Now just beginning my fourth year of ultra racing, I'm now turning to the international race scene to experience new courses, travel to new places, and enjoy some races on both the Ultra Trail World Tour with great friends. Mostly, these friends live in HK and are the ones who recommended I go Down Under for UTA. They knew of my years in road and track racing, so they figured I would enjoy the runnable course and it could give me a chance to run something special.
Arguably the two 100k's I've finished before UTA--HK100 in 2016 & 2017--had gone quite well. I placed 22nd in my debut and then had a vast improvement this year to place 14th in a loaded field. But, March brought Translantau 100k and it was a race that didn't go at all as planned. A night start was something I'd never done before, but in the end, it was gastroenteritis that did me in. 25km into the night and it felt like 80km into UTA, so I knew that though I could hike all night and all the next day just to finish, I would be better off doing something I've never done in my 20 years of racing--voluntarily drop out when I could well continue (though last fall I did drop from Two Peaks 21km with a badly sprained ankle).
Now fast forward to last week, two months post-Translantau DNF and I found myself in Blackheath, just north of Katoomba and Scenic World's start/finish. A friend of a friend opened up their house to me, and the week prior to the race, I did 5 runs to finish my taper--8k, 13k (with a few 2-3 minute cruise intervals with equal rest), 10k (of which six km was a course preview), and then easy runs of 11k & 6k. With two days remaining before the race, I changed up my pre-race rest phase by resting both Thursday and Friday before the race. I also ate super healthy (for me, anyway, courtesy inspiration drawn from Matt Fitzgerald's "The Endurance Diet" that I read on the flight down there) and slept 9-10 hours/night all week. This, I realize, is an unusual benefit that my work schedule allowed, but I think it helped me complete my taper well and get really well rested beforehand. Once my HK friends showed up, we dove into gear checks, drop bag prep, eating pizza and pasta in copious amounts, and talking of the course and staying out of the rain. A good amount of rain fell on Thursday night into Friday so the RD's made the call to modify the course. This edition was my first here so I was indifferent to any changes and knew that come race day, it would be high placing that I was going for and not a time goal.
Arguably the two 100k's I've finished before UTA--HK100 in 2016 & 2017--had gone quite well. I placed 22nd in my debut and then had a vast improvement this year to place 14th in a loaded field. But, March brought Translantau 100k and it was a race that didn't go at all as planned. A night start was something I'd never done before, but in the end, it was gastroenteritis that did me in. 25km into the night and it felt like 80km into UTA, so I knew that though I could hike all night and all the next day just to finish, I would be better off doing something I've never done in my 20 years of racing--voluntarily drop out when I could well continue (though last fall I did drop from Two Peaks 21km with a badly sprained ankle).
Now fast forward to last week, two months post-Translantau DNF and I found myself in Blackheath, just north of Katoomba and Scenic World's start/finish. A friend of a friend opened up their house to me, and the week prior to the race, I did 5 runs to finish my taper--8k, 13k (with a few 2-3 minute cruise intervals with equal rest), 10k (of which six km was a course preview), and then easy runs of 11k & 6k. With two days remaining before the race, I changed up my pre-race rest phase by resting both Thursday and Friday before the race. I also ate super healthy (for me, anyway, courtesy inspiration drawn from Matt Fitzgerald's "The Endurance Diet" that I read on the flight down there) and slept 9-10 hours/night all week. This, I realize, is an unusual benefit that my work schedule allowed, but I think it helped me complete my taper well and get really well rested beforehand. Once my HK friends showed up, we dove into gear checks, drop bag prep, eating pizza and pasta in copious amounts, and talking of the course and staying out of the rain. A good amount of rain fell on Thursday night into Friday so the RD's made the call to modify the course. This edition was my first here so I was indifferent to any changes and knew that come race day, it would be high placing that I was going for and not a time goal.
