2022 - Noosa Ultra Trail 100km
I recently moved to Noosa and was thrilled to see that the Noosa Ultra Trail was starting and finishing just 2km from my new home. I reached out to the race director, Nick Stewart, to see how I could get involved with the inaugural event.
Nick and his team put in an incredible 5000 hours of organizing to make this event happen, and it truly showed on race day. The team put on a weekend of running and lifestyle activities, with distances ranging from 15km to 100km.
I can't express enough appreciation for all the hard work and passion that goes into organizing an event like this, especially during such challenging times. It's important to remember that these events are often put on by small teams and businesses who are vulnerable to burnout, pandemics, and unfavorable weather conditions. So the next time you sign up for an ultra event, be sure to show some appreciation for all the hard work and dedication that goes into making it happen.
Nick and his team truly delivered, and I'm so grateful to have been a part of it.
Nick and his team put in an incredible 5000 hours of organizing to make this event happen, and it truly showed on race day. The team put on a weekend of running and lifestyle activities, with distances ranging from 15km to 100km.
I can't express enough appreciation for all the hard work and passion that goes into organizing an event like this, especially during such challenging times. It's important to remember that these events are often put on by small teams and businesses who are vulnerable to burnout, pandemics, and unfavorable weather conditions. So the next time you sign up for an ultra event, be sure to show some appreciation for all the hard work and dedication that goes into making it happen.
Nick and his team truly delivered, and I'm so grateful to have been a part of it.
Hanging out with legends
It's always easier said than done, but it's worth a try: don't get bogged down by expectations.
The lead-up to the Noosa Ultra Trail was rough for me. Work commitments, bad weather, and family affairs left me with little time to train, so I put all my bets on quality sessions and a positive mindset.
The day before the race, I was on edge. Did I train enough? Should I race for a time, a position, or just to finish? Then my friend and former running coach Colin texted me out of the blue: "All the best tomorrow. Have fun and keep smiling. The running will look after itself." And just like that, my race plan was set.
On race day, I jogged from home to the start line and it felt great. No need to wake up the family or get a lift, just put my shoes on and go out like any other morning... minus the 100km ahead, of course. I made it to the start line with 10 minutes to spare, just in time to meet some old ultra friends and two phenomenal athletes I have the privilege to coach, Mat and Roxy.
I managed to contain my excitement for the first 10km and settled into a comfortable pace in a gap between runners. But as the temperature started to rise and I ran out of water twice, even though I carried a liter in my overly full and heavy running pack, things started to get tough.
I usually have my race pack, nutrition, and hydration strategy well planned out, but this time I packed my bag the evening before and loaded it with too much extra gear and nutrition. I ended up with a heavy backpack that bruised my hips. All I ended up consuming could have fit in a running belt.
The climb from 50km to 54km was especially difficult, and I struggled to keep momentum as I overheated and walked the whole way up. I kept thinking, "Why don't I ever train for walking hills? Running hills is great when you're fresh!
As I reached the top of the climb, I heard a familiar voice behind me. It was Roxy! She was full of energy and looking much happier than me. We ran together and chatted for the next 10km, but it was clear to me that I was the one struggling to keep up. My legs felt like dead wood and I was fading fast.
At the 64km checkpoint, while I fiddled with my backpack, Roxy disappeared and was nowhere to be seen. She finished in an impressive 10:45, taking first place for female in her very first 100km race. She is incredibly talented, and I'm sure she has a great coach!
The last 36km were runnable, but it was still hot and I was unsure if I could maintain my pace. I kept going, drinking lots and hoping for a second wind from caffeine. With 15km left, I saw an opportunity to sneak under 11 hours and decided to go for it.
Unfortunately, my dreams came crashing down in the final stretch. My watch showed 95km in 10:35, but I knew the distance to the finish was closer to 7km. So I abandoned the chase for an 11-hour finish and just tried to "enjoy" the last bit. To be honest, I don't think I had the legs for it anyway.
