Conquering Auckland's Volcanos

Amy Campbell is stupid.  Her idea of a good time is running 217km through Death Valley, from the lowest to the highest point in USA, in 50 degree heat.  Awesome.

To support her, a group of us got together on Saturday the 11th of May for a long run around Auckland's volcanic cones.  There were 12 and 21k options for bikers and runners, and the big daddy, a 60k run or bike to conquer 14 volcanos.

Being me, I had to attempt the 14. No half measures. Not ever.

So here we are at the start, 6am, and freeeeeeezing.

And here we are about 17km in to the run at the summit of "Big King", volcano #4.

You may have noticed in the above two photos that there is a chap wearing a full gorilla suit.  That's Darren Blackwell, bringing a new level of crazy to the sport of ultrarunning.  He ran the whole way in that, including wearing the full mask on every ascent.  Freak (in a good way).

As for me, I started off feeling good, but by volcano #6 (Mangere Mountain), and about 33km in to the run, I was feeling less enamoured with the whole idea - not the idea of running with great mates and supporting Amy, but with the idea of running all 14 the bastards.  60kms and 14 mountains is quite a long way on the road as it turns out.

So at Sylvia Park, just after volcano #9, about 42km in to the run, I decided to call it quits.

Happy times at Sylvia Park

But then, amazingly, after a coffee and a muffin, I started to feel the will to live again, and set off with the others for a few more kms.  I wasn't sure how much further I would get, but decided just to box on and run in the moment.

From Sylvia Park we ran to and up Mt Wellington (which brought back fond memories of my father Hal taking me for a "rally" up and down the mountain road in my mother's 1981 Honda Civic - she never knew), and then on to Little Rangitoto Park in Remmers.

At that stage, 52km, 5:59 and 11 volcanos in, I really did call it quits. Amy, Darren, and Michael carried on to finish all 14 volcanos, 62km that is, in around 7 hours. Machines the lot of them. Proud to know them and count them as great running buddies.

Amy, Darren and Michael

*Photos taken by Simon Clendon, Michael Rodliffe and Mal Law

Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon

I've been looking forward to this event all year.  If you've read any of my other posts, you'll probably know that I love the trails out at Whatipu on Auckland's wild west coast.  They're tough and technical in parts, and incredibly beautiful in others, and always pack a punch at the end of 2-3 hours of hard out trail running.  So, the thought of racing these trails against others who feel the same way was very exciting.

The morning started off cold and wet, but by the time the half marathon got underway at around 7.30am, the rain had stopped, and blue sky was peaking through the clouds.

I knew that the trail out of Whatipu quickly narrows and heads up a long climb, so I was straight out of the blocks for a good position, and made it on to the bottom of Gibbons Track in about 4th or 5th place right behind some real speedsters. I knew that I wouldn't have a show of keeping with them on the long climb up to the top, but at least I was in a good position, and could run at my own pace rather than join a queue marching up the hill.  My heart was beating hard, and lungs burning within the first 2-3km, just as I expected.  Before I knew it we were past the 15k course turnoff at the intersection of Muir and Walker Ridge. On the climb out of Whatipu a few more people had passed me at that stage including Paul Billinghurst, Michael Rodliffe, and Shane Jordan, so I was in about 7th or 8th.

The run down Muir to Parahaha Valley was great fun.  It was quite slippery underfoot after rain earlier that morning - just enough to make the technical downhill quite challenging, and a real adrenaline rush! I thought to myself running down there how much fun bombing down a technical single track in race conditions is - it really is one of my favourite things to do.  About half way down to the Valley I stopped for a second or two, and Gerald Waters went whizzing by me saying in his great Welsh accent "no time to stop now!".  In no time at all he had disappeared from sight.

Once we reached the Valley I slowed a touch, ate a gel and tried to get my heart rate down - knowing that the next section up Buck Taylor Track is super steep and tough.  Towards the bottom of Buck Taylor Gary Philpott caught up with me, and we started the long uphill together.  We chatted heading up and over Buck Taylor and down Odlins for the next 20-30 minutes or so.  About half way up we passed some trampers who told us we were in 9th and 10th position respectively.  It felt really good still to be running in the top 10.

About 3/4 of the way up Chris Morrisey, who went on to win the marathon, passed us looking very strong.  I kept with him for a few seconds, but that man is a veritable mountain goat, and quickly dropped me.

