A week after the 24 park runs in 24 hours I threw my hat back into the competitive ring for the True Blue 100k ultra. This was formally known as the Australia Day Ultra and I had finished the 50km race once, and the 100km version three times. This race was never on my radar after completing the back to back racing weekends last year and swearing never to do something so stupid again. In my defense I held my resolve until Thursday evening before the race before texting Ron, the Race Director, and getting a cash entry; to be paid at the start line the following evening. What’s that about old dogs and new tricks ? Or is it old dogs doing the same stupid tricks all the time ?
Another reason for my race entry was to test my new once a day training program with Pilates and the gym thrown in instead of my second run. I had also been taking Creatine, HMB and Leucine and was curious to see if these would make a marked difference to my race. Best way to test out my new approach was to enter a 100k race a week after a 24 hour event surely ?
Ron , the RD, and Chris, the timer, prepare for a long day at the office, midnight start for the 100k and 75k runners.
As I mentioned earlier in the post this race wasn’t on my calendar until late Thursday evening, post a good recovery run from Yelo. The recovery week so far had been two trips to the gym, one easy run and a progressive, of sorts, run with Aaron Pyke at Yelo. This run had given me some confidence and add to that the FOMO (fear of missing out) and by Thursday evening I was on the laptop looking at previous posts on the event and watching my first ever 100k ultra video shot by Rob Donkersloot on Youtube. (
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The video by Rob documented my first attempt at this event back in 2017 where I ran just over eight hours for a second place finish and I retired instantly. Of course I was back the following year to run a sub eight hour finish, 7:47, and planned to return the next year but caught a bad dose of man-flu the week before. This led to a five year absence where life and COVID got in the way. Last year I ran a 9:34 albeit it was a week after the 24 Park runs and I suffered, silly not to do it again right ?
I had no strategy this year bar finishing, I knew I was probably under done training wise and the legs would not have recovered from the previous weeks beating. My good friends Simon Bennet and Adam Scott were also running and I decided to stay with them for the first lap before dropping off, putting on the shokz and cruising to a finish. As it was the boys went out far too hot and I left them at the fist turnaround to go and powder my nose, actually an excuse to leave them and take stock.
The course is a 12.5k out and back loop, eight times, totally flat , with an aid station at each end and in the middle. This is good for continually passing people albeit at the start you are soon alone with your to thoughts, which I quite like. Throughout the event other distances come and go , for example the 50k runners start at 3am, the 25k runners start at 6am and the 12.5k runners start later than that? Either way it gets busier from 3am until around 9am , the next morning, where it is back to the 100k runners.
As you can see from the Strava image below showing my pace continually drop until halfway and the sunrise that would eventually save me. As I said earlier I had gone out way to quick with Si and Adam and started to pay the price. I was running alone at this point and starting to think about pulling the pin at 50k, four laps. In an ultra you go through bad patches as I had many, many times over the last few years. Last year was a similar story, starting on tired legs, coming close to pulling the pin at 50k and then finishing strong. Could I do it two years in a row?
The image shows my death spiral before the sunrise woke me up.
The low point in my race was just before sunrise at the middle aid station. I was done and sat down waiting for the sunrise, this was the only chance. As I have always said when the sun comes up the running terrain changes completely. All of a sudden there’s a spark of ‘maybe I can finish this’ , life is instantly so much better. It worked last year, could it work again now ? Only way to find out was to get up and run. Simple really, just keep moving forward. Surprising I started to pick up the pace and ran through the 50k point back out onto lap five. This was a big mental test, it would have been so easy to pull the pin at 50k, still a very reasonable effort after the 24 park runs the previous week. Moving onto lap five felt , with the sun in my face, felt so much better than the previous lap in the dark. The early hours were cooler and after a few ibuprofens and another nodoz I felt so much better. (don’t judge me.) All of a sudden I felt like I could finish and that was all I needed to move through laps five and six, picking up the pace kilometre by kilometre.
Starting lap 6 and I can smell the finish.. nearly.
