This weekend the inaugural  running of the Hounslow Classic will take place in the Grose Valley of the Blue Mountains of Australia. The Hounslow is part of the 2015 ANZ Skyrunning Series and like the Buffalo Stampede back in April a strong crew of New Zealand runners will travel over to take on the best “skyrunners” in Australia.

Hounslow has 2 distances- 68km with 4100mD+ on the Saturday and 23km with 1700mD+ on the Sunday, with girls and guys from New Zealand likely to podium, if not take the win in both distances.

Ruby Muir, when fit and healthy, has the potential to win whenever she takes to a start line- no matter the distance or terrain. Most are well familiar with her trail/mountain running exploits, but over the last year Ruby has been running more and more road, in both training and events- winning this year’s Wellington Marathon in 2hr49. Ruby is running the 23km SkyRun at Hounslow as she works towards defending her Kepler Challenge title.

Kristian Day has also been focusing big on roads and speed as of late. From the outside looking in Kristian seems to be easily running the best he ever has, as he works towards the Auckland Marathon on the 1st of November. How this road forms transfers into a 23km trail race with 1700m vertical is another question, but I am sure he will be in the mix on Sunday.

Jo Johansen ground out a tough day at the Tarwera Ultra earlier in the year, but seems to be back on track and showing the form that saw her win the 2014 TuM and Hillary Ultras. Jo had solid outings at the Buffalo Stampede and Mt Difficulty Skyrunning races and recently won the  Kinloch Offroad Marathon. The Hounslow 68km course should play to Jo’s strengths!

Marty on his ways to placing 3rd at the Buffalo Stampede Ultra in April. Photo: Greg Robinson.

I think Marty Lukes was somewhat of an unknown to our brothers and sisters that occupy the West Island before the Buffalo Stampede Ultra earlier in the year. After placing 3rd (2nd in the Oceania Sky Running Champs) he goes into the Hounslow as the highest place getter from Buffalo. For the win, it will be a race between Marty, Ben Duffas and John Winsbury.

Other kiwis toeing the line-

Jean Beaumont is as tough as they come. A former Northburn 100mile winner and record holder. Add podium finish in her age group at the 2014 UTMB and a sub 25hr, 10th place at this years Leadville 100, Jean will be in mix.

Matt Bixely returns to Australia for his 3rd Skyrunning event on the West Island. I am sure he travels over for the smack-talking as much as he does for the runs themselves. Matt enjoys nothing more than damaging peoples egos and I expect there will be a bit of that come Saturday if he runs as well as he did at Mt Difficulty back in June.

Grant Guise- too much beer and not enough chocolate after walking and napping my way around UTMB for 35hrs, but I am looking forward to a fun day  in the Grose Valley all them same.

Below is, our guesstimate, of the top 15 males and females in the Skyrunning Australia New Zealand Oceania Series after 5 of the 7 races. Hounslow Classic and Sky Rock ‘n’ Run both have 400 points available for the winners. Scores with an * are unlikely to add to their points this year.

Women
Beth Cardelli keeps her spot at the top of the Table but Jo Johansen has moved close enough that she could take the title. Two wins for Whitney Dagg would also see her put pressure on the top of the table and she is likely to start the last two races in the series. With a bit of luck we’ll see Emma Rilen and Hanny Allston having another run somewhere as well.

Series leader Beth Cardelli at last weekends Mt Difficulty Ascent. Photo: Crank Photos.

Men

It’s all on for young and old in this table. John Winsbury is back to some of his best form and has confirmed he’s lining up at the Sky Rock ‘n’ Run in November (and we expect to see him at Hounslow also). Dave Byrnes work commitments saw him miss the Mt Difficulty Ascent in the weekend but again he’s stated an intention to turn up in NZ as well. Add Grant Guise, Andrius Ramonas and Martin Lukes to that list and Scotty Hawker will have his work cut out holding on to #1.

