Post #3 left us eating a steak supper at Peaceful Bay caravan park and preparing for the next hop to Boat Harbour, a 18km leg. First thing was a jet ski ride over the inlet. Check out the video, pretty cool. The tide was rushing in when me and Simon got to the inlet and there would have been no way we’d make it across without help.  Funnily enough later in the event ,when the tide was out, you could have walked across easily, and they crew were pulling runners across on SUP’s.

We left the Peaceful Bay  on Thursday night with the plan to get to Parry Beach for a few hours sleep early Friday morning. We reckon we’d make it to Parry’s about 3am, unfortunately we were a tad optimistic. The trail to Boat Harbour was testing mainly due to sleep depravation and by the time we finally reached Boat Harbour both of us needed sleep. Luckily Heath and Simone, the two legends that had previously looked after us on Wednesday at Pingerup, let us use their reclining chairs and threw a couple of blankets over us and put us behind their car for some well needed shut-eye.

I remember hearing Jen Millum and Alexis Oosterhoff,  a couple of the lead 100km runners,  come in and was listening to their conversation as I drifted off.  The next voice I head was Frank Chauveau’s , who would become the oldest runner to complete any USWA events at over 70, anyhow I assumed he was with Jen and Alexis , not realising I had slept for thirty minutes or longer. I remember telling Mark Frank was running in the top five with Jen and Alexis and Mark looking at me like I was mad. I really was very sleep deprived at this state in the game, thinking Frank was challenging for top spot in the 100km race.

Its incredible what a few minutes sleep can do for your mental and physical well being. Never underestimate a dirt nap or in this case the luxury of a recliner and a warm blanket. It felt like a few minutes but we must have slept for at least thirty minutes. Once we woke we were treated to a risotto and a sweet tea, life was good and we felt a million dollars.  It doesn’t take much to boost the spirits this far into the event but you need to also be wary of the opposite happening and the downward spiral is always there waiting for an excuse to start unravelling your race.  Experience teaches you when to stop , recharge and reset before continuing on, in these events its also about sleep depravation and fatigue management, as well as the issues with hydration and nutrition, a juggling act really.

Post Boat Harbour it was a 10km or so leg to Parry beach and swag time. The plan to get there before sunrise evaporated after our power nap but Si and I felt so much better for the sleep.  We eventually made Parry’s and yet again I stumbled into my swag and into a deep sleep oblivious to the surroundings.  Parry’s beach is a great little spot and I always enjoy this part of the course, it was still early morning so it wasn’t that warm. I set off with Simon and his pacer Tim and the three of us were in good spirits but the ‘niggle‘ behind my knee was still there and over time it started to become an issue.

Tim was setting a good pace and after an hour or so I had to let the lads go, I was ok uphill but couldn’t keep up downhill so decided to motor on alone. I kept the two of them in sight and over time caught them again and we eventually staggered into Monkey Rocks aid station together.

From Parry’s to Monkey Rocks you hug the coastline before venturing off into trails and then back to the coastline for some seriously good beach views, albeit I’ve never stopped to really enjoy them bar a quick photo or two.  Next year I packing the budgies and I will be taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some of the best beaches in Western Australia.

Monkey Rocks aid station and Mark had yet again delivered, best spot available in the shade.  Shade is a premium and Mark is an expert at waiting and watching, when a space becomes available he’s like a cobra and strikes in his Audi Q5 ! The BCF Wanderer recliner was ready and the foot bath prepared as well as my go to fuel energy drink Brownes Mocha Chill, 600ml of goodness.

Having too much food and drink at Monkey Rocks cost me my race partner for the event, Simon. I let him go early on in the climb as I was protecting my toes which were so sensitive and climbing on rocks was probably the last place I needed to be at the time. If I stubbed my foot on a rock I literally went through the roof, incredibly painful. I hobbled up and down Monkey Rocks and then staggered into the Denmark section feeling very sorry for myself.  There is a shuttle that leaves Denmark aid station on the hour, every hour,  for a twenty minute or so ride to the next part of the bib. I missed one by a matter of minutes but had decided that a better option was to take the full hour allotted me and have a shower, change of clothes and try and get some food inside me. I ended up on the shuttle alone which meant I would be alone at the other end to continue my journey to the finish, not ideal with night fast approaching.

