The Transcend Ultra is the ultra that bites. Put on by local ultra running legend Shane Johnstone , the owner of Valetudo health(  https://www.valetudohealth.com.au/coaching-services/ ) and winner of the Delirious West 200 miler 2021 ( https://www.deliriouswest200miler.com.au/  )  He also held the Fastest Known Time for the Bibbulum Track point to point until recently, and that’s a 1,000km track. There are many more accolades including placings at high profile European Ultras including the UTMB, he knows his stuff !

The Transcend Ultra is a 65km ultra that runs through the Avon valley on land that in mostly private,  so inaccessible for the rest of the year.  Thanks to Shane it is available only for the race and boy is it worth running it if you can.  The terrain is brutal and in its inaugural year last year there was the added bonus of monsoon conditions before and during the event.  Me and the lads went for a recon the week before on one of the legs and it was muddy as hell,  we nearly lost Barts at a water crossing, albeit Barts does not like water or crossings so put them together and you have a highly amusing story !

The race is on the 26th June and there are team or solo options , depending how brave you feel. If you are unsure of completing the full distance the team option is a perfect starter before you take on the main course in 2023, because you will go back for second helpings.

Useful links :- Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/152480999794102 ; webpage :-  https://transcendtrails.com/

Unfortunately I missed it last year as I was scheduled to run the Irrational South and this year it’s too close to the Unreasonable East ( https://unreasonableeast200miler.com.au/ ) but I will be making a big effort to get to the start line for 2023. A word of warning though the terrain is unforgiving and there are some serious climbs scattered throughput the course. What I like about this event is its uniqueness in that there is the opportunity to be running in some seriously wet conditions , which in Western Australia is rare.  This event will test you so I would recommend getting in some recon runs as close to the course as you can pre-event.  If you need any more information check out the webpage or Facebook page detailed earlier in the post or pop down to Valetudo health in Floreat.

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