Name: Karl Baxter

Occupation: Fuel Tanker Driver

Home Town: Wisbech

Questions

What is your running background?

Being a scoundrel in my youth kept getting chased by the police who couldn’t catch me….Ended up in an approved school where I was introduced to orienteering which I loved that’s where it all started. 

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

After leaving the Army in 2000 never did much running then i decided to start again and signed up in 2014 for an Ultra Marathon 40 miles Grimreaper near Bourne …nearly killed me couldn’t walk for days.

After about a week I was then looking for another and to go further. 

When or where (at which events) are we most likely to see you?

Mainly at Cockbain Events love the toughness of them and not a given in finishing them and having to mainly rely on yourself…. Also Last One Standing events.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

National 3 Peaks Ultra , The Tunnel 3rd place… Everesting Challenge.. Getting a sub 20hr 100 mile track time…. And running around my garden for 60 miles as part of a lock down challenge each lap was 42meters.

What was your hardest experience?

The Everesting Challenge was so tough half mile up and down 600 m elevation each time for 27 hrs 48 times literally killed me .. But what a sense of personal achievement. 

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

Not the fastest runner in the world so just a relaxed approach but mainly with a smile on my mush for me that always helps.

What does a typical training week look like?

Roughly between 50- 70 miles per week with a mixer of long runs and speed sessions which I done more of recently…Never really had a structured training plan but thanks to Team Trackless a local community running group ran by Gary Bligh and Steve Bennington it’s really helped along with more swimming and gym work .

What one tip would you pass onto people running an Ultra marathon for the first time?

Smile.. Enjoy…Dig Deep and Savour the experience. 

Tell us one interesting fact about you?

Got a General Officer Commanding and a High Sheriff of London award for Bravery and £250 in 1998 for stopping an armed robbery in Camden Town the (attacker had a knife) gave chase and lets just say detained him till the police came.

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

Yes

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Disastrously!!! Last year had Cataracts in both eyes 5 weeks before the race removed and was thinking of not going but having spoken with Ian Thomas decided to turn up ….on the day I was nervous as hell so much at the start I was shaking like a nutter i was simple overwhelmed by the whole thing, by checkpoint 34 I think, I was being sick couldn’t keep any thing down and was told that I had to call it a day by the checkpoint volunteers timed out. 

What tip would you pass on to those taking part for the first time?

Don’t get nervous savour and enjoy and don’t get cataracts before. 

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Finishing it this time and being around some of the world’s best …A far cry from being around fat tanker drivers..ha ha.

What are you not looking forward to during the Spartathlon race?

Nothing as it’s so well supported along the route such a vibe .

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

Include some double day running on my days off 1xspeed 1x slow healthy eating big time …lots of saunas and using the Heat Chamber at Loughborough University giving good advice in refueling for sweat lose and sodium/electrolytes replacement.

Will you be bringing any support crew to the race? (If so, please introduce them briefly)

No flying Solo.