciaran Grimmer: @fitness_with_grim
Harry Parkes: @harrryparkes
Joe Randon: @joerandon
CG Massage Therapy: Supporting recovery and performance. Learn more or book a session and follow on Instagram: @cg_massage_therapy
Ambion Carpentry: Carpenter and Joiner based in the heart of the Midlands. Instagram: @ambion.carpentry