In the end it was a similar story to last year, a good negative split and a 9:45 finish ( slightly slower than 2024) , good for a fifth place finish. Out in 4:59 and back in 4:45. I’m putting this down to a few things, firstly the midnight start which is not my favorite time to start a running race. The Feral Pig 100 miler is a similar start time and I always suffer on that race too, albeit the gradient and temperature are also factors for that event. The late , or is it early start, means to get to the witching hours (around 2am until sunrise) totally spent and sun rise is a big mental boost, enough to get you a few laps at this event which puts you two laps to the finish. This is enough to kick start the legs as mentally the sun is out, you’re over halfway and all of a sudden the finish line is in sight.
The eight lap format is also a big factor as you break the race down into eight smaller segments. Getting to halfway , in the dark , is the challenge. Sleep depraved the finish feels such a long way away (funny that?) but when the sun awakes and you get over the halfway the final four laps seem to finish quicker. Laps two through five define this race, especially the dark laps. If you can get out on lap six with the sun on your face you will finish.
Another negative split finish.
So what did I learn from the True Blue Ultra 2025. Yet again I learned the lows in an Ultra event are real but if you just keep moving forward things will get better, add in a sunrise , hydration and nutrition , and things will improve. This year, like last year, I was dead and buried at the halfway stage with a DNF looming on the horizon , instead a sunrise got me over the line, literally. Was it easy ? Hell no, it was bloody hard and it’s getting harder but that’s the point . It will continue to get harder until eventually I will stop and accept a DNF or at least stop dong back to back events , whichever comes first. I turn fifty eight in three weeks and the one person you can’t outrun is Father Time. I’m hoping the new training, less running but more strength training, will get me a few more events before I start to look at cutting back the racing calendar. Of course I’ve been saying this for a few years now and retire constantly but something keeps me coming back for more. Is is the high of the finish or the mental low, and pushing through, that keeps me returning to the scene of the crime ? I honestly couldn’t tell you , I need both to finish an event and that’s running, albeit compounded with ultra running of course.
Done and dusted. 5th place, 9:45. Very stoked.
So what’s next ? In less than eight weeks its Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra, ( https://herdysfrontyard.com.au/ ) the event I ran 47 hours back in 2012 which at the time was an Australian record for an assist, to the great Phil Gore. ( Watch the YouTube video here :-
) Since then Phil has gone on to run over 100 hours and break world records where as I have struggled to reach that number again. It has been a goal of mine ever since to get to 48 hours, 200 miles, can I do it this year ? I won’t have the Delirious West 200 miler beforehand this year as it’s moved to April, so I should be on fresh legs (if there is such a thing for a runner my age?) I have a crew of three to four other runners also aiming for the same goal so it could be on, if not I’ll have fun trying , until it’s not of course. After Herdy’s it’s the big dance, Delirious West 200 miler for the sixth time. ( https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ ) This is my favorite race, a week of beautiful trails surrounded by like minded people and Warwick Crapper, perfect. This year is going to be massive with a big field taking on the Delirious beast.
Simon and I ran most of Delirious West 200 miler together last year, expect the same this year.
Finally shout out to my good mate Rob Collins who scored a top three finish in the 25km race, Rob ran a great race and although he’s been troubled by injury of late he held on for a solid podium. He’s already talking up a faster attempt next year, hopefully we can reproduce this image for 2026. Financially also a good move as Rob and I can share the cost for shouting coffee at Yelo on Thursday, a tradition for us Yelo runners.
Rob and I show off our medals. Rob was third male in the 25k.
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’ !
Fractel ( https://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/ )
Running 24 park runs in 24 hours was a concept thought up by the infamous Shaun Kaesler, him of the Ultra Series event juggernaut. ( https://ultraserieswa.com.au/ ) He ran it in 2018 with the great Phil Gore and also attempted to run each park run sub-24 minutes and drink a beer after each one. He got to 17 I think before the wheels started to fall off and the beer was sacrificed for sanity. ( https://www.ultraseries.com.au/24-parkruns-in-24-hours )
The onmyfeet charity joined soon after and became the benefactor of this event with participants encouraged to donate. ( https://www.onmyfeet.org.au/ ) I ran this event last year with good friends on the Team Gore fun bus and it was such a laugh I had to sign up again in 2025. Helping a great cause and also having so much fun while doing it , how can you not sign up ?