Interestingly, of the 30 names on the 2 lists above, only 15 of those have run in more than 1 race in the series.

The Mt Difficulty Ascent on Saturday delivered on its promise of a brutally steep, demanding course. While the races namesake, Mt Difficulty its self, lacked any significant snow cover, the wind picked up the slack (and almost some runners) and added an extra element to the race.

From the gun, Australian John Winsbury set out with a firm race plan of running the runable sections hard and walking the steeps with purpose. Not a surprising tactic from John, but what was a surprise was that no-one went with him. Other pre race favorite Andrius Ramonas choose to  hang back with the social run group of Tom Hunt and Grant Guise, as well as 1/2 marathoner Andrew Town (Andrew went onto win the 1/2 for the 2nd year running) .

By the 18km mark John’s aggressive tactics had yielded him 10+min lead over Andrius, Tom and Grant, with Matt Bixley  with in 3-4mins of the chasing group. From this point the course climbed 1000m in less than 4km. Positions were maintained over this section, with John firmly in control- it was a race to see who would round out  the podium. The chase group splinted at  the 23km aid station and 12km later, with 8km, 800m downhill to the finish Grant held a questionable 3-4min lead over Tom, with a similar gap back to Andrius.

Despite a questionable fashion sense, John Winsbury is all smiles with 8km to go. Photo: I am Alice

Things stayed this way to the finish, with Matt Bixley rounding out the top 5. But the day definitely belonged to John Winsbury, who ran strong from start to finish and was a class above. He collected the big points in the Skyrunning Series and plans on running the remanding races- he is making a late run.

The woman’s race had a lot more jostling for the win, with at least 4 different woman leading the race. A late starter was Wanaka Adventure racing guru Jo Williams, which added to an already competitive field. Mel Aitken took the early lead, running with the leading guys up the first climb over Nipple Hill, before being past on the first of 2 steep descents by Jo Johansen, Whitney Dagg and Jo Williams.  The 2 Jo’s lead up the 2nd climb, with Whitney, pre race favorite Beth Cardelli from Australia and Mel in pursuit. On the major climb of the day, both Jo’s still held 1st and 2nd, with Beth in 3rd, until the summit of Mt Difficulty, when Whitney Dagg started to move through the field.

Just before the days highest point Whitney moved into 3rd, then just 2km later, at the 23km aid station she caught Jo Williams, moving into 2nd. From here Jo Johnsen was in sight and by the time the Slapjack Saddle aid station was reached at  29km Whitney had moved in to first. Whitney held the lead, in the end wining by 9mins, with Jo Johnasen 2nd and Jo Williams in 3rd.

Whitney around 10km in.
Photo: Flashworks Media/John-Jo Ritson.

It was exciting to see the marathon grow from 11 starters last year, to the much bigger and competitive field of this year. Certainly the Ascents inclusion in the Aust/NZ Skyrunning Series helped boost interest and race numbers, but personally I think it has more to do with a growing interest in this style of race.

Results-

Woman-

1. Whitney Dagg- 5hr54
2. Jo Johansen- 6hr03
3. Jo Williams- 6hr10

Men-

1. John Winsbury- 5hr18
2. Grant Guise- 5hr27
3. Tom Hunt- 5hr34

FULL RESULTS

Friday saw the Buffalo 26km (which was changed to a 31-34km race depending on who you ask) and Matt Bixley lined up, set to tackle what was being dubbed the “Buffalo Triple Crown”- the 26, 75 and 42km races over 3 consecutive days. A mammoth undertaking but one which was right up Matt’s ally. Well, it would have been if he had not taken on the Barkley Marathons just a few weeks earlier. Matt crossed the finish line understandably spent, saying Barkley might have taken a bit more out of him than he expected.

