Ready to Rock
It's been a big week in the heat, and I'm more than ready to tackle Ultra Trail Kosciuszko
This Week’s Earworm
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd. You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud.
Jon Bon Jovi
Why I Love the Hurt Locker
It's not a normal thing to run an Ultra Marathon. Often a stat that gets thrown around is that one per cent of people will run a marathon in their lifetime.
That percentage would be even smaller when you go out to 50 kilometre plus distance. However, it's becoming more popular.
In 2020, research conducted by RunRepeat and the International Association of Ultrarunning, teamed up to examine 5,010,730 race results from 15,451 races - and roughly 80 percent of all ultras were believed to have taken place worldwide since 1996.
I can't speak for others and why they have decided that running ultra marathons is their thing, but for me it's a journey of personal discovery.
I've always been intrigued by what the human body could take, but it was only recently I applied this personally. At the start of the pandemic I walked from Gungahlin to Tuggeranong with my friend Josh, just because I wanted to see how my body would react.
Earlier this year I was part of a Special Forces Challenge, which tested my limits working off a calorie deficit, in extreme weather conditions, and sleep deprivation.
These were fun challenges along with the Canberra and Kowen Marathons, and Stromlo Ultra Marathon, but each level has found me pushing for something more.
It's a weird feeling telling someone that you like pushing your body to it's absolute limit. To feel something you didn't think was possible.
Most will shake their head and tell you that you're crazy, while others will embrace the goals.
They get it. They understand it.
I'm one of those people, there is a strange euphoria from pushing your body to what feels like it's limit, and then you recover and feel like going again.
You want to see what's personally possible.
I signed up for Ultra Trail Kosciuszko on a whim. I started getting the fear of missing out (thanks Will Barlow) and when there was no 50 kilometre tickets I signed up for the 100 kilometre race.
This race will test me. I've never run more than 51 kilometres, I'm a heavyweight runner, but I'm willing to push myself to see what my body can take.
Often out mind will try and get us to stop, well and truly before our body will give out. The hurt locker, place me in it and let me go to work.
Nailing Nutrition
My only advice I can give when it comes to nutrition is that you have to find what works for you.
For my first marathon I took two gels across the entire race and a bottle of Powerade. This story is not uncommon for new long distance runners, you have to have something to wrong before you can learn from it.
Even at Stromlo this year using Powerade in my bladder caused severe stomach issues, that didn't allow me to consume anything besides Coca Cola after the 20 kilometre mark.
I've trained myself to consume up to 110 grams of carbs an hour, and will settle on 90 grams an hour as a sweet spot.
This will be consumed through a Maurten 320 mix (80 grams), Maurten 100 Gels (25 grams), Spring Energy Awesome Sauce Gels (45 grams), Smith's Salt and Vinger Chips (13.5 grams per 15 chips), Trail Brew (46 grams per 50 gram scoop) and Cinnamon Doughnuts (20 grams a doughie).
I've picked a combination that I've trained with and is relatively easy to work out maths wise for my crew to ensure I don't go over my 90 grams I've set per hour, keeping in mind there is that 20 gram buffer zone I've trained with that I hope will see me avoid stomach dramas.
Snow on the Mountains
I'm part of a group that joined the Facebook page for the Ultra Trail Kosciuszko event.
Each day the page is littered with nervous energy.
From weather to injuries, there seems to be something new on there. The weather has been a big concern for most people including the potential for a large amount of snow remaining on the mountain.
This week cameras of the walking track were put on the page showing how quickly the snow can melt in five days
Sure, it's a normal reflex to be worried about the weather, but after spending much of October in the rain, I couldn't be more excited by the possibility of alpine conditions.
It's the beauty of signing up for a race in one of the most brutal parts of Australia. It's a stunning destination, but you have to respect what mother nature has to offer.
Personally, I'm not fussed. I know that I've trained hard and organisers will change the course to whatever they deem safe.
Ultimately, if it's out of my control I don't worry about it.
Avoiding the Spicy Cough
Before I left for the Gold Coast I had two colleagues I had been in close contact with tested positive for Covid-19.
While I've been on the Gold Coast my brother who was here for a couple of days, and both my parents have tested positive.
It's been stressful, but I know catching it (if I do) won't be a killer blow to my Kosciuszko chances. I'm just glad my parents are okay, and I'm still able to spend time with them albeit from a larger distance and being masked up, with Glen20 spray in toe.
Training for the Week
Monday: Stretch up and then fly to the Gold Coast! Took Duke for a mile walk before heading off.
Tuesday: Went straight into the deep end. A half marathon in about two and a half hours in 25 degrees. This hurt but wow it had some beautiful scenery
Wednesday: 15 kilometres in Zone 2, knew I was in for a big week so tried to keep it nice and easy in 25 degrees again.
Thursday: An enjoyable time on the Kokoda Challenge Track in Nerang. 17 kilometres and about 600 metres climbing across two and a half hours.
Friday: Made up the Elevate speed session. This was tough as the intervals saw the rest continue to drop. Went out in 30 degrees and I was glad I got it done.
Saturday: Got up at 3:30am to drive to Brisbane to do the Movember Run with a group up there. The heat got to me late in the run, but was stoked to get through my 30 kilometres in 3 hours and 50 minutes, running along the Brisbane River.
Sunday: Two loops of Nerang's Goat Track Loop on the trails. Had sore legs from a big week training in the heat and going out in 30+ degrees and high humidity made this a run that helped callous the mind.
Totals: 104.7 kilometres, 13 hours and 50 minutes, with 1,571 metres of elevation gained.
Stoked with this week, it's been my biggest of the preparation and gives me a lot of confidence heading into Kosciuszko.
My heat adaption on my Garmin to put in perspective how tough the heat has been has gone from 10 per cent to 63.
It's now all about staying healthy. I've booked in for a massage on my birthday this week, and I'm that excited to go from feeling fatigued to refreshed.
Monday Motivation Heroes
Reikonator /ˈrayk(o)n(ə)tor/: Small but mighty Ultra Runner with unimaginable strength.
I first met Reiko at Bright a few weeks ago. We were coming down Feathertop on Day 2, when I sort of set the pace on the downhill and I could hear Reiko say “don't mind me I'm a grandma on the downhills.”
I think it was to lull me into a false sense of security. 'The Reikonator' as she was known across the weekend powered down the hill and then finished off the weekend in style.
Little did I know it was just an entree before her Ultra at Stromlo, she absolutely crushed it. A life lesson that small can absolutely be mighty. Reiko is such a strong runner.
It's no secret I'm a huge fan of this man. I can't remember the first time I met Scotty, but it may have been at a Friday Morning Running For Resilience earlier this year.
On a whim he paced me to my best ever Running For Resilience. He's just a supreme runner as well, just this last week on the road to his Ultra at Kosciuszko he ran 201 kilometres.
Simply incredible.
You'll often find Scotty's photos littered across social media an important reminder to enjoy the run, and take in the environment you are in.
He's not only been an inspiration to me, but a good shoulder to lean on and answer questions I may have. I'm so glad Scotty is the person he is, a much loved member of our Canberra running community.
wow it's brilliant this week!! Go the BEAST. 110%
Nice writing Friend about Nutrition.. Hope you are doing well escaped from spicy cough :). Take care well buddy for the big mission UTK100. All the best