By the time we reached the bottom of Odlins my legs were feeling like jelly, and I was puffing (after a long downhill section!), so I eased off, and Gary ran on ahead.  At that stage (which would have been around 12km in) the effects of running pretty hard started to catch up with me, and I did a fair amount of hiking the hills.  From the bottom of Odlins up to Karamataura Forks is about 5km mostly uphill (with a couple of nice downhills thrown in).  I knew what to expect, and just kept chugging along.

On the way up I glanced back and started seeing another runner in a yellow singlet.  Slowly but surely he hunted me down, and eventually caught up.  He was a really nice chap Duncan Darroch, who had travelled from Nelson to run the event.  Duncan and I stuck together to Karamataura, and then down Don McLean going quite fast.  About 1/2 way down I pulled into the lead and gave Duncan a tow down to Puriri Ridge.  By that stage I had pulled out probably a 20 second gap, and thought that would be enough.

Over the top of Puriri Ridge I caught up with my brother Steve - who was doing the 15K (his first ever trail race - in fact first ever race!). I checked how he was doing and gave him a hug, and told him I was being chased, and so needed to box on.

Before very long I was on to the last section - Kura Track, and I could hear Duncan only seconds behind me.  Dammit. He was running the steep downhill very strongly, and I was starting to tire.  About 1/2 way down Kura Sam Manson, who came second in the marathon, passed me, and Duncan continued closing in.  I'd pull a small gap on the flatter sections (of which there aren't many), and he'd reel me back in on the steeper bits.

About 2/3 down Kura, just before the first of a couple of river crossings, I rolled my right ankle, and before I knew it Duncan passed me and ran on ahead. There was nothing I could do at that stage - I just kept on running gingerly on until my ankle stopped hurting.

The last couple of kms were good again, and I ran hard trying my hardest to catch the guys ahead, but to no avail.  Before I knew it, I rounded the last corner, to see Bernie and Eva (Steve's wife and daughter) call out "go Sparky".  I put on a burst for the line, crossed, and collapsed on the grass puffing hard.

My official finish time was 2.25.47 for 12th overall, and 4th in the Veteran Men's category.

And only 10 minutes after I finished Steve crossed the line for an awesome 2.35 15K on his first ever trail race!  I am so proud of him.

Steve and I at the finish. Awesome first race bro!

What a great day it was. It was great fun running the trails I love with great trail running buddies, some old and some new.  Can't wait now until the event next year, although I suspect that it won't be that long before Steve and I are out there again!

Tarawera Ultramarathon 2013

I did it. 13 hours 25 minutes of trail madness for 30th position, and a 100k PB by 30 minutes (on a harder and longer course than last time).

The weekend's events started off with a fascinating ultrarunning seminar at the Holiday Inn, Rotorua compared by Ultra 168's Marcus Warner and BCR's Grant Guise. Up on stage were a handful of the world's ultra trail running stars - last years 100k winner Mick Donges, Australian ultraruners Shona Stephenson and Brendan Davies, USA's Sage Canaday and Jason Schlarb, and 2012 Western States winner and course record holder Tim Olsen.  The one thing that seemed to come through was that everyone does things differently (from shoes, to nutrition, to GPS watches and race strategy) - there's no one way in ultra trail running!

Here they all are up on stage:

From left to right, Mick Donges, Shona Stephenson, Brendan Davies, Sage Canaday, Jason Schlarb and Tim Olsen.

Straight after the seminar it was registration, and as luck would have it I lined up right next to Sage, and spent about 20 minutes chatting away about the race and running in general. He was an absolute joy to chat with, so friendly and interesting.  I also had a chance to chat with the Hoka One One sponsored athlete Jason Schlarb and wish him well for the race.  He was also super friendly and engaging.

After registration we had a "Daily Mile" meet up in the bar area, where I got to see some of my friends from Daily Mile again, and meet others for the first time. It was a really great fun thing to do.

Then it was a quick dinner out and early to bed.

At 4.45am the next morning the first of 3 of our alarms went off, and we were up and downstairs for breakfast in a flash.  We picked up another new Daily Mile friend Sarb, and were off to the start.

When we reached the start, after mucking around for a few minutes with final gear preparation, I made my way up close to the start line, tucked in right behind the elite runners.  That proved to be a good idea, as the start is a winding uphill, and if you get stuck further back in the field, it can be a very slow single file uphill march.  I knew I was in a good position when I was following some of the really fast athletes up the first couple of hills, and running freely on the first few flats and downs.

