UTA1002017TheBeautyofPlanning

I’vevisualisedthisexactmomentforalmostayear…sitting,withmylaptop,lookingbackovertheamazingraceI’vejusttakenpartinandwritingitup.Everything,fromtheinitialslowrunsinNovemberthroughtothelongtrailrunsinApril…thenutritionplanning,thepainmanagement,theshoe/sockcombination…thewholesmash.TheonlythingIdidn’tvisualisewasthefirstsentence.UTA100isoneoflife’sbookmarksforme…whathasbecome,forthepastfiveyears,anannualevent,whetherI’verunitornot(andI’vebeenonthestartlinefouroutofthefive).IthaschangedthewayIlookatrunning,andatlife…IstillrememberthefirsttimeIcheckedintoUTAraceregistration(althoughbackthenitwascalledTheNorthFace100),surroundedbyapackofexceptionallyfastlookingathletes,noneofwhichhadeventheslightesthintofbodyfat.IwassointimidatedthatIhadtoleavetheroom…itwasn’tuntilDimicalmedmedownthatIwasabletojointhegroupatthepreracedinner,feelingquiteillwithanxiety.Andmyfirstultramarathon,eightmonthspriortothat(anOxfamTrailwalker100),wascompletedonsheerwillpower,withtheshortestraceplaninhistory:

1. Takenutritioneveryhour,onthehour.Mynutrition,asanaside,waspikeletsandwichesfilledwithpeanutbutterandhoney(asopposedtothecarefullymeasuredcaloricintakeIhavetoday).There’sagreatshotofmeatthe35kpoint,trottingalongwithSebastianWarmerdam,inwalkingshortswithafullschoolsizedbackpack(I’vestillgotscarsfromthechaffingofthatcombination).I’msmiling,havingagreattimeinthephoto,unawareofthehellwhichawaitedmeinthedarknessaround80korthetwoweeksofrecoveryinthefuture.Thisyear,however,wasdifferent…thiswasthefirstyearthatItrulyfelttherighttobeonthestartline.I’ddonethedistance,writtentheplan,andtakencontrolofasmuchofthepuzzleaspossible.Thiswas,inmanyrespects,myfirstultramarathon.Butenoughruminations…let’stalkabouttheday.Lastyear,Iskippedtheracebriefing…justraninforthequickregistrationandthenheadedbacktomyaccommodation,barelyhangingoutattheFestivalofRunners.Thisyear,Icameupearlyandsoakedintheatmosphere.ItwasrainingandtherewasablanketoffogovertheclifftopsasIwalkeddowntothetopofFurberStepstowatchthetailendofthe22krunnerscomeupthetrail.MudwaseverywhereandIcouldseetheeffortthey’dputinduringtheirrelativelyshortsprint.WalkingaroundtheFestivalandthestart/finishline,IkeptrunningintopeoplewhomI’dmeteitheratpreviousracesoronthetrail…it’sasmallfamilyandwe’reallconnectedbyfriendsandkilometres.AhotbowloffreshlymadechilliconcarnetookthechilloutoftheairasImademywaytotheracebriefingandthefoghuggedthegroundlikeablanket.

