Well UltraTrail Australia didn’t go quite as planned for me. A few factors played into why but by far the biggest was a lack of training in the months leading up to it.
The Preparation
The last few months have been hard. My mental health has been playing up again and I find I’ve found it really hard to focus. My priority has been to simply survive so I can be a functioning husband and dad. So my running took a bit of a back seat. My anxiety was through the roof some days where I even canceled my exercise physiology appointments (sorry Braddon). Then came the death of a colleague and it turned up even further.
I can make all the excuses in the world but at the end of the day I need led to do a lot more to prepare for the 100km race. I was never worried about my pace but I just wanted to finish and meet the cutoffs at each checkpoint.
The first 5 Kilometres
I had planned to walk the vast majority of the race to ensure I didn’t over except myself and have nothing left towards the end. It started off well but my lower back was so tight and severely aching. It was the start of my anxiety and thoughts I wouldn’t be able to achieve 100km.
After a little while, and contemplating pulling out early, I managed to warm up properly and the pain subsided. I felt amazing. I started to break into a jog on flat ground.
The Pain to Checkpoint 1
Once we descended onto federal pass the single trail and small hills were quite nice. Every now and then I was able to break into a slow run. I was able to use my poles to take the pressure off my legs and back. It was working quite well and I was super happy with my pace. My legs were tired after the descent but the poles were helping me recover.
Near the bottom of landslide lookout, I came across an injured runner. She injured her ankle and was a unable to continue. There were enough people with her providing assistance so I moved on knowing I had to climb the Golden Stairs. Checkpoint 1 was at the top so meeting the cutoff time was going to be tight.
Stupidly, when I got to the bottom of the golden stairs I looked up. Every 15-20 stairs I needed a small break. It was slow going. It took me just under 30minutes to ascend the golden stairs. My legs were hurting. My heart rate was high and at times it hurt to breath.
At the top I was so excited to see the checkpoint. I beat the cutoff by 15 minutes so there was no time to sit around. A quick electrolyte refill, a few lollies and keep on walking.
Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2
After leaving checkpoint 1 I was sore and my legs were struggling up each small hill on the fire trail. I tried to break into a jog a few times but my legs started to cramp. I was still happy walking and after using some electrolytes it all settled down.
I was able to power up the hills with the help of my poles and as my legs recovered my pace picked up. It was nice to be rid of the golden stairs. Unfortunately my head space wasn’t great throughout this section. After the Golden Stairs I was constantly questioning whether I should’ve just pulled out at checkpoint 1. I couldn’t stop the intrusive thoughts around being worthless.
I decided it was time to put my headphones on and see if I could distract myself. I put on my usual folk and acoustic mix. It worked a treat. I was able to ignore my own silly thoughts and enjoy the scenery. I could keep those pesky thoughts away.
Tarros ladder was out this year so we had to walk, well, scramble down Duncans Pass. This was the most enjoyable part of UTA, while a bit hairy at times it was so much fun. There were a few times going down I slipped but nothing too wild. The makeshift ropes and hand rails also scared a few of us as we climbed down. The rope ladder with carpet underneath was the same and felt so unsteady.
Once at the bottom it was mostly single trail to the fire trail with a little bit of rock scrambling. Not going to lie, that hurt a little bit but again, it was so much fun. Then all we had to do was follow the fire trail to checkpoint 2. A few decent hills but nothing too unbearable.
With about 4km to checkpoint 2, I came across a group of people helping a male runner laying on the fire trail. I don’t like to get involved if I don’t need to do I sat back and just watched for a bit and listened to the discussions.
After a minute it was obvious this man was quite sick. I introduced myself as a paramedic and started to assess him. He had a weak radial pulse that disappeared lifting his arm up indicating low blood pressure and a further postural drop. He was pale, cold extremities, mildly confused, drowsy, generalised pain over entire body, dry coated tongue and had been vomiting most of the run.
Maxine and I stayed behind after some discussion with the group as they went ahead to the checkpoint for help. It was strange having absolutely no gear to assess or manage a patient. I knew he was unwell but he couldn’t even tolerate fluids. Everything pointed to severe dehydration. We popped a space blanket on him and we just kept an eye on him while waiting for help. Help arrived after about 40mins and Maxine and I were able to continue. We weren’t sure whether we would make the checkpoint or not but the volunteers that came to pick up the sick runner said they should be able to allow us to continue due to stopping for him. As well as this they’ll also take the 40 minutes we stopped for off our race time.
Maxine and I continue on to checkpoint 2. I had cooled down quite a bit and struggled to get going. Tired and cold legs hurt up the hills. One of the sweeps got dropped off to me as I became the last runner on the course. He was amazing and we had a clinical discussion as it turns out he was a nurse.
The last hill into checkpoint 2 was difficult. Maxine and I missed the checkpoint cutoff by 6 minutes.
31km completed
Time to Withdraw
When we got to the checkpoint I quickly pulled my pack off to refill water and food. As I was filling up my bladder we were listening to the sweeps discuss our options. We were late and while the organisers would take 40mins off our time we still had to meet the checkpoint cutoffs. They did say we could both continue but the next 2 checkpoints had many steep climbs and I agreed. Time would be tight and I would have to push too hard and I was worried i would injure myself. The decision was pretty straight forward in the end, I had to pull out.
I was pretty devastated and I was internally screaming. The oranges at checkpoint 2 definitely put a smile on my face though. There were a few others that had to pull out at checkpoint 2 as well. Everyone was so supportive of each other and the conversation driving to checkpoint 3.
I have to also throw a massive shout out to Lisa who was kind enough to drive us from checkpoint 3 back to KCC. If Lisa didn’t give 3 of us a lift it was going to be 3+ hours before UTA volunteers could get us back. Turns out she was a long time runner and after injury is still helping out her friends by being an incredible 1 person support crew. Thank you Lisa (Hope I remembered your name correctly).
Reflecting on the Positives
Well, it was definitely not the race I wanted but there are so many positives that came out of it.
- My body can handle the load – while I was sore the next day, i was able to function, my feet were great with no blisters and a few days after i was able to go for a run.
- My pace was adequate – My pace wasn’t amazing but had I not stopped to help I would’ve met the cutoff to checkpoint 2 by over 40 minutes. While I never know for sure, I would’ve been able to finish the 100km in time.
- I loved it! I absolutely loved every second of the trail. Ok, ok, maybe not the golden stairs but i did love getting to the top and seeing the view.
I will be back. I have a solid long term and short term plan to improve my fitness and mental health which will allow me to run the vast majority of UltraTrail Kosciusko.