Team Gore at PR 1, 2024 …Aaron, Myself, Gemma, Tom, Bradley, Phil and Sarah.
The concept is simple , run a park run , get in the van and then drive to the next one and repeat 24 times in 24 hours. There’s a few hours for eating, driving (over 240km total) and even a buffer ; planned to the minute as the spreadsheet shows below. Last year it was over 40 degrees most of the day so traffic wasn’t a problem, most sane people were either at the beach or cocooned at home under their air conditioning units. You can read how that went in this post :- https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/01/15/running-in-a-furnace-for-a-great-cause-24-park-runs-in-24-hours/
I do remember retiring after the brutal conditions nearly got the better off me at around three in the morning last year but all that has been forgotten over time, which is a great healer apparently. It certainly works for ultra runners who finish the race swearing never to rock up at the start line ever again and then 24 hours later, when entries open, they’re first in the queue to sign up again. Ultra runners, stubborn , mental tough , resilient but not the brightest people in the world , luckily for event organisers I suppose.
Meticulous planning, down to the last minute..Simple, as long as you know where you are going ?
One of the major differences in this event compared to most , actually all other ultra’s, is the amount of driving involved. As you can see in the agenda there is nearly six hours set aside for driving and this year it seemed we needed every minute. As I said earlier last year was a lot hotter resulting in less traffic on the roads but for some reason this year we always seem to leave on time but arrive with literally a few minutes to spare. I’m not blaming Gemma’s driving either because bar one small hiccup , where we arrived at Mundy park run nowhere near Mundy park run, her driving was exemplary ? Can only put this down to a new route with new park runs maybe further apart than the previous year. I know of a couple of runners who missed out because of tension between the runner and the driver, forcing the runner to put their marriage before the event, and also a forced called of nature meaning the runner reappeared and everybody had left and he missed the next start. I was very happy with Gemma who maintained an air of calmness in the chaos that is a 24 in 24 event, and also had to listen to a lot of trash talk about all things non-running related, which will stay within the ‘Gore Fun Van‘ members. This is another reason this event is so special, the travel time and all that entails.
If you are contemplating this event make sure you have a competent driver whose good under pressure , a calming influence and with a bad sense of smell.
Garvey Park Run , number 1 of 24. Let’s go ! ( a record turn out, over 200 runners)
So 2025 off we go. As is tradition (and as you know runners love tradition) we start at Garvey Park run. This is at Shaun’s insistence and he was the creator of this beast so it’s cool to start here. This year we had two hundred recorded finishers at the only official park run of the whole event, and many more, myself included , who ran through. This was a new record for Garvey so a great way to star the event off in 2025. We even had Channel 9 come along and do s small segment for the evening news albeit they must have missed me as I wasn’t asked for an interview ? Once Mel, the RD, did her bit we were let loose and the event officially started, 8am Saturday morning. We had until 8am Sunday morning to finish all 24 park runs.
Kadina Trail, PR4, with my good friend Conor. image Andrew Yeatman
One of the major changes this year was adding Mundy Park Run , at one time the hardest park run , using elevation as a guide, in Australia. I think now it’s still top three. This is a beast of a park run tucked away in the hills. There’s two monster climbs that are just about walkable and with road shoes I felt like Bambi on ice. (The weather variety not the hard drug!) Luckily we got this event thrown at us as the third one and were given a generous forty minutes to finish. It was actually cool to run a trail five kilometres as the other twenty three were mainly road or part trail at best. I got some video if you want to have a look on my Strava profile. (link at the bottom of this post)
Selfie with the volunteers at Kadina Trail. Image Andrew Yeatman.
I was maintaining close to 5 min/k average for the first few park runs , bar Mundy of course where I was happy with a 6:21 min/k average, when you know, you know ! Andrew Yeatman got some great photos at park run four, Kadina Trail before Woodbridge which is totally exposed to the sun and things were starting to heat up quickly. Averly was next and it was into the singlet after a thirty minute break for a donut and some down time. Wanneroo and Joondalup were next and at this point I thought I was two or three runs ahead of where we were, must to the delight of my fellow runners in the van.