OfallthenotestoselfI’vemadeovertheyears,thisoneismostimportant:ALWAYSgototheracebriefingsandpreraceactivities.Notjustfortheinformation,butforthegee-upandinclusion.Seeingtheaboriginalelderswelcomeustotheirlands,hearingTom’sobligatorybadjokes,feelingthevibeoftheroom…it’sallpartofthetradition…theprocessofprerace.Itwasalsowheremyraceplanwasthrownintochaos:rainhadforcedamajorcoursechangeandtheclosureofCheckpoint3.Evenworse,asignificantamountofrainwasforecastovernight,meaningthatanalreadywetcoursewasgoingtodeteriorateintoamudrunbythetimeIcamethrough.Andwhilethecoursechangetradedelevationandnicewidefiretrails(mostlyrunnable)forsingletrackclifftopscrambles,itlookedlikeitwouldbeslower–andIhadn’ttrainedonit.Morestairs,lessoverallclimb.OfallthenotestoselfI’vemadeovertheyears,thisoneismostimportant:NEVERletsomethingyoucan’tchangeeffectyou.Istartedtofreakoutslightly,tryingtovisualisethechanges,calculatingtimes,splits,climbeffort…anditallgottoomuch.Justletitgo.WARNING–therearetechnicalbitsupahead!Ifyou’renotinterestedinthescience,thetheory,thenutsandboltsofthiscrazyadventure,youmightwanttojustskipaheadtotheclosingbitwherethere’sareallyfunbitaboutmekickingassduringtheclosingsectionoftherace.Reallyupbeatandnotatalltechnical.Stillwithme?Ooooh….hardcore!Readon.BackatChezGunny(myaccommodationforthelasttwoyearsofUTAracing),Ilaidoutmyracegear,loadedmycheckpointgearandwentovermyraceplan.Again.Iwasrunning,thisyear,forasub19hourfinishandhadbeendoingeverythingbasednotonhowmybodyfeltatthemoment,butonhowmytimeperkilometrewastracking.IfiguredifIcouldmaintainanaverageof9:36perkilometreover100k,I’dcrossin16hours.“9:36,”Ihearyousay?“Nineminutesandthirty-sixbloodyseconds?!?Perkilometre?Iwalkmydogfasterthanthat!”True.Youprobablydo.Butnotoververticalterrain(thisyearhadanestimated5kofverticalclimb).Andstairs.Andsingletrackalongcliffedges.So,Idecidedtoshoottheaverage…amaximumflatrunof7minutes/k.Now,onaroadsurface,Icanlaydownaconsistent5:30over10kor5:00over5k.ButI’mtoastafterwardsandrequireaBerroca,arelaxwithagoodbookandanicestiffmartini.Onroad,Icanholda6:00/kprettymuchindefinitely,butthat’snottrail.Anddoesn’toffermuchinthewayofmargin…so,a7:00/kisconservativeandwillallowmetorecovereasily.Doingthemath…eachlightdownhillsection,runat7:00minutes,givesmeanextratwominutesandthirty-sixsecondstogrindoutakilometreofuphill,stairs,gnarlybitsorbandagingsnakebites.Orsothetheorygoes.Realityandtheoryaren’tgoodfriends,normally,andarerarelyseeninthesamecompany.

Therealityisfarharsher…sectionsofGoldenStairs,NelliesGlenandFurbercantakeupto20minutesperkilometre,dependingontrackcondition,timeofdayandnutrition.Andothersectionsofdownhill…theGiantStairs,thatendlesscliffaroundGordonFallsandLeuraCascades…areallinthe13:00/karea;youcanonlygodownmakeshiftstairssofast.Andinthedark,noonewouldfindthebodyifyouwentoverthecliff.Funsport,thisUltraTrailstuff.Bottomline,9:36/kisanaggressivetimeforme.Mypreviousbestwasaround11:40/kacrossthewholecourse.Butitwasaplan.IknewIcouldn’tholdit,andwasonlyusingitasaguidetoensureIcouldgetacrossunder19:00.Saturdaymorning’salarmwentoffat5:15,and,asusual,Iwokeat5:13,minutesbefore.Quickshower,abananaforbreakfast,andalightshudderasIrealisedIwasstillhearingrainontheroof.Continuingmyraceprepchecklist,Istartedpullingonmyrunninggearwithanextraslatheringofanti-chafflube.Racingskins,socks,shoes,luckyredtopandmatchingredpack(IswearI’mthemostcolour-coordinatedstraightguyonthecourse)andIwasreadyforthedrivetothestartline.Onthewalktothecar,Iwasstruckbyhowwarmitwas.Fogwasthick,rainwasfallinganditremindedmeofthatspecialmuffledfeelingthatIusedtohearasachildduringheavy

snowstorms.Inthecar,Iwasstruckbyhowharditwastoseeanything.Duringthequick15minutedriveuptotherace,Iwasfortunatelynotstruckbyanything.GivingthekeystoGunny,Igavehimaquickhugandjumpedoutforthewalktothestartline.Rainspatteredonthepavementlikehotoilinawok.Thepre-dawnlightwasalmostcompletelyextinguishedbythefog,anditwasn’tuntilIwasalmostontopofthestartlinethatIrealisedthattherewerehundredsofpeopleliningthestreetsandcrowdingthe

area.AsIapproached,Isawthefirstwaveofthe100kblowpasttheir5kmarkatpace,thecrowdcheeringandcowbellsringing.ThechillIfeltatthatpointhadnothingtodowiththeairtemperature…Iwasabouttoputmybodythroughanother100kchallenge.TimingwasperfectasI’dgottenoutofthecarwithameretenminutestosparebeforemy6:57amstart…hardlyenoughtimetobuildnerves,justenoughtimetocheckmypack

