November 2024

2024 , a year in review. I’ve been busy for a change.

Done and dusted, the nine WA finishers, 24 Park Runs in 24 hours.

2024 has been a good year for BK racing , I’ve so far ran eight ultra marathons and two marathons as well as a podium on a 12k, a runner for all distances and seasons.  The racing year started in January with 24 Park Runs in 24 hours and what a start to the racing calendar albeit this was more surviving rather than racing. The format is simple, you run a Park run every hour for 24 hours, while driving between locations cocooned in a mini-van with six other runners sweating your body weight hourly.  Luckily we probably picked the hottest day in the year to run this bad boy peaking around 44c at Carine PR in the middle of the day. I’ll never forget opening the car door and being knocked backwards by  the force of the heat, it was brutal turned up to 11.  The post is here https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/01/15/running-in-a-furnace-for-a-great-cause-24-park-runs-in-24-hours/

Australia Day Ultra, 2nd place finishing in 9hrs 35mins.

The following week was the Australia Day Ultra, a flat course with a midnight kick off, due to the heat. This year it wasn’t too bad albeit the top came off towards the end of the event.  Considering I’d ran the 24 Park run event the previous week I managed to do reasonable well picking up a podium for a second place finish. You can read all the gory details here https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/01/24/once-more-into-the-breach-australia-day-ultra-100k-on-tired-legs/ I was hoping to give the AURA 55-60 age group record a crack but missed out by forty minutes.  It’s on my radar for 2025 but I love the 24 Park Run event too much to miss it so will probably rock up to the start on tired legs again. It’s how I roll.

My longest and favourite event, Delirious West 200 miler.

A few weeks after the ADU 100k it was February which means my all time favourite event the Delirious West 200 miler.  Continuing with the heat theme this year was scorcher for Delirious, the first day was over 40c and at times you had nowhere to hide from the oppressive heat.  I’ve written five posts on this event, it was 200 miles a lot happens. The first one is here https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/03/01/delirious-west-2024-post-1/ the rest are in the March 2024 link on the sidebar.  I started quick and worked my way back through the field finishing in just over 72 hours for a top 10 finish.  Another incredible adventure.

The largest BYU field in history.

In March I took on Herdys Frontyard Ultra for the fourth time.  Coming weeks after Delirious and with a humid and hot opening day this was always going to be a challenge. I over compensated for the conditions and over dosed on electrolytes, effectively killing my appetite.  With an ultra you need to keep eating and drinking or the fuel tank runs dry and you stop.  This is basically what happened to me . I managed to struggle through 24 laps but in the end I was unable to make the lap times  and finished with a miler under my belt.  The full story is here https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/03/31/herdys-frontyard-ultra-2024/ In the end an 11th place finish from the biggest field in BYU history (nearly 400 runners)

Marathon number 47. 3:04 at Bibra Lake.

After Herdy’s I threw myself into marathon training with the end goal being a sub three marathon in Perth in October. Before then I would use Bibra Lake as an indicator race to see how I was coming along.  Ran a three hour and four minutes race which was more than I imagined I could, fantastic result. It was good to be running around in loops with mates on the sub three bus before I was ejected with 16k to go. https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/07/09/bibra-lake-marathon-race-report/ This gave me hope for a sub three hour marathon in Perth, my 33rd sub3,  but unfortunately I had another BYU before then, this proved a mistake with hindsight.

Birdy’s backyard ultra was an ultra too far.

Post Bibra I tapered for Birdy’s backyard ultra, my fourth time racing this event. With previous bests of 22, 28 and 36 laps I was hoping to go deep and maybe even nudge 40 laps. Unfortunately, (I seem to use this word a lot in this review post?) come race day my heart wasn’t really in it . Maybe it was a throwback to Herdy’s earlier in the year when I had an issue with food intake and didn’t really enjoy the event. Either way I got through the night but pulled the pin after the tu-tu round, lap 22. I really struggled after maybe ten laps and my head really wasn’t in the game from the start. This is rare for me but I suppose everybody has off days ? The title of my post sums up the event https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/08/07/backyard-ultras-an-exercise-in-masochism/

An age group podium, over 55+

Next it was back to Bibra lake but this time for a 12k. The local council puts on cash for the 55+ age group so myself and the Yelo crew all traveled down and took home the coin.  Great event and it was good to race shorter distances. This was my first time racing anything smaller than a half marathon for five years, where does the time go ? Held it together and ran a well paced race for a sub 47 minutes finish and a podium win for the age group. Stoked.  https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/09/11/fun-run-not-sure-about-that/

Milking the crown in the Perth Marathon.

