We asked Jenny, running coach and founder of Jenny Bushell Adventures, based in Cumbria, to give us her honest review of last year’s Queen of the Suburbs Ultra. Here’s what she had to say:
I both did and didn’t know what to expect from the inaugural Queen of the Suburbs event in March 2024. On the one hand, knowing that the team behind the event was the fantastic EHM Legacy (now We Run Ealing), I fully expected the same friendly, inclusive, supportive atmosphere that has been created so successfully at Ealing Half Marathon and its associated events. On the other hand, I had no frame of reference for running 50k through parks, along canals and on pavements. All the other ultra events I’ve taken part in have been in the mountains – would this one be really boring? Or would I struggle to run 50k purely on the flat?
In the week leading up to the race, I talked with a friend, Gary, about running together, and we tentatively agreed that we’d set off together and see what happened. He was unsure about completing the distance, as a relative novice to ultrarunning (but an extremely experienced marathon runner), while I was anxious that my concerns around boredom and flatness would stop me from enjoying the event.
In the end, Gary and I ran the whole 50k together, pulling and pushing each other along. Gary said that I helped him on the ‘traily’ sections, ploughing through the muddy puddles and taking on the fun descents, while I found his support invaluable in just keeping going on the long, flat stretches. We found the aid stations on the race frequent, well-stocked, and supported by friendly volunteers. It was great to see so many people getting into the spirit of an ultra run as a ‘mobile picnic’, and stopping a while to chat and eat at the aid stations. We also really enjoyed the finish line at Dickens Yard, in the centre of Ealing; this added to the atmosphere, and enabled finishers to hang around, chat and support other runners coming in.
I loved the community feel of this race. It’s unusual to find ultra races based in urban areas, so easily accessible by public transport. With many similar events taking place in remote or mountainous places, they often come with (necessarily) large kit lists, and between the travel and the costs, they can feel inaccessible to people at the beginning of their ultra journey. It was really refreshing to see such a mix of folk on the start line of QotS – one chap was carrying what looked like full mountain race kit, complete with poles, while the lad next to him had nothing but a race belt stuffed with orange SiS gels and a handheld water bottle! Neither of them wrong, just two different approaches, and both accommodated within this friendly event. It was also fantastic to see many people running their first ultra distance, and being supported at every turn by friends, family and neighbours.
In sum, I’d recommend the Queen of the Suburbs to anyone looking for a friendly, inclusive event. It makes a great step up for an experienced marathoner – the distance is just a little further, and the course is flat. It’s a fantastic ‘first’ ultra race, for the same reasons, as well as because of the excellent support. And for experienced ultrarunners, this race might not have the drama of Wales, Scotland, the Jurassic Coast or the Lake District, but what it lacks in scenery it makes up in a warm welcome and a big sense of fun.
Jenny is an ultrarunner and running coach. She works with many first-time ultrarunners and beginners to trail running, including several 2024 QotS finishers. If you’d like to discuss having Jenny’s support as you prepare for your own QotS experience, you can reach her at jenny@jennybushelladventures.co.uk.
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