OnTheStartLine

straps,setmyracetimerandworkmywaytothefrontofthepackforaselfiewithTom.IranintoAllisonLilley,oneofmyrunningSensei,alongwithahandfuloffriendsfromboththeTrottersandpreviousraces.Lookingbackwardacrossmystartgroup,Iseeplentyof

deerintheheadlightlooks,newbieswonderinghowthiswillunfold.Myjobhereissimple…keeptheemotionscompletelyincheckandslowdown.Tombeginstowhipupthecrowdasthe30secondmarkcomesandgoes…onelastslowblinkoftheeyes,internalcheckofmybreath,pulseandracechecklist….theobligatorycountdownfrom10andboom…It’samazingtome,theboundaryconditionsoflife…likejumpingintoaswimmingpool:one

secondyourdryandcomfortable,thenextyou’reimmersedincoldwaterandwonderingwhyyoudidn’tstaydryandcomfortableinthefirstplace.Forme,onemomentIwasquietlymindingmyownbusiness,standingintherainwith219otheroddlydressedpeople…amomentlater,I’mrunningthroughthemountainsinrainandfog.Thefirst4karealwaysabitofabunfightasthenewbiesjockeyforpositionandburnoffalloftheirearlyraceenergy….2kofuphillroad,aturningpoint,andthen2krightbackdowntopassthestartbeforeheadingoffroadtosinglefiletrackandFurberSteps.Istayedoutofthemainfrayofbodies,fastwalkingthehillandlettingmyAchillescometolife;Allisonwasalongsidemeandweslowlytransitionedfromwalktotrot,watchingthesteadystreamofrunnerscometheotherdirectionbackdownthehillaftertheturn.IsawLanceBeament,BillyBridleandapileofotherfriends….allrunningsmoothandrelativelyfast.Iconsciouslyignoredmyego,whichwastellingmetorunandcatchupwiththem.OfallthenotestoselfI’vemadeovertheyears,thisoneismostimportant:STICKTOYOURRACEPLAN.Aswecamearoundtheturnatthetopandbeganrunningdownhilltorecrossthestartlineandplungeintothebush,Stravawentoff,sayingthatIwasat7:45/k…prettymuchspotonforwhatIwastryingtodo.Allisonbackeditupafewminuteslater,sayingthatIwasgoingoutniceandslow.

TomLandonSmith...it'shisfault

Pastthestartlineatthe4kmark,wegotonelastchancetorunthroughthecrowd;kidslinedthestreetswithraisedhandsforHigh-Fives,cowbellsringing…evenamorningbreakfasttablesetupinsomeone’syard–thetwocoupleswerehavingchampagneandtoastingtherunnersaswecameby.5k…intothebush,anddownthestairs.Conversationwaslivelyaswesplashedthroughthefirstpuddles;nopointintryingtokeepthefeet

dryasthecoursewasfilthy.Ikepteverythingincheck,throughthedown,acrossthelandslideandthenupGoldenStairs.TheGoldenStairs…thefirstrealclimboftheday.Singlefilecongaline,norealplacetopass,andmyfirstpointofseeinghowIfeltgoingstraightup.Thefieldaroundmewasgaspingandslow,butIwasfine;sure,atoughclimb,butnowhereneartheeffortfromlastyear.OfallthenotestoselfI’vemadeovertheyears,thisoneismostimportant:Racetrainingpaysoff.IgottothetopofGoldenandhitthelastkilometreintoCheckpoint1,literallyrunningthroughwithoutpause,outontoNarrowNeck.Somewhereduringthenext10k,IfoundmyselfrunningwithagroupthatI’dspendmostofthedaywith…Brian,William,Phillip,Perri,Anthony…Brianwasthemostconsistentlypacedrunner,matchingmealmoststrideforstride.34kin(Checkpoint2),asIwasgettingasmallhotspottapedup,IsatnexttoaveryfreshlookingrunnernamedLouisa–shehadtwistedanankle,butdidn’tlooknearlyinenoughpaintopullout.Afewwordstogetherandsheranoutofthecheckpointwithme.20minuteslater,IranpastNess,ayoungladyfromDubbowhomI’dmetonatrainingrunclimbingupKedumbaafewmonthsearlier…shetaggedonthebackandgamelyhungon.I’mnotgoingtowalkthroughtheentirecourse…peoplehavedonethatmanytimesoverand,quitehonestly,Idon’twanttodraganyonethroughit;butfortherestoftheday,untilsunsetandwellpast,thissmallcoreofpeoplesharedmytrailandmademyrace.