The ‘niggle‘ which had been bothering me for most of the day was still an issue.  Original I thought it might be a hamstring tear as the back of me knee was bruised but looking back I think it was a bakers cyst.  The medic checked me out as I think they were worried it may have been a DVT injury which then can become a blood clot. I convinced the medic this was not the case and they went for heat stroke, either way I was allowed to carry on but was hindered by this for the rest of the event.

I wasn’t running that well post Denmark, it was getting late and I wasn’t that excited about another night alone , knowing what was ahead. There was lots of walk break but eventually I got into a rhythm and started to speed up. This section to Lowlands is quite non-descript. It’s trail but not that scenic, you really want to be back on the beach. It’s also a good distance, over 20km and company really helps. As the sunset I was really starting to up the pace and I harboured thoughts of catching Simon and Tim.  This is came to a grinding half when I went to put on my head torch and found the freshly charged battery but no head torch. We have to carry two head torches as mandatory gear and this saved my bacon, sorry for the vegan readers, albeit my secondary headtorch is secondary for a reason. Something as small as this can quickly derail you and I must admit sitting on the trail , alone, with darkness fast approaching I was not in a good place. The only saving grace was I was over halfway to the next aid station and I knew there’d be a steak supper waiting for me.

Coming into Lowlands it was time for more hallucinations.  I convinced myself I saw Mark waiting for me at the top of a hill that wasn’t there and also a caravan type structure with people inside also a figment of my imagination.  The mind plays some funny games when you deprive it of sleep.

I was running well but worried about the bakers cyst (we’ll assume that’s what it was.), it did restrict me but positive thinking got me to Lowlands where I was able to vent my frustration at Mark for the headtorch cock-up. This was quickly forgotten once the steak turned up but I made a mistake, with hindsight, by sitting too long and enjoying my meal.  I should have ran through , after first picking up some snacks, and caught Simon and Tim.  As it was I left Lowlands with a full stomach and all the momentum coming into the aid station gone.  I was alone and moving very slowly, checking my watch endlessly and seeing no movement.

At one point I just sat down on the side of the trail turned off my head torch and lay there, totally alone and mentally broken.  The lead female runner was behind me and I decided to just wait for her albeit she would have got a shock seeing me laying on the side of the trail in the dark. Eventually I gave up waiting for her, got back to my feet and staggered onwards.  I was eventually caught not by the lead female but Alexis , a 100 mile runner, who had suffered in the heat and decided to run the race in the dark and sleep in the day. (I call it the vampire strategy) He saved me big time and together we ran to Shelly’s beach, another aid station where my crew couldn’t get to.

Last year at Shelly’s there was no one there as the event had some issues with manning and I wasn’t expecting anything this year. I was totally surprised to see the best setup I think I’ve ever seen at any event, a massive gazebo with four of five runner already in their chairs. We all grabbed doona’s and blankets and before we knew it all five of us were asleep. It was so surreal, just magical. We were all dog tired and we could hear the waves and they were so close you felt they’d come through the tent at any moment. Once the volunteers turned down the lights the waves just swept us off into dreamland. Incredible and I had to be woken two hours later as I was in such a deep sleep. This was my last sleep for the event and it was a good one. One of those moments you never forget, so good.

Alexis hadn’t even stopped at Shelly’s , albeit he’d be sleeping all day, as vampires do I suppose? When I woke the other four runners had already gone and it was me, myself I again on the short hop to Cosy Corner. This section was extremely runnable and I passed the four 100 mile runners and kept ahead of Tex and his daughter albeit I couldn’t drop them as whenever I added pace my ‘niggle’ reminded me it was still there.  I did manage to get to Cosy Corner before the rush and plonked myself next to the food table where Mark got to work. A few minutes later it was like Paddington Station at rush hour, runners everywhere.

One runner had left his phone at Shelly’s which was a big issue as he couldn’t carry on until he was reunited with his phone. It’s part of the mandatory gear so his Wife had to drive to Shelly’s aid station to pick up his phone and then drive to Cosy Corner to deliver it.  Not sure if this was a deliberate act as he was forced to take a power nap after a few bacon and egg rolls, poor guy, while his mates soldiered on.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

At the end of Delirious West post #2 I had just arrived at Mount Clare at some ungodly hour and a lot later than first envisaged.  I remember it was still dark so I’d say around three in the morning or just later. The Mandalay to Mount Clare section is , in my view, the hardest part of the whole event as you are attempting on very tired legs and the terrain and elevation just beat the crap out of you. I stumbled into my swag and was asleep before my head hit the pillow. Sleeping in a swag is so cool albeit I must admit I’ve always been so goosed I find falling asleep easy , I’d probably say the same thing about sleeping in a jet engine in my state most of Delirious. !

