The event was held over the weekend, beginning with Stage 1 on Thursday 24 August, through to Stage 4 on to Sunday 27 August.

Runners could not wipe the grin off their faces during each stage as they took in the breathtaking landscapes of the Red Centre… one step at a time;

“That was a dream run – and we’re only on Stage 1!!”

“The views, the landscape, the rocks, the people… all just sensational.”

Based out of Alice Springs, the course showcased the awe-inspiring terrain of the Red Centre’s Larapinta Track within the West MacDonnell Ranges. Captivating highlights along the way include notable landmarks such as Brinkley Bluff, Standley Chasm, Simpsons Gap, and Ellery Creek Waterhole.

Participants chose between two course lengths: the Malbunka long course, featuring stages spanning 20km to 41km each day, and The Namatjira short course, with stages ranging from 12km to 27km.

Organisers’ Rapid Ascent expressed their admiration for the runners’ dedication and the sense of camaraderie that prevailed throughout the event;

“Whilst there were many stories of blood, sweat and tears along the course, they were quickly followed up with stories of awe and wonder at the landscape; all the while generating long-lasting bonds and friendships between runners that will never be forgotten,” expressed Sam Maffett, General Manager of Rapid Ascent.

Stage 1 commenced with a twilight run on the outskirts of Alice Springs on Thursday 24^th August, with competitors running along the twisting trails that lead to a lively finish line beside the Todd River at The Old Telegraph Station.

The following day saw an early start for Stage 2 and was particularly challenging as it led runners from Simpson Gap to Standley Chasm. Despite the hardships, runners relished the opportunity to immerse themselves in a truly unique landscape.

Stage 3 on Saturday began near Birthday Waterhole for both course lengths, and had competitors conquering the steep sides of Brinkley’s Bluff which provided remarkable panoramic views from all directions. Competitors then ran through Reveal Saddle where it is said that the tectonic lines of the ranges collide into a confusion of peaks, ridges and cliffs;

Shoe Review: Tarkine Trail Devil

“It is simply spectacular,” claimed Maffett.

The race culminated with Stage 4 Sunday 27 August with a scenic run to the iconic Counts Point lookout before finishing at Ellery Creek Waterhole. The magnificent finish line location was a key highlight, providing a victorious and celebratory conclusion, with many participants taking a dip to cool off.

“What a spectacular conclusion to four days of awe-inspiring running,” expressed Maffett. “Spirits were high and we loved seeing the smiles of satisfaction that were spread across everyone’s faces.”

“We congratulate all runners on their personal achievements and what they’ve overcome along the way, and we hope they are as proud of themselves as we are,” added Maffett.

A presentation ceremony and celebrations at the Alice Springs Brewery rounded out the final night, as participants shared stories and solidified their newfound friendships.

The winners of the Malbunka long course over the four-stages were Corey Milner (Victoria) and Kate Cush (NSW), with a total time of 12 hours, 15 minutes and 43 seconds; and 15:47:58, respectively.

Luke Gordon and Anabel Thomas, both from New South Wales, claimed victory in The Namatjira short course. 9:58:54 (Gordon); 11:19:49 (Thomas).

“That was an amazing and unbelievable experience for me; I’ve never been here before and I just couldn’t believe how nice (and tough!) it is,” said Milner. “Especially the views up the top – the ridgelines are fantastic despite being the rockiest parts, but it was all just great!

With its successful execution, the Run Larapinta Stage Race has solidified its position as a must-do bucket-list event. Maffett extended his gratitude to all participants for sharing in the sensational experience and reaffirmed the lasting impact this event will have on each individual… forever.

“We feel honoured to have created such an event and privileged to delivery it each year. THANK YOU to our runners and supporters for sharing our dream and the dust that comes with it!” said Maffett.

The event reached capacity almost instantly when entries opened late last year. Rapid Ascent have a self-imposed field limit of 200 runners with entries to the 2024 Run Larapinta event to open in October 2023.

The event would not be possible without the support from the NT Government over recent years which has helped event promoters Rapid Ascent market the event at a national level and reach capacity fields.

For more information on the Run Larapinta Stage Race please head to the official website at www.RunLarapinta.com.au.

RESULTS

Winning Total Times across the four stages are listed.

The Malbunka – Long Course Overall Standings MALE

1. Corey Milner                     12:15:43 (VIC)
2. Troy Wilson                       14:41:39 (VIC)
3. Marc Woods                     15:31:33 (NT)

The Malbunka – Long Course Overall Standings FEMALE

1. Kate Cush                           15:47:58 (NSW)
2. Lindsay Hamilton             17:38:48 (ACT)
3. Sally Theobald                  17:42:35 (VIC)

The Namatjira – Short Course Overall Standings MALE

1. Luke Gordon                      09:58:54 (NSW)
2. Dylan Collings                   10:36:11 (NSW)
3. David Ross                         11:26:51 (NSW)

The Namatjira – Short Course Overall Standings FEMALE

1. Anabel Thomas                 11:19:49 (NSW)
2. Claire Vincent                    12:35:00 (VIC)
3. Mel Quilliam                      13:03:01 (NT)

For the full list of Overall Results and each Stage Results CLICK HERE >>

2023 EVENT DETAILS:

Dates: Thursday 24 August to Sunday 27 August, 2023

Where: Larapinta Trail in the MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Two course distances:

The Malbunka (the longer course):

• Stage 1: 20km around Alice Springs to the Old Telegraph Station
• Stage 2: 41km from Simpson’s Gap to Standley Chasm
• Stage 3: 33km from Birthday Waterhole turn off to Standley Chasm.
• Stage 4: 34km from Ochre Pits to Ellery Creek Water Hole.

The Namatjira (the shorter course):

• Stage 1: 12km around Alice Springs to the Old Telegraph Station
• Stage 2: 21km from Standley Chasm – High Route loop
• Stage 3: 22km Birthday Waterhole to Standley Chasm
• Stage 4: 27km from Counts Point turn off to Ellery Creek Water Hole.

