Race Report: Ultra-Trail Australia UTA 50K 2017

Yesterday I ran my 2nd ultra! 

UTA didn't disappoint; after a brief moment of anxiety over the last minute course change, I realised it was a blessing and I'd likely be much more suited to the new course which now took in roughly the first half of the 100k course. The later start time after 9.30am threw me a little but then I realised it would totally take the pressure off for my only goal of 'not finishing in the dark' this year - I'd definitely be finishing in the dark with that start time! Plus, It was an opportunity to see Narrowneck, Tarros ladders and Nellie's glen, all of which I've been wanting to get to for a while now. 

The expected all-day rain (and even possible thunderstorm forecast at one point) didn't appear... I'd thought earlier in the week that a top of 14 and rain would work to my advantage as I definitely do not do well in the heat. However although the sun was shining it wasn't nearly as hot as last year, thank goodness! Most of the course was nicely shaded on open trails and although the stairs and hills were still there, the overall 2000m elevation didn't seem nearly as hard as last year. 

I kept waiting for the really hard bit but it didn't appear... it was tough, but not mind-meltingly tough... possibly because of the 45 minute rest in the middle, stuck in a line waiting to go down Tarros ladders. I could have taken the boring detour track, but how often do you get to climb down a cliff face on 3 aluminium ladders lashed together with rope? I got to enjoy the most beautiful views while I was waiting, and chat away to a guy from Port Macquarie doing his first ultra. 

I found this race heaps easier than 2016 and felt really focussed the whole way, getting into a rhythm and counting to 10 over and over again in my head, and every now and then on tough climbs, thinking 'this is tough but I am tougher!' in time with my footsteps. Thanks Tova for the inspiration, and thanks to my girl squad for all the other mantras these tough ladies shared in the week prior to race day: I had them all on bits of paper in my pack and figured the right one would fall out at the right moment, and it did! 

I had planned this race in detail but was prepared to let circumstances dictate how it went on the day. This worked really well as I had little bags with notes on them for each checkpoint - and after the course change this didn't go out the window, I figured the checkpoints were roughly the same distances along anyway so stuck to a similar plan. I didn't dawdle in the checkpoints either, just got shit done, but made sure I took a moment to soak up the atmosphere! One thing I missed was not having as many spectators on course, it's amazing how much of a boost it gives you to hear people cheering and yelling out. 

This route was more remote so after the first bits near civilisation and the pop up out of the golden stairs and towards Narrowneck, it was pretty quiet on course apart from runners and vollies. And that one awesome volunteer whose upbeat yodelling echoed across the valley for miles!

I was grazing all day, as I do every day(!), and managed to balance 4 or 5 Shotz gels and 3 soft flasks of Shotz electrolyte with watermelon and coke at the checkpoints plus the grapes I'd brought with me. No muscle cramps, no brain fog and no negative thoughts, so I'm gonna tick that off as a near perfect nutrition strategy! I still got some minor tummy cramps; I learnt after last year that I can't eat right before a big downhill, so was trying to stick to that this year too even though I didn't know where I was most of the time! Last year I was desperate for fruit or an iceblock after I'd come along Tableland Rd in the heat, and spotting the mandarins at the QVH checkpoint, I promptly scoffed 3 in a row. Bad idea. The tummy cramps killed me and I couldn't take advantage of Kedumba's crazy downhill.

Anyway, so I didn't really know where I was on course now... my only frame of reference was a family trip to this part of the 6ft track, a quick photo I'd snapped the night before of the elevation profile, and a page I'd torn out of the event guide showing the 100K map, which I'd scribbled on so I could roughly see where the aid stations were. But I knew once I saw the sign for Nellie's Glen I'd need to dig deep! Nellie's was intense, but I didn't die. I got into a rhythm again. This is tough but I am tougher!'. I was actually passing people going up the stairs. Headlamp on and sandwiched among a long line of mid to back of the packers, I was glad for the company and the silly conversations I was overhearing. 

Up to the aquatic centre and I knew there mustn't be far to go! I'd lost my torn-out map in the bottom of my pack but figured if I was on the road I couldn't be far from the finish line. But wait, what? Why am I going back in the bush?! Argh, so close yet so far. Some hilarious French vollie suggested we should all stop for a beer with him. No, here it is, I'm heading back towards Scenic World now! I desperately wanted a finish line photo after not getting one last year. I just needed that 'proof!'. So I was carefully to take off my reflective vest and switched off my head lamp to ensure I didn't blind the cameraman. I got my photo! Yay!

The best part of the day was reaching that finishing chute and having Ty run out with me, I nearly got my ugly cry going on, but held it together. Ty was hugging me and saying how proud he was of me *sniff * and Richie was proud too. Holly just wanted to ransack my pack for leftover food. 

I'm pretty chuffed that I finished in 9:05:10 compared to 11 hours in 2016. Less training at lower intensity and more sleep works seems to work for me! Power hiking at a decent clip and going out really easy at the start also helped a lot. 

Time kind of seems to get warped when you've been through such a physically demanding ordeal. I don't know how long I was wondering around in circles for afterwards, still in my singlet and shorts in the cold but not feeling it, trying to work out what to do with myself. Luckily Richie and the kids were there to keep me grounded, so we cheered the other runners on for a while then went home to bed... except I was so keyed up I couldn't sleep, and so insanely hot, dehydrated, and with a serious blocked nose (I'd been in denial about being sick for the past week). 

So now, as I write this the day after, I'm well and truly hitting a wall although my body is no more sore than normal (except for my poor little tootsies which always take a beating!). Thank you to all my beautiful friends that were there running cheering and volunteering, it wouldn't be the same without you there!!