My final result was 11:12:15, and I was extremely happy with it.
My sister, Lidia, the kids, and my friends Mark and Jude from Sydney (who both did extremely well in the 50km and 15km races) were there to cheer me on at the finish line. It felt a lot like my first North Face 100 race in 2012.
I have no doubt that the Noosa Ultra Trail will see the same rapid growth. The area is beautiful, the trails are excellent, and the race director is passionate. All the right ingredients are there for success.
The lead-up to the Noosa Ultra Trail was rough for me. Work commitments, bad weather, and family affairs left me with little time to train, so I put all my bets on quality sessions and a positive mindset.
The day before the race, I was on edge. Did I train enough? Should I race for a time, a position, or just to finish? Then my friend and former running coach Colin texted me out of the blue: "All the best tomorrow. Have fun and keep smiling. The running will look after itself." And just like that, my race plan was set.
On race day, I jogged from home to the start line and it felt great. No need to wake up the family or get a lift, just put my shoes on and go out like any other morning... minus the 100km ahead, of course. I made it to the start line with 10 minutes to spare, just in time to meet some old ultra friends and two phenomenal athletes I have the privilege to coach, Mat and Roxy.
I managed to contain my excitement for the first 10km and settled into a comfortable pace in a gap between runners. But as the temperature started to rise and I ran out of water twice, even though I carried a liter in my overly full and heavy running pack, things started to get tough.
I usually have my race pack, nutrition, and hydration strategy well planned out, but this time I packed my bag the evening before and loaded it with too much extra gear and nutrition. I ended up with a heavy backpack that bruised my hips. All I ended up consuming could have fit in a running belt.
The climb from 50km to 54km was especially difficult, and I struggled to keep momentum as I overheated and walked the whole way up. I kept thinking, "Why don't I ever train for walking hills? Running hills is great when you're fresh!
As I reached the top of the climb, I heard a familiar voice behind me. It was Roxy! She was full of energy and looking much happier than me. We ran together and chatted for the next 10km, but it was clear to me that I was the one struggling to keep up. My legs felt like dead wood and I was fading fast.
At the 64km checkpoint, while I fiddled with my backpack, Roxy disappeared and was nowhere to be seen. She finished in an impressive 10:45, taking first place for female in her very first 100km race. She is incredibly talented, and I'm sure she has a great coach!
The last 36km were runnable, but it was still hot and I was unsure if I could maintain my pace. I kept going, drinking lots and hoping for a second wind from caffeine. With 15km left, I saw an opportunity to sneak under 11 hours and decided to go for it.
Unfortunately, my dreams came crashing down in the final stretch. My watch showed 95km in 10:35, but I knew the distance to the finish was closer to 7km. So I abandoned the chase for an 11-hour finish and just tried to "enjoy" the last bit. To be honest, I don't think I had the legs for it anyway.
My final result was 11:12:15, and I was extremely happy with it.
My sister, Lidia, the kids, and my friends Mark and Jude from Sydney (who both did extremely well in the 50km and 15km races) were there to cheer me on at the finish line. It felt a lot like my first North Face 100 race in 2012.
I have no doubt that the Noosa Ultra Trail will see the same rapid growth. The area is beautiful, the trails are excellent, and the race director is passionate. All the right ingredients are there for success.
ICE BATHS
In the last few months I have been experimenting with ice baths and breath work.
I had one an hour after the race and ... WOW! I ended up staying in for 30 minutes in it until the last bit of ice melted. As a result, that night I slept pretty well instead of wiggling constantly like I would normally do!
Now I'm building one in my office!
In the last few months I have been experimenting with ice baths and breath work.
I had one an hour after the race and ... WOW! I ended up staying in for 30 minutes in it until the last bit of ice melted. As a result, that night I slept pretty well instead of wiggling constantly like I would normally do!
Now I'm building one in my office!
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