AllisonLilley,PaceMasterExtraordinaire

ClimbingoutofNelliesGlenn,Istartedtoputsomedistancebetweenmyselfandthegroup.Myclimbfeltgreat,andIwantedtogetintoandoutofCheckpoint4before4:30intheafternoon.Checkpoint4…GrahamandCaraappeared,carryingmysupportbag.Sixminuteslater(accordingtothetimingchip),Iwasbackoutthedoorwithfreshshoesonmyfeetandthebesttastingnoodlesinmyhand.Still,Ikepttomyslowpace,listeningtoStravatickoffthehalfkilometres;8:00/k,7:45/k…a

fewinthe11minuteareawherethetrackwastougher.Andasnightfell,thetimescreptupabit.Butsomethingweirdwashappening…Iwasn’tslowingmypace…itwasalreadyrelativelyslow.Mybreathwaswellundercontrol,myemotionsincheck.ButIwasstartingtopasspeople.Notquickly,butconsistently.Listeningtothepeoplearoundme,IcouldhearcomplaintsofITB,fatigue,flattenedenergy…SomethingelsehappenedonthatlegtoCheckpoint5:Iranaloneforahalfhourorso,completelyinmyownspace.Nootherrunners,nootherlights.Theskywascompletelyclearandwashedfreshfromtherain.ThemoonhadsetlongagoandthestarswereasclearasI’dseentheminmanyyears.IwatchedVenusriseandsawtheInternationalSpaceStationorbitpastit.Iwasrunning…with70kinmylegs…andfeltcompletelyatpeace.IwillrunthisraceforasmanyyearsasIcanforthechancetoexperiencethose30minutesagain.ComingdownthehillintoCheckpoint5,itwasaround8:00pmandalightbitoffoghaddevelopedaroundthewarmthoftheCheckpoint.TheyhadaDJkickingouttunesandasIcameacrosstheline,Ikickedabitofspeedanddancedmywaythrough…justbecauseIhadtheextraenergyandfeltsogood.Lovethecrowd.IntheCheckpointproper,GrahamandNickweretherewaitingforme.MystomachhadprettymuchshutdowntothethoughtofanythingsolidandIwasstillcarryingaCliffbarfromtheverystartoftherace.WefilledmywaterbladderwithMaximus,asugarladensportsdrinkandIemptiedmyshoesofsand,sittingstillforjustasecond.AsIwassittingthere,inmyownlittlequiet,contemplatingthelast20k,Nickleanedinandsaid,“Ok…you’veheldbackallday.You’restillrelativelyfreshandyoulookgreat.Now’sthetimetoletitallgo.Timetogettowork.”That’sallittook.Afewsimplewords,andallofthetrainingthatI’vedonekickedin.