After what felt like five minutes,  but Mark assures me was longer,  I was back up and raring to go, well raring for some weetbix and a cup of sweet tea which Mark dutifully provided. A change of clothes and it was up for the next stage , a small 10km hop to Walpole with some nice running terrain and some down hill as you run off Mount Clare.  The only benefit of running up Mount Clare is running off Mount Clare the following morning. You really feel a million dollars compared to the previous night where sometimes you question if you are actually moving forward ? Running into Walpole  with the sunrise greeting you is a special time and you also know the next two sections after that, Tingle Tree and Tree Tops, although challenging are shaded and very pretty. I say pretty in the broadest sense of the word of course, at the time I’m not sure I’m that overly excited as its another climb of course but avoiding direct sunlight is a big bonus. The distance between Mount Clare , Walpole and then Tingle Tree is about 10km or less so you get to see your crew a couple of times before a big hop to Tree tops and the halfway point.  I’ve always enjoyed this section of the course and getting to Tree Tops is a big mental boost, you know the next half of the event is a lot more scenic with some great beach sections mixed with some runnable sections.

Walpole is a sleep station and has great showers but I was keen to keep moving having only woke up an hour or two earlier. I was in and out in a matter of minutes and heading toward Tingle Tree, another small hop. There is some elevation after a flat start but it was good to be out of the sun and as I said earlier it’s a very beautiful place to be.  I had Simon ahead of me as he had passed me while I slept at Mount Clare, if you remember he was behind me at Mandalay and Mark wouldn’t let me wait.  I was still hanging onto a podium place with Aaron and Simon ahead of me.

I stumbled up towards Tingle Tree and I had my first hallucination as I neared the aid station. Ahead of me I saw Simon taking a photo of Tingle Tree and called out to him. As I neared the Tree I couldn’t see him, a quick walk around confirmed he wasn’t there.  I’m always amazed what the mind can make you see. No worries, I laughed it off and continued on my merry way making the aid station minutes later.

Tingle Tree aid station is on the side of the road and unfortunately  there was little or no shade. Dave and Bella Kennedy had set up the aid station but I had Mark there so was well looked after. The heat and flies started to become annoying so after another quick stop I was off in pursuit of Simon who had left minutes before I arrived.  It would had been good to have some company as I had been alone since before Mandalay and there’s only so many Taylor Swift songs you can listen to ?

Funny thing was I actually ran past Simon as he was grabbing some sleep at one of the huts along the way to Tree Tops. I stopped for some water and a ‘trail shower’ under the tap and then continued on my way towards Tree tops, with Taylor Swift at full blast egging me on. I thought I saw someone but assumed it was a hiker taking refuge in the hut, infact it was Simon.  He had heard me but not been quick enough to catch me. He did eventually catch me but that was a few hours later as we both reached Tree tops together. We were both very happy to see the Tree tops aid station and gorged ourselves on bacon and egg rolls, sweets and various drinks. The ladies at this aid station were brilliant and we were also lucky enough to have a coffee van so we had quality coffee on tap. It really does not get any better.  Halfway eating bacon and eggs rolls with quality coffee, we were in ultra heaven.

As part of the Delirious West 200 miler ( and the 100 miler) you walk the Tree Tops walk. Its an incredible structure high above the ground, as the name suggest you are walking in the tree top’s and it is very high.  Incredible views.

Simon left Tree Tops first and I caught up with him pretty quickly. I’d forgotten about some elevation coming out of Tree Tops and the route wasn’t as downhill as I remembered it but we kept moving forward with the thought of time with Charles and Mark at Conspicuous Cliffs and then some time on the beach.  It was warm but nothing compared to the previous two days or I don’t remember being that hot. I suppose we’d avoided the hottest part of the day climbing from Walpole to Tree Tops.

The trail from Conspicuous Cliffs to Peaceful Bay are very good, great scenery and a smattering of sand making running enjoyable, without the constant stepping on some parts of the trail. This is then interspersed with beach time and you get to run some great little coves with spectacular colours as the sun disappears over the horizon.