Saturday morning saw the majority of the New Zealanders lining up- Whitney Dagg, Jo Johansen, Fiona Jane Wright Hayvice, Matt, Marty Lukes and myself (Grant Guise). The race went out at what felt like a ridiculously slow pace, with Tom Owens, Andrew Tuckey, John Winsbury and Mick Donges in a small pack, followed by a massive chase pack, with myself floating between, alone. I could see Marty, Jo and Whitney all behind me as we started out and was then past by James Roberts. I figured that was the last I would see of those boys out in front until the turn around on top of Mt Buffalo, but to my surprise, as I started down Mick’s track, John, Andrew and James where just in front. I found a nice line to descend on what is a silly steep (and fun) gradient and with little effort I arrived at Bakers Gully in 2nd, behind Tom who already had a big lead and was well out of sight. 2nd place 7km in was the last place I wanted to be and more so was the last place I belonged. But I figured I was here and may as well enjoy it…..

Your’s truly, nearing the top of “The Big Walk”. Photo: Mitch Lane

The 4 of us ran more or less together to the top of Keating Ridge, with Andrew and myself breaking away here. Andrew gapped me a little but we left Eurobin more or less together. Then Andrew gapped me properly early on the big walk, around the same time I started to hear John heckling me from below. John stormed past me, and then Tom Brazer blew past about 3/4 of the climb up. Marty, who had left Eurobin 10mins after I had, reached me at the top of Buffalo and we started the 7km loop together, before I was quickly dropped. There was a pattern forming and it consisted of me losing time and placings fast. During the loop I got to see Tom and Andrew flying past, as well as those behind me, including Whitney, Jo and Fiona- who were all running in the top 10! With Whitney looking super strong in 3rd place. I also saw Matt, who had pulled the pin, with Barkley finally catching up on him.

From here we re-traced our steps back to Bright. Down the Big Walk and back over Keating Ridge, I finally spotted someone closing in behind me- about time! I had been moving slowly, and was waiting for it to happen. Clark McClymont was closing in- he had his wizard sticks out and was tapping away, working his magic on the climb up Clear Spot. I recovered a little once we got off the real steep stuff and made a little ground before Clark stomped down to Bakers Gully and was on my tail. I hammered the flat section to the base of Mick’s track and was greeted with the ass ends of both Tom and John- what a lovely surprise!

I had visions of last year’s past glory and finishing strong in 4th place. I told myself I could do it again and got to work. But you can’t check out of a race like this 30km earlier, neglecting nutrition and pace and then decide to tag back in. I really was kidding myself and before long Tom and John walked away into the distance, Clark tap tapped his way closer and I dreamed of having a nap. Clark later told me I had a side to side stumble going on- the lesson here is if it feels like you are stumbling sideways, you probably are.

I pushed as hard as I could down Mystic and suffered the last flat 3km home, stopping under the big water fountain just before the finish line.

Tom Owens crushed it, Andrew Tuckey knocked 20mins off his time from last year and Marty showed his class and the young fellas how it is done, taking 3rd! It is very very cool to see Marty back running well- he is a force when in form.  Unfortunately, Whitney was also already at the finish, having had to drop at 60km with stomach issue. She was in 3rd at the time and after such a long injury lay off she is definitely back!

Jo crossed the line in 5th and Fiona in 9th+ in a very competitive women’s race, ending a successful day for our small team of kiwis.

Scott crossing the marathon finish in 9th.

Sunday saw what was viewed by many as the most competitive fields of the weekend, with the men’s and women’s marathons stacked. “Representing” NZ was Auckland based Lithuanian Andrius Ramonas and New Zealander Scott Hawker, who is living in Australia’s Blue Mountains. The race went out at a cracking pace and in the end the day belonged to young Australian Blake Hose and American Stevie Kremer, who both had strong wins, especially Blake. Andrius and Scotty both ran very strong and held their own, finishing 7th and 9th. Also running was Ann Bixley, once again resorting pride to the family name.