As I mentioned earlier in the post things fell apart after the Bibra Lake marathon bar a reasonable run in the 12k fun run ( it wasn’t fun!)  After Birdy’s backyard Ultra I pontificated for a few weeks, running very little and eating too much. I wasn’t happy with my performance or mindset at Birdy’s and just fell into a hole.  When I did eventually put in a few weeks of training it was too late and you cannot kid a marathon. I was hoping with my 12k time I was still in with a shot of a sub 3 marathon time and invested nearly $400 on a pair of Nike Alphafly 3’s (albeit I don’t need much encouragement to spend money of runners?)  The shoes didn’t help and I was again ejected from the sub 3 bus but this time around twelve kilometres , where as at Bibra at least I got to 26 kilometres before being asked to leave.  After that my race went downhill quite fast, unsurprisingly given my lack of marathon specific training, culminating with me hitting the wall at 32k and limping home , literally.  Snuck in just under three hours and fifteen minutes. Ouch.  https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/10/08/perth-running-festival-when-marathons-go-bad/ I did manage an age group win only because my good mate Mickey Murray got cramp a kilometre from the finish line.

The Feral Pig 100 miler is just brutal.

There was little time to rest post Perth marathon as the Feral Pig 100 miler was coming into sight quickly.  This event is brutal and it didn’t disappoint albeit wet and cool conditions helped but in the end my quads seized and I struggled home in 30 hours, good for a 9th place finish. Great time out on the trails with good friends, what not to like ?  Well four thousand plus metres of elevation is a challenge and my quads gave up with around thirty kilometres to go.  I have vowed never to go back but I’m sure in November next year I’ll be back at the start line, what else is there ?  https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/11/06/feral-pig-100-miler-surely-my-last-time-surely/

The Sandman was just brilliant.

The final race so far this year was the Sandman 50, a 50k race on hard sand between two jetty’s under a full moon with a 2am kick off. This was just brilliant. Loved it, albeit two weeks post Feral Pig my legs were yet again cooked from the start. This does seem to be a recurring theme funnily enough.    https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/11/17/sandman-50-the-best-race-youve-never-heard-of/

The tree at the top of the escalator.
So one more race left for this year, the 6 inch trail ultra marathon kicks off December  15th, my 15th time running this race, it’s just such a good time with such a Christmas feel, brilliant. Then I’ll probably do it all again for 2025, why wouldn’t you ? Last years race report here for your amusement.. https://www.runbkrun.com/2023/12/18/6-inch-trail-ultra-marathon-number-14/
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ

 

Big shout out to fisiocrem , this product is just incredible for tired and aching legs. I use it daily and have noticed a vast improvement in recovery.

Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ )  The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products)  can be difficult to digest later in the event.  From the website :-

As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority. 

In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance. 

In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born. 

BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work! 

BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!

Great hydration.

What can I say about HumanTecar,  ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !

Fractelhttps://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.

Fractel headgear, just ace.

Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )

Best running headphones EVER !

T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in.  It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong,  storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)

Altra supply the best trail shoes on the planet, in my opinion, and none better than the Olympus five. Do yourself a favour and buy a pair. ( https://www.altrarunning.com.au/ )
https://www.osprey.com/au/en/category/hydration/trail-running/ Osprey Australia have come onboard and are supplying me with two running backpacks and travelling luggage for the Run Britannia adventure. I particularly like their running backpacks and am excited to test them over the event. I’ll be using the Duro 6 and the Duro 1.5 backpacks.
Excited to have Coros onboard who have supplied me with the new Apex 2 Pro GPS watch. I already owned the Apex 2 and was stoked when Coros reached out and offered me an upgrade. Even more battery life, can you believe 75 hours using GPS, wow! The watch itself is awesome, so light and well made. The watch is paired with a incredible application to keep track of all your stats, and runners love stats ! .  ( https://coros.net.au/ )
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ

 

Sandman 50, the best race you’ve never heard of.