EVENT WEBSITE:

www.RunLarapinta.com.au

Credit for all Run Larapinta Stage Images : Forktail (www.forktail.com.au) and Rapid Ascent (rapidascent.com.au)

The post Awe-inspiring Run Larapinta Stage Race appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

On the winding trails, Vicente met other athletes, sharing both triumphant miles and challenging moments with newfound friends. Alongside running greats like Mike Wardian, he also found companionship with fellow Canadians, including the exceptional Becky Bates from Kimberly, B.C.

Throughout the race, Vicente embraced a simple yet profound mantra: “Focus on the people around you and the wonders of the world.” This mindset allowed him to stay present, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking surroundings and the encouraging support of his fellow racers.

Shoe Review: Tarkine Trail Devil

During the toughest stretches, Vicente carried a cherished photo of his wife, a constant reminder of her unwavering love and support. And when his own energy waned, he drew strength from the collective spirit of his running comrades, propelling him towards the finish line.

In a heartwarming moment, Vicente’s nephew, who had grown up immersed in the sport, joined him for the final stretch of the race. The shared passion for running and the years of exchanging race souvenirs had created a bond that carried them through those grueling last miles.

As Vicente triumphantly crossed the finish line, he honored a tradition held dear by countless runners before him. Kneeling down, he pressed a kiss on the iconic goat painted on a nearby rock, a symbol of achievement within the trail-running community.

Despite the physical toll of the race, Vicente’s determination remained unwavering. While his feet may have suffered, he eagerly looked forward to reuniting with his friends for outdoor adventures, albeit on two wheels for the time being.

As he recuperated, Vicente planned to relish life’s simple pleasures, enjoying the sweetness of blueberries and savoring the delicious taste of vegan pizza. Additionally, he would spend cherished moments crafting bike bags and cherishing quality time with his beloved wife and loyal canine companions.

Vicente’s incredible journey through Silverton serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit and the profound bonds created through shared experiences. As he sets his sights on future athletic pursuits, his story will continue to inspire, reminding us all of the enduring strength of friendship and the triumph that comes with unwavering perseverance.

The post Triumph on the Trails: A Story of Friendship and Perseverance appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

For the seasoned athlete, here are six of the world’s most challenging ultramarathons:

1. Barkley Marathons: This ultramarathon in rural East Tennessee is arguably one of the hardest in existence. Runners must complete five loops of anywhere between 20 or 26 miles of uncleared trials that cut through briar patches, with a total elevation gain of 60,000 feet.
2. Jungle Ultra: This 230-kilometer race through the Peruvian Amazon rainforest is a true test of endurance. Runners must navigate dense jungle, cross rivers and climb mountains while dealing with the threat of venomous snakes and spiders. The race is self-supported, meaning runners must carry all of their supplies for the duration of the race.
3. Marathon Des Sables: This 250-kilometer race across the Sahara Desert presents the ultimate endurance test. With no support system, participants must carry their own supplies and sleep in communal tents with no protection from the desert elements.

   

4. Western States 100: The oldest 100-mile ultra-trail race in the world, Western States 100 is famous for its challenging conditions. The course includes 18,000 feet of climbing and 23,000 feet of descending on trails only accessible by helicopter.
   

    

   View this post on Instagram

    

   A post shared by Tarkine (takayna) (@tarkinerunning)

5. UTMB: The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc takes runners through the Alps, covering 106 miles across France, Italy, Switzerland, and back to France. With an elevation gain of over 32,900 feet, this race poses a significant challenge to even the most experienced runners.
6. Grand to Grand Ultra: This self-supported race covers roughly 170 miles over seven days, starting at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and finishing on the summit of the Grand Staircase. Runners must carry all their food and equipment for the week.

Ultramarathons require a combination of physical strength and mental fortitude. Completing one of these grueling races is not for the faint-hearted. Whether it’s battling through the searing heat of the Sahara Desert or braving the extreme cold of the Alaskan wilderness, ultramarathons represent the ultimate test of human endurance.

The post The Most Demanding Ultramarathons for Seasoned Athletes appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

The ultra-distance stage running event is a three-day, 200km point to point course which traverses large sections of the famed Bibbulmun Track in WA.

The course takes runners from the tall Tingle and Karri trees at the Valley of the Giants near Walpole, past remote beaches and windswept horizons, to the sheer granite cliffs of the Torndirrup Peninsula.

61 relay teams of 4 competitors will run between 10km and 26km each over the four legs that make up each of the three days; with 10 competitors doing the entire course solo, running 70km on day 1, 77km on day 2, and 56km day 3.

Organisers Rapid Ascent are feeling very excited for the race which joins their popular ultra-running event portfolio across the country.

“It will truly be a remarkable journey for competitors with the course carefully curated along a breathtaking coastline and diverse landscape,” said Event Director Sam Maffett.

“Being part of a team environment rates very highly in the ultra-running community as it provides a shared experience between friends that will live with them forever,” added Maffett.

Competitors will be staying together at coordinated group accommodation at each day’s finish line, creating a unifying, social and supportive environment for all runners and supporters.

Participants also hold great enthusiasm for the inaugural event;

Phillip and Xavier Shay – father and son – will be participating alongside each other as solo competitors over the 200km journey; “A run is the best way to spend time with my son and we thought the event would give us the opportunity to see that spectacular part of the country,” said Phillip.

Lonneke Kefalas, another solo competitor says; “I love a good challenge and this race is the perfect one to get my teeth stuck in to. I’m excited to see another beautiful part of this continent and combine my race with a little holiday road-trip as well.”

Relay team ’50 Shades of Trained is made up of Victorian friends Vanessa Jones, Anita Nichols, Annella Chambers and Manna Mcleod; “We are looking forward to sharing this adventure and supporting each other through what will no doubt be a challenging but rewarding few days!” said Anita.

The Great Southern Stage Run is supported by the City of Albany who have helped Rapid Ascent in creating an event that showcases the region to participants. City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington looks forward to welcoming competitors;

“I welcome you to the Great Southern and wish all competitors the best of luck for their journey ahead,” said Wellington. “Enjoy being in nature, amongst the beautiful and rugged coastline of our region and discover why they call it, Amazing Albany!”

