Northburn 100 – 2013

You don’t race it, you survive it.

Well folks, Northburn 100 has well and truly come and gone and after much deliberation, reflection and procrastination I would like to share some of my thoughts and feelings from the experience. I must admit there were moments early on after the race that I struggled for motivation and felt pretty flat. I suppose when you build up to something for so long and invest a lot of time and passion, it is hard not to come down to earth with a thud. Some of you will know that I didn’t achieve what I set out to do, which was disappointing, but I gained so much from the experience and a key reason I do this stuff is to test my boundaries (so in a way, mission achieved). It being my first ever DNF was a bit hard to swallow, but I made a promise to myself as I made the final decision to pull out at the 100 km mark that I would not dwell too much on the negatives and come back a stronger, more focused runner/athlete.

Right back to my early days in ultra-running, 100 miles has been a distance that I wanted to test myself against. Choosing something as brutal as Northburn for my first ever 100 miler was a bold and maybe slightly naïve decision, but I would not change it for the world! I wanted my first to be an adventure of a lifetime and an unforgettable experience and Northburn did not disappoint. As soon as I heard about the race last year, read personal accounts from runners and viewed images captured by Paul Petch, I was hooked and knew that I had to be part of it.

Views on first loop.

After struggling with my recovery and motivation after last year’s Tarawera 100 km, I put a lot of thought into how I was training, my diet and most importantly ensuring that my running would be sustainable, fun and of health benefit. I focused a lot on lower intensity running and as a result became a more efficient runner; combined with a (not very strict) paleo-style diet, my fat burning capabilities increased no end – I stripped of a lot of body fat, could go hours on the trail with little food and was pretty much injury free. In hindsight, focusing so much on building a strong aerobic base and neglecting the other aspects of training, such as strength work, was a mistake … but for me it was still a worthwhile journey.

At the start line, day before big race.

I came into Northburn feeling in pretty good shape. I had a solid block of training under my belt, had a good hit out at the Kepler Challenge in early December, and was confident of the task at hand. I had plans in place, strategies for when the going got tough and a great support crew made up of Tanya and members of my family.

She rocks!

I had people around me that truly believed I could do this thing and I was again humbled by the messages of support and goodwill that I received. My sincere heartfelt thanks go out to all those people.

Contemplating what lies ahead.

To the race itself. The first 50 km loop went well and I was enjoying being out there and soaking up the views. I climbed strongly and was doing my best to find a good rhythm, not wanting to overdo it early on. The moon-like scenery at the top was out of this world, the downhill quad smashing and being sent out on the 11 km loop of deception only a stone’s throw from the headquarters/checkpoint, mind bending. It was the toughest 50 km I had ever done; the realisation of the task ahead was sinking in.

Focus on keeping warm.

At top of first loop.

Amazing landscape!

I arrived at the headquarters feeling ok, but in hindsight this is where maybe things started to unravel. I was in race mode and didn’t really stop to think about the fact that this was the last time I would see my crew for maybe 10-12 hours and that I needed to make the most of this stop. Tanya tried her best to get me to eat and get my shit together, but I think I was in too much of a rush to get out of there. This strategy has worked for me in the past, but Northburn is a different ball game. I needed to switch into survival mode, especially for a middle/back of pack runner like myself.

Getting ready to go out for second loop.

Thinking the first loop was tough, I was in for a rude awakening heading out onto the second loop. The climb up to TW (top aid station) was unrelenting and mentally I started to struggle. It was concerning that the negative thoughts were creeping in so early in the piece and I was spiralling downwards. Paul (my pacer) was working hard to keep me motivated and focused, but I was starting to pay for the lack of nutrition and even though I knew that, I still struggled to take stock of the situation and do what I needed to do, such as eat and keep hydrated. On reflection, there was a part of me that didn’t want to do the last 60 km loop, so by not eating and drinking I could justify to myself pulling out at the 100 km mark (what a mind f***!).