For me the Buffalo Stampede again delivered- a tough course, strong competition, well organized with great aid stations and course markings and an excellent venue in the town of Bright.  A big thank you to all involved in the weekend- our NZ crew of 8 that traveled together, Scott and Liz who baby sat me during my run, Bright Brewery for making such tasty brews and Sean and Mel for again hosting us and putting on such a great event! Thank you for the support you gave to Team UD in getting us over!

And thank you also to my sponsors (and employers )Ultimate Direction NZ and La Sportiva NZ.

More info-

Buffalo Website

Buffalo facebook

Before we get to the Buffalo, how has your summer of running/racing gone?

 Summer has been very average, very up & down. Started good with Kepler and Hutt River, then a poor performance at TUM and an ok result at The Hilliary.

Where does the Buffalo fit into your summer and with the other races you have (or have not) done?

 Buffalo is the second race I’m doing as part of the Oceania Skyrunning series.

jo on her way to winning the 2014 Hillary Ultra.

My approach and training has done a 360 turn. My training has been chopped in half, so I’m doing way less then usual and I am not turning up to the start line knackered & over-trained. Less is best and listening to the right people.

What has you more nervous- the 4500+M of vert over 75km at Buffalo, or the Snakes?

Definitely the snakes- probably run holding a stick just in case one leaps at me or is curled up in the middle of the track.

What are you looking forward to most at the Buffalo Stampede?

I am looking forward to the most is experiencing Buffalo National Park and being in Australian nature. Also enjoying the trails with good friends again. I cant wait, its gonna be an epic weekend in a new place.

Your post (or pre for that matter) beer choice at the bright Brewery?

Blowhard Pale Ale sounds good.

Do you have any idea how big a “schooner” is?

No idea what a schooner actually is.

Post Buffalo Stampede what other races do you have on the calendar for the year? Do you plan on running any of the other Oceania Skyrunning Series races?

Mt Difficulty , Barneys Bluff or Hounslow classic, UD Sky Rock n Run. I plan to do as many sky races as the body can handle. Probably a few shorter races like Xterra series thrown in between.

Its not just the toughness factor and the out of this world scenery of Waterfalls, massive sand dunes, clifftops and hundreds of years old native Kauri forest that keeps me coming back to the Hilliary, it is also now part of the Oceania Skyrunning series. I had alot more fear and anxiety going into the Hilliary this time as my performance at TuM left me seriously doubting my abilities as a runner. Under new Guidance and help I was nervous but had trust in my training and was looking forward to seeing how the race pans out.

We start at the Arataki visitor center where Sarah Hilliary handed Shaun a very special meaningful scarf from Tibet associated with her father, the late Sir Ed.

The countdown starts and we head off on the trail named in honour of Sir Edmund Hilliary-what a legend. We start off comfortably in the dark its very muggy and murky and the sweat is dripping in the first 5kms, I just knew from here that this is going to be a hot day. The trail starts out very technical from go with lots and lots of tree roots, twists and turns, steep ups and downs- I love this type of technical running through native bush. At this point dark is turning into light, I meet up with Fiona and soon enough Beth and an Aussie guy who is doing his second ultra and coached by Brendan Davies.. We have a good banter about races and the trail for a wee while till we pull away from each other. I follow Beth and not long after that I take my first fall when heading into a dip jumping on a log to slip right off smashing my knee into another log losing all grip, hats, headlamps and all. With the knee throbbing I keep my speed to catch up with Beth and within a couple of kms of running downhill fast I completely lose control on the trail and go right off course into scrub and bush. I find this more hilarious then hurting. Coming out the bush I roll my ankles twice. In total for the day I counted 10 times I rolled my ankles- the next event they will be strapped!