Early afternoon , post lunch, it started to hear up but, thankfully, at least ten degrees cooler than last year. Still a good excuse to get the top off.
At Carine park run, number ten, I was joined by a few running friends who skipped along at what they would consider a jog but after over nine hours it was threshold pace for me. I did appreciate the company but I kept the conversation to a minimum, and if you know me you know that’s rare. Yokine was next before an hour break for dinner. A decent chicken burger and salty chips hit the nail on the head and we were off to Lake Monger for the first run with a head torch.
I was joined by running friends for Monger, Perry Lakes, Applecross, Lake Claremont and Bibra Lake and this got me well into the night and early morning, where it was back to the core group of runners attempting the full 24 park runs. Running with these guys certainly helped as it’s incredible how far a five kilometre run can start to feel like when you run a few, as your pace slows the total time running increases of course. Each one starts to feel like a mini-marathon, I could start to understand how the uninformed would talk about running a 5k marathon.
The boys came out to support me at Perry Lakes. Mark, Champ, Jeffrey, Rob and Bartsy.
We had another break after Champion Lakes at 2am and it was into a Macdonald’s restaurant. It was open and I was very nervous about ordering food as last year a dodgy Macca’s nearly derailed me. I don’t eat junk food normally so my stomach had no idea what to do and ejected it very quickly ! This year I opted for a hash brown, small portion of chips and apple pie. So normal food with extra salt and an apple pie for the sweet sugar hit. It turned out great and I ran Homestead park run with no toilet stories or upset stomach, winning.
Back to the core group at Homestead park run. No stomach issues this year post Macca’s.
After Homestead, number 19, I knew it was only two more hours until sunrise. Once you see sunrise you will complete this event unless something breaks. I got my head down and just did enough to get through Canning River and Shelley and then it was park run twenty two, tu-tu run, at Edinburgh Oval and the job was almost done.
Sunday morning , very early. Calleya Park run.Shelly PR and the sun is rising. If you get to daylight you will finish. Three more to go after this one.
Seeing the sunrise in ultra marathons is just a surreal moment and your whole demeanor changes , you suddenly find all that extra energy you never knew was these, the struggle seems easier , life is good and suddenly all those negative thoughts disappear with the night. To add to the good vibes we get to put on a tu-tu for park run twenty two, even if I put mine on inside out apparently ?
The final members of the Team Gore Fun Bus, PR22 , Tu-Tu PR. Cameron, Gemma Phil and IAll the tu-tu’s at Edinburgh park run. We can smell the finish…
Post Edinburgh it was Burswood park run which is one of my least favourite and I struggled big time but knew the end was near so did enough to get through it before the last trip in the Gore fun van to the final destination, Clairesbrook Oval. After a great speech by the organisers we were off and , as with last year, I was reinvigorated for the final five kilometres, coming home with the wind in my sails.
The crowd for the final PR start at Clairsebrook Cove. Hallelujah.
So that was 2025, in the end seven of us finished , just shy of the nine the previous year in more testing conditions. The Gore fun bus got another two of us over the line and is still 100% when it comes to participants in this event, you get on the fun bus you finish, simple. Of course I retired from this event in similar style to last year but typing this post I can’t wait to go again, remember what I said about ultra runners earlier, not the most intelligent breed.
Done and dusted and instantly retired from this format, at least until next year.The magnificent seven, James, Dane, Shane, Cameron, mick and Daniel.
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’ !
Fractel ( https://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/ )
This Saturday at 8am it’s the start of the 24 Park Runs in 24 Hours in Perth. I ran this event last year and had the best time albeit the 40c temperatures, and humidity, made the event challenging. At a few points I questioned my life decisions (I say that a lot when I talk about my ultra races funnily enough ? ) I’ve attached the post on the event below for your amusement. It was such a great event last year but that had a lot to do with the company in the Phil and Gemma Gore ‘fun van’. Aaron, Tom, Bradley, Phil , Sarah and I just had such a laugh in between park runs with Gemma keeping us on the straight on narrow, literally. Unfortunately it looks like all of my partners in crime are not doing the whole 24 park runs this year and , as last year, I haven’t found transport yet, albeit I haven’t really looked, nothing like last minute planning.