The Great Southern is the largest and most diverse region within Australia’s South West, with the course encompassing some remarkable seaside scenery. The event is supporting the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and their ongoing maintenance and management of the trail.

Rapid Ascent have a self-imposed field limit to preserve the environment and to create an intimate experience for all participants.

The event is an amalgamation of the best parts of Rapid Ascent’s two most successful (and sold-out) trail running events – The Run Larapinta Stage Race in the NT and The Margaret River Ultra Marathon in WA.

For more information including complete event schedule, head to www.greatsouthernstagerun.com.au.

The post Excitement builds for Great Southern Stage Run next week WA appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

Selling out for a third consecutive year, the event confirms its status as one of Australia’s most in-demand ultra marathon races, also evidenced by the initial rush on entries with 1,000 people signing up within the first 24 hours.

The 80km race will take place along the Cape to Cape coastline in south-west, Western Australia, on Saturday 6 May 2023.

Organisers Rapid Ascent self-impose the 1,500 entry limit to preserve the participants experience on race day whether that be as part of a relay team or as a solo runner.

Rapid Ascent continually communicated the entry status for the 2023 event, and is excited by the reputation the race has built.

“We knew the popularity of the race would initiate an entry rush given the demand over the last few years, but we are blown away by just how fast entries have been snapped up this time round!” said Sam Maffett, General Manager.

“We would never want to jeopardise the event, so bigger is not always better; it’s giving trail runners a chance to get away from the beaten track and enjoy the beautiful wilderness the course offers,” added Maffett. “So if we matched the entry demand, it wouldn’t allow them to experience what makes the event so unique and special.”

The point-to-point course has built an attractive reputation as runners make their way from Hamelin Bay to Howard Park Winery in Wilyabrup through a mix of coastal trails, beaches and bluffs, passed tall karri tree forests and tracks offering sweeping views across the magical Margaret River region.

Participants entered into the sixth edition of the event include growth in solo runners with nearly 400, and 1,100 relay team members that make up a variety of 2-5-runner teams covering 10-20km each.

Competitors will experience all aspects of the event from the spectacular course through to the friendly camaraderie and a finish line celebratory beverage at the official event venue, Howard Park Wines.

A waiting list is available to interested runners. Details Here.

Further event information can be found on the Margaret River Ultra Marathon website www.MRUltramarathon.com.au or www.facebook.com/RapidAscentUltraRunningEvents

The post Sold out in 3 weeks – Margaret River Ultra Marathon 2023 appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

Confidently regarded as one of WA’s most in-demand races, entry numbers have doubled since its’ debut in 2018 with just 700 participants; and organisers expected a similar trend when entries opened yesterday.

“We are blown away by the high demand on entries within just one day of opening!” said Sam Maffett, General Manager of organisers Rapid Ascent. “We knew the enthusiasm for the race was growing quite rapidly after witnessing the event sell-out over the last two years, but we didn’t expect such an initial rush!”

Rapid Ascent impose the entry limit of 1,500 participants to preserve the competitor experience on race day.

“Trail running is about getting away from the beaten track and enjoying the wilderness… so bigger is not always better,” Maffett added. “We highly recommend interested runners do enter now to avoid missing out.”

The 80km point-to-point course offers magnificent trail running for competitors as they make their way along the breathtaking Cape to Cape coastline from Hamelin Bay to Howard Park Winery in Wilyabrup.

Participants can enter the sixth edition of the race as a solo runner, or as part of a relay team of 2 to 5 members covering 10-20km each.

The unique landscape keeps runners buzzing from start to finish, as the course winds its way through tall karri tree forests, coastal trails, beaches and bluffs with sweeping views across the magical Margaret River region.

A number of the country’s finest elite ultra-trail runners are often attracted to the world-class course, such as 2022 winners Joshua Chugg and Anna McKenna. And as Anna explains, “One thing I always remind myself on course is to look up; to look at the surroundings and how beautiful it is out there!”

“Competitors embrace all aspects of the event from the course through to the finish line environment and great camaraderie no matter if they’re part of a team, an accomplished ultra runner or first timer, it really is an incredible experience for everyone involved,” said Maffett.

Competitors will finish with a celebratory beverage at the official event venue, Howard Park Wines.

Entries are open online and expected to reach capacity very soon! Further event information can be found on the Margaret River Ultra Marathon website www.MRUltramarathon.com.au or www.facebook.com/RapidAscentUltraRunningEvents

The post Record rush for entries to the 2023 Margaret River Ultra Marathon appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

The spectacular 100km and 50km courses saw individual ultra-runners embark on a journey through the coastal trails and beaches of the Great Ocean Road region in Victoria; with relay teams runners sharing the 100km course, each covering approximately 25km.

The 100km premier race showcased some of the best ultra-runners across the country with Joshua Chugg from Western Australia and Geelong-local Nicole Virant taking line honours in the male and female fields, in times of 08:43:33 and 10:25:31, respectively.

In-form Chugg who won the Margaret River Ultra Marathon in May this year, looked very comfortable having not been on the Surf Coast Century course before, and took the lead into Leg 2 through Ironbark Basin.

“There were a few relay runners coming past me, so I took the opportunity to be pulled along by them into Leg 2 and that dragged me away giving me the edge,” said Chugg. “But Tom (Dade) and Zac (Beasley) were so strong on that rock hopping over the first 20km!”

“It’s such a beautiful course; I did try to take in the views when I could,” laughed Chugg who had 30 minutes on his nearest rival as he clocked his finish time.

Coming in second was the effortless Beasley (09:15:03), and 2020 100km Surf Coast Century winner Ross Hopkins finishing a close third (09:16:17).

In the female field, all eyes fell on Virant who went from not knowing anything about trail running, to winning her first ever ultra-marathon in just one year, an amazing feat by this young Geelong lady.

“This time last year I didn’t even know trail running was a thing so I’m quite new to it; but I keep feeling better and better over the distance whenever I go out, I just I love it!” said Virant.

“I come down the coast most weekends to get my running hours in and I just can’t get enough of it; I’m lucky I get to train on these beautiful trails that make up the course,” added Virant.