Coming into Huia I was already limping but felt strong and happy. I grab a whole lot of gingernuts, a banana, water and head off. Here was the first big climb of the day – less then 2k up to the ridgeline, with just over 400m ascent. Basically when you leave each aid station on The Hilliary trail you always climb up. At this stage leaving Huia, Beth was just in front of me, as we start this steep climb, which we hike fast. Getting up onto the ridgeline it flattens out to some short fast running and then after some big undulations we top out, the cloud has lifted away and we are on clifftops, with views of the harbor and Whatipu Valley. This is probably my favorite part of the course and I am filled with excitement with being in such a wild environment.

Running on the edge of a sharp clifftop in between native bush with waves crashing below, only you and nature. This was only the time I forgot I was in a race. It was a steep descend into Whatipu aid station. Out of water I was quick to hydrate and for the first time ever I use the sports electrolyte drink supplied by R-line ,which I actually really liked and went down well. I was also going with eating alot more real food then usual, taking my time at aid stations looking at what I actually felt like instead of speeding through. It was a day of hot cross buns, tonnes of gingernuts, bananas, snacklogs,snickners bars and a few gels. Seems alot and when I look back and at times I felt heavy- funny that, so next time I wont over load.

Leaving Whatipu into a 200m vertical climb with weaving technical single track ahead. Throughout the course there are a series of foot baths where you brush your shoes and stamp over a spongey soapy path. This is to stop the spread of the  Kaui dieback disease.We want to keep our native bush thriving and surviving- not dying. Once again the climb flattens and undulates then to a big zig zag steep descent into the marshlands. It was a relief to cross through a high stream cooling off the legs and face. I made the most out of each stream crossing as I ran out of water all day long . Moving round the broadwalks you climb up a valley that drops into Kara Kare. Starting to feel the pain here and knowing the suffering is about to start, I am not really worried bout catching Beth or Fiona catching me, I focus more on being able to see my brother at Piha which will be delightful and just what I need.

Jo refueling at Piha.

The heat of the day was in full force, but at least the further into the course, the less technical the trail gets. getting to closer to Piha I started to see more people out and about and the track was much more easier. Running along the tarmac road was not as bad as I thought, but cars, people, a big sun beating down and each step hurting, I was hating the arrival into Piha, that was until Is seen my brother standing there. The guys and girls on the aid station here are fantastic and are onto your needs before you even need to think about it. Knowing my brother will see me at each aid station from here until end reassures me. From here you head along the very busy beach for a km or two and it is hard to pinpoint where to pull off the beach,but thankfully a could see one runner 400ms ahead.

Knowing its only 34ks to go I am slightly uplifted and  focus in on get the job done. Another 200m climb- we head up onto farmland and in the open from now on with wide clay tracks that are a nice change and easier to run. Passing by waterfalls  (which I nearly jumping in) you then come to the walls of the Bethells sand dunes, first thing I think of is great hill repeat training here. You follow the stream below then pop out onto a road at Bethells beach. I’m pretty full from food here and feeling a bit over it, suffering with heat and hurt As I load the coke in a see Fiona arrive! Biggest fright I ever got and I forget about standing around and take off. For the first time I feel a burst of energy-  all the pain has gone and I am fighting for my position. It must be adrenaline, I just dig it in and say to myself that I am gonna push it like never before. I kept thinking I had been wasting my time feeling sorry for myself suffering mid way through the course.

The Hillary top 3 girls- Beth, Jo and Fiona.

The Last 16k is not far but there are other runners from the 16k & 34k distance on the course. Feeling the pressure I wanted none in the way and being on the narrow Te Henga walkway in the open sun was very challenging. Looking over my shoulder constantly I could see that I had pulled away from Fiona but I maintained my focus right till the end. Running out of water coming into Constable St aid station I abuse my brother for water. In a panic I drink lots of coke and go, the last 7 kms go quickly which is a surprise as I usually find the last kms take forever. Last 2kms come and I am absolutely busting to pee, but I definitely not stopping!. I am stoked to finish without any major problems, having a great day running and new experiences. Thank you so much Shaun for putting on another great, well organised event.Thanks to all the volunteers, supporters and my brother Joseph.Cant do it without these peeps- Ultimate Direction (Jenny Vesta and AK trucker for sun protection) , Hoka One One NZ (Kailua) and Marmot NZ.