The main reason for this post is the event is for the homeless so if you have some spare coin for a good cause feel free to click on the link in the post below and donate a few dollars, each dollar makes a huge difference. For anybody living in Perth I have attached the schedule of events below and a map of the park runs. There’s little time for mucking-about albeit there is time for lunch (30 minutes) and dinner (an hour) and even a small break at two in the morning for a snooze ?
There is also events kicking off in Bunbury and Bussleton (same time 8am this Saturday) albeit both of these events are running the same park run on the hour , 24 times. Missing out on the best bit, the driving and banter between runs, but still better than not running at all of course, and it is for charity. As well as Western Australia it seems NSW, SA and Tasmania have also jumped onboard the 24 in 24 bandwagon. Check out the website https://www.ultraseries.com.au/24-parkruns-in-24-hours
Four states have jumped onboard now.
The start of the chaos that is a 24 in 24 event.
The Park Run route for 2025.The list of the 24 Park Runs for 2025
Here is my post from last year on the event….with a link to the charity website for donations.
Running in a furnace for a great cause. 24 Park Runs in 24 hours.
On Saturday I ran the 24 Park Runs in 24 hours in Perth for the On My Feet charity, helping homelessness. ( https://www.onmyfeet.org.au/ ) The concept is simple, run a park run, drive to the next one, run that park run and repeat 24 times over the course of the 24 hour period. This gives you around thirty minutes for each park run with a small break for lunch, dinner and an early breakfast. Sounds easy right ? Wrong as Perth decided to present us with the hottest day of the summer so far with temperatures hitting 42c ( over 107F) and staying around the 40c for most of the early afternoon into the evening, chuck in brutal humidity and it became a challenge.
The donation page for the 2023 24 park runs event has now closed so the best way to donate, if you so choose, is to log on to the charities website ( https://www.onmyfeet.org.au/ ) and donate there. They also sell cool socks which would be a nice gift for any runner, donating and giving , a win – win situation.
Right , off we go. I had decided to run this event while training in the Perth hills the day before. It had been on my radar since last year but I had made no effort to prepare for it and in the end just ignored it. It wasn’t until the chat started to build and FMO (Fear of Missing Out) started to kick in that I eventually caved in and put in my charity donation to the On My Feet fund. (link above , just in case you missed it) I was in but had no food and only a few hours to get ready the morning of the event. I had managed to snag a seat on the best ride in town, that of the famous Gore family van with Gemma and Phil driving, ably supported by Bradley. All I needed to do was turn up to each park run , cruise around in less than thirty minutes and eat and drink in the van while being chauffeured to the next run, simples. Well as with all best laid plans, and in this case there wasn’t even a plan , things started to go awry when the temperature began to heat up.
The plan for the next 24 hours.
Even at Park Run number one, Garvey Park, you could feel the heat and by the end of the first park run you knew you were in for a long day. We started at 8am but as soon as you ventured out into the sunshine you were rewarded with a reminder of what was to come, heat and plenty of it. On the plus side I was about to run 22 park runs I had not ran before so it was an going to be a sight seeing tour of Perth , in a heatwave, with some running in between long stints of eating and drinking while a member of the Gore family, or Bradley, drove. How bad could that be ?
Team Gore at PR 1…Aaron, myself, Gemma, Tom, Bradley, Phil and Sarah.
One of the major surprises of this event was the laughter , in the back of the van there was a lot of it and the six of us just had the best time together. Although we all knew each other spending 24 hours driving around Perth in a heatwave brings you all closer together, literally. Conditions were cramped but I’d managed to snag myself the seat behind Phil with my own door, that doesn’t sound special but trust me it was like being upgraded from cattle class to first class, I was stoked. We had the right combination of characters and the time in the van was just ace, well it was for the male occupants. Sarah did leave us just before midnight citing space concerns when Gemma joined us but truth be told I think we had worn her down with our ‘special conversations‘ and theories regarding Stephen Hawkins and many other subjects that shall remain between the van crew only.