Looking from the start line into the Redwood Forest (6)

Moments before the start. Head down and nervous (1)

And they're off (6)

Around the bottom of Blue Lake we reached the first aid station. By that time we had ditched our headlamps, and the sun was up, and I was warming into the run nicely.  Shortly after that I passed Shaun Collins of Lactic Turkey fame, who was taking photographs. Here I am running past him, trying to maintain good form!

Running around Blue Lake towards Okareka (2)

Before I knew it we had reached the first major aid station at Lake Okaraka, which I'd made in just under 2 hours.  A bit faster than the previous couple of years, but still at a pretty conservative pace.  From there the course gets very interesting, running up Millar Road (a gradual uphill of close to 3km), and then on to the Western Okataina Walkway (or WOW) for a run up to the highest point on the course, around 800m in elevation.  The first year I ran WOW I thought it was brutal, and although its by no means easy, it does seem to be getting more runnable each time.

At the end of WOW you come out into the second major aid station at Okataina Lodge, and the roar of the crowd and the announcer calling out my name and race number was a huge pick me up.  There I took a minute or two to re-stock my race vest with a few essentials, and do some running repairs on a couple of hot spots on one of my feet, change into clean socks, and I was off onto the track leading to the Tarawera Falls.

The Okataina to Tarawera Falls section is very technical trail, and this time we had to do it twice!  It is still my favourite single track section of the race - in particular the views across Lake Tarawera, and then on to the Tarawera Falls are spectacular.  On the second section of this part of the race, somewhere around the 50k mark, the leaders went flying past me one by one heading back to Okataina.  It was a real buzz to see them on the track, and without exception they all acknowledged me with a nod, wave or hi, as they flew past.  The funniest one was Shona Stephenson, who let out a loud "woo hoo" as she scooted on by (just as Brendan Davies had warned at the seminar that you will hear Shona before you see her!).

On the track between Okataina and Tarawera Falls (3)

The mens 100k winner Sage Canaday passed me on this section, looking like the Terminator (1)

Somewhere around the middle of the race I started having a few issues with cramp in my right leg.  It seized up really badly whenever I had to lift it up high, which made navigating over some of the rocky technical sections quite a challenge (and would have looked pretty humorous to anyone who could see me - luckily there were very few).  I did my best to keep the problems at bay by chugging a few salt tablets and Endurolyte capsules (thanks Hammer Nutrition), and managed to keep on chugging along.

Not far behind the mens leaders was Ruby Muir, who was in about 6th or 7th place overall, and looking just as she is in the photo below - literally floating over the track. Amazing talent.

The womens 100k winner NZ's own running prodigy Ruby Muir (1)

Along this section I also managed to catch and pass a few other runners, and was generally feeling ok. When I felt really good I pushed on a bit, and when I felt crap I slowed down, and concentrated on taking baby steps, and keeping up progress towards the turn around.  Here's a photo of me on this section during one of the good bits.

Lucky shot on the track between Okataina and Tarawera Falls (5)

At the Tarawera Outlet aid station I saw my good friends Matt and Kim, waiting to pick up their runners Tago and Louise. It was great to see them, and gave me a real boost.  Then on the way back I saw Steve Neary, Mal Law, Louise, Kim, Vicki Wooley, Tago and Sally Law.  It was like a great social run!

Finally, on the stretch back to Okataina, I caught one of the top women runners, Candice Burt.  She is one tough cookie, and we ran together for a while.  She'd obviously come unstuck along the way and was bleeding from her knee and elbow, but it didn't seem to slow her down too much (just down to my speed!).

Candice Burt (6)

Next thing I was at the Okataina aid station for the second time, and Bridget was there to greet me.  I spent just a few minutes there, re-stocked my vest and bottles, and with hug and a kiss, was off on to the final stretch.

The climb up from Okataina back to the highest point of the WOW was incredibly hard.  Some of the trail was so steep I had to walk a few dozen steps, then stop for 10 seconds to catch my breath, then walk a few more.  It was just a matter of getting through it one step at a time.  I never thought I'd say this, but at this stage I would have given anything to be running the "Loop of Despair" on the usual Tarawera 100k course, it would have been so much easier than doing the WOW in reverse.

Still, I persevered, and knew that if I could just keep it up I was on track for a PB.  So I continued on. Ran when I could, walked when I couldn't, and practically dragged myself up those hills on my hands and knees when I needed to.