Come 5am this Saturday the Karangahake Gorge and Kaimai Ranges will fill up with trail runners in the Blackmore’s XTERRA Trail Challenge Waihi. The event has Trail Tigers, 7.3, 13, 19, 42.2 and 60km options with the 19k doubling as the New Zealand Trail Running Championships and an XTERRA World Champs qualifier.

Total Sport dominate the trail scene in the Upper North Island for a good reason, they make events very accessible for the full range of enthusiast right down to on the day entries, which creates a bit of a problem when trying to write a preview. Number look good again, i.e. should be approaching the 1000 mark on race day which puts it up with the biggest Trail events in New Zealand.

60km ’Kaimai Killer’ Ultra.
What the field lacks in size is made up for in the quality of the women’s field. While I doubt that this is a focus event for anyone lining up it will be a great gauge of fitness for some of the bigger events over the summer. UD Ambassador Jo Johansen and Claire Walton, 1 and 2 from this year’s Tarawera will fill out those two spots in no particular order and they will be kept honest by Heather Davidson, 2^nd to Jo at the Hillary Ultra and by Claire Akin-Smith who has one of those rare achievements in running, a 3^rd place at Kawerau in the Tarawera 100km.

On the men’s side, Grant Guise will run away from everyone after 30 minutes or so when he gets bored. He could be kept honest by local multisporter and handy marathon runner, Josh Garrett. Behind them are another 3 or 4 weekend hacks hoping for some carnage.

New Zealand Trail Running Championships.

With late entries expected the current form guide appears to be a couple from Hawkes Bay. Defending Champion Ruby Muir won’t have it easy with Kovo Kowalewski in the field. For the men Kristian Day (6^th in 2013) currently heads the line-up, but that alone should spur defending champion Chris Morrissey to put away his zimmer-frame and drive over in the morning.

A great day out and not to be missed. Hang around and enjoy a beer, juice, gourmet sausages and salads in the sun. As well as take some photos for the Ultimate Direction NZ competition.

Post your best photos from the Waihi Xterra Trail Challenge onto the Ultimate Direction New Zealand Facebook page, and/or on Instagram and hashtag them #UDwaihi Photo’s from the 2014 Waihi Xterra Trail Challenge, taken by competitors, crew, supporters (anyone) and of any aspect of the event and any distance. The winner will get an Ultimate Direction FastDraw20 Handheld.

DNF……

Those three letters sound haunting and look so disappointing.

Jo on her way to winning The Hillary 80km, just 2 weeks after winning the Tarwera Ultra. Photo: Kim Allen

I put big expectations on myself for this race. My training load was high, as it turned out, way too high. I had built my own homemade step that sat in the backyard and would use it daily. I would also run 194 steps on a bush track in my runs during the week. If you don’t know, TNF100 (The North Face 100km Australia) has steps throughout the course. I wanted to get sick of steps because I knew that’s what it would feel like on race day. I was hammering the training, twice a day seven days a week, with the vision of winning. I would tell myself “this is what I have to do to win; train the hardest and I will perform the best”.

Little did I know I was forgetting a major rule for peak performance: REST/RECOVERY/REPAIR.

I never gave myself a day off. I barely stretched and I was always limping, sore, tired, grumpy and stressed out about the smallest things. The expectation of the race blindsided me into ignoring symptoms of over training and ignoring my body screaming at me to rest. I ignored the advice from friends, family and other runners telling me to slow down, telling me that I was doing enough and that my body needed to rest and repair, otherwise training is wasted.

I wish now that I had listened, hindsight is a great thing!

In the days leading up to the race, I decided to get a deep tissue massage for the first time. I do wonder if this was a smart idea, releasing toxins after all the hard training then flying on a plane.

