Name: Mich Hardie

Occupation: Supervisor for the Council

Home Town: Portsmouth

Questions

What is your running background?

I’ve always enjoyed running, I used to run to the village shop and was buoyed by my mum telling me how quick I’d been so I’d try and be quicker next time. Not sure it was a natural talent but in my teens I was good enough to be picked for the cross country team in the Army Cadets. I ran my first marathon when I was 31 in 3hrs21 in the days when I only knew of London, it was 5 years before my 2nd then it snowballed.

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

I was inspired by club mates from Portsmouth Joggers and wanted to challenge myself.

Around 2012 I started going up in distance working up from 50k, 50 mile and then tried the 86 mile Ridgeway Challenge, which ironically was a bit of a wake up call, as I had to cope with getting lost, the hallucinations and almost nodding off whilst running, but I was hooked. I knew I could do better and ran it 4.5 hours quicker 2 years later. 

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

I’ll give anything a go,  I’ve run 24hr track races, love the canal races and this year got back into some shorter stuff like the southern cross country league and run, walk local to get a bit of speed back.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

17hr05 for 100miles at Tooting 24hr track race

2nd place at KACR, followed by a 4th with a sub 30hr.

1st place in 2021 Canal slam

And a couple of top 10 placings in Centurion’s 100 mile events.

What was your hardest experience?

My 2016 Spartathlon attempt when although I got to the finish I had gone over the time by 25 mins I’d given all I had. And just wasn’t quite fast enough.

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

Run at a comfortable pace in order to still be running in the later stages, drink and eat regularly (I’m pretty good at this but apparently get really grumpy if there isn’t food I’m expecting) i try to minimise stops, get what i need and push on.

What does a typical training week look like?

I don’t follow a strict plan, I’ll run 6 or 7 days most weeks and just try and mix it up resting when I think it will be more beneficial.

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

Just believe you will finish, get it in your head you’re prepared to use all the available time if that’s what it takes. Most of us have given up with ample time to spare and felt fine once the pressure is off.

Tell us one interesting fact about you?

I was an extra in Adrian Mole as it was filmed at my school.

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

Yes this will be third time lucky my first attempt was in 2016, I reached the finish but ran over time by 25 minutes and last year my head went and I dropped at 131 miles a few minutes under the cut but should have kept going. 

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

The magic that is Spartathlon, the camaraderie and reaching the King.

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

I’m sticking with a positive mind set, you have to embrace everything about it.

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

I’ve tried to work on speed and endurance, this year I’ve spent 24hrs on the track and run a track 100k.

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

My wife Amy and good friends Russ and Sandra Tullet. My wife thinks it’s a sign that she has booked a cottage called ‘The 300’ in Sparta for when I finish.