CommunityAd had the rare opportunity to catch Ultra-Runner Tom Evans for a sit down chat.
We quizzed the Ultra-Runner Tom Evans on his achievements, his future dreams, his love of Lewes and bread-making.
What made you first get involved in ultra-running? Is it true it started from a bet?
Yup that’s how it happened! I had some friends who raced Marathon des Sables in 2016 and bet that I could do better than them! Fast forward 6 months and I was on the start line. I ended up finishing 3rd overall which was a total shock!
Was the transition from British Army to ultra-runner difficult?
I was very lucky that in my final year in the military I was pretty much a full-time athlete, they gave me lots of flexibility and I couldn’t have done it without their support! Then when I left, I moved up to Loughborough with my fiancée Sophie (who is a professional triathlete). It’s been an amazing couple of years up here and it has made a big difference in my performance!
What would you say is your biggest achievement so far in ultra-running?
I think winning CCC (101-kilometre Courmayeur, Champex-Lac, Chamonix) in 2018. It was such a special moment and my first big race win. Lots of things coming together at the right time just led to the perfect day!
To be able to run the distances that you do must not only be physically demanding but also extremely taxing on the mind, have you ever had any wobbly moments or occasions where you have ‘hit the wall’? If so, how have you overcome them?
All the time, I would actually say pretty much on a daily basis! Being a full-time athlete is tough both physically and mentally, you have got to be able to adapt. My top tip would be to get realistic and regular goals which will help you keep focussed when things get tough and you start to question yourself. I set goals every couple of weeks, it helps me to keep on track and stay focussed.
What is the overall dream/goal for you? Do you have the Olympics in your sights, a 5-year goal or is it more about competing and getting the best results in ultra-marathons around the globe?
At the moment the marathon is very much a goal. The Olympics have always been a huge dream of mine and I can’t believe that I’m actually in a position to give qualification a go! After that I will be switching back to ultras with a couple of big years of racing and projects planned.
What does an average training week look like for you and with the miles you put in, is your diet really high calorie with the amount you must burn?
Each week is pretty different depending which phase of training we are in. Typically, we do 1 interval session, 1 marathon pace tempo effort, 1 long run and then lots of steady running around that. Most weeks are around 115 miles. I am a huge believer in strength and conditioning so I make sure that I get to the gym at least twice during the week. We are lucky enough to have a great set up at home so it’s super easy!
How much have the lockdowns restricted you?
The racing has been really restrictive but it has allowed me to peel back my training and focus on some areas that needed to be developed. I’m now really excited to get back onto a start line in the near future.
Away from running, what are your hobbies?
I own two dogs with my fiancée Sophie, they’re both rescue dogs. We also have 8 chickens who we also rescued – they were a lockdown 1 project. I’m also big into coffee and bread making!
What did you enjoy most about living in Lewes?
I loved living in Lewes, the best things were the running, friends and also the cafes!