Long since recovered from the stomach bug, I had put in 475km in April of training volume with some solid tempo efforts akin to what I used to do for my road marathon training. Add to that two 50k races and a 34km sky race within the span of 5 weeks and I knew that I was in good shape and hungry for redemption in what could become only my third 100km finish. Like in life, a DNF must not make you afraid to try something (again), whether it's a business start-up, changing careers or starting a relationship. Maybe past attempts have left a bad taste in your mouth or temporarily left a scar upon your heart, but next time will be different. This race, I was convinced, would be different. As a friend wrote me on the eve of the race, "Focus on your strengths and stay relaxed on the parts that are harder, and have fun!" That's a good mantra for a lot of endeavors, and it was sound advice given my track/road background and miles of fast fire roads at UTA. I knew that nailing my nutrition plan, running conservatively early on and staying consistent throughout would yield a good result (I ended up consuming 1600kcal Tailwind via 3 concentrated flasks switched out at drop bag/CP's, several slices of watermelon, and a few glasses of Coke; I decided against solid food for this race given my pace and my concern with upsetting my stomach).
ITRA performance index seems to be quite a reliable way of estimating one's potential finish in a field. I was 16th with 753 points pre-race, but knew that on any given day, a handful of guys will underperform for any number of reasons. I didn't want to be one of them, however. I felt that HK100 in January was a good step up, though my 14th place was just one better than my goal of top 15. Given UTA's deep field, I also thought top 15 would be a good goal and one that I'd be pleased with. Then, an A+ result would be sneaking in the top 10 somehow. But looking at the participant list was intimidating, so I didn't know what that would take to accomplish.
ITRA performance index seems to be quite a reliable way of estimating one's potential finish in a field. I was 16th with 753 points pre-race, but knew that on any given day, a handful of guys will underperform for any number of reasons. I didn't want to be one of them, however. I felt that HK100 in January was a good step up, though my 14th place was just one better than my goal of top 15. Given UTA's deep field, I also thought top 15 would be a good goal and one that I'd be pleased with. Then, an A+ result would be sneaking in the top 10 somehow. But looking at the participant list was intimidating, so I didn't know what that would take to accomplish.
The race went off under clearing skies though it was still misting. I was caught still arranging my vest as the announcer said there were yet 6 minutes til the gun fired. I wanted to keep my rain jacket on as long as I could, but I apparently he also didn't realize what time it was. They held fast to the 6:20 start and thus I spent the first 100m of the race closing up the back pouch and putting my vest back on! It never seems to fail that I'm not quite ready for the start of a 10-hour race! The first four km whizzed by as it was road and then by the fifth kilometer we had hit a few stairs and trails, but yet I remembered glancing at my watch at 5k and it read 20:40! Getting out too fast was a concern given the quality field and fast first 20k, so I relaxed a bit and soon was trailed by no fewer than 8 guys in 30m. The first real stair climb began and Mike Wardian and Sondre Amdahl led our chase pack up that. By the time we topped out, we were on fire roads and clipping off 4:15 K's as we pulled into CP1. I stopped to fill my flasks while several guys didn't stop at all. I came out of CP1 in my lowest position of 14th. From there, I played catch-up, though with some reserve.
After a mile or so, I caught up to the nearest guy, Grant Guise, and had the pleasure of running with him for nearly 5 miles. We talked of his 100-mile history and why he was glad he didn't get into Hardrock five years ago (he will race it this summer, but as that race deserves respect if any 100 miler does, he said he would've gotten destroyed had he gotten a spot five years ago). Once we hit some technical parts and the ladders installed specifically for the race, he slipped out of sight, and then I had fun meeting and trying to keep up with local legend and 10-time finisher, Jono O'Loughlin. As we were winding down the last few hundred meters of single track, I heard someone approaching us. A few minutes later at about 24-25km where the technical trail dumped out onto yet another fire road, we were quickly passed by one Rob Krar. Anyone half familiar with the ultra world knows him as the two-time WS100 champion. We were certain we had never been ahead of him, so his response confirmed my suspicion of him somehow getting off course. He said it happened early on at the 5k mark and he ended up nearly back at the start line (not to say he ran an extra 10, but with the out/back 4km road start, I'm guessing he did an extra 2k or so. Tim Tollefson said he looked at Krar's Strava file and it appears he lost 7 minutes). He was on a mission to make good on his first international competition and first big race (as far as I know of) he's entered in about 2 years due to a long-term injury. He was soon out of sight and I pulled ahead of Jono, running by myself for several km. Around 30km, I caught up to Guise again along with a few other guys. I eased ahead of them and worked ahead to Mike Wardian. By the mid-30's I had passed him as a paved section turned steeper and steeper til even I was reduced to walking. But I guess I was walking fast as none of those guys were to be seen again.