Finally we made it to Peaceful Bay where Mark prepared his famous steak and onions supper. I’m not sure if his cooking is getting better or I’m just more hungry ever time I eat it but it tasted incredible. He even had one for Simon who also commented it was a great feed.  It made running 134km to get there seem reasonable for the food. Luckily Mark had brought enough for another steak dinner the next night and yet again it tasted even better. The man is the Gordon Ramsey of the ultra crewing world.

Right that’s enough for post #3, over half way but a lot more to write about….

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

We hit the first aid station as the lead group or close, I think Phil Fowler and the ‘Malaysian Missile‘ Andrew Farmers were ahead of us at this point.  The first aid station is a good distance, about 25km , and no crew are allowed so I would not get to see Mark until Chesapeake East around the marathon mark.  We didn’t stay long, a couple of biscuits, fill the water bottles and bladder, cup of sweet tea and we were away. Lots of smiles , it was early in the day.

Video coming into aid station one Chesapeake West.

I always find day one the hardest at Delirious and a lot of runners DNF late in the day, close to Mandalay or Mount Clare. I always feel they’d be better off taking a few hours rest and then restarting the assault at sunrise the next morning. It’s incredible the difference sunrise makes, it reinvigorates you. I know a lot of runners push through and basically run themselves into exhaustion. I will mention to Shaun , the RD, that maybe next year make Broke Inlet and Mandalay sleep stations, or at least provide a couple of camp beds to give the back markers the option for some well needed rest.  The first sleep station is at Walpole around 140km and I’ve never made it that far and I’m normally in the top half of the field. When I hit Mount Clare I’m exhausted and always stumble into my swag and a deep sleep albeit only for a couple of hours before starting again at sunrise. It’s only a quick 10km to Walpole where I’ll either have a shower or go straight past and start toward the half way mark at Tree Tops.

The early part of day one is good trails mixed with some sand running , shade and open sections. A good mix and the heat is turned down as you’re still running in the early morning. From the start to the first aid station it was humid but not uncomfortable.  Early on a bit of sand but no real elevation to talk about, a good start to the event. The event gets better day by day and the first day is just a head down and get to the end type activity in my view.

Day one has some good runnable sections which is more than can be said for later in the event. You can also find some good shade pre-Dog Road aid station which offers some protection. Unfortunately post Dog Road aid station to Pingerup aid station (around 16km in the heat of the day) is open and you basically cook. This year was hotter than normal with temperatures reaching 41c , unusual for this part of the world. I took as much ice as I could at Dog Road aid station and devoured about five slushies. (icy poles), helping to keep the core temperature down albeit briefly. It was then a case of running in Sahara Desert  like conditions, albeit probably hotter,  for the next two hours before the oasis that is the Pingerup aid station.

I did have a moment of clarity on the way to Pingerup, shown in this video below.  I may have bee a tad Delirious but you get the point.. I think?

I fell three  during Delirious, the first time before we’d even got to one kilometre and  the second time post Dog Road, can’t remember exactly where the third tumble was but I remember it was another soft landing luckily. The post Dog Road fall was more a slide on soft sand but it had dirt beneath it so it looked like I had buried myself in dirt when I got into Broke Inlet aid station. Falling in this race is part of the experience, if you run for nearly four days on trails , fatigued, eventually the ground comes calling. A good trail runner knows how to fall, it’s all about going with gravity and rolling away. Saying that I have various wounds on my arms and legs from failing this over the years but for 2024 I consider three unscheduled trips a good outcome.  My good friend Marty hurt his knee coming into Broke Inlet and basically walked the rest of the way to the finish. That my friends is pretty bloody hardcore. Supported by his partner Kat and crew, Dangerous Dave, he finished in just over 100 hours, incredible effort. Delirious lets to see who you really are and what you are made off, Marty is made of steel and grit !

After Pingerup there is a nice trail before you hit Broke Inlet aid station around 16km later, good for 90km total. You’re normally racing the sunset and the challenge is to get to the aid station and have dinner in daylight. This year I made it and enjoyed Mark’s spaghetti bolognaise while waiting for Simon to come in and run the next section, to Mandalay, with company.