We made it up to TW and I half heartedly took some food on (still not enough) and left for the loop of despair (a 13 km loop back to TW, 6 ½ km down and 6 ½ km up) knowing it was going to be a make or break section. The sun was by now setting and the views back down onto Lake Dunstan and Cromwell were spectacular. I started to feel ok again and had some good conversations with Paul. It got dark and colder on the climb back up and by the time we hit TW again, I was seriously thinking of pulling the pin. I knew deep down this was not an option (I could never live with myself) and Paul would not have allowed it anyway . This was when I made the deal with myself that I would go on, but pull the pin at the 100 km mark. In a way it was a relief and my whole focus now was on making 100 km.

From TW back to headquarters was bloody tough. There were times along the top of the course you could hardly walk because of the wind and were literally being picked up and blown off the track. There were moments I seriously thought there was a jumbo jet taking off behind me and yes, I did have a look. After we finally got off the ridge we had 14 km of downhill to the end, which on tired legs was tough.

Happier moments!

As I came in to headquarters, the first person I saw was Tanya and I think she could see in my eyes that it was over. Dad had only shortly before chatted to Tanya about being prepared that I might pull the pin (parent intuition) and it was a pretty emotional moment for us all. I was asked to stay at the tent for an hour by the medical staff, due to losing 3 kg, and after a vomit and sit down, I was able to start taking on sips of water and the only thing I felt like eating was pizza. I was eventually allowed to leave, in the good care of Tanya and Dad and headed back to the motel, mentally and physically exhausted. On a positive note, I came away with no blisters, no chafing and pulled up remarkably well the next day. Probably a good indication I had mentally fallen short on the day, which I knew was a huge part of the race, but now have a much better understanding of just how big a part.

I made sure I spent Sunday afternoon welcoming in 100 mile finishers, which in itself was inspirational and motivational. One person that sticks in my mind is Peter Wardle, who having never previously run longer than 80 km, completed his first ever 100 miler. Like others he pushed through some serious physical and mental barriers to finish the race well into Sunday evening. It is guys like Peter that make this sport so special.

Peter after finishing his first 100 miler.

A big shout out to the organisers and volunteers, you were amazing and I can only see the race going from strength to strength. What makes the event so special is that it brings together such a diverse bunch of people that all have one thing in common, they are passionate about what they are doing. It is a recipe for an amazing experience and to be surrounded by so many inspirational people, all with their own stories, is intoxicating and keeps you coming back for more (yes Terry, I have unfinished business).

Kokoda Challenge 2012 – Jim Stillman Cup

I thought being on the eve of ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand, it would be a good opportunity to share my next adventure in 2012.

I first took part in The Kokoda Challenge back in 2009 with another three mates and it is an experience that has lived on with me since then. The challenge is held on the Gold Coast Hinterland and has participants trekking 96km on a course that leads along fire trails, crosses 12 creeks and summits 5,000m of vertical elevation. The goal is to finish as a complete team of four in honour of the spirit forged on the Kokoda Track in 1942: mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice.  

It was great being part of a team, helping each other out when the going got  tough and sharing the experience with family and friends who came along and helped out on the day. We definitely had our moments, but achieved our number one goal which was to finish as a team and all intact. We clocked in just under 19 hours and were as proud as punch to receive our dog tags and do our little bit by raising money for The Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP).

Since starting work at The Centre Education Programme in 2010, I have dreamed of entering a group of young people in the Kokoda Challenge and it looks like 2012 is the year. I have four young people in my class who have committed to taking part in the Jim Stillman Cup, which consists of walking the last half (48km) of the track. This will be one of the biggest challenges these boys have faced and hopefully one that will have a postive impact on their lives. We have set up our own committee and will be starting fundraising in the next week or so and training officially kicks off this Friday. I will also be doing my best to source decent footwear (or funds to buy decent footwear) for my young people as this is out of reach for most of their families.

Our goals are to finish the challenge as a team, embrace and understand the values of mateship, endurance, sacrifice and courage , raise a minimum of $300 for the KCYP and show other young people that anything is possible. Already one of the boys is talking about doing the full 96km next year!!

For me, I feel a responsibility to prepare the young people to the best of my ability ensuring they feel part of the process and a team. I know people will be watching closely to see how go, but am confident we can pull it off. Anyone can go onto the team page and check us out (and donate if you want) and support Team CEP in our quest to be the first team from our school to complete the challenge. Here we go…..