I worked alone for the next several miles as we gained some elevation and the UTA staff doing some photo and video work encouraged me. Before they didn't know me, but because I was 9th at this point and names were on our bibs, they started cheering for me by name. Funny how such a simple act as using one's name when cheering boosts morale further! I passed Martin Kern and Hamish McDonald as we wound through some verdant pastures full of the all the accompanying scents! By this time I was in 7th and chasing my friend, Kazufumi Ose. We had a battle the last 20k of HK100 this year, so I was keen to catch him and work together for a while. As I passed the marathon mark at 3:34 and went thru 50k in 4:19, I was worried this fast start would come back to haunt me, but those miles were in the past and I needed only to focus on the back half.
After a mile or so, I caught up to the nearest guy, Grant Guise, and had the pleasure of running with him for nearly 5 miles. We talked of his 100-mile history and why he was glad he didn't get into Hardrock five years ago (he will race it this summer, but as that race deserves respect if any 100 miler does, he said he would've gotten destroyed had he gotten a spot five years ago). Once we hit some technical parts and the ladders installed specifically for the race, he slipped out of sight, and then I had fun meeting and trying to keep up with local legend and 10-time finisher, Jono O'Loughlin. As we were winding down the last few hundred meters of single track, I heard someone approaching us. A few minutes later at about 24-25km where the technical trail dumped out onto yet another fire road, we were quickly passed by one Rob Krar. Anyone half familiar with the ultra world knows him as the two-time WS100 champion. We were certain we had never been ahead of him, so his response confirmed my suspicion of him somehow getting off course. He said it happened early on at the 5k mark and he ended up nearly back at the start line (not to say he ran an extra 10, but with the out/back 4km road start, I'm guessing he did an extra 2k or so. Tim Tollefson said he looked at Krar's Strava file and it appears he lost 7 minutes). He was on a mission to make good on his first international competition and first big race (as far as I know of) he's entered in about 2 years due to a long-term injury. He was soon out of sight and I pulled ahead of Jono, running by myself for several km. Around 30km, I caught up to Guise again along with a few other guys. I eased ahead of them and worked ahead to Mike Wardian. By the mid-30's I had passed him as a paved section turned steeper and steeper til even I was reduced to walking. But I guess I was walking fast as none of those guys were to be seen again.
I worked alone for the next several miles as we gained some elevation and the UTA staff doing some photo and video work encouraged me. Before they didn't know me, but because I was 9th at this point and names were on our bibs, they started cheering for me by name. Funny how such a simple act as using one's name when cheering boosts morale further! I passed Martin Kern and Hamish McDonald as we wound through some verdant pastures full of the all the accompanying scents! By this time I was in 7th and chasing my friend, Kazufumi Ose. We had a battle the last 20k of HK100 this year, so I was keen to catch him and work together for a while. As I passed the marathon mark at 3:34 and went thru 50k in 4:19, I was worried this fast start would come back to haunt me, but those miles were in the past and I needed only to focus on the back half.