As you can see from the image below the scenary is spectacular and it’s always really quiet with just the local birdlife breaking the silence of the day, quite magical. I always enjoy this part of the day and this part of the course, you have the cooler temperatures and there never seems to be any wind, totally still.  You end up reflecting on the day and preparing for dinner and the cocoon of the headtorch.

Astrid Volzke was at Broke Inlet and captured some awesome images , so talented. As you can see I’m pretty ‘goosed‘ by the time I arrive at Broke Inlet. It had been a long hard day at the office in sweltering conditions. I was looking forward to dinner, a foot bath and some well earned ‘chair time’.  Mark ushered me to our spot behind the aid station. With Mark’s experience we always score the best spots and today was no different, he is a crewing black belt.

Off came the shoes to admire the damage of the day. Coming into this event I had lost most of my toe nails so was only concerned with blisters, so far nothing to report albeit they didn’t look the prettiest pair of feet.  I’d seen a few runners tape up the front of the Altra Olympus 5 trail shoes to stop the sand but I don’t have issues normally and just empty them if I feel a build up of foreign material . I wear gators but with the breathable fabric on the Altras they are pretty useless. On the bright side if you get them wet they dry very quickly.

Sitting down at Broke Inlet aid station I was knackered, the day had been brutal due to the extreme heat and I had probably ran too quick for the conditions. I think at this time I was top three which was unusual for me as I normally start slower and build into the event.  I think in the image below I am contemplating the next two jumps between aid stations. A twenty kilometre hop to Mandalay and then another plus twenty kilometre stretch to Mount Clare. I know from experience this marathon distance would take 6-8 hours as I already had over 90km, over 12 hours,  in the legs of hard running in extreme conditions. It was going to be a grind and I was right, even Mark’s spaghetti bolognaise couldn’t cheer me up.

What did cheer me up was a warm foot bath after dinner after the image below shows. That is me after a great cup of sweet tea and dinner, what a difference good crewing makes to a runner.

Post Broke Inlet Simon and I stumbled off into the night and headed towards Mandalay. I had brought a coupe of audible books for the night running as you tend to lose yourself in the cocoon headtorch light and a decent book can make the time, and distance, disappear faster. Unfortunately for me I’d made the rookie error of not downloading either book and with no internet access for many hours I was reduced to listening to past downloaded books. It was time to go back to an old favourite of mine, Green Light by Matthew McConaughey. I’d listened to the whole book while I’d ran the Unreasonable East in June 2022 but it was so good a second listen was no issue, albeit you know what’s coming of course.

Funnily enough I was a bit disoriented starting the Mandalay leg and felt myself leaning to my left and having to right myself before repeating the whole process. I suspected vertigo but as I’d never had this issue before I wasn’t sure. In the end I decided I was just fatigued, under hydrated  and cooked from the days adventures and just tried to concentrate on staying upright. Simon seemed to be suffering the same problem and was wobbling all over the track in front of me. This continued until he announced he needed a dirt nap as he had experienced this in previous races, I was ok to continue so agreed to meet him in Mandalay.

Coming into Mandalay later than planned and still in a podium position. Simon was quite a way behind and Phil came in but wanted to sleep so I was pushed out of the aid station onto the beach alone. This was not ideal. Mandalay  to Mount Clare is the worst leg of the whole event, in my view,  due to the elevation, terrain and you’re attempting it at your lowest ebb.  I wanted to wait for Simon but Mark insisted I go on, sometimes having a crew can be a curse. It didn’t let me down and this leg was as bad as I had remembered from previous years albeit I had never ran it alone before.  Don’t get me wrong I enjoy the peace and solitude of night running alone but I also enjoy company, it does make time and distance disappear quicker.

There’s a small section of beach before you take a left and head back onto the trail and towards Mount Clare. Next year I’m determined to run this fresh rather than moving  like an extra from the ‘walking dead’, I just need to persuade Mark to set up the swag and let me sleep?

Mandalay beach to Mount Clare tested me and distance dragged while time sped up, how does that happen ? I’d planned to reach Mount Clare by 2am but was looking like 3am would be more likely , or later. The terrain is brutal with many climbs and stairs that go on for ever, stairway to heaven on steroids.  The legs were also starting to complain, funny that, and I was going through fisiocrem quickly. If you’ve never used fisiocrem in events you need to start, it just does what it says on the tube, reinvigorates tired muscles. I have started using fisiocrem after every run and it had made a big difference in my recovery, incredible product.  ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ )

The suspension bridge is a sign the final climb is about to start and it is a serious assault. Incredibly steep but thankfully pretty short, all things being relative. You then have a kilometre or two of road before you stumble into the aid station and fall into your swag for a well earned two hours sleep. Trust me, that swag feels like a five star hotel and you’re asleep before your head  touches the pillow, it’s an incredible feeling.