High jinks early on in the back of the Gore Van. Sarah, Aaron, Tom and Bradley.
The thing with this event is if you have a good bunch of runners sharing a ride it becomes even more epic and I had a great crew sharing a ride.. so much laughter albeit it’s best it stays within the members of the van..
The legend himself Phil Gore.
As well as running every park run in under 24 minutes. (get it, 24 park runs in 24 hours, all finished in under 24 minutes..) Phil also drove the first three or so allowing me to ride shotgun. Once he stopped and Bradley took over I was moved back to economy class in the back, albeit I had a window seat with my own personal sliding door, luxury.
Things heated up very quickly and it was ‘ suns out, guns out’ ; albeit my guns disappeared years ago.
Over the twenty four hour period there were only a couple of times I really struggled and doubted I’d finish. The first time was Carine Park run at 3pm. The heat was incredible and close to 42c. We had just finished Whitfords park run and assumed the temperature would drop , unfortunately we had not taken into account the sea breeze which had cooled us the park run before Carine, this breeze was well and truly now gone and all we had were Sahara like conditions. I had arranged for my Wife and Mum to meet me at Carine and hand over a Brownes Mocha Chill ( basically a protein drink with a kick and full of sugar) . They both witnessed me stumbling about sucking up icy poles like my life depended on it, actually at that moment in time it may have. Karen has seen this many times before and knew to leave me to it and not get involved, probably the best thing to do. They both left and I was escorted back to the van, we had a schedule to keep.
The furnace that was Carine at 42c. Save by icy poles at the end. All bravado at the start, not so much at the finish !
After Carine we ran the Yokine Park Run which was better as there was some shade and I had recovered a tad by the time we were ejected from the air conditioning heaven that was team Gore’s family van. I just had to survive two more park runs before a good break for dinner but better than that if I could survive Maylands, the next one post Yokine, there was a twenty minute drive to Applecross, in that time I could neck the Brownes Mocha chill. This was a risky move as 600ml of milk can go either way on a upset stomach, it really is a kill or cure move. Luckily in this case it was a cure and I ran Applecross better than all previous park runs finishing ahead of Phil, albeit I had started earlier due to worrying about what was going to happen.
Fueled on Brownes Mocha , I was back at Applecross.
Post Applecross we were eleven down with thirteen to go and hopefully better conditions. We had a good break for dinner and managed to find a Pasta Cup outlet which is built for runners doing this kind of event, carbohydrates in a cup and lots of them. I never finished the portion but it gave me the energy I needed for another six or seven hours of running. As I said earlier I had no real nutrition plan , mainly brought on by having no nutrition. I was surviving on Bix products and any sweets available in the van, thanks Tom, Bradley and Aaron.
A runners dream as we started our journey through the night, carbs and lots of them !
As you can see from the image below I was a new man after my pasta meal, a similar story after my Mocha Chill, with ultrarunning it’s all about hydration and nutrition, get these right and you’re halfway there. Unfortunately getting the mix right is difficult and it takes experience to judge the conditions accordingly and tweak your plan. In this case the humidity was a killer and we were taking onboard at least a litre of electrolytes an hour. I would run the park run , head back to the van and just drink as much as I could stomach before the next one. Alternating between electrolyte tablets and powder, all supplied by Bix. ( https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/products/bix-active ) I made it through the night but for the last few park runs I couldn’t stomachs even water, the end was in sight so I knew I was ok for this one but for longer ultras I use more ‘proper food’ rather than hunting just calories and sugar.
Leading the charge at Edinburgh Oval, fueled on pasta cap meatballs.
The evening park runs became harder and harder with my average pace slowing accordingly. The meatball hit lasted a few hours but eventually the body starts to crave more calories and I knew I wasn’t providing them. My only saving grace was my bix powder which was full of carbs. I actually felt better when I was running and the journeys to the runs started to become the problem. As soon as you stopped you started to sweat and then sitting in an air conditioned van made this even more profuse, luckily my towel protected the upholstery (well it was better than nothing?). While in the van you had to prepare yourself for the next run as time was always against us. You had enough time to update Strava, maybe a quick post on facebook and then drink and eat as much as you could stomach before charging your shozk headphones and iphone. Once you arrived at the next location you had a few minutes to prepare whatever hydration you’d need and then off you went. Changes of clothing or applying sudocrem was a luxury you’d rarely have time to think about, it was that tight on time. I did make sure I used fisocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com/ ) every four hours or so and it helped big time, combined with a couple of nodoze and a few paracetamol, don’t judge me.