At CP3, I rolled in as he was leaving, so he had about 100m on me. I worked up to him within a km or two and then we ran together for several km until he got ahead after we made the first really hard stair climb. He passed Matt Flaherty and I caught up to Matt, but was rationing my energy as CP4 was coming up and I was running low on fluids and Tailwind. Matt and I did the 'meet-n-greet' intro talk, and I was surprised to learn he's from Indiana. We ran together for several km and rolled into CP4 together. Watching race footage from last year, this is a 'comfy' palatial CP where it is easy to stop and take a seat and be tempted to recuperate for a few minutes too many. I switched out my Tailwind flask for one full of powder, added water to it and two other empty flasks, drank some Coke, devoured some watermelon, and finally sat down--but only to take a rock out of my sock that had been there for 20km. Then, I laced my shoe back up and actually got out of that CP first between Ose and Flaherty. As I exited the gymnasium someone started following me with a GoPro and others relayed that I was now in 5th. This positioning halfway into a major ultra was surreal, but I was feeling good, had replenished liquids and this part of the course was paved for the first mile. Then we hit a downhill grassy patch that helped me ease back into the flow. As I passed a local bystander, he said something about the course markings and I gathered he was concerned that some runner went the wrong way. All I knew was that markings were clear so far as I could see and I had no time to stop and try to console him! The feeling I had from this point on to the very end of the race was part 'running scared' and part 'embrace the moment!' As the race unfolded, I focused on my strengths--running that which was runnable and when I came to a section I felt I needed to power-hike, hike I did.
Reaching 60k and knowing that Matt and Kazufumi were struggling, too, was a comfort--if I kept my head in the game and fueled consistently, I would be doing all I could to hold onto 5th. The crowds at CP's, on-course volunteers, and spectators along the way were super encouraging and enthusiastic. Passing by golf courses, suburban homes, spectacular vista trails, and more, I was enjoying the views and trying my best to stay relaxed, though as I told the folks at the 65km aid station, "the work day has started." By this aid station, fueling was only my secondary concern. The fast pace to this point left my hamstrings and soon, my calves, in a near-cramping state. I realized that running previously runnable uphill sections aggravated the problem, so henceforth I started stretching my whole posterior chain every 5-10km out of necessity. Preventing my hamstrings from going into full-blown cramps was needed if I was going to maintain my pace and position. Along with stretching, I started drinking even more water as I figured that could only help. Pre-race literature and hyponatremia didn't concern me as I was consuming over 200kcal/hour in liquid fuel that included electrolytes.
Reaching 60k and knowing that Matt and Kazufumi were struggling, too, was a comfort--if I kept my head in the game and fueled consistently, I would be doing all I could to hold onto 5th. The crowds at CP's, on-course volunteers, and spectators along the way were super encouraging and enthusiastic. Passing by golf courses, suburban homes, spectacular vista trails, and more, I was enjoying the views and trying my best to stay relaxed, though as I told the folks at the 65km aid station, "the work day has started." By this aid station, fueling was only my secondary concern. The fast pace to this point left my hamstrings and soon, my calves, in a near-cramping state. I realized that running previously runnable uphill sections aggravated the problem, so henceforth I started stretching my whole posterior chain every 5-10km out of necessity. Preventing my hamstrings from going into full-blown cramps was needed if I was going to maintain my pace and position. Along with stretching, I started drinking even more water as I figured that could only help. Pre-race literature and hyponatremia didn't concern me as I was consuming over 200kcal/hour in liquid fuel that included electrolytes.
By the time some single track gave way to a sun-basked fire road, 70km had been covered. The UTA photographers/videographers were doing their thing, and they encouraged me as I passed. I rounded a corner onto a seal-chipped road and Tim Tollefson was coming right back at me; he looked super relaxed and cheered me on as we passed each other. It wasn't til then that I understood the course change was to make this section the out/back that I heard about. This gave me a mental boost knowing that I soon would get to see where Flaherty, Ose and other guys were in relation to me. Given my near-cramping scenario, I knew I'd need to walk some sections that normally I'd run, so it would be helpful to know how big a gap I had to work with. However, had we run the original course, I wouldn't have known where the chase pack is, and thus I surely wouldn't take a chance by 'relaxing' up a hill.