Right, that’s post#2 done and we’re only into day two, this blog may take longer than the race itself…

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

So off we go again, Delirious West 2024.   Absolutely stoked to be back running this beast of a 200 miler supported by the best crew in WA, maybe Australia, Mark Lommers.. As is tradition Mark drove the trusty Audi Q5 and early Monday afternoon off we drove , Pemberton here we come. This was Mark’s third time supporting me and he now knows what I need before I do. He is calm under pressure, never flustered and a pleasure to be around, the shining light when you are in a very dark place. He also cooks a mean spaghetti bolognaise and an incredible steak, with onions. The boy can run  a bit too and continually pushes the boundaries of pace and beer competing, and dominating, the bogan run.

We drive down Monday and stay in the Pemberton area so we can climb the Gloucester tree. Unfortunately this year it was closed so we decided on a long breakfast instead. Shannon Dale organised the gathering and before we knew it it turned into a mass event full of nervous and excited runners. So much fun and so much laughter. That’s the point of Tuesday, just meeting your fellow runners, checking in, bogan run , pub meal and an early night. It is a great day and never disappoints. So many stories which are added to ever year, Delirious is the event that just keeps growing.

After a very long breakfast it was back to the hotel to pick up our gear and head to Northcliffe for the final check-in, bogan run and the race briefing over dinner. Again its so cool to get together, check in , see old friends and make new ones. Then watch the bogan run, the run that stops a small town before gorging on quality tukka while listening to the race briefing.

I did make silly error Tuesday afternoon post breakfast. Jumping in the pool after breakfast I forgot my sunscreen and paid the price that evening and beyond. I was fried like a Mars Bar in a Scottish fish shop, silly boy. As you can see from the image above my head is starting to glow!

Unfortunately this year Warwick Crapper got lost and failed to win the bogan year albeit I feel his chances are getting slimmer each year as the race organisers seem to find a way to derail him. Luckily he takes it all in his stride and concentrates on the alcohol intake rather than finishing times. He informed me he’d be back for a fourth attempt next year.

After the race briefing on Tuesday evening I drove Mark (and Warwick) back to Pemberton and started the last minute preparation for the main event.  Truth be told after four years I have my game plan pretty much sorted but you can always find an excuse to pack and then repack ‘stuff’ the night before, it’s a running thing.

There are many traditions when it comes to Delirious and one of my favorites is the waffles on race morning, served up by Duncan and his wonderful team at the Nortcliffe hotel. I figure before a 200 miler you really can eat what you like, doesn’t matter how many calories you digest you’ll use more when you’re running for the whole day. My logic is probably flawed as I’m pretty sure I put on weight over the event but you can’t muck about with traditions.

Post waffles I scuttled off to the start, Wednesday 7am and it was on like donkey Kong. Christmas for an Ultra runner.  The event didn’t get off to a great start with the new generator giving up the ghost before it could erect the starting arch. If this was the worse thing to befall the event I’d be stoked.

Right here we go , video one, day one.

I went hard on the first day settling into the lead group and just enjoying the banter albeit always wary of what was ahead. I was surrounded by good friends and loving the journey although the heat was starting to become challenging and moving forward I knew I would drop off this pace later in the day

It was good to run with a small group albeit Tristan jumped off the back before Dog Road aid station and Simon and Aaron left me at Dog Road so I was alone at 50km, so be it. In a race this long you need to run at your pace and this can fluctuate by the minute, hour or day. I’d bump into Simon again and we’d leap frog each other for most of the fist three days.