Homestead, Champion Lakes, Shipwreck and Calleya came and went and by the time we hit 2am I was ready for a macca’s visit , albeit I don’t eat junk food but was hoping for a bacon and egg sandwich or a hash brown. As it was they hadn’t started the breakfast menu so I was left with a Chicken burger , fries and fanta. This was a mistake and it made the next park run, Bibra Lake at 2:31am, a real test. I started well enough but fell apart in the last few kilometres, I was not in a happy place. It’s amazing how long a 5km can feel , even after running 18 of them previously.
The early night park runs were fun but as the night progressed the fun started to fade.
After Bibra Lake there were five more runs to complete but the next two, South Fremantle and Cottesloe, were particularly testing with beach sections. As we lined up at South Fremantle I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to complete the run in time, it was 3:30am, and we were well into the witching hours. ( between 2am and dawn, the most dangerous time for ultra runners !) As it was when we started to run I found my rhythm early and actually enjoyed the time on the beach. Andy Baldwin got me through this park run together with Sarah and we ran the last few kilometres together , dare I say enjoying the moment. This was then duplicated for the Cottesloe run and then the sun rose and all was good. In any ultra make it to sunrise and you’re good for another few hours, guaranteed.
Canning River was a nice Park Run, a fast circuit and only one loop which I prefer.Bibra Lake was hard, a half eaten Macca’s nearly got the better off me.
Once I spied the sunrise I was never not going to finish. The final three park runs saw other runners join in as we were into early Sunday morning. As the numbers rose so did our energy levels and we could all start to see the finish line a few hours away. Claremont park run was number 22 so a few of the lads put on their tutu’s and skipped around full of the joys of spring ( or summer in this case) The morning temperature was a relief from the heat we had endured the previous day albeit we could feel the temperature start to rise by the minute.
As soo n as the sun came up it was game on. Cottlesloe looking resplendent.
Next it was Burswood before the final park run at Claisebrook. To comply with tradition all the nine runners who had completed all 23 park runs had a shot of Fireball Whisky, to warm the stomachs before the final park run, number 24. I’m not a big drinker in fact for 2023 I had two pints of Guinness after running Delirious West 200 miler in February and maybe a glass of red wine on the plane to Run Britannia in May, that’s it. That was probably my first spirit since the Tequila shots after finishing the Unreasonable East in 2021 ? I digress, the fireball went down well but must admit to feeling a tad ropey that afternoon although the previous 24 hours may have had something to do with that but I’m blaming the fireball.
A Fireball Whisky chaser before the last park run. Warmed the stomach .
So the image below shows the nine of us that finished all 24 park runs and I had to work very hard to get into it. In the end it was an incredible journey with good friends and so much laughter mixed in with some serious ‘pain cave’ time, mentally testing situations and an opportunity to find out more about yourself; what more could you wish for.
If I can ask if you’ve got this far then you show your appreciation by scrolling back to the top of the post and donating to the cause, anything is better than nothing, it all helps. I would really appreciate it.
Done and dusted, the nine WA finishers.
Finally a massive shout out to Team Gore for letting me hitch a ride in their van , which unfortunately should now be destroyed, six sweaty runners for 24 hours in one van does not end well for anybody. At the end of the event I promised never again but after a few days I can’t wait for 2025. Next year I will insist on an esky full of icy poles, avoid macca’s like the plague and bring my own food. Assuming the temperatures are lower maybe next year it’ll be easier, maybe ? I’ve already asked Phil for my seat on the 24 hour bus and I’m hoping the rest of the 2024 runners do the same, it’s tradition and runner love traditions.
Team Gore at the finish.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
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’ !
Fractel ( https://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/ )