Tarawera Ultra 2012

Having had time to sit back, reflect and soak it all in, it is time to share my 2012 Tarawera Ultra Marathon experience. Having often used the excuse of ultra running to take me to new parts of the world, I was excited by what was in store for me in the beautiful Bay of Plenty region in the North Island of New Zealand. The course itself took in 100kms of beautiful trail between Rotorua and Kawerau, following a beautiful river and passing through exotic forestry, native bush, lakes and waterfalls (www.taraweraultra.co.nz).

The team behind the race, headed by the tireless Paul Charteris, leave no stone unturned and have put it well and truly on the international calendar. In true Kiwi style, everyone was made to feel welcome with a down to earth and friendly atmosphere. The volunteers rocked and the food on the course was spot on.

My journey to the Tarawera Ultra kicked off last September when I visited our dear friends Jon & Vicki in Auckland. It was there as a friend I experienced the impact that Multiple Sclerosis has on the individual and their loved ones. It was a real eye opener and I wanted to do my little bit to help. Not surprisingly, I managed to incorporate ultra running into my plan, and combine it with a great cause. As I knew that Jon & Vicki were moving to Melbourne, I got in touch with MS Australia and talked to the very helpful and passionate Julie about my plan to run Tarawera and raise money for Jon. Little did I know what amazing support I would receive along the way – to be able to raise over $1500 made the experience all that more rewarding and enriching.

After years of talking about it I was determined to focus on a more holistic approach to my training. Overall I think I did ok on this front – my diet was ok throughout, I stayed away (most of the time!) from drinking too much beer, and made sure I got plenty of sleep. For me though one of the biggest positives was finding Crossfit King and meeting trainers/friends Jimmy and April. Crossfit challenged me on many levels both mentally and physically – it was engaging and fun and most importantly I got to be part of a supportive community. I also had the support and guidance of John Pearson (my online coach who I highly recommend), an accomplished ultra runner and all-round good bloke.

On reflection, the turning point and defining moment in my build up to Tarawera was taking part in the Fats Festive Fatass, an annual 48km run in the Brisbane Forest Park held two days after Christmas. Carrying a bit of extra weight and running in the QLD heat made for a tough morning, but it proved to a be a good test and kicked off the campaign in style. The stars must have been aligned as I went through the training block with no injuries and my motivation was consistently high. Other than my build up to the Knee Knacker Trail Race in 2008, this was my best build up to date.

The days leading up to a race are a special time; there is that sense of excitement, anticipation and satisfaction in having made to the starting line. With that in mind, Tanya and I arrived in Rotorua on the Thursday to maximise the experience and were joined by my parents who made the journey north from Christchurch to experience their first ultra. The trail running festival kicked off that evening with a 7.5km fun run on beautiful single trails in the Redwoods, followed by the New Zealand premiere of “Unbreakable – The Western States 100“. One of the stars of the film, Anton Krupicka, was in town so I grabbed the opportunity to have my photo taken with him. All in all I was in ultra-running heaven.

Friday was spent driving around to the aid stations reachable by car – a good chance to get a glimpse of what was in store for the next day, and I liked what I saw. It was great for my support crew to get an idea of distances, time, directions etc and make race day that little less stressful. We finished the day at the race headquarters at the Holiday Inn, doing the registration thing and having a browse at the expo, then home for a light meal and to get the kit ready for race day.

Arriving with plenty of time to spare, we joined fellow runners and their crews converging on the Redwoods, making up the largest and deepest field ever assembled at the Tarawera Ultra. The start line of an ultra is always abuzz with nervous chatter, last minute gear checks, and plenty of love and goodwill in the air.

The gun could not go off soon enough and I quickly settled into a pace I was comfortable with (ie, not that fast!). I had a time in my head that I wanted to achieve but did not want that to take away from the experience by obsessing too much early on. The first 60km of the race took in stunning trails through shady native kiwi bush and lakeside views to die for. I ran some sections with other runners, but a lot was on my own and at my own pace. Overall I was running within myself and constantly reminding myself that there was still a long way to go.