Two weeks post Feral Pig 100 miler I had another chance to pin a bib on my chest and race another ultra. This time with a tad less elevation, well actually no elevation. The concept for this event is simple but so brilliant. You start at 2am at the old Dunsborough boat ramp ( I assume there ‘s a new one somewhere?) and run 25 kilometres along the beach to Bussleton Jetty (Again I assume there’s only one as this is neither old or new?) , turn around and return to the start.  As the event is on sand you are at sea level continually, perfect , zero elevation.   The website explains the concept ( https://www.alongrunonthebeach.com.au/ )  and the two maps show the simplicity of the event. The race directions are pure brilliance, ‘First 25km , keep the water on your left. Next 25km, keep the water on your right’   To make a good event better the race director schedules the event around the full moon so for 2024 there has been two events, one in February and this one in November. (Next year I think the event is planned for December 5th?)  The full moon is the icing on the cake, it gives the event it’s 11 status on the Spinal Tap rating. (When you know, you know.)

So how had the legs recovered from the Feral pig a few weeks earlier ? I took a whole week off running post Feral as I even found walking tough. My quads seized solid towards the end of Feral , just before the 36km death loop, and they took just about a week to recover enough that I could even thinking about running. As you can see from my Strava extract ( You are on Strava right?  https://www.strava.com/  ) for the period once my legs did recover I was able to get a few runs in pre-event.   Maybe the double days early in the week was a tad over zealous but as my good mate Dave Kennedy says ‘you don’t taper for an ultra‘, not sure there’s any evidence for Dave’s claim?

The red circles indicate races. Feral Pig 100 miler and then the 50k Sandman.

It was good to see so many WA runners embracing this event and especially good to see Matt and Chris at the start line. Chris had also ran Feral two weeks prior and was originally running in a duo but his running partner broke her wrist at Feral so he stepped up for the full event. Matt is an ultra running machine and he’s finished Delirious many times as well as quick Feral times over the years, he’d also ran this event in February this year so would complete the Sandman twice on one year, a rarity due to the timing of the full moon and the congested racing calendar win WA these days.

Myself , Matty and Chris. The usual suspects.. both multiple Delirious finishers and all-round good guys.
Right the race itself went about as good as you can expect when you’ve destroyed your legs two weeks prior running a 100 miler with brutal elevation. Of course the elevation wouldn’t be a problem this time, there was more chance of drowning then blowing out your quads.  The hard sand was just that, hard and sand ! It was great for running and I reckon you could have gotten away with road running shoes easily albeit they would need the ability to drain water quickly as there were a number of water crossings. In the end my Altra Lone Peaks and Injinji socks were fit for purpose.
I started with the lead group and worked my way back through the field as relay runners sped past me. This was the only negative with the event , with the relay runners (in a relay of two runners) starting at the same time so you were never sure who you were actually racing. This came back to bite me at the end when two runners I assumed were relay runners pipped me by seconds at the end , when if I knew they were doing the event solo I may (and that’s a big may?) have been able to catch them, turning a 8th place finish overall to a 6th place finish overall and fourth male. ?  I’ll mention this to Andrew, maybe different colour bibs?  My goal before entering the event was a sub four hour finish and on fresh legs I reckon I can give that a nudge but on cooked legs it is a no-no ! Looking at my splits I maintained the sub 5min/k average until the first aid station but after that it all went south.  Halfway I was thinking sub four hours fifteen minutes could be a good time but that soon went out the window too . I managed to finish stronger in the last five kilometres or so and I never blew out completely so overall a B+ effort.  Next year the event is early December so if I run Feral (and that’s a big IF?) I’ll be better rested for Sandman.  Am I doing it in 2025, hell yeah, this event is pretty special , running on hard sand under a full moon at two in the morning, I mean come on what a concept. This was the tenth time Andrew, the RD, had put on the event and I’m so surprised it doesn’t get more competitors, it really is just ace !
I’ve added images below of the event , mainly from Bianca Harding as I was too busy racing to really stop and look up. This was a mistake and I regret not stopping at least once to immerse myself in my surrounding rather than concentrating on a silly little light bubble infront of me ! The whole point of this race is to lose yourself in the moment, the full moon over your shoulder running on hard sand at 2am is not a place you find yourself often. Rather than chase the runner infront of you just embrace your surroundings. I would regularly pass small stingrays in the shallows , in both directions, and had to be careful not to step on starfish or crabs, I mean how often do you say that after a run.
The moon lightning up one of many groins along the route which normally means getting your feet wet, which as Andrew, the RD, says is all part of the experience. He’s right you know, it’s just fun to run through water with your shoes and socks on, there’s something childish about it. My Altra Lone Peaks were perfect for this and I would barely notice the water a few hundred metres post ‘paddle’.  This gave you the confidence to charge through the water with gusto, further enhancing the feeling of being a small child again while splashing in puddles with your new boots.
The image above is the sun rise just starting to think about showing it’s face to the world. This is so good as one way you have the moon over your shoulder and on the way back it’s the sun, genius.  This really is the course that just keeps on giving, also did I mention it’s flat and runnable.
The images never do the real thing justice and I really regret now looking at this image not spending more time just standing on the beach looking at the full moon in awe.  In 2025 I will be quicker but also reserve so time to breath it all in.
I’ll say it again, this is the best race you have never heard of.  If you run in Western Australia you need to enter this event , did I mention the start and end points, Dunsborough and Busselton, are incredible little tourist towns which would justify a visit even without the event, you also have Margaret River an hour or so drive away.  One final recommendation Andrew has a book shop , Text and Co. , here you need to be careful. His collection of books are next level and you can easily spend a serious amount of coin on his wares as I found out , I’m just saying. This really is the event that keeps on giving.
Thanks Andrew, what a bloody ripper of a book.