NSW athlete Kate Cush and Victorian-based Sarah Hedger, also a previous winner of the event, was third as they rounded out the podium in the overall female category in 10:42:42 and 10:53:08.

Another impressive female in the spotlight was Meghann Bullen (nee Coffey) from Western Australia who won last years’ Margaret River Ultra Marathon and was invited over to take on the Victorian’s.

Bullen raced the 50km event, proving what a strong competitor she is finishing in a time of 04:37:19 just ahead of Amy Daniel (04:39:40) and Natalie Palmer 05:16:10.

“I wanted sub-5 hours so I’m pretty happy with that, but I’m buggered now!” said Bullen.

“It was gorgeous out on course; I loved the climbs, the single trails and the downhill faster sections. It was super fun even if it was super muddy!” added Bullen.

Running in the wind rain and mud has paid off for Steve Buchanan in the men’s 50km race, with a blistering time of 03:56:44!

“This was my first Century and to be honest I wasn’t going to do it, but I actually really like running in the wind, rain and mud – it makes me feel good – so I’m stoked with my win.” Said Buchanan.

Daniel Caswell was second, and Stephen Natoli was third in times of 04:19:08 and 04:27:01.

The 100km course took competitors from Anglesea to Torquay along the beach, returning along the cliff top tracks and hinterland trails to Moggs Creek and Aireys Inlet, before heading back to Anglesea on the Surf Coast Walk trail, via Point Roadknight. The 50km course covered the second-half of the 100km – renowned for being more challenging that the first half!

Despite the wet and windy conditions, competitors continued to cross the finish line late into the evening, with the final 100km solo competitor finishing past 2:00am.

The event also saw a hotly contested 100km relay category with a number of teams vying for the course record of 07:15:41 set by Team ‘Love the Run’ back in 2015. In a nail-biting finish, after a cat and mouse style race, it was eventual winners, Team Dawn League clocking 07:17:19 – less than 2 minutes off the record, and just 5 minutes ahead of Western Australian contingent, Team Ogging Squad.

It was Dawn League’s Leg 4 runner Morgan Payne that eventually got the gap over the WA boys.

“I went strong over the climb near the lighthouse; and I like the climbing so I was able to put a bit of a gap on them and then held it along the final beach section,” said Payne.

Mathieu Dore who ran Leg 3 for the winner team, is also a solo runner in years gone past.

“The boys in front (Ogging Squad) did a terrific job, so I felt like I was chasing the whole leg,” said Dore. “However I was happy because I was right on pace with what I wanted to run; it’s always such a great weekend down here!”

Each race started and finished in Anglesea, with the support of the Surf Coast Shire behind the bucket-list event which is now one of Australia’s must-do ultras and known for being one of the more unique 100km courses.

Torquay-based event organisers Rapid Ascent were really impressed with every participants effort on course, and the supporters continually cheering them on.

“It was fantastic to see competitors’ raw emotions as they crossed that finish line in tough coastal conditions; achieving their dreams after many months of training,” said Event Director Sam Maffett.

“Added to that, the supporters who are out there doing what they do, never complaining and always cheering – it’s a real highlight for us,” added Maffett.

The Bethany Kids Run and Boat Ramp Battle headlined the Sunday morning celebrations prior to official presentations held at the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club. Notable ultra-runner Thomas Dale who finished fourth in the 100km course was our winner of the concrete shoe trophy as he backed up his run on the epic Boat Ramp Battle.

The 2023 edition of the event is set for Saturday 16 September – entries to open early next year.

www.SurfCoastCentury.com.au

The post Dream, believe and run 100km – Surf Coast Century 202 appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

With a whopping 10,000m+ of elevation the 170km UTMB is the super bowl of trail and ultra running, attracting the most supreme endurance athletes on the planet. After an epic battle between the top four runners, the GOAT, Kilian Jornet from Spain finished on top for the fourth time, clocking in a record time of 19 hours and 49.30 minutes. Jornet is now the first man to break the 20-hour barrier in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Experience the perfect blend of agility and support with Tarkine Trail Devil shoes, crafted for those who demand excellence in every run.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kilian Jornet (@kilianjornet)

Only five minutes behind Jornet was Canada’s Mathieu Blanchard who would also come into the finish under the previous course record. UK’s Tom Evans rounded out the podium.

Attempting to be the first American man to win the event, Jim Walmsley got the DNF monkeys off his back to finish an impressive fourth place overall.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UTMB® Mont-Blanc (@utmbmontblanc)

The US’s, Katie Schide won the women’s race (finishing 22nd overall) in 23:15:12 from Marianne Hogan of Canada and the US’s Katlyn Gerbin who rounded out the podium.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UTMB® Mont-Blanc (@utmbmontblanc)

UTMB Results

Friday / Saturday August 26 / 27 , 2022 – 170km

Men

• 1. Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 19:49:30
• 2. Mathieu Blanchard (FRA) – 19:54:50
• 3. Tom Evans (GBR) – 20:34:35
• 4. Jim Walmsley (USA) – 21:12:12
• 5. Zach Miller (USA) – 21:27:50

Women

• 1. Katie Schide (USA) – 23:15:12
• 2. Marianne Hogan (CAN) – 24:31:22
• 3. Kaytlyn Gerbin (USA) – 25:07:44
• 4. Jocelyne Pauly (FRA) – 26:13:58
• 5. Eszter Csillag (HUN) – 26:32:39

Full results can be found here: UTMB Live – UTMB® Mont-Blanc – UTMB®

The post The GOAT, Killian Jornet Breaks UTMB Course Record appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

Anna Mckenna took out the women’s race at Margaret River Ultra Marathon over the weekend in a scintillating time. Not only did Anna break the record, but she also finished 3rd overall! Along with the men’s winner, Josh Chugg, Anna is currently one of the few ultra distance Australian athletes that can compete with the very best in the world. We sat down with Anna for a quick Q and A after her victory. Unleash your full potential with Tarkine Goshawk shoes, where cutting-edge technology meets unparalleled performance for the dedicated runner.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anna McKenna (@annasusana)

What did a typical training week look like in the build-up to Margaret River?

My running coach Gary Howard from Run Crew creates my training program for me. 

