The Toast Is Cooking
It's been a big couple of months, the body and mind are aligned. I'm ready to go big!
Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.
Wayne Huizenga
I will push it to the limit
And everybody's feeling the sound of the night
I don't wanna stop, we push it to the limit
Together, wе will crash the morning light
SU-METAL, MOAMETAL & MOMOMETAL
Cooking Something Special
December marked the start of a new beginning. After watching Coast to Kosci, and the incredible performances of some of my favourite runners, I decided to stop making it a pipe dream and actually chase a start in the race.
I make no excuses, I’m coming from a long way back, or I was coming from a long way back, but the last 12 weeks has been arguably my most disciplined training block I’ve ever put in.
I’m still not where I want to be, but if you’re fixated on where you are now, you will never get to where you want to be. The easy part is already done for me, I’ve got a coach that programs everything for me, and all I have to do is get that done, day in and day out.
It’s not easy, it absolutely isn’t, dedicating 10+ hours to running and a session or so a week to strength is basically a part time job on top of full-time and social commitments.
If it was easy everyone would be doing it, but the deeper I find myself in this sport, the more I realise outside of the bubble how incredible even doing a 10 kilometre run is for some people. That’s not to down play the achievements of others, it’s just a different type of running, ultra and ultra trail running is just something else completely it’s unique.
Anyway, I’m getting off track.
What I’m saying is having someone break down what you need to do and trusting that process is power. A coach has all your goals in mind, based on information you have given them around commitments and what you’re willing to do they’ll set realistic targets, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other, and that’s what I mean by easy.
When I talk about most consistent training over 12 weeks, here is what I mean:
174 hours trained in the last 3 months.
1,046 kilometres moved forward - whether that be running, jogging or walking.
67.1 kilometres as the longest run - 10 hour simulation of a backyard ultra
Sundays = Rest Day
When you put those numbers in context the idea of doing 100 kilometres in one go doesn’t seem like all that much. But, the old saying comes from respecting the distance, but I’ve got the confidence that I’ve done the work, so in my mind 100 kilometres is there for the taking, I just need to convince the mind and body 6.71 kilometres at a time.
So, take this advice with you especially if you’re going through a demanding training block at the moment, you can do it, take each day at a time, and it’s not the end of the world if you miss a day.
But, each day is a page in a chapter in a story you’re writing about yourself, what will your story be about?
The Lame Wood Duck Backyard Bonanza
I looked at my training plan for near on three months seeing this 67 kilometre training run looming in the horizon. It was kind of scary in a way, but when I set to the goal to run 100 kilometres and then 160 kilometres and realised I have to put in the work.
It’s a unique thing training for these events because the backyard is a brutal and unrelenting beast. Unlike a point to point for example where the cut off for a miler is 36 hours, the cut off in the backyard is the next hour, all the way up to 24 hours when you hit the miler. There is simply no room for a bad lap, or something to not go your way.
One thing I have learnt though is that what I thought previously as a small amount of time, is actually a lot of time. Five minutes can feel like a life time when you’re scoffing down 45 grams of carbs, eating five snakes, drinking your salty drink mixture, some coconut water, checking your feet.
Every single second counts in the backyarder, and after the last three months I’m quite keen to see how far I go. It won’t be the end of the world if I don’t reach my targets, because I know already I’m so far ahead of the person I was in December, and that for me is the mindset I want to take forward, and hopefully one day I can look back on this and laugh.
But anyway here’s my recap of my run!
Three months ago the thought of what I achieved recently seemed out of reach. I was running 40 or so kilometres a week, waking up sore every single day, and wondered if I'd ever get back to running the distances I wanted to.
I didn't know I was running in threshold every time I went out. It took my coach Justin Hiatt to strip things back and help identify the cause before things really changed.
I just embraced it, because I was seeing changes. Some days were ridiculously slow, then one day that pace is suddenly 40 seconds faster and going down.
One day, you don't wake up as sore, you don't feel wiped after your long run, you actually get stuff done on a weekend.
The test run showed that patience is worth more than anything in this game. Each week I put together a consistent stack of training, and suddenly something I felt a few weeks ago was unachievable become the very thing I did with some left to spare.
But, this community is something else. My two run clubs Elevate and Ultra Mediocre combined to get crews out to run with me. It was humbling to have some of Australia's best runners join me during my quest to run 67km.
Some of my favourite aspects of this run was I got to share moments with everyone - Danielle Kuhn and her echidnas, Justin and his infectious energy, talking food with Allie Corripio, learning about what Allicia Heron will be doing this year. Sharing laughs with Rachel Burns and Tom White, and to the broader people that came out, I thank you from my heart, in particular Clayton Talbot who drove down from Sydney to come and be a part of it, and Michael O’Brien for finding that time to get out and change his plans for the day, to Todd Smith bringing his kids out and inspiring the next generation, to those I didn’t mention I appreciate you coming out, it meant the world.
Previously I'd only ever managed 7 laps and that left me wiped. But, mindset is a funny thing and knowing friends were across the ditch suffering af Tarawera, and others at Mt Buller I embraced the suck.
Unlike other times though this felt like it had a purpose, to prove to other people like me that you don't need to believe the naysayers, we are just as capable if we put in the work.
I love this game, it's something else to put your body through this willingly, but I love finding these new barriers, something I'm looking forward to discovering in three weeks time.
Thank you once again to everyone that came out and supported me, to those who messaged, to those who have sent well wishes in the days since, it's been so cool.
A Pinch Myself Moment
On the weekend I got the call to crew Cassie Smith, she messaged me a couple of months back in a pickle, I’m more than happy to help. I’m of the belief that these things allow you to then gain some level of karma back going forward, perhaps that’s the Buddhist in me.
Then as a double up Sabina Hamaty was also without crew, for those who don’t know Sabina is one of the all-time greats. A two-time Coast to Kosci Champion, a Centurion (Australian Centurion 86), along with a swag of other achievements including 623 kilometres at Adelaide’s Six-Day last year.
Basically, it was a fan boy moment. I didn’t have much to do but it was cool to be able to crew someone who is a bit of a idol.
Cassie also battled on so hard, like me she is a Coast to Kosci tragic, and at a point where a number of people were calling it a day, Cassie made up 24 spots throughout the night, finishing on 80 kilometres, with Sabina finishing the full one-hundred in an incredible walking performance.
On top of that I got to watch some of my favourites in Matt Pilley, Thomas White and Cassie Cohen go around. For someone like me who just loves this sport, it was good to sharpen my crewing tools, and give back to a sport I love so much.
What’s Next?
Two weeks to go until I’m Still Standing Sydney. Both nervous and excited, Cassandra crewing me will be quite special. Then after that Dead Cow Gully, with mum and dad coming along for the ride there, which means the next two events will be one to remember!
I’ve also brought on Lauren Nash as my dietitian, so hopefully can nail down my nutrition strategy, and as always a big shout out to Rob Mason for helping the mindset.
Big love x