Finally a massive shout out to Vici Richardson returning from a long injury lay off to take out the female win, and also kick my ass by five minutes, being part of the Yelo running crew it also means she buys coffee on Thursday morning.  Beautiful trophy. Well done Vici.

Winners are grinners.
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ

 

Big shout out to fisiocrem , this product is just incredible for tired and aching legs. I use it daily and have noticed a vast improvement in recovery.

Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ )  The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products)  can be difficult to digest later in the event.  From the website :-

As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority. 

In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance. 

In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born. 

BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work! 

BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!

Great hydration.

What can I say about HumanTecar,  ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !

Fractelhttps://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.

Fractel headgear, just ace.

Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )

Best running headphones EVER !

T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in.  It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong,  storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)

Altra supply the best trail shoes on the planet, in my opinion, and none better than the Olympus five. Do yourself a favour and buy a pair. ( https://www.altrarunning.com.au/ )
https://www.osprey.com/au/en/category/hydration/trail-running/ Osprey Australia have come onboard and are supplying me with two running backpacks and travelling luggage for the Run Britannia adventure. I particularly like their running backpacks and am excited to test them over the event. I’ll be using the Duro 6 and the Duro 1.5 backpacks.
Excited to have Coros onboard who have supplied me with the new Apex 2 Pro GPS watch. I already owned the Apex 2 and was stoked when Coros reached out and offered me an upgrade. Even more battery life, can you believe 75 hours using GPS, wow! The watch itself is awesome, so light and well made. The watch is paired with a incredible application to keep track of all your stats, and runners love stats ! .  ( https://coros.net.au/ )
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ

 

Feral Pig 100 miler, surely my last time, surely ?

Podium position, albeit only a few metres into the race.

I’ve ran the Feral Pig 100 miler three times previously.  The first time in 2020 I got back to the start line at around 130km but couldn’t get back out for the final death loop, a 36k loop of probably the hardest trails of the whole event.   You can read about the whole sorry affair here https://www.runbkrun.com/2020/11/13/another-lesson-learned-ultras-teach-you-stuff/ 

I returned in 2021 for my redemption run and with the help of Andy and Cam managed to finish the event. https://www.runbkrun.com/2021/12/13/feral-pig-100-miler-in-case-you-missed-it/ and I even returned in 2022 to go 2-1 up against the pig .  https://www.runbkrun.com/2022/11/17/beating-a-pig-feral-2022/ By this stage I was feeling so cocky I ran Hysterical Carnage Backyard Ultra in South Australia a week after.  ( https://www.runbkrun.com/2022/11/18/back-to-back-milers-and-grand-slams-hysterical/ )  I’d come a long way from my DNF in 2020.