We work on a fortnightly cycle during an ultra prep, with a race-specific long run fortnightly and a longer tempo on the alternate week. 

Each week is about 170kms with a medium interval session (800 to 2km repetitions on varying terrain and recovery) and a longer session (tempo, fartlek, hills or a combination of those). 

Every 5th week is an absorption week with reduced frequency and volume, intensity is usually retained. 

I started tapering 10 days from Margaret River Ultra.  

Theoretically, each ultra-marathon race block should require less duration/distance specificity and more focus on raising my overall performance ceiling. 

Did you have a target time for Margs?

In the past, I have looked at the fastest times and given myself a target time to aim for. But for this race I didn’t have a time goal in mind. I focused more on my nutrition and hydration plan in order to be able to come home strong.

Not only were you the first female you were 3rd overall, which is an outstanding effort. If the race was a bit longer, we’ve no doubt you would have taken 2nd place. With that said, what’s your ideal race distance?

I think the longer the better for me, I really look up to people like Courtney Dauwalter and Ruth Croft. I do have long term goals to be able to get into Western States and UTMB so I am looking forward to building up to a 100-mile race in the near future. That said, I think it is still good to do the shorter and faster runs every so often to keep some speed in the legs. 

Were there any rough patches during the race?

I had a really good day out at MRU and I didn’t experience any low points. I really concentrated a lot on my breathing, nutrition and ensuring every 20 minutes I was consuming water, tailwind or a gel. 

What was your favourite section of the course? 

In leg 3 there is a section where you run up Conto Road and turn left onto the Cape to Cape walking track. Once you start running down that single track you are met with the most spectacular views. Trying to follow the rocky single track and admire the view is a challenge, but worth it. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anna McKenna (@annasusana)

Any tips for runners planning on racing Margs next year? 

My biggest tip is to go out steady,  the second half of the race is tougher than the first half. There is also a lot of soft sand running so mentally prepare yourself for that. 

What’s the race plan look like for the rest of 2022? 

I’m about to go into a marathon training block now for Gold Coast Marathon in 7 weeks’ time. This will then lead me into UTA100 in October which will be my main focus. 

What improvements would you like to see in ultra and trail running in Australia? 

Australia might not have the huge mountains like Europe but our landscape and climate make for hard races, so I think more races that are in line with the qualifying standards for Western States and UTMB would be great. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by UTMB® Mont-Blanc (@utmbmontblanc)

What’s the toughest race you’ve run to date?

The toughest race mentally was Noosa Ultra 50km. Like most runners, I strive for the ‘perfect’ race and everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I had to do a lot of problem-solving and adjusting of expectations whilst out on that course. 

Physically the toughest race has to be Ultra-Trail Australia in the Blue Mountains. All those stairs! 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anna McKenna (@annasusana)

Favourite in race nutrition item?

I love tailwind, but I cannot live without Precision Hydration which is a strong electrolyte drink that I use daily and I also used it during the race. 

Shout out to your sponsors?

A big shout out to 2XU who is my major sponsor, they are so good to me. I then have some brands supporting me at a product level – Saucony, Polar & Gooch Goo.

The post Margaret River Ultra Marathon Women’s Record Holder | Q & A with Ultra Runner, Anna Mckenna appeared first on Runner's Tribe.

“… a backyard ultra with Phil Gore is everybody runs as far as they can and then Phil does one more lap and wins!” – Kevin Matthews

The pressure was on to do well at Herdy’s Frontyard this year. Having won the event last year, plus two other backyard ultras since, I definitely felt the expectation that I would produce another good result. I held the current Australian record of 51 laps, and I set that as a minimum target, but I also prepared myself physically and mentally to go well beyond that. On paper, my plan actually went up to 120 hours, not because I thought I could get there, but because I thought I couldn’t. I wanted to have a plan for something so farfetched and ludicrous that I’d be prepared for anything short of that. Victorious runs are possible if you have the best shoes, check out Tarkine Goshawk V2 running shoes.

Before we go on, if you are completely new to this and don’t know what a backyard ultra is, you can read my previous blogs about Herdy’s *here* and Birdy’s *here* . I never got around to writing a race report for Hysterical Carnage, but this one *here* from Sputnik sums it up quite nicely (I highly recommend reading that one, you might get a couple of laughs out of it)

One of the hardest things this year was just making it to the start line. With the Covid situation kicking off in Perth, there was every chance you could catch the virus or even just become a close contact and have to isolate for 7 days, potentially missing the start time. 12 days prior to the event, I was unlucky (or lucky depending which way you look at it) enough to be deemed a close contact, which meant I had to go into isolation. I took this as a blessing, as the forced isolation meant I had no further risks of being exposed to the virus before race day. It also meant I got to maximise my rest time during my taper, and had heaps of spare time to finalise planning and packing for the event. Fortunately, I never tested positive, which meant 4 days before the event I could leave isolation. However, being so close to the event and not wanting to take any more chances, I stayed in a self-imposed isolation, only coming out on race day. Big thanks to my wife and kids who looked after me during this period, preparing all my meals for me and picking up my share of the housework.

On the day of the race, I got a lift up with Shannon Wakefield, and arrived at Herdsman Lake around 10am. The race didn’t start until 4pm, which gave me plenty of time to set up my home for the next few days and then have time to chill in the afternoon. I tried to have a little nap, but with all the excitement and activity around the race village, I just found it too hard. I just relaxed as well as I could and as 4pm got closer, I started to get myself changed and ready. I picked up my bib, which just happened to be number 85 (which is the backyard world record for those of you playing along at home).

After a race brief by ED Shaun Kaesler, a “Welcome to Country” by Tom Hughson, and a Taiko drum performance, the race was shortly underway. It was business as usual for me, aiming for 45-50min laps, with a mix of jogging and walking. With the huge crowd this year though, I did find that I had to go a little bit quicker for the first km or so each lap, just to not get caught up with the masses. Still not wanting to catch covid, I kept my face mask on for the first little bit until I could find enough space to social distance. I knew the risk was very low, but the last thing I wanted to do was catch covid at the start and have symptoms kick in 48 hours later when I hoped to still be running.