I was feeling exhausted and done with running. I gave myself three days to taper probably, not a smart idea again. I had no idea really to taper I just go with what has worked for me in the past. Going into the Tarawera I took two days off from running but my mileage was a little less. The day before the race I felt unwell and was experiencing back pain and headaches that won’t go away. Exhausted, fatigued and I was not happy or excited about the race.

Driving from Sydney to Katoomba, was amazing to watch the landscape change so quickly. From bustling city to, what looked like to me, a grand canyon of native Australian bush, tall gum trees, massive cliffs, and a beautiful sun setting clear night. You knew you were in a different country, it was unreal. Katoomba was thriving with people and traffic, and the accommodation was sold out. I thought the Tarawera registration expo was big but TNF was outstanding.

I attend the athletes Q&A forum, meeting the other runners and we were all buzzing. Roger Hanny took the forum, and he reminded me of Kerry Suter in the way he ran Q&A at Tarawera, very funny and energetic. I register for the race, got the mandatory gear checked off and headed off for an early night.

Jo on stage at the TNF100 pre race panel.

Waking up race morning  I felt good and ready but as I walked up to the start line I got sharp pain in my lower back. It gets my attention but goes away eventually. I move to the front of the start line, my plan is to find Nuria Picas and stay with her. She looks psyched and confident and I’m excited to be in the same race as her.

The race starts and everyone takes off and I find a position to get comfortable in. I position myself right behind Nuria, focusing on her form and speed and feeling comfortable with it.

I’m thinking to myself that this is going to be a great race. I get 4.5km in, heading down from the outback onto furber steps. I feel tightening in my legs. It gets stronger and stronger and it stops me completely on the steps. I can’t move, my legs have totally seized, locked up and not bending at all. I have no idea what’s happening to me, it couldn’t be cramp, I never have cramp. I’ve just had a salt pill and it’s only the start of the race. I think to myself, what the hell is going on? I’m pretty upset and angry at this point. I accept I can’t be up the front anymore, but I want to finish this race.

The pain is excruciating and each step hurts, but I try to keep going. I can only manage a couple of steps before I need to stop. Tim Day passes me and reassures me that I will come right and I will try to walk whatever this is out. All I kept saying to myself was “keep walking, keep walking it will come right, it has to”.

Massaging and trying to stretch did nothing, my muscles wouldn’t give. I had so many runners stopping and trying to help me. Thanks to all those people who stopped out of their way to help me. I arrive at checkpoint one in two and half hours (10.5k). I go to the toilet to discover I’m peeing blood and I know my race is over.

If I hadn’t gone to the toilet, I would have continued the race as I was convinced I would improve if I kept moving.  I didn’t know what was going on with my body. All sorts of feelings entered my mind realising it was the end of the race for me. I felt ashamed, like a failure, and like I had let myself and others who have supported me to get to this race, down.

At the checkpoint I am seen by a medic and then transported to Katoomba Hospital. Once there, I am asked many questions by doctors who seem unsure about what could be going on.  Electrolyte imbalance, dehydration and some sort of extreme cramping.

It is my brother who informs them that I never rest and have been over training, and that I had been in A & E with dehydration back in December. I get hooked up to an IV drip and heart monitor and blood tests are taken. An hour later the results are in and the doctor tells me I am really sick. He diagnoses me with Rhabdomyolosis. A diagnosis of Rhabdo as they call it, is made when creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels rise above 10,000 u/l, well above the upper limit of 200 u/l of normal range. CPK is an enzyme found inside muscle cells, so when muscles are damaged, this enzyme is released into the bloodstream. CPK is not harmful but used as a surrogate marker of myoglobin release. Myoglobin is a big red protein that can block or crystallize within the kidneys. This can lead to acute kidney injury and renal failure if severe. So the red I was seeing at checkpoint one wasn’t actually blood but myoglobin. Rhabdo literally means “dissolution of skeletal muscle” and is common and well-known consequence of strenuous physical activity. Ultra running and racing in particular requires heavy skeletal muscle recruitment and places huge demands on the body. These demands are well above and beyond what is typical of normal daily training. There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of getting Rhabdo: extremes of hydration, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and analgesic use, heat stress and recent viral/bacterial infection. Rhabdo is also found in crushing situations, when people get stuck of pinned under buildings or anything massive in weight. With me, the fact I was training seven days a week, twice a day for months and months with no rest or recovery and I was dehydrated, caused my muscles to breakdown.