In 2023 the event was cancelled due to fires on the track,. a pretty good reason in my view, so my entry was rolled over to this year. This was actually ok with me because I had to pull the pin anyway due to a torn hamstring , I instead offered to volunteer.

For those readers to lazy to read my previous posts here’s a quick run down of the event. You meet up at the Perth Discovery Centre (PDC) in the Perth hills for check-in and then board a bus for a 130 or so kilometre drive to the start of the event, somewhere on the Bibbulmun track ( https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/ )  just off the Albany Highway.  The bus leaves the PDC at 9:30pm and gets you to the start just before midnight. You are then given some encouraging words from Shaun Kaesler and off you go, back to the PDC , which you should encounter around the 125k mark, leaving you around 36k for the ‘death loop’. As the name suggest there is nothing fun about the death loop, it’s probably the hardest part of the course and you are forced to leave the safety and comfort of the event village to then go and run around in the dark for a very long time ! You can see why it’s called the death loop ! (or DNF LOOP) 

The calm before the storm with Andy.

The Feral Pig miler is a very, very hard race, probably the hardest one I attempt. It’s a combination of the midnight start , elevation and the stinking hot conditions combined with minimum aid stations due to the remoteness of the location. It really is the event that just keeps on giving and not in a nice way but that’s also the attraction. With most other events, well all other events, I look forward to race day, it’s what I do but with Feral it’s a mix of nervous anticipation and fear, more fear truth be told.  I suppose the ghost of the DNF in 2020 has never really left me even after two successful finishes.

Right better get into it then, strap yourself in for the Feral 2024 roller coaster.

The bus drive to the start is probably the most dangerous part of the whole day !

I always try and get some shut eye on the bus for a couple of reasons. One I need sleep as the midnight start means by the time you finish you’ll more than likely have had two days plus of no sleep, this can be a problem funnily enough. Secondly the bus driver is normally a wanna-be formula one racing driver who didn’t quite make it but still has delusions of driving large objects very quickly in confined spaces. i.e. large coaches on country roads.  This year we were doubly blessed with a coach demister which seemed to have given up the ghost so the driver was staring into a small clear spot on the window while we assumed he was using the force to get us to the start, because he couldn’t be using his eyesight ! Best thing was to close my eyes and if I opened them later it was a bonus.

Initially the conditions were perfect, no wind and humidity levels you could cope with.

It’s normally quite chilly when you are kicked out of the coach, not this year, it was very reasonable, no need for a jacket although I kept mine on just incase.  We had arrived to the start late due to roadworks apparently or the fact the coach driver couldn’t actually see out of the front window ?  This wouldn’t be a problem as Shaun decided we would cut short the initial out and back loop , this way the half-an-hour delay wouldn’t be reflected in the overall time and volunteers could get home at a reasonable hour without working another half-an-hour due to a coach driver inability to work a coach demister ?  I was stoked because it meant the aid stations all got about 2-3 kilometres closer.

The midnight start combined with the long distance to the first aid station, just over forty kilometres, and then another thirty kilometeres to aid station two makes the first night challenging.  The first thirty kilometres pre-Mount Cooke is also very runnable and flat so you can burn yourself out very easily, you need to show some restraint.  I normally try and get into a ‘train‘ of runners for conversation as it’s quite early in the race and people still have the ability to talk and run at the same time, later in the event this is not possible. On the bus I sat with my mate Andy Thompson who I had ran with the last two times I had finished Feral. He is a ‘bus driving‘ machine and I booked my ticket for the third time, funnily enough I didn’t actually run with Andy until around the 95km mark but then stuck with him , mostly, to the end with Glen Smetherham, Felix Meister and Tristian Cameron and a cameo appearance from Jutta Kober. In these events company is important, that or a good pair of headphones and the complete works of Taylor Swift.

The perfect conditions didn’t last too long, a few hours into the race the heavens opened which for Feral, ran in a late Perth Spring , is unheard off. By this time I had ditched the rain jacket and never stopped to put it back on, there was always a reason why I couldn’t stop and unpack my backpack to fish out my jacket. It wasn’t a problem initially but moving forward wet shorts would come back and bite me , painfully, later in the event. On the bright side , for the first time in four years, there wasn’t a typhoon on the top of Mount Cooke. It’s normally still conditions at the base of this summit and then you’re fighting to stay on your feet at the top, probably one of the main reasons I don’t mountaineer !