We had a couple of laps in daylight until the sun went down on the third lap. Then the headlamps came out. I was running with my mate Chris Martin at the time and although we had our headlamps on our head, we didn’t have them turned on. With the full moon that night, plus the headlamps of the many other people around us, we could see fairly well. By the third night lap, we just got rid of the headlamp all together (although I kept a mini torch in my pocket as a backup). We actually found it easier when we didn’t have other people with their headlamps on around us, as our eyes would adjust a lot better and we didn’t have flashing, inconsistent lights distracting us. We could do the whole course without additional light, and in a way, it was more relaxing. We weren’t hyper-focused on a spot of light in front of us, and instead we could look around a bit more and embrace the night-time surrounds.

As we settled into the night, and the chatter between runners died down a bit, I started my sleep routine. My first nap was after the 10pm lap and I aimed for about 15-18 minutes rest each time. As it was still quite early on in the race, I wasn’t tired enough for a ‘proper’ sleep but took it as a chance to just close my eyes and reset myself. When I have these “sleep laps”, I try to pick up the pace a little bit and reduce the amount of walking breaks, to try and maximise sleep time. This means I tend to be running on my own most the time, so these are the laps I bring out the audiobooks. I normally pick a book with a story that I’m familiar with, so if I tune out a bit it doesn’t matter. However, this time I opted for something new that was going to keep me engaged and make me look forward to hearing more of the story on the next lap. It turned out that “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir was the perfect choice as it achieved exactly that.

I was hoping the temperature would drop a bit overnight, and we’d have a chance to cool down, but it stayed quite warm. It never got cold enough to require my buff or gloves, and the few laps I did bring a jacket, it really only stayed on for the first 500m or so (some of the blokes were even running without tops on, it was that warm). The biggest problem I had with the first night, as did a lot of other runners, was the humidity. It affected a lot of runners and caused many chafing issues and hydration issues. I don’t normally sweat a lot when I run, but I did this time. I tried to manage it as best I could, but around 1am I started to develop a few stomach issues. Nothing too major, but enough to prompt me to back the pace off a bit to allow it to settle. I stopped worrying about my lap times, and I just took whatever rest break I could get. If that meant only a 5-minute sleep then it was better than nothing (sleep isn’t as important on the first night anyway). Fortunately, the issues resolved after about 4 hours, but I still stayed with a slower pace just to be sure.

Getting through to the first sunrise was one of the first big milestones, and from 200+ starters, about 40 had made it through the night. The night-time is usually the hardest period of these events, especially those last few hours before sunrise – what Kevin Matthews would call ‘the witching hours’. To get through the night is generally a big deal, and I like to say, “if you can make it to the day, you can make it through the day”. It’s amazing what that sun coming up can do to your mental state.

I had a crew of 6 this year, but they took it in shifts so they could manage their rest. My crew who got me through the first night were Wayne McMurtrie and Amanda Bruce, and around 6am they tagged out with Gemma (my wife) and Emma Luscombe. Now that the sun was up and I wasn’t trying to fit sleep in anymore, I had the time to have a shower. Bringing a shower set-up was a last-minute idea of mine, and one that turned out to be a really good call. Basically, I had just brought along a short length of garden hose with a shower nozzle fitting, as well as some body wash and a flannel. There was a tap in the race village that I could hook it up to and it worked perfectly as an ad-hoc shower. After making it through the super humid night, it was so nice to have a cold shower and get on a clean, dry set of clothes, to start a new day refreshed. I can highly recommend adding a shower to your routine if you want to go far in a backyard ultra. It’s amazing the difference it can make, both physically and mentally.

After my shower, I settled into my day routine, which meant I was back to running slower laps and having more chats with the other runners. The day was still quite humid, though it felt to have dropped a bit since the night. I find the second day of these events is where it becomes very much of a grind. It’s the tough stuff you need to get through before the race really starts. It can get very boring and monotonous, and to get from where you are to where you want to be, can seem so far away. Not even being at 24 hours yet and thinking that I have to do at least everything I’ve already done, again, can be very demoralising. I have thoughts run through my head like “Why did I sign up for this?”, “This is stupid”, and “I’m not signing up for another one again”. I have to remind myself to just follow the plan, and keep ticking the laps off, and try not to think about how far I have left to go. When I vented to my crew about how much it sucked, they reminded me that I went through exactly the same phase around the same time in my previous backyards, and that made me feel somewhat better, and that I would get through that rough patch.

At the 24 hour mark, 20 runners completed that lap. Out of the five backyards I’ve run in, 20 is the greatest number of people that had ever made the 100 mile club. It just went to show the depth of the field we had this year, and I took it as good odds that there could be a few people there who could push 50+ hours.

Unfortunately, it would be the last lap for both Margie Hadley and Jen Millum. I had the pleasure of sharing a few laps with Margie earlier on, and I knew she had struggled with stomach issues, but she had persevered and made it through, and pushed on a lot longer than she previous thought. Margie was the female Australian Backyard record holder (38 laps) and I believe she can push beyond 40 at least. But it was just not to be at this event (maybe next time). Jen, another very capable runner, having placed second female at both Birdy’s Backyard 2020 and 2021, was also out after lap 24. Then one lap after that, Carl Douglas was out. Another experienced runner at the backyard format, Carl had done at least 24 hours at 3 previous events, with a PB of 33 laps at Birdy’s 2021. I knew from his posts on social media that he was aiming for at least 60 laps at this event, so I wasn’t expecting him to drop so soon. I’d made a list in my head of runners who I thought could help push me beyond 51 laps, and now it was shorter by three. These very capable runners dropping out all around the same time was a bit of a shock to me, but it is the harsh reality of just how relentless these backyard events can be. I was still feeling pretty strong at that stage in the race, but it was a stark reminder to me not to take anything for granted, as even the best runners can have a bad day.