Right, that’s enough for post #1, there will be a few more. A race report for Delirious is the like the main event, it can take days to 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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

After last weekends 24 park run in 24 hours  ( post here :- https://www.runbkrun.com/2024/01/15/running-in-a-furnace-for-a-great-cause-24-park-runs-in-24-hours/ ) what better way to prepare for the Delirious West 200 miler in a few weeks ( https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/  ) then another ultra, this time on tired legs.  I have ran the Australia Day Ultra three times in the past , the 50km option the first time (2016) and then two 100km events. (2017-18)

The first time I ran the 100km Rob Donkersloot produced a video on the event ; worth a look …

Looking back at this video its funny to think of where I am now compared to then. In the video I was still a marathon runner chasing the elusive sub 2 hour 40 minutes marathon time, where as now I’m an ultra runner,  100%.  In the back of my mind I had  visions of taking the 55-60 AURA age group record , to go with my 50-55 time set in 2018,  but knew this would be a big ask after the previous weekends racing.  More important was just finishing and using this as my last long run before the big dance in a few weeks at Delirious.

I couldn’t persuade any of the usual suspects to come along so had to drive myself the two hours to the start, leaving Perth at 8pm to arrive at Australind just after 10pm to pick up my bib, chat to the Race Directors, Ron McGlynn and Chris Lark, and move my gear to the middle aid station where the lovely Charlotte would look after me. I was also lucky enough to have Mick Francis and his partner Val there to give me a hand. Being a 6.25k out and back loop meant that having my gear at the middle aid station I was only ever a maximum of just over six  kilometres from it. My plan was to run through the start aid station and also the one at the far end and just use the middle one.  I had adopted this strategy on the three previous times I ran the course and it worked a treat albeit I tended to stop at the aid station both ways when initially I intended to only stop one way.  If I’m going to break the age group record I’ll need to work on my aid station strategy and employ a dedicated crew with a plan, release the inner ‘Phil Gore’. 

The race kicks off five minutes into Saturday morning in an attempt to avoid runners turning up Saturday night for a Sunday morning event, this has happened a few times and is always a risk with a midnight start.  There wasn’t a big field this year and truth be told since the race decoupled itself from the the Ultra Series WA umbrella numbers have dropped.  The 100k ( eight laps of a 6.25k out and back loop) and 75k (six laps) runners started first with the 50k ( four laps) starting at 3am and the 25k (two laps) starting at 6am.

It was fairly quiet for the first three hours and I put on Spotify and Taylor Swift to keep me company.  Laps one and two were reasonable enough although I wasn’t hitting the pace I needed for the age group record so put that one to bed early.  I had talked about cruising through the night at less than 5 min/k pace , banking time in the cool evening conditions, this didn’t happen.  I wasn’t surprising really and I turned my attention to plan B, enjoy the event and finish strong.

Lap three and four and the wheels started to fall off. The 50k runners joined us but were running far too quick and just added to the feeling of slowing down. At one point I talked myself into finishing at 50k and ticking the ‘last long run‘ before Delirious box without doing too much damage to my legs. With this in mind I finished lap four (50k) but then had a change of heart, if I could make sunrise and maybe score a cup of sweet tea there was a chance. I also think a couple of No Doz tablets , combined with a  paracetamol tablet or two, also helped, don’t judge me.

Running past the middle aid station I put in my request and Charlotte managed to find some sugar in the bottom of her bag and produce a perfect cup of sweet tea. I covered my legs in fisocrem (this stuff is magic ! https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) , downed a yoghurt pouch and with the sun peaking over the horizon started to feel so much better.  Laps five and six I maintained a reasonable pace but around 75k I started to up the tempo. With all ultra marathons you have good times and bad times. With bad times you know the good times will eventually turn up and visa-versa. It’s weird but at 75k into the event I felt better than the first kilometre, this is ultra running.

I was comfortably in third place at the end of lap six but noticed the runner in second was coming back to me. My pace had improved to less than 5min/k and I started to reel him in. By the start of lap seven he only had a few hundred metres on me and before the end of that lap I had moved into second place. I’m putting down my fast finish to all the hours spent on my treadmill in the sauna that is a Perth summer. Recovering from a hamstring tear in October I had spent a lot of time walking and running on a 15% incline while listening to podcasts.  I really believe this helped me improve my fitness when I started to combine these garage sessions with my normal running. Anyhow whatever the reason I finished like a train for a good negative split, going out in 4hours 51 minutes and coming back in 4hours 42 minutes; total time 9 hours 34 minutes, good for second position.