At the 60km mark runners left the Tarawera Falls Track and entered the Kawerau Forest. We were now on forestry tracks, a lot which were runnable, so I started making deals with myself, if I ran for a 1km I could then walk for a minute. This worked some of the time, but I probably walked more than I should have. I caught up with a runner I had met earlier in the day, only problem was it took me a while to realise that and I probably asked him the same questions I had earlier. I felt like a complete dill when I realised this but luckily Graham forgave me and we ran together into Titoki Road aid station (69km mark). This is where he, along with the other 85k runners, turned for home and the 100km runners went in the opposite direction. Mentally this was a tough moment, but it was never an option for me to do the 85km, so I didn’t hang around to0 long. By this stage the runners had thinned out and I found myself alone with no others in sight. This is when mentally I had to start digging deep and keep positive. I thought a lot of Jon and how passionate he is about running, how he would give anything to be out on the trails but unfortunately was unable to due to MS. This made my situation pale into insignificance … I had no right to feel sorry for myself!

I think the defining moment of the race for me was completing the loop of despair, a tough 5km loop at the 78km mark. I was feeling pretty shattered and flat as I started the killer 2km climb up a goat track, but knew it was the last real tough section of the race. After the loop, it felt like I was on the homeward stretch and I picked up both mentally and physically. The homeward stretch was 17-18km of very runnable forest roads and I clicked off the k’s in my head to the beep of my Garmin, firstly into Fisherman’s Bridge to see my support crew and then the 10km to the finish line. At the bridge, I left my pack with Tanya and started the final stretch feeling pumped and running strong.

I was a bit surprised at how good I felt in the final stretch and the k’s seemed to fly by. I had a couple of moments where I was hit by a wave of emotion and even a few tears, which you never see coming! About 3km out I ran into friend and race photographer Paul Petch, which was a real buzz. He was able to run with me for a few hundred metres and get a couple of shots, impressive stuff. To have Tanya and my parents at the finish line was a special moment and one I will always savour.

I stopped the clock at 13hrs 11 minutes, just over my goal time and overall am happy with how it all came together.

It takes the support of friends and family to achieve your goals and dreams and I am blessed to be surrounded by amazing people. To my beautiful wife Tanya, thank you for your encouragement, patience and love. To Mum & Dad, thank you for everything and it was so special to have you both in Rotorua to share the experience. To Jon, Vicki and family, you are a source of constant inspiration and we think you guys rock. To everyone that donated to MS Australia and sent messages of support along the way, a sincere thanks and it all made for an experience that I will cherish for a long time to come.

Six Foot Marathon 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Six Foot Marathon is one of the marquee fixtures on the Australian trail running calendar. Not going into too much history, as you can see that on their website , the marathon is by far the largest trail race in Australia with over 800 runners, is a point to point 45km race on a historically significant trail and is held in the spectacular Blue Mountains, west of Sydney NSW.

We opted to stay at Jenolan Caves, which is about a 3 – 3 1/2 hour drive (depending on Friday afternoon traffic) from Sydney and is also the finish of the Six Foot Marathon. It is a beautiful spot and  regarded as Australia’s most outstanding cave systems. Didn’t get alot of time to do the sightseeing thing, but will definitely be taking Tanya back at some stage. Post-run festivities in the evening were pretty much non-exisitance though and if you are after a celebration, would be staying in Katoomba, as we will be next year.

Saturday morning started with a 530am pick-up from Jenolan Caves and 90 minute trip to the start of the trail, just out of Katoomba. We arrived with ample time before the race started, so consumed some bread and golden syrup, coffee and talked tactics. Shaun promised us there were no real killer hills and having not done my research, I believed him!

Not wanting to make excuses, I was a bit apprehensive how I would go in the run. I had a solid trail race about 3-4 weeks earlier at Mt Glorious in Brisbane, but since then my training had dropped off and I had attended a mates 40th in New Zealand and it had taken its toll!!

Anyway, there I was at the start line and too late to have second thoughts. I took off in wave 2, about 20 minutes before my mates and it looked like it would be me and my own thoughts for the next 5 hours or so.