The other thing that got me was that I had convinced myself that the last 10k would be all downhill, and I was hanging out for that.  It turns out that wasn't true - or at least it didn't feel that way! Around every corner there seemed to be another incline....

Finally, I popped out of the bush at the final aid station on Millar Road, about 3km from the finish. I asked the aid station volunteers (jokingly) if I could drop at that point, and they said sure, but I'd have to walk it out to the finish line from there, so I decided to continue on!  Just as I was leaving I saw another runner emerging from the bush, and so asked the volunteers to detain him, and high tailed it out of there down the hill.

I pushed like crazy heading down Millar Road, trying to put some distance between me and the runner behind.  The first km split after the aid station was a 4.53/km, and I thought I would be well clear, but a quick glance over my shoulder, and he was right on top of me.  I kept pushing, but the road was starting to flatten out, and my pace dropped just a bit to around 5.10/km, and the bugger passed me!  I actually thought that anyone who could catch me over 100km in to the race while I was doing around 5 min kms deserved to take the place. But then a strange thing happened. His watch beeped (I presume telling him that he'd just clicked over 104km or thereabout), and he groaned "how much further?".  I think he thought we should have finished by that point, but we still had 500-1000m to run.  At that point he hesitated, and I pushed on, and kept the hammer down all the way to the line - and finished about 30 seconds ahead of my rival!

It was a thrill to cross the finish line, and knock off my second 100k Tarawera Ultra, over a super tough course, and still be able to run at the end! My love affair with trail running continues, although I think I'll take a break from ultra distance for a while, and just enjoy the odd weekend morning sleep in and time with my wonderful family.

My parting words go out to my amazing and supportive wife Bridget, who was there every step of the way with me - through the months of early morning training runs, coming home covered in mud, falling asleep in my dinner, and often just not being around when needed - to the incredible job she did crewing for me on the day, making every aid station a goal to reach, and a joy to run in to her arms at the finish. Bridget, this one was for you!

Ruby and Sage with their trophies (1)

Top 3 men, NZ's Vajin Armstrong, USA's Sage Canaday and Timmy Olsen (4)

My finisher's medal!

Credit for the photos to
1. Graeme Murray http://www.graememurray.com/
2. Shaun Collins http://hyphen-ate.co.nz/wordpress/
3. Mike Tennent http://www.facebook.com/52Halfsin52Weeks?fref=ts
4. Marceau Photography http://marceauphotography.com/
5. Nick Lambert
6. Paul Charteris (the amazing Tarawera RD)

Final Training Before Tarawera

I hate tapering. No, I REALLY hate tapering. And I am speaking from experience, not just an irrational fear of not training enough, or having to take a rest day or two. I've got no problem with that.  But I do have a problem with going into a race feeling sluggish and lethargic, and that's what a long taper period does for me.

And it appears that I'm not alone - check out this clip of Kilian Jornet talking about his preparation for the Western States 100 mile endurance race - 35 hours of training in the week running up to race day!

Now, I'm no Kilian, but what it does show me is that everyone is different, and there's no way that I'm going to follow a strict programme of tapering because someone found it useful and wrote it in to a generic training programme.  I'm sure that it does work for some, even most, people, just not me.

In part Matt Fitzgerald is to blame.  He wrote an excellent book, which I recommend to anyone interested in a different approach to training, called "Run: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel" (see http://velopress.com/books/run/).  His hypothesis is that we can train better by relying less on formulas and gadgets, and more on listening to our body and adapting training to suit our individual strengths (and in my case weaknesses).

So on to training. This Saturday is my "A" race for the first half of the year, the 100km Tarawera Ultra.  I love this race. It will be my fourth time running it.  I've experimented with training for it every year, and what I have found is that high mileage on the road doesn't really help (funny that!), but that a mix of high intensity short runs (like tempo 5ks) and race specific training on trails does.

On Sunday I did my last real training run - 42km around the hills of Whatipu in a touch over 6 hours.  It was very hilly, and technical in parts, and the perfect pre-Tarawera training run as far as I'm concerned.  I ran in my Hoka One One Stinson Evo shoes, and I can honestly say that I came through it without a single blister or black toenail (even though part of me misses those badges of honour!), and most importantly of all, no soreness in my legs at all!  The physical side was demanding, but about 2/3 of the way around I realised it wasn't really about physical training at this point - it was about feeling confident that I've done the right training, and that when I step up to the start line in 6 days from now I will be ready.  And I am.