The perfect conditions didn’t last, pouring rain in Feral is very, very rare!

As I said earlier the first night racing Feral is brutal. The midnight start and the long distances between aid stations , runnable conditions and one brutal climb all combine to make the start one of the hardest in the Ultra Series calendar of events.  I had a drop bag for the first aid station at Sullivan Rocks containing my weetbix breakfast, I hoovered this down and moved on chasing Glen and Felix up Sullivans Rock and beyond. The plan was to also change my top but the inclement conditions didn’t bode well for a singlet so I stuffed it inside my backpack, considering the Feral was postponed last year due to fires this year really was not expected.

Chasing the lads up Sullivans Rock after the first aid station and a good breakfast.

Eventually Tristan caught us and we all arrived at my favourite aid station in this event , Brookton Highway, to feast on a veritable smorgasbord of ultra running goodness provided by Shannon Dale.  By the time you reach Shannon and his aid station you are famished and you gorge yourself on bacon, eggs, pancakes, and anything else offered. I managed a bacon and egg muffin and an Acai bowel, of sorts, which was very good.  Unfortunately for Glen it was too good and he over did the nutrition, letting his stomach get the better of him. This would come bite to bite him on the next leg of our journey as he suffered the consequences of over eating and then running. Once you get past Brookton Highway the aid stations come thick and fast until the finish, with the biggest jump abut 15k from Allen Road to the PDC. Post Brookton it is was only 12k to Mount Dale Aid station and then another 11k to Beraking Campsite. A big change compared to the initial 41k from the start to Sullivans Rock and then another 30k to Brookton highway.  I think that’s another reason you enjoy the food at Brookton Highway because you know you’ve broken the back of the event with the additional aid stations facing you.

The first Feral bus before Andy joined us. Glen , Felix and I enjoying Shannon Dale’s , and family, cooking.

As with all areas with a Mount in their name we had some serious climbing to do as well as some good running terrain. It was about this point I noticed some chaffing going on and this would soon start to become a painful problem. I had ran out of time getting changed at the start and didn’t have time to apply sudocrem to the family jewels. Rather than take the small tub with me in the bus I put it in a drop bag for Beraking , around the 95k mark. Problem was I was now around the 70k mark and things were getting very painful, very quickly. By the time I got to Mount Dale I was really suffering. Luckily Matty Peirce was there with a tube of Lucas Papaw ointment which got me to Beraking aid station and my sudocrem.  Unfortunately by this point the damage was done and I was contemplating pulling out, it was bad. I did set off with the usual suspects but had to duck off into the bush and apply another good helping of sudocrem to the affected area. It was enough to keep me in the game but I would regret that small oversite for the rest of the event, and believe me that is a long time suffering.  In an ultra one small mistake can have huge consequences.

Saturday morning was cold and overcast , I can’t believe I typed that when describing a Feral image.

 

The Feral rain in full flight, a thing of natural beauty.

Once I managed to get ontop of the pain in my shorts due to chaffing challenges the Feral train continued to Allen Road aid station. From here I was in very familiar territory, I’d probably ran this part of the course nearly a hundred times over the years.  I left the train so I could get to Helena Hut, about four kilomtres away, to use the drop toilet. For some reason every time I have left Allen Road I feel reinvigorated, maybe it’s the quality tukka at the aid station or just I’m now in very familiar territory ?  I was finally running at pace and decided to continue to the Perth Discovery Centre another eleven kilometres where I would pick up my pacer for the final 36k death loop.  As the sunset I was flying and reeling in 50 mile runners quickly.  I made the Discovery Centre, where the event started the previous evening, in around 24 hours, 9pm.

I think this is an Andy sunset image ?