Approx20kin:BrianSwan,100MilerandGeneralAllAroundNiceGuy

Ifyou’veskippedaheadfromtheearliertechnicaldiscussion,thisisthepointtostartreadingfrom,whereIgettokicksomeserioustrailass.Icameoutofthecheckpointwithacupofhotnoodlesinmyhands,workingmywaybackupTablelandsRoad…ontheway,IwaspassedbyDimityandCarainGraham’scar,Dimileaningoutthewindowscreaming,“goDougie!”Evenmoregee-up.Comingupthehillatawalk/trot,Ipassedmyfirsttwopeople…I’dseentheirheadlightsandsafetyvestsinfrontofmeandjustranthemdown.AsIpassed,Isawmynexttargetacoupleofhundredmetresinfront…andkickeditintocatchthem.IntoRocketPoint,downWentworth,acrosstoConservationHut…Ikeptseeingpeopleinfrontofmeandputtingthembehindme.CominguptothecorneroftheFairmont,Isawtwoguysdeathmarchingthroughacrowdwhowerecheeringthemon…Ikickedintoasprintanddancedaroundthem,absolutelyrevellinginthecrowdresponse.ThroughGordonFalls,downLeuraCascades…bombingalongatapaceI’dbarelymanageduringthedaywithfreshlegs…andtheninFederalPass,withamere3ktogo,Icaughtupwithalongtrainofrunnersonasinglefilesection.QuicktapontheshoulderofthepersonatthebackandIjumpedoverthem,likeasheepdogthroughtheflock.ThefinalslowclimbupFurberwashell,likeeveryothertimeI’vedrudgeditout.Butnoworsethannormalandnoheadspins…and,moreimportantly,arealincentivetogetitdone.AsIreachedthehalfwaypoint,IsawthelightsofScenicWorldhangingovermyhead…attwothirds,Icouldhearthecrowdastheywelcomedrunnersacrosstheline.AsyoucomeintothefinallittleclimbofFurber,visibilityopenstoacoupleofhundredmetresinfrontofyou.Normally,justapatchofbushwheretheTintersectionis,tonightitismarkedwithadozenspectators,eachpushingmeon:“Comeon,Doug….pushit,”and“you’vegotthis…thisistheendoftheclimb.”AttheTintersection,hardleftturnandscrambleupafewstepsontotheboardwalk…everytimeI’vedonethisinthepast,I’vebarelybeenabletoliftmyfeet.Tonight,it’sdifferent–I’mleaningin,running,actuallyACCELERATINGuptheboardwalktothemainpavilionareaofScenicWorld.“Andcominginfast,we’vegotDougBoyd…heDNF’dlastyear,butislookingstrongattheendnow,”Iheartheraceannouncercallasthefinishlinecomesintoview.Ilengthenmystride,quickenmypaceandLEANintoit,pushing,relishingthelastdropofenergyasitleavesmytank,hittingthefinishlineinafullonsprint.Justlikethat,theboundaryisbroken.I’vejumpedbackoutofthewater.MyraceisfinishedandI’veleftthecoursebehindme,carryingwithmeanexperiencewhichwilllastalifetime.Oh…andracebling…abeautifulbronzebuckleforasub20hourfinish,aniceshirtandaUTAtowel.Twentyminuteslater,thetowelissuitablydampaftermyshowerandI’msittingatthetablewithDimi,Graham,NickandCara…elatedanddazedthattherunisoverandremarkablyfresh.I’vefinishedinapersonalbesttimeandcompletelywithoutinjury.

Whatanamazingevent.Anamazingday.Andanamazingtrainingseason.IexecutedmyraceplantotheteeandcompletedprettymuchwhereIthoughtIwould,withoutpainorinjury.Iamsoincrediblyblessedtohavethesupportofsuchwonderfulpeopleinmylife…Dimity,myfolks,myfellowrunners,myworkcommunity…andequallyblessedtohaveabodywhichseemstonotmindthissortofabuse.Iacknowledgemyblessingsandthankanyandallwhohavebeenonthisjourney.Finally,IcloseasIoftendo…withaninvitation.Comejoinme.Onthetrail.Ontheroad.Atanairfieldorinaworkshop.Anywherebutinfrontofatelevision.I’mgoingtodothisforyearstocome,havingalreadysignedupforamarathonthiscomingweekendandMt.Solitarytheweekendafter.Comeout,seethestars,feelthecoolbreezeandtastethemorning.TheStatisticsStartTime:May20th,06:57Duration:17:48:10(previouspersonalbest100kof19:24:07,in2013)Distance(asperStrava…glitchproneasitis):106.4kmVerticalClimb(again,asperStrava):6.14kmCalorieBurn:13,533CalorieIntake(estimated):8sliceswatermelon,1cliffbar,2litresMaximus,240caloriesHammerPerpetuem,4Hammerbars,2cupsofhotnoodlesSupplements:2NoDoztablets