Before I go, here are a couple of photos from the run - pre-dawn, under a crescent moon.  These sights never cease to remind me how lucky I am to be a trail runner in NZ. It is the best.

For those of you running Tarawera, I'll see you in a few days!  For the rest of you, I hope to see you out on a trail one day.

Coastal Challenge 2013

Here are a nice selection of photos (courtesy of the race organiser, Total Sport) from the Coastal Challenge 2013.

I had a good run. My first race of 2013, and a build up race for Tarawera Ultra in 3 weeks time.  I ran with the lead pack through the first 10-15km, then eased off after that to save my legs for another day.  Finished in 3.13, 6th in my AG, and 27th overall.

All in all a very very enjoyable run, and quite unlike anything I've done before. I highly recommend it for those who like to head off the road and have a real adventure.

Rescue boats at the start line in Arkles Bay

Race briefing 7.15am

Race briefing

Lifeguards about to man the rescue boats

The start at Arkles Bay

A few seconds later

A lone runner heading around the headland toward Stillwater

Arkles Bay

On to the cliffs

Stillwater, with the Okura in the background

Midway through

Arkles Bay

Tarawera Training Part 3 - Going Light

Otakaina - Tarawera Falls Track - keeps on dragging me back!

For the 2012 race I decided to turn my training on its head.  The reality is that I didn't have any choice, as I only decided, for certain, to enter the race about 6 weeks out from the start (I tried, but couldn't resist the Sirens' call of the Okataina - Tarawera Falls Track, or the chance to meet Anton Krupicka).

With only 6 weeks to train I knew that I’d have to do things a little differently – I had no time to gradually build up a base of long slow runs, so decided to see what would happen if I kept up high intensity shorter training runs, mixed with strength and cardio training on the bike.  Looking back over my training diary, I averaged only 43km/week running in the 6 weeks leading up to the race, and only did 3 runs over 30km, my longest being 45km two weeks before the event.

Going in to the race, I felt relaxed and confident, based on the fact that I knew the course well (having run it the last 2 years), and I wasn’t feeling tired or overtrained (which is a very good thing).  At race registration on the Friday night I “upgraded” my entry from the 60k to the 85k, perhaps letting my confidence get the better of me...

On race day I did two things differently, and I would recommend both of them.

First, I ditched my trusty Camelbak in favour of a hand-held bottle.  What I'd realised on my first two races was that I ended up lugging around much more water, gear, and nutrition than I really needed.  The aid stations at Tarawera are numerous (rarely more than about 10k apart), and ridiculously well stocked.  I look forward to the buffet every year.  You can also leave drop bags at a number of the aid stations, so, there's no need to take copious amounts of food or gear with you.  Ditching the Camelbak gave me the feeling of freedom - running as light as possible - and I loved it.

Running with the hand-held

The second difference was that I ditched the trail shoes for regular light weight road shoes.  The trails at Tarawera are generally in very good condition, and not too technical (although a bit rocky and rooty in places), and you just don't need heavy duty trail shoes (like you do on very muddy and/or technical trails).  The only, minor, issue was that parts of the track were flooded (mainly around the Blue Lake), and roadies (at least mine) are not built to drain like trail shoes, and so filled with water and sand.  If the track is flooded at any point I would recommend bringing an extra pair of socks, as running with sand and grit in your shoes for 100k is no fun for anyone!  Also, if it has been very wet leading up to the race, it may pay to run the first leg (Redwoods to Okareka) in trail shoes with some grip, as there are some steeper parts in the first section on a clay based track, and they can be slippery.  Other than that, you can leave your trail shoes at home!

I managed to finish the 85k race (to complete the 60-85-100k trifecta) in a time of 11.31, which I was very happy with given my limited training, and even more limited running ability.  I proved to myself that there is no magic formula you must follow. Just run and enjoy every minute.

Anton Krupicka at the finish

Tarawera Training Part 2 - the Big Kahuna

Ultra running not only expands the lungs, it expands the mind. After completing the 60k course in 2010, a whole new world of possibilities opened up, and I decided to have a crack at the 100k race in 2011.  Little did I know what a journey it would become.

I realised early on that I would need something extra to motivate me to train for and complete a 100k race - something so far beyond my comprehension when I started running, and still hard to get my head around.  So I decided to use the run as a means of fundraising for Mercy Hospice. And it was the most rewarding thing I have ever done (more about that later).  My connection with Mercy was that my mother had passed away in April 2009 (about a month after my first Tarawera) and had been cared for, on and off, by Mercy Hospice in the most amazing and supportive way.  I viewed fundraising for them as one very small way I could give back.