Just before sunset I had my second shower for the event and began to settle into my night-time routine. Gemma and Emma went away for a sleep (and took some of my clothes to wash) and tagged out with Wayne and Amanda. I brought the audiobook out again and attempted to speed up the pace to increase my sleep time. I say attempted, because it was around this time that I hit another rough patch and I was beginning to struggle mentally again. Ideally for me a ‘sleep lap’ would be under 40 minutes, but at that stage in the race I was only just keeping them under 50 minutes. I was stressing that I wouldn’t be able to get enough sleep (not that you can ever really get enough sleep at a backyard). About halfway through that night, I had Nathan and Cassie join on as crew, and with the help of Nathan’s hypnotherapy I was back on track. The second half of the night I was able to get my laps back down to about 41 minutes, and managed to get some decent sleeps in. I was at the stage where I could drift off properly and a 15-minute nap felt like a 2 hour sleep.

As we approached ‘the witching hours’ for the second time, I was actually feeling an increase in my mood. Everyone else, however, was showing signs of deterioration. The numbers had dropped dramatically during the night, and from the 11 runners that had made it to the second sunset, only 4 made it past 2am. This was the same point last year that it was down to two runners, myself and Kevin Matthews. Ironically, it was at this exact point this year that Kev dropped out, after completing 34 laps. Perhaps he started getting flashbacks of being left as the assist and thought he better pull the pin early? No, of course not, but in all seriousness, Kev was another one of the runners on the list in my head who I had thought would be able to push a big distance with me. He had been my assist at 2 previous backyards and he definitely had the potential to be up there with me again. I knew he had come into it determined to at least beat his PB of 47 laps, so I was a bit surprised when he dropped out well before that. One lap he was running with us and then the next he wasn’t. I had turned around to look for him as we assembled in the corral for lap 36 and couldn’t see him, I thought maybe he’s just leaving it to the last minute to get to there. But then the countdown started and I was saddened to realise that he didn’t make the cut off. He had timed out on lap 35. You can read his race report *here*.

At lap 36, the three remaining runners besides myself were Chetan Sadhana, Jessica Smith, and Chris Martin. These three runners were all on that list in my head, all proficient runners who had the ability to push beyond 51. There’s a special type of camaraderie that happens in a backyard ultra, and it becomes very much a team effort, especially as you get down to the last few runners. Going through the same painful experience together helps build a sense of solidarity. You need one another to keep each other going. This was very much evident in the way Jess and Chris had been tackling the laps, using the same run/walk strategy and staying together the whole time each lap. I stayed with them for the first part of each lap but after a kilometre or so I would leave them behind and follow my own plan.

As I talked to the remaining runners during the first part of each lap, I tried to gauge how many laps they thought they had left in them. I was still feeling strong enough to go for a while yet, but the other three weren’t thinking too far ahead. Chris and Jess had already gone well beyond their respective PB’s, and by the completion of lap 36, Chetan would equal his. Although I believed that each one of them were capable of reaching at least 51 laps, we were still a fair way off, so I encouraged them with a smaller target of sunrise (39 laps). The power of the sun coming up might be enough to spur them on a bit more.

All four of us made it to sunrise, and Gemma and Emma had returned to crew for me. I had another shower and felt refreshed and ready to tackle another day. As we started lap 40, Chris was having an issue with his ankle. He couldn’t run on it, but still attempted the lap with a hobble. I hung back with him to chat and see how he was going. Mentally he wanted to keep going, but physically his ankle was preventing him from getting any speed up. When it took us about 10 minutes to cover about 800m, a quick calculation made us accept that he wasn’t going to be able to make the finish in time. I had to leave him there and as he phoned someone to come pick him up, I ran ahead to the next runner. I caught up with Jess and let her know that Chris was dropping out, and we would be down to 3 on the next lap. She didn’t sound like she had too many laps left in her, and certainly didn’t seem to like the prospect of being left as the assist, but she was going to keep pushing on regardless. She had already gone a lot further than she initially thought. She had smashed her previous PB of 32 laps and had also just beaten the Female Australian Backyard record of 38 laps.

I continued on to catch up to Chetan. As I chatted with him, he mentioned to me that he was having an issue with his ankle, but he still sounded like he had a lot more fight left in him. I informed him that we were about to be down to three, and he had a good chance of being the assist (and there was always the possibility of taking it out completely). When I casually mentioned the record to him, he didn’t seem to think it was out of reach, but he just said he was going to take it lap by lap. I suggested he speak to Susan Grober (physio at The Long Run) before the next lap to see if he could get the ankle sorted and keep him going for a little bit longer.

Two laps later, it was down to two. The three of us had started lap 42, but Jess had turned around at some point at returned to the start. This just left myself and Chetan. We were getting to the pointy end. I felt strong enough to get to at least 51 laps, but I wasn’t sure about Chetan. He wasn’t exactly running anymore, but he was managing a slow shuffle which still got him around the course with time to spare. He didn’t seem to be getting worse though; each lap he would consistently get in at around 50-51 minutes.

My crew spoke to Chetan’s crew, and together, they made the next target 51 laps. Chetan’s gear was moved to a closer marquee, and more food was brought in. Susan the physio had checked out his ankle and had done what she could to make it a little more comfortable. Chetan still seemed to be managing with his shuffle, but he was very stoic in his expression and gave up very little information about how he was feeling. Each lap he still consistently came in around that 50-51 minute mark, and he wasn’t showing signs of getting slower. I became convinced that that 51 laps was entirely possible for both of us, and his crew was on the same page. Chetan’s shuffle was too slow for my run, and too quick for my walk, so I thought it best to let him do his own thing. For the moment, I needed to stick to my own plan and my run/walk strategy. I decided I would run on my own until 51 laps, and then drop back to his pace to chat and help get him around. I knew that by helping him out I was running the risk of helping too much and him outlasting me, but then again, the backyard ultra is about finding your own personal limits. The winner is the only runner who doesn’t get to do that. As much as I come into these events with the intention of winning, I also want to test how far I can go.

I started thinking beyond 51 laps. 59 would put us in the top 20 in the world. 65 would put us in the top 10. I tried not to get too ahead of myself and focus on the lap that I was on. I brought the audiobook out at some point early in the afternoon, but as I started listening to Project Hail Mary again, I found that I couldn’t focus on the story and was losing track of what was happening. I decided I’d finish that book another day and switched to a familiar favourite instead – Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. This was now the third or fourth time listening to it, so it did the job of keeping me distracted and entertained but didn’t matter if I tuned out for a bit.