Because I had won past events, training the way I always had, I thought I must be doing something right. So I just kept running with what I was doing with no down time. As it turns out my way was not the right way. You live and learn. So now I’m getting out of the mindset that more is better when actually less and rest is best.

It is easy to get lost in expectations and pressure, and I need to remember why I actually love to run.

Jo follows Shona Stephenson up Tokorangi Pa, early in the race. Photo: Nick Lambert

It was at the finish line of the Hutt river trail 60k back in January that I decided to enter the Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon 100k.I thought “it’s only an extra 40k from 60k, sweet as I can do that.” I then thought again “actually that’s quite a lot more.” I looked at the training I was doing and decided ok double it, nah triple it, run till I can’t run anymore. I became engrossed with this event; I wanted it to be perfect and I wanted to be prepared for the unexpected. The Tarawera became my study. I tested everything – nutrition, equipment, shoes, terrain, weather, hours of the day and night. I studied the course over and over, I watched the trailer/documentary of the 2013- 100times.

My days started at 4am with long runs, shower, bike to work, work and then run again after work  - I was training to win. All the pain, suffering and emotion were worth it for such a magnificent race.

Then around rolled March 14^th  –  registration day, I felt sick to my stomach with nerves sitting in front of a panel of international elite runners giving tips and advice. Then I found out the course was shortened I was gutted but it was the right decision. My first thought was “the race pace will be on.” Alarm goes off 4am March 15^th – race day. I awake  with confidence and a sense of calm and review my plan of attack. I position myself 3 rows back from the start line, the Tarawera song is sung, a karakia is said with a haka following, the countdown is on and we are off. We are on a loop for the first 12k, dark, dusty, still  and with a little drizzle approaching. I sit with the pack comfortably, heading out to the Blue Lakes is where I take the lead and I believe that strength will pull me through. Run my own race.

Jo on the Western Okataina trail. Photo: Graeme Murray

I become so immersed in the beauty of the trails, I was never worried who might be hunting me down. Heading up Miller Road, which to me was the toughest part of the course – rolling terrain, weaving trails, steep climbs to Okataina Lodge,  with a couple of falls, and turning of weather nothing could get the better of me. I was absorbed in this race, loving it. I don’t know where the time went, the only time I checked my non gps watch was for timing of nutrition. Before I know it I am on the turnaround where I discover the positions of the other girls 2,3,4,5. I know I have about a 5-10 min lead, so I put more gas in the tank and fill the water bottles for the last time  - thanks to team Jenkins who I couldn’t  have done this without. I review my plan again then leave the lodge walking the steep and fast on the flat. Traffic is coming  from all directions, fast relay runners are passing me and other runners are heading down to the lodge. I am starting to tire, I don’t know what distance I am at, I begin talking myself through the fatigue that was setting in my quads. It was then a Wellington Scottish harrier relay runner tells me “5k to go your doing well” – I become excited and dig deep. Pulling back out to Miller Road and hearing the finish line approaching I feel weird. as I cross over the line all I can do is crack up with laughter and go “really! Did I just win this race?”

Jo with race director Paul Charteris at the finish line at Lake Okareka. Photo: Lyndon Marceau

I would like to thank Paul Charteris for such a memorable event and Kate and Bruce Jenkins for supporting me through this experience.