On to the training.  I started training in earnest about 16 weeks out from the event.  Up until then I had been following a marathon training plan, and had a PB at the Auckland Marathon at the end of October 2010, so was happy with the way things were going.  I did 2 things differently training for the 100k event.

First, I upped my weekly mileage, starting at around 100km per week immediately post marathon training, and working up to a max of around 160km per week.  It was hard to fit in at times, but the extra mileage did wonders for my running efficiency, and I started making real gains. It can be a fine line between training enough, and too much, and everyone is different, but for me, I started feeling the gains at 100km+, and couldn't safely do any more than 160km without blowing a fuse.  I recommend that everyone experiment to find out what their limit is, but try not to cross it, and don't get sucked in to a number that someone else says you should do.

Second, I started doing back-to-back long runs on a Saturday and Sunday - starting with 2 hours + 2 hours, and working up to 4.5 hours + 4.5 hours.  The main reason for doing that was to fit the training in - with a busy family life, taking off for 6 or 8 hours on any given day wasn't an option, so I had to break it up.  The back-to-backs taught me how to pace myself (on the Saturday) and how to run on tired legs (on the Sunday).  They worked well, and I still do them.

On to the race, I will never forget the nervous and emotional feeling of toeing the line for the start of my first 100k.  I had so many people who had supported me throughout my training, and our entire family at the race, and felt a heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders.  I think some dust blew into my eyes, as they both started watering involuntarily (what's up with that?).  I was actually relieved when the gun went off, and we were away.

Running up Miller Road, about 20km in

I did a couple of things during the race that helped me through. Just simple things, but they worked.

First, I broke the race down in my head to various stages, and dedicated each stage to someone important in my life.  The first stage, from the Redwoods to Okareka, I dedicated (perhaps selfishly?) to the new me.  In 2006, before I started running, I had attempted to run the 5km or so around the Blue Lake with some friends.  I was so unfit that I made it no further than 500m before I couldn't run any more, and walked the rest of the way.  It took almost an hour, and  I was dead last out of the 12 friends who ran the lake that day, and was embarrassed as hell.  So, now when I run around the Blue Lake I think of that day, and how far I have come since 2006.  The next stage (the toughie between Millar Road and Okataina) I dedicated to our two boys, Max and Charlie, and for them I ran every step of that infernal walkway.  I dedicated Okataina to Tarawera Falls to my beautiful wife and greatest supporter Bridget, the stretch between Tarawera Falls and Titioki to our daughter Lucie, and the last and toughest stretch by far to my dear Mum, who I was really running the whole thing for.  Thinking about others took my mind away from my own pain, and inspired me to continue when I might have otherwise given up.

Second, I enlisted the support of a great crew.  I had a great mate Glen Larsen pace me.  I would recommend that everyone doing the race for the first time gets a pacer.  Glen ran, hiked, walked and stumbled the last 30k with me from Titoki to the finish.  He's an all time good bastard, and fulfilled his pacer duties with style.  I also had Bridget meeting me at practically every aid station (barring the ones you can't access).  Knowing she would be there, and seeing her as I ran in every time, gave me a huge psychological lift.

Me and super-pacer Glen

From left to right, nephew Jack, sister-in-law Bernie, me, brother Steve, niece Eva and my greatest supporter, Bridget

I had my moments during the race when I was absolutely stuffed, but I never doubted that I would finish.  At one point between Tarawera Falls and Titoki (about 65-70km in) I felt for a minute that I couldn't go on.  I sat down on the side of the trail, and dust blew into my eyes again.  I gave myself a stern talking to, changed my socks (always keep a spare pair in your backpack - they can be a psychological life saver), ate a gel, and started again.  I didn't allow myself to think there were 30km to go, just a few km until the next aid station. I had learnt through my training that after being on my feet for hours there would be lows, but they would pass.   In fact one of my favourite quotes goes something along the lines of "it (almost) never keeps on getting worse".  Another way of looking at it is "if you're feeling good during an ultra, don't worry, you'll get over it". The point is that you will experience highs and lows, but keep on going and never give up.

13 hours and 54 minutes after the race stated in the Redwoods, I crossed the line at Kawerau.  In doing so I managed to raise over $10,000 for Mercy Hospice, and expanded my horizons as to what is possible once again.  It was one of the best and toughest days I have experienced, and worth every second.