Unfortunately this is where my race got totally derailed.  I was running well into the Discovery Centre and my plan was for a quick pitstop to pick up some spare batteries for my second hand torch, change of shoes and straight back into the night for a longer break at the next aid station, Camel Farm,  eleven kilometres away.  This all relied on my pacer being there for me as I wasn’t keen on the death loop along.  My pacer had other ideas it seems and didn’t show up as planned, this threw a curve ball into my plan and I decided I’d wait for the Feral train to catch me up,  which they did about thirty minutes later. Add in their time to get ready and I was at the aid station for nearly an hour. In that time my quads seized probably due to insufficient nutrition or hydration , coupled with the brutality of the terrain, either way my race was now over for any sort of reasonable time.  Instead I hopped on the back of the train and we hiked most of the next seventeen kilometers to the Kalaunda aid station where we would be reunited with Shannon Dale , his wonderful Wife, Darlene, Peta  and glorious cooking.  The image below shows the scene as we rested before the final push to the finish, now only seventeen kilometres away.  I had the best pumpkin soup I have ever tasted albeit at that stage of the race all food tastes so good, but knowing Shannon it would have been incredible. Glen managed to keep his stomach under control this time, still harbouring memories of Brookton Highway aid station a lifetime ago.

Kalamunda aid station, very, very early Sunday morning.. best Pumpkin soup EVER !

On the way back from the Kalamunda aid station we were passed by Felix who we had left behind at the PDC hours earlier as he needed sleep and had walked int the aid station looking like a zombie, and a tired one at that. After he slept for thirty minutes he was like a new man and caught and passed us like a rocket, it seems sleeping is his EPO or I want a drug test so I can get some.  Tristan also left us at Camel Farm aid station on the way back as he wanted a sub thirty hour finish. Andy and I had ran sub thirty hours in 2021 and had no desire to repeat the process this year, Glen just wanted to get back to the finish. So the train was left with just the three of us and we hiked, slow jogged to the finish, together.

Sunrise at the Golden View with Glen and Andy.

Couldn’t resist getting one last photo in the race at Golden View and it certainly lived up to its name with the sun just poking it’s head above the horizon, glorious. Coming into the Golden View my quads were absolutely destroyed, each step down was so painful, I was done, the tank was well and truly empty.  The death loop had beaten me again, I had hiked most of it and would hate to think how long it took, it will be a very long time. I wonder what would have happened if I had ran though PDC as I wanted to do instead of waiting an hour ?  The only thing that would make me think  about doing this event again would be the opportunity to put the death loop to bed and run it similar to my 2021 effort.  Also maybe try and get a gold buckle for a sub 26 hour finish, runners love buckles and gold ones are special !

The train back together again at the finish. Job done. Feral finish number three.

So the train got to the finish, lead by Andy  for the third year, the boy is a diesel van of the highest order.  Lock in a pace and distance and let him do his thing. Myself , Glen and Andy all finished together while Felix and Tristan finished thirty minutes ahead of us.  Another good year for the Feral train, with all five of us making the top fifteen.

Before and after photos.
The little tube of magic that got me to the finish, eventually.
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ

 

Big shout out to fisiocrem , this product is just incredible for tired and aching legs. I use it daily and have noticed a vast improvement in recovery.

Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ )  The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products)  can be difficult to digest later in the event.  From the website :-

As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority. 

In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance. 

In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born. 

BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work! 

BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!

Great hydration.

What can I say about HumanTecar,  ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !

Fractelhttps://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.

Fractel headgear, just ace.

Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )

Best running headphones EVER !

T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in.  It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong,  storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)

Altra supply the best trail shoes on the planet, in my opinion, and none better than the Olympus five. Do yourself a favour and buy a pair. ( https://www.altrarunning.com.au/ )
https://www.osprey.com/au/en/category/hydration/trail-running/ Osprey Australia have come onboard and are supplying me with two running backpacks and travelling luggage for the Run Britannia adventure. I particularly like their running backpacks and am excited to test them over the event. I’ll be using the Duro 6 and the Duro 1.5 backpacks.
Excited to have Coros onboard who have supplied me with the new Apex 2 Pro GPS watch. I already owned the Apex 2 and was stoked when Coros reached out and offered me an upgrade. Even more battery life, can you believe 75 hours using GPS, wow! The watch itself is awesome, so light and well made. The watch is paired with a incredible application to keep track of all your stats, and runners love stats ! .  ( https://coros.net.au/ )
Feel free to follow me on Strava.


Follow me on
Strava

or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/

or facebook  RUNBKRUNOZ