The first 15km down to Cox’s River, was a pleasant stroll through bush and farm land and after an  hour on my feet (my normal time to warm up), started to feel good. I was well aware there would be a runners jam at the start on a few hundred metres of stairs, but was frustrated to get caught behind a group coming into Cox’s River, some fun technical single trail. I understand this happens when there are so many runners, but when a slow runner at the front has 20 or so people behind him and refuses to make any effort to let people pass, pisses me off.

Keeping control of my emotions, I crossed the creek and started the climb to the Mini-Mini Saddle and then onto the Pluviotmetre (26k mark). Having not done my research and listening to Shaun, I wasn’t really prepared what was ahead. I am not a novice on hills, but this one really hurt. Other than a small downhill section around the 20k mark, it was constant climb for around 10km (seemed alot longer). It was here I started to question my training and my back was giving me a bit of grief.

Reaching the Pluviotmetre was sweet, but the following ks along Black Range Road really questioned my resolve. It was undulating and the ks clicked by very slowly. To keep going, I gave myself a 30 second walk every 5 minutes, not always sticking to this, but doing my best. Knowing there was a downhill section to finish kept my spirits up and the odd chat to fellow runners took my mind off feeling sorry for myself.

The last 10k is a bit of a blur and one of the tougher moments I have had in my short ultra career. It was the thought of crossing the finish line and not running anymore that kept me going and my time goals were not a concern anymore. Due to cramps in my calves and stomach, the downhill was not what I expected or wanted and being passed by other runners in what is normally my strength was a bit demoralising.

Finally getting in ear shot of the crowd and off the trail onto a concrete path, I was able to fly down the last 1 km and to hear my name called as I entered the finishing shoot, made it all worth while. While I had a tough race and probably under trained, I had finished another ultra and it was an amazing experience, testing both my mental and physical resolve. Tanya got a teary phone call, which at first she thought I had hurt myself, but then understood it was post Ultra emotional moment.

It was great to see Shaun and Pete come in a while after I finished and they both had big smiles on their faces and proud to be Six Foot finishers. Will be back again in 2011 and can’t wait.

Aotearoa

Looking down on Orton Bradley Park

As my New Zealand holiday draws to a close, I have once again enjoyed the opportunity to touch base with family and friends, soak up the fresh air and slip into the slower pace of life (not that Brisbane is that full on!). I am constantly reminded every trip, what an amazing country I come from and the more adventurous I get, the more I want to see and do in the great outdoors.

My goal over the holiday period was to maintain my fitness and be ready to go when I pick it up in the New Year. Even though I might have over indulged once or twice (NZ beer is very good!), I have managed to get some great trail runs in, including in the Port Hills of Christchurch, Waikawa Bay in the Queen Charlotte Sounds and on the hills of Banks Peninsula. I am pretty happy at where I’m at and will be ready to lift it a notch on my return to Brisbane.

The last week we have been staying at a batch in Diamond Harbour, located on beautiful Banks Peninsula, nestled on the shores of Lyttelton Harbour. With a mixture of boating, running, reading, quality family time, and spectacular views, there were no complaints from this end (except Tanya not being there ).

Views from Mt Herbert

Having attacked a view of the local trails, I decided yesterday to up the anty and go out for a decent run. Mt Herbert, the highest point on Banks Peninsula at 920 metres above sea level, seemed the logical choice.  After 1½ hours of running/walking up through private farmland, I was greeted with 360 degree views of the hillsides and bays of Banks Peninsula, the sprawling Canterbury Plains and rugged Southern Alps in the distant. Not a bad reward for a fairly tough climb and still feeling good, decided to tack on some extra ks to my planned route.

Sign of the Packhorse - Hut

From the Mt Herbert Shelter, I sidled my around the south face of Mt Bradley, fighting my way through some thick gorse (a lovely prickly weed introduced by the English), dropped down into Kaituna Valley and stopped at the Packhorse Hut for food and drink. The last leg took me back around the north face of Mt Bradley and down into Orton Bradley Park (a private farm that offers camping, walking trails and picnic spots, a favourite destination for locals and travelers alike), tack on a few ks back to Diamond Harbour and clocked off around the 4 hour mark. Felt good and thoroughly enjoyed being out on the trails.

Great to get that under my belt and will now start focusing on my first big goal of the year, the Six Foot Marathon on March 13^th.

