I had never DNF'd a race... Until I did!! (Part 4 - the final)
Back on the start line... 12 months later!
by Mark
It's been a week since I was back on the start line for Ultra Trail Kosciusko 100 miler. I am sitting here typing this with a massive grin on my face not just from how the race day went but from how the past 12 months has changed me and my approach to running. But before we delve into that... the race!
Race week take 2...
I drove down to Jindabyne the day before the race with my sister and fiance. This was their first proper trail event and they were so genuinely excited to be a part of it. They were both down to pace me and would be crewing the first half as well. The comments in the whole lead up was that no matter what - we were keeping the stoke levels high and boy did they deliver.
As we made it to the start line at 5am on the Friday morning I must admit I was nervous. More nervous than I was expecting to be. The trail gods must have realised this though and intervened. Out of nowhere Lucy Bartholomew popped up beside me with her trademark smile and spent the next 5 minutes chatting to me and my crew.
After a few deep breathes to stop me fan-girl spiralling out of control it was the little kick I needed and my nerves were replaced with genuine excitement. You hear it time and time again but Lucy is infectious with her love for the trails and her kind words and reassurance had me primed for a great day ahead.
And we are off...
I wont delve too much into the actual race but I will say that this day could not have been more different from the year before. I did the first 30 odd kms without music (almost unheard of for me!) - just taking in the mountains and appreciating my surroundings.
I arrived at the first crew aid station and the girls were incredible. Their energy was high and they had everything prepared and under control (including the most organised set of clear gear bags trail running has ever seen!). The tone was set and it just flowed from there.
My Mom and brother arrived to help with the crewing and all the ingredients for a great day where prepared. Like any race of this distance there were hard parts. Electrical storms, sweltering heat, a wrong shoe choice that resulted in some epic blisters - throughout it all I never once though I wouldn't finish. The loneliness and questioning/self doubt from the year before replaced with teamwork and gratitude.
30 hours and 36 minutes later with 169kms and 5450m of vertical gain registered on my watch I crossed the finish line. Holding both of my pacers hands. To get a hug from my mom, brother and sister in law. It was a fitting end to not only the most formative 12 months of my running career to date but possibly of my life.
Final Reflections...
I plan on running continuing to play a large role in my life for many, many years to come. More so than any this year has really helped provide me with the tools I am going to need to do that. Keeping things fun and consistent has put me in the best shape of my life and whilst I have less finishers medals this year to show for it - it reminded me that the truth is that isn't why I do this sport.
My biggest takeaway from the two races though is the power of the people you surround yourself with. In the lead up to the race I watched "Lucy's Dad" and Ash's opening line about the little dragon and big panda really hit home as I went into this race.
Ultrarunning can be by its inherent nature a very lonely sport. Taking the headphones out and talking to the other runners, hearing the footsteps of my pacer plodding along behind me when the going got really tough, Sharing some start line nerves with an ultrarunning legend. Those are the strongest memories I am going to take from the race.
What I will take from this year is that, not just in my running but in all aspects of my life, these are the ingredients I need to be successful and happy. As I mentioned earlier ultrarunning has taught me a lot in life and I know moving forward that if I can keep things fun and consistent and show gratitude whilst being surrounded by the people I love... I can do the hard things life throws at me.
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I had never DNF'd a race.... Until I Did! (part 1 of 3)
I thought I was made of something different and had the mental toughness to push myself mentally to any finish line. I was wrong...
I had never DNF'd a race.... Until I Did! (part 2 of 3)
The months leading up to the race did not go to plan.
I had never DNF'd a race.... Until I Did! (part 3 of 3)
Reflecting on my first DNF... and plans for the future.
Glad you got the redemption! Hard things really are hard but persistence pays off.