A Year of Growth: How I'm Finding my Feet on the Trails
It's incredible what can happen in a year, this time last year I just finished my first ultra, the lessons I've learnt since have been invaluable
A Year on from my first Ultra
As I write this it’s been one year since I ran my first ultra at Stromlo Forest Park. I started the race in good fashion, getting through the first couple of hours without much drama before stomach issues hit me like an absolute freight train.
It was disappointing because the race itself had been postponed from late in the year before where I was probably coming into it in the best shape I’d ever been in. As a result of the postponement I had a bit of a pity party couple of months, and despite training really hard I just ate, and ate, and ate.
Fast forward back to the 20 kilometre mark of the race and suddenly this overwhelming cramp in my stomach takes me down. I’ve never felt anything like it, but I’ve since learnt that drinking Powerade in your running bladder isn’t a smart choice.
The next 30 kilometres were like survival, I couldn’t keep anything down except coca cola. So I survived the last 30 kilometres by drinking maybe five or six flasks of them. No water, just coke.
It was madness, a full six hours later and I was back over the finish line, disappointed, but one thing I’ve learnt in trail running is that no one actually cares how long it took you to finish the race it’s that you finished.
There have been a couple of other lessons, but here’s the main things I’ve learnt since completing my first ultra:
You have to find food that works for you. I think early on in my long distance running I was eating things that others recommended that didn’t necessarily agree with my stomach. Since finding what works for me I’m able to get substantially more calories in, which is needed especially for someone of my weight where I might need double your standard runner.
Further to this, it’s so important to find a way to eat something before you workout. I used to be one of those people that would maybe have a lolly snake or the like before a run, now I’m having two eggs on toast. At the time I thought I was toughening myself up, but I was actually just being silly, you have to train your stomach as much as your body to be prepared for what you’re going to do to it on race day, so if you learn anything from this it’s to eat!
Run on a variety of different trails, so when it comes to race day you have experience on different surfaces. Heading into Stromlo I was so comfortable on fire trail which is great because a lot of it is, but I had only done a limited amount on technical downhill trails, not many uphills and only a small amount of single track. So finding variety in your running can benefit you in so many ways and prepare you for anything. I have since tried to really add a mix to my training, I’m still a bit weak on technical downhill, but I’m working on it.
You need to have a mindset technique in place when things get tough. One of the hardest things about ultras is the training for them, but having a mindset technique can really help you on race day. Going 50 kilometres plus isn’t just a walk in the park, and there are going to be times where it really sucks. But how you deal with the feedback your mind is giving you can be the difference between finishing and DNFing.
As I stated before no one actually cares how long it takes you to finish (unless you’re meeting with the sweepers). This became more obvious to me when I ran during the Ultra Trail Kosciuszko 100 and most recently The Archie. When you get into Aid Stations, people are in awe that you’re doing something of this nature, and it quickly makes you realise that long distance running isn’t the norm despite it’s growing popularity.
You need a good support network. I’m so thankful that I have Cassandra, but I also have Elevate, the Lazy Glutes and Running For Resilience, and all give me support in different ways. When I first started running I think I spent the entire first year just about running solo which was absolutely crazy when there were other options out there. I’ve since found that there are times where you’ll need a solo run, but also times where you’ll need that support, so finding different levels of it can be so important.
This Week’s Podcast Guest
My guest this week is young up and coming trail star Toby Steele who most recently completed Coast to Kosci. You can check out Toby’s episode as well as the others in the catalog at the Peak2Soon Pod Website.
New Shoes
It’s been probably since March last year (right after my first ultra) that I purchased new trail shoes, my New Balance Hierro treated me well, but after a tough slog through snow, dirt, mud and long grass it was time to retire them.
Trail Co. had a sale on last week so I bought the new Hoka Speedgoat 5 and the Saucony Peregrine 13, both in a wide setting as my foot is as wide as it is long.
I’ll start with the Speedgoat 5. I’m so impressed with the shoe, my workday shoe is the Hoka Bondi 8, so I’m used to cushion and this shoe is absolutely plush.
Differences between the Speedgoat 4 and 5 are highlighted in that link, for mine it certainly feels like it’s a lighter shoe. Perhaps my favourite change is that the heel tab is now in the swallow tail shape used in Hoka road shoes. This makes the heel cup springier to give a snugger fit and moves the tab away from the Achilles to reduce any rubber.