The year that was & the year that will be

After an amazing 2008, running trails on the Nth Shore Mountains of Vancouver and surrounds, tripping across Canada and running in the New York Marathon, 2009 has been all about settling back into life in Aussie and reassessing goals and ambitions. Having already been through the experience, both Tanya and I knew it would take time to settle back in after being away for nearly 2 years and it has been the case.  I must admit that I did have withdrawals from running and living in Vancouver, missing the amazing trails, big selection of races and most of all the group of amazing runners I met. In saying that I have been able to compete  in some local trail runs in Brisbane and surrounds, with the biggy being my first ever Kokoda Challenge (KC), a 96km trail run in the hinterland of the Gold Coast.

I am lucky enough to have a group of running buddies here in Brisbane that keep me motivated and honest and was privlidged to join with 3 of those mates to compete in the KC as team Fighting Koalas. Having never run in a team event, it was a new experience and one that I gained a lot from. Our main goal of finishing as a team meant a lot of time and effort was put into preparation and planning for the event and ensuring we were ready to go on the day. The event threw its fair share of challenges at us, but the the boys rose to the challenge and out of 300 odd teams, we were the 8th team across the line with all four teamates together (our main priority). The satisfaction of sharing the experince with good mates was special and I was  very proud to be part of the Fighting Koalas on this day.

After sorting out some career issues and settling back in to Brisbane life (not really that tough!!), my passion is back and stronger than ever. I am starting to talk Tanya’s ear off again about all the events I want to run in 2010 and getting excited about what lies ahead. I am planning to mix up my running with other stuff, such as swimming mountain biking and include plenty of core and stretching work. I have been going to Pilates once a week and finally got talked into joining a small swimming squad, meeting twice a week.

After an extended time away from my blog, I am planning to keep it a bit more updated and use it as a source to motivate me for a big 2010. I love hearing what others are up to and reading blogs from friends in Canada such as Pricey and Ellie, keeps me in the loop and continually jealous. 

I will leave you with my plan of attack so far and hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and may 2010 be a great year for hitting the trails.

Mt Glorious – Sun 7 Feb – 32km mountain trail run

Six Foot Track Marathon (Blue Mountain, NSW) – Sat 13 March – 45km

Pinnacles (Brisbane State Forest) – Sat 10 Apr – 18km/all hills

The North Face 100 (Blue Mountain, NSW)   – Sat & Sun 15/16 May – 100k

Lake Manchester – Sun 20 Jun

Glasshouse Mountains Flinders Tour – Sat 24 July – 50km

Flight Centre Epic Mountain Bike –Aug – 100k

Glasshouse Mountains Trail Runs- 12-13 Sep – 100k or 100 mile (depend how I am feeling!)

Lamington National Classic – 23/24 Oct – 22km x 2

Spirit of the Fighting Koalas

I would like to announce the official launch of  team ‘Fighting Koalas’ who will be tackling the 2009 Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast, July 18th & 19th. In the spirit of mateship Brec, Shaun, Peter and myself will join as a team and aim to complete the 96k trek through the hinterland of the Gold Coast in under 20 hours, testing the limits of the mind, body and spirit. We are excited to be part of such an event and will also be raising money for the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP), a great cause making a difference in the lives of young people.

Since reading Kokoda by Peter Fitzsimons, I have been inspired and interested in events that took place on the Kokoda Trail in WWII. Amazing feats of bravery and mateship demonstrated time and time again by the Australian soldiers somehow stopped the Japanese advancing to Port Moresby and launching a full on assault on Australian soils.  

It is this trail in Papua New Guinea that the Kokoda Challenge was designed to reflect – with 96km representing the actual distance of the Kokoda Track and the 39 hours  (to complete the trail) symbolizing the 39th Militia who were the first of our Australian troops to arrive at Kokoda on 15th July 1942. It is in very different circumstances that we will be faced with the challenge, but I am sure the spirit of the Kokoda will be close to our hearts throughout the trek.

Brec, Shaun, Pete and myself invite you along for the journey to the Kokoda Challenge 2009 and call on your support for ‘Team Koala and the KCYP. You can become a fan on our Facebook Page ” Spirit of the Fighting Koalas“.