From when Tim and I crossed paths until when I passed Krar coming the other way, 7 minutes had passed. I thought he may be able to close this gap, but it was apparent he was working harder. Next past was Aurelien Collet of France and then finally David Byrne. David was looking strong and at 3km ahead of me, his was an insurmountable lead. Many 100k racers will say there was evil intent on the location of CP5 as we had to run past it, 1.5k down to a turnaround, then 1.5k back uphill before we could resupply. Many people, me included, ran out of water and fuel as we gauged it being immediately available 3km earlier. Alas, once those 3k was knocked off, I downed more Coke and watermelon and repeated the same pattern of filling my Tailwind and clear flasks and heading back up the way I'd come. I calculated near the turnaround that Ose was 5-6 min back and Flaherty another 5 or so off him. Other guys started rolling past closer and closer together, and as I got back near the fire road, Lucy Bartholomew (eventual women's 100k champ on her 21st birthday!) popped out and a few minutes later, my mate, Henri Lehkonen, was making his way toward CP5 at 78km. At this point I had about 19km left and was feeling ragged but determined. I started coming across more and more 100k racers on their way out to the turnaround. As Byrne had gapped me a good ways, several times the 100k runners I bumped into verbally said they were just wondering where I was. Apparently, Byrne was building his lead on me. I was doing my level best to catch him, but at that point in the race, it was a tough task to carry out. I had building confidence that I could maintain a 5th place finish, but his pedigree and that of the three guys ahead of him are a step above me at this point.
From when Tim and I crossed paths until when I passed Krar coming the other way, 7 minutes had passed. I thought he may be able to close this gap, but it was apparent he was working harder. Next past was Aurelien Collet of France and then finally David Byrne. David was looking strong and at 3km ahead of me, his was an insurmountable lead. Many 100k racers will say there was evil intent on the location of CP5 as we had to run past it, 1.5k down to a turnaround, then 1.5k back uphill before we could resupply. Many people, me included, ran out of water and fuel as we gauged it being immediately available 3km earlier. Alas, once those 3k was knocked off, I downed more Coke and watermelon and repeated the same pattern of filling my Tailwind and clear flasks and heading back up the way I'd come. I calculated near the turnaround that Ose was 5-6 min back and Flaherty another 5 or so off him. Other guys started rolling past closer and closer together, and as I got back near the fire road, Lucy Bartholomew (eventual women's 100k champ on her 21st birthday!) popped out and a few minutes later, my mate, Henri Lehkonen, was making his way toward CP5 at 78km. At this point I had about 19km left and was feeling ragged but determined. I started coming across more and more 100k racers on their way out to the turnaround. As Byrne had gapped me a good ways, several times the 100k runners I bumped into verbally said they were just wondering where I was. Apparently, Byrne was building his lead on me. I was doing my level best to catch him, but at that point in the race, it was a tough task to carry out. I had building confidence that I could maintain a 5th place finish, but his pedigree and that of the three guys ahead of him are a step above me at this point.
The last 12km seemed to carry on for all too long. Originally my goal was to finish in less than 10 hours and as I wasn't sure what the impact was due to the course change, that both seemed like a possibility still and became a motivating factor to keep going hard. At some points, the last sections diverged from the route runners were taking out to CP5, thus I was afforded moments to reflect on the day and enjoy the beauty of the route before descending to Federal Pass. One spectator shouted at me as I sped past him, "Impressive, mate!" I turned to my left, the expanse of the Blue Mountains and the valley unfolding below, the yellow rocks ablaze with the setting sun. Pointing to the vista, I yelled back over my shoulder, "Now that's impressive!" His laughter filled my ears as I rounded the corner and dodged a few more 100k runners.