We approached the third sunset and I psyched myself up for another tough night. I had planned another shower for the break after lap 49, before the sun went down, but I couldn’t get my lap done quick enough to have the time. I just wiped myself down with a wet flannel and put on some clean, dry clothes. Not the same, but it would have to do. It still helped me get in the mental headspace of feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another 12 or so laps.

We got to lap 50, which was the last lap in full daylight before the sun would set on the next lap. We both started the lap as per usual – I ran off ahead whilst Chetan shuffled behind. It seemed there was nothing different about that lap, but unbeknownst to me, Chetan had just about reached his limit. At some point during that lap, he turned around to head back. It would have been at around the 42-minute mark that my wife saw him return, which gave her about a minute to process what had just happened and then rush over to the finish area to let me know. She got there just in time, and as I crossed the line for what would be the last time, she shouted excitedly at me “You won!”. It didn’t quite register with me what she meant; obviously she was telling me that I won, but I was in bit of disbelief. I hadn’t even stopped my watch because I wasn’t sure the race was over. I thought Chetan had still been going ok, and we weren’t at the 51 hours yet that I had convinced myself we would get to. As we walked back to the race village and it was explained to me what had happened, I finally allowed myself to believe it and accept that I had won. I had done 335.5km over 50 laps – just one lap shy of equalling the Australian record. I felt a range of emotions – disappointed that I had come so close to the record but missed, relief that I could finally stop, and ecstatic that I was last one standing. My fourth backyard ultra win and third time over 200 miles.

I met up with Chetan in the race village and we shared a beer together. Even though I was a little disappointed that we just missed the record, I was still in awe of how far Chetan had come. He had been struggling for a while, but he just kept soldiering on; his mental strength was amazing. It was one thing for me to get to 50 hours when physically my body was holding up ok, it was something else for him to get there (or just shy of). His official count was 49 laps, 13 laps more than his previous PB and the third highest result ever in Australia.

TIPS 

Here’s a few new things I tried this time around which worked really well.

In and Out boxes – the concept is simple. One box to put stuff in when I return from a lap, and one box to take stuff out of when I leave to start a lap. As I came in from a lap, my crew would have the “inbox” ready and I would put anything I was carrying in there – phone, headphones, water flask, sunnies, hat, etc. Then during the break my crew would organise what I needed to go in the “outbox” for the next lap. Often this was just a lot of the stuff I just put in the inbox, but stuff like empty water flasks were swapped for full cold ones, sweaty hats changed for dry ones, etc. This was just a great system for making sure I didn’t forget anything. It worked really well and will be implemented in all of my future backyard events.

Shower – I have had showers during backyard ultras before, but it was during this event that I truly realised the impact of them – especially in humid conditions. If you have the time and the ability, I highly recommend it. The difference it can make to your mental state is remarkable. You almost feel as fresh as if you were on lap 1 (ok, maybe not that fresh, but I did notice a marked improvement). This was the first backyard ultra where I’ve had more than one shower (3 to be precise) and I added it to my plan as a priority.

“Snackle” Box – this was just a tackle box I filled with lollies, chips, nuts, muesli bars, dried fruit, etc. It was just perfect for my break time when I couldn’t decide what snack I wanted, or even remember what snacks I had. Having this made it easy to see at a glance what I had and then grab what I wanted. It saved my crew rummaging through boxes trying to find a snack I asked for or what they thought I might want; all they had to do was have this snackle box ready for me. Such a simple thing but made a big difference.

THANK YOU 

Of course, I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of many wonderful people, so on that note I’d like to thank:

My crew – Gemma, Emma, Wayne, Amanda, Nathan and Cass. All having experience at crewing for me previously, they have really come to understand my particular needs and nuances. It always gets to a point in these events where I can’t think for myself, and this team of people does an awesome job of thinking for me and getting me through each lap. All I have to do is focus on running. Thank you also to my parents, Chris and Karen, for coming down to help and for looking after the kids.

The team at Ultra Series WA – Event Director Shaun Kaesler, Race Directors Ben Treasure and Simone Watkins, and all the volunteers for putting on another fantastic event. A lot of work goes into these events and they always run really smoothly. They must be doing something right because even though halfway through it I am swearing to myself that I will never do another one again, I still somehow end up signing up for the next one.

Shannon and Justin Wakefield at OC Clothing Co for their continued support and generous supply of running tops and hats. They are super lightweight and comfortable, and I love the awesome designs (particularly my custom designed “Team Gore” top). It definitely came in handy having a few dozen tops on hand when I had to constantly change due to the humidity. Thank you also Shannon for also driving me to the event and staying on to crew for my good mate Chris Martin.

Ross Johnson and the team Tarkine for supplying me with a few pairs of running shoes. Initially the Tarkine Goshawks made up just part of my shoe rotation, but they turned out to be a favourite by the second half of the race. The wider toe box was more suited to my swollen feet and took a lot of the pressure off my swollen toes.

Wayne McMurtrie at Tribe & Trail for the T8 Sherpa Shorts, T8 Commando underwear and Steigen Socks. This gear has always been a favourite of mine and is just the best for ultrarunning.

Marco Noe at noeko.film for amazing photos as usual. You really have a talent of capturing the rawness and emotion of these events.

And of course, Chetan, thank you for assisting me to get as far as I did. Congratulations on an incredible performance. The assist is by far, the hardest job of the event, and you really stepped up to the task. I really look forward to seeing how much further you can go at the next one.

And one last thank you to every other runner who took part, whether you did 1 lap or 41 laps. I love how social a backyard ultra can be, with everyone coming together at the start of each hour and always having someone different to talk to each lap. I love seeing people test their limits and achieve things they may have once thought were incapable of.

Thank you to Phil for allowing RT post and share his superhuman effort with our readers. For more visit: https://phil5kaday.wordpress.com/

The post RT Journal: Phil Gore – Ultra Runner and Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra Champion appeared first on Runner's Tribe.