I took these shoes out for both a speed session and a long run and they felt both responsive and also really comfortable across both distances. I know some people don’t like the new Speedgoats, but I think I’m in love with this pair.
One thing I normally do when I get new shoes is I tape my ankles, as it’s the one place I’ve always rubbed badly, and I forgot to do it on Saturday, which made me not experience perhaps the full feeling of the Peregrine.
In first impressions it’s a really affordable shoe, coming in about a pineapple ($50) cheaper than the Hoka Speedgoat 5. The first thing I notice about these shoes is the lugs look ready to take you on one of the most technical adventures of your life, they were quite pronounced and plenty of them.
First feel is that the shoe is quite nice, it’s light or much lighter than what I’m used to with the Hierro, but also has a 4 millimetre drop so I’m pretty much playing with what I have for the past year.
About six kilometres into my run I got an unforgiving blister on both feet, and the one time I forget my blister kit, I actually got blisters, let that be a lesson! Prior to that the shoe was actually feeling really good, I’m reluctant to give it a harsh review because I normally tape my ankles, so the fault purely lies with me.
I’m keen to give them a go when it’s really wet, because I feel like they’ll just eat up really difficult terrain, so maybe not your everyday shoe to wear on groomed fire trails, but one that’s really built for rugged adventures.
All in all pretty happy with my purchases, at the last minute I chickened out of buying the Altra Mont Blanc, so if anyone is rocking a pair of those I’d love some feedback.
I’d also love to know what shoes you guys are rocking at the moment, so feel free to add to the conversation.
Training for the Week
Monday: Easy walk with Duke and Cassandra at night, I love a good sleep in on Monday, might be the only day I actually embrace it.
Tuesday: Easy hour around the footpaths getting myself 10 kilometres in the hour, which felt really good to do. Just trying to get my pace up as I’m racing the clock before the Sri Chimnoy.
Wednesday: A tribute mid-week long run to the King of Mulligan’s Flat. Khan was an incredible Eastern Brown and the Apex Predator in the sanctuary. It looks like he was taken by a Wedge-Tail Eagle. Got through 16 and a half kilometres at a real easy tempo, body feeling really good.
Thursday: Intervals with Elevate, this was probably my favourite session so far, I just loved the two minute interval sets into multiple bursts of 15 seconds. It was a really tough session, and one where you really had to think about your pacing throughout so you got through.
Friday: Got up a little bit later and then headed down for a few laps of my local pond, focus was on steady state for an hour, before using what I call the ‘Fryer Method’ which is in tribute to Martin Fryer. The method is basically run for 13 minutes and walk with purpose for two minutes, it was quite interesting to see how my heart rate would drop during the walk, and I’m hopeful of using this for long stretches during the 12-hour Sri Chimnoy track event.
Saturday: Slept in a little later than I would’ve liked, but wow it felt good waking up! 16 kilometres in Mulligans and a bit of a climb over Sammy’s Hill which hurt because of the blisters, felt really good and again another solid aerobic hit out.
Sunday: Made the late decision to turn into Goorooyarroo and go for a run there. Ended up just really loving the trek into Mulligans and exploring most of the trails the nature reserve has to offer. Tried something different with my nutrition which seemed to work really well, got through 34 kilometres which I was absolutely pumped by!
Totals: 101.3 kilometres, 12 hours and 26 minutes and 1,239 metres of elevation
It would be pretty close to being my quickest 100 kilometre week, not much elevation this week which played a factor and some strong running lead to it being a really good week itself.
Six Foot Track Week
It’s a huge week in the trail running scene and I’m disappointed I’m not going to be a part of any of it. Last year I had an absolute ball at Alpine Ascent and I know the new options this year are going to take the race to new heights.
While Six Foot Track was a silly goal I had of competing in when I first started running trails, I knew nothing about the event but knew it was such a prestigious event. I actually feel so silly knowing I qualified through my Stromlo time, but didn’t know it was a qualifier for the race. You live and you learn!
I’ve since probably come to the realisation it’s not my type of race, what my race is? I’m still figuring that one out! But good luck to everyone taking part in events this weekend, I’m incredibly envious! But I’m also stoked that we are back running on trails and able to have racing after what has happened in recent times, enjoy the journey!
Your on 🔥 mate! Pod and blog both 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
Why is 6 foot track not your kind of race? Pls discuss! (We might totally change your mind, once we have all done it and hopefully survived!)