Caroline, a friend of mine, of whom along with her husband, first welcomed me to China in 2009, lost her battle with cancer two days before the race. This race, then, was not only to make good on the Translantau DNF, but also to honor her as she watched from heaven. Jesus' promise for the light and momentary afflictions of this life to pass away as we are given a new body took place in her last week. And though comparing a half-day's struggle in a 100k is a worthless comparison to what she faced in her last 2 years, it was, last weekend Down Under, what I could do to remember the life she lived fearlessly and passionately. As the km's ticked by, I made sure to keep fueling and finally the end came within reach as I passed the "4km Left" signpost. After nine hours and ten minutes of running, I had but those 4km left of which I'd actually previewed several days before the race. I knew most of it was runnable save the Furber Stairs. Those 951 stairs would be what they were, but up until that point I wasn't sure that someone wasn't right on my tail. One guy shooting GoPro footage made me bolt as he came up behind me. I knew the risk of severe cramps to be higher than the reward of trying to gain a minute on an out-of-sight Byrne, so I drank in the beauty of dusk in the Blue Mountains and chatted with a few hikers as I passed them.
Caroline, a friend of mine, of whom along with her husband, first welcomed me to China in 2009, lost her battle with cancer two days before the race. This race, then, was not only to make good on the Translantau DNF, but also to honor her as she watched from heaven. Jesus' promise for the light and momentary afflictions of this life to pass away as we are given a new body took place in her last week. And though comparing a half-day's struggle in a 100k is a worthless comparison to what she faced in her last 2 years, it was, last weekend Down Under, what I could do to remember the life she lived fearlessly and passionately. As the km's ticked by, I made sure to keep fueling and finally the end came within reach as I passed the "4km Left" signpost. After nine hours and ten minutes of running, I had but those 4km left of which I'd actually previewed several days before the race. I knew most of it was runnable save the Furber Stairs. Those 951 stairs would be what they were, but up until that point I wasn't sure that someone wasn't right on my tail. One guy shooting GoPro footage made me bolt as he came up behind me. I knew the risk of severe cramps to be higher than the reward of trying to gain a minute on an out-of-sight Byrne, so I drank in the beauty of dusk in the Blue Mountains and chatted with a few hikers as I passed them.
The tops of the buildings at Scenic World appeared through the treetops and I knew the stairs were soon ending. "300m to Finish"...cheers erupted, boardwalks appeared and now I knew where I was. RD's Tom and Alina had shown me this stretch when I was there Tuesday before the race; the boardwalks meant I was, indeed, nearly done. I rounded two corners and then the crowds were there en masse. Cramps pulsated through my hamstrings and calves, but I knew I had done it. We had done it; Caroline, too, you see, had finished her race.
For me, UTA was stop #2 on the 2017 UTWT. Next up is the Eiger 101k race July 15 in Switzerland and then the CCC 100km race in Chamonix, France on September 1. Though iRunFar mentioned me and wondered who I was, and though I have more confidence now that the European races could go really well, it is a tragedy such as Caroline's passing that make crystal clear what's really important in this life. Results are forgotten, young guns arise and usurp yesterday's elites, and aging bodies betray a once indefatigable figure. What matters, then, is living life in light of eternity and enjoying Jesus one day at a time, thankful for every little thing-including the ability to run 100km. And therein, I hope that by showing forth the glory of God in my running, fellow competitors, spectators and you would be encouraged and inspired.
For me, UTA was stop #2 on the 2017 UTWT. Next up is the Eiger 101k race July 15 in Switzerland and then the CCC 100km race in Chamonix, France on September 1. Though iRunFar mentioned me and wondered who I was, and though I have more confidence now that the European races could go really well, it is a tragedy such as Caroline's passing that make crystal clear what's really important in this life. Results are forgotten, young guns arise and usurp yesterday's elites, and aging bodies betray a once indefatigable figure. What matters, then, is living life in light of eternity and enjoying Jesus one day at a time, thankful for every little thing-including the ability to run 100km. And therein, I hope that by showing forth the glory of God in my running, fellow competitors, spectators and you would be encouraged and inspired.