I was presented with my merchandise and medal with a small trophy for second place by the Race Directors as I crossed the line, this it seems was the presentation. As I said earlier a real grass roots event, nothing fancy, a coupe of timing mats, few aid stations, eager volunteers  and that’s about it.  The event just works and I’m really looking forward to going back in 2025 and smashing that AURA 55-60 age group record, why wouldn’t you ? For anybody chasing an ultra PB this could be the event for you. Flat as a pancake and the midnight start avoids most of the heat of the Perth summer albeit humidity can play a part. Next year Ron is adding a 12.5k option ( two laps) to try and entice park runners into the fray and start down the slippery slope that is ultra running.

Finally a quick shout out to the products that have helped me on my running journey lately.  Fisiocrem and Humantecar are incredible products that help massively with recovery or preparation. Both products just work and I used fisiocrem on the run and humantecar bandages post run.  I was back running on Monday afternoon with a spring in my step, ready for another week of training. This would have been impossble without these products.

Bix hydration products kept me fueled and again without Bix I would have struggled. It is my go to product for all hydration while on the run and also recovering. Fractel headgear, T8 clothing , Coros watches, Osprey products , altra footwear (although for this event I used Hoka Mach X road shoes) and shokz ; thankyou.

Right that’s it for a few weeks. I have a quiet week and then one final push before the Delirious West 200 miler kicking off February 7th in sunny Northcliffe. To say I’m excited is an understatement.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

Day five was ace, running with good friends in perfect English summer conditions was glorious. I had such a great day but unfortunately all that unraveled very quickly that afternoon just before dinner.  I had overdosed on the protein drinks at the finish of stage five, or so I thought, and came down with a bad case of diarrhea  as soon as I got back to the accommodation.   After dinner I did my normal routine of preparing for the next day, stocking up on gels, hydration (including bix tablets https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au) and a half an hour on the massage gun and human tecar massage spray. ( https://athleticus.com.au/ )  As the night went on I started to feel a chill coming on and decided to call it early and scuttle off to bed. That night I think I probably spent more time in the toilet than in the bedroom which was difficult as I was sharing a three bedroom apartment with two toilets and five other runners.

Needless to say the next morning I was not at my best and after packing (we were moving accommodation that evening) I struggled back to bed feeling very ropey. Eventually I had to leave the comfort of my bed and staggered to the van that would take us to the day five finishing point to start our journey.  As the image below shows I wasn’t looking great and knw I was in for a long day at the office.

Once we arrived at the start I knew I was in trouble. The conditions had changed from day five and we were faced with a very chilly, foggy morning and I was completely unprepared. As the group disembarked I was the last to leave the sanctuary of the van and was soon left behind as I had to make several unplanned toilet stops as my diarrhea had not gotten any better.  With the fog engulfing me and the cold air going right through me I was not in a good place, add in the diarrhea and it was a perfect storm, I was in trouble.

As we moved off Exmoor the early morning fog disappeared and at least I could see my surroundings.  The terrain didn’t make running fun though, lots of stones testing every step.

Coming off the moor we ran through a really cool forest with some great running but by this stage I was leapfrogging from toilet stop to toilet stop and constantly looking for places to answer the call of nature without the possibility of being seen. Around this time Andy Gray did catch me as I was in the prone position and he was backtracking as he was lost, a tad embarrassing for both parties. I explained the situation and he had some anti-diarrhea tablets which I gobbled down. It was good to see other runners and I latched on to the group albeit keeping my distance as I scuttled to yet another toilet stop.

There was some really good running off Exmoor and before the first aid station but all I could muster was a walk and a slow ‘death jog‘ at best. Saying that I was able to hold onto the last group and we came upon aid station one together.  I was going to call it at this stage but a cup of tea with three sugars and the sun coming out persuaded me to continue. I felt like death but what other option was there really.

Eventually the sun came out and things warmed up and the trail just got better. Again I was dropped by the last group and walked more than I ran. I was going downhill fast but just had to keep moving forward.  Unfortunately diarrhea was still a big issue and as I moved through towns and more densely populated areas it was becoming a real problem, for me and the general public.

Just after aid station one I came across a café and decided to get a Cappuccino that I had been promising myself for the last six days. It felt good to sit down in the sun and drink a coffee but this was a temporary reprieve, I was goosed and when I set off went backwards pretty fast. With aid station two coming up, around thirty kilometres into the stage, I ran though a small coastal town and on a whim decided to pick up a COVID test. In the back of my mind I always knew there was a chance I could catch COVID with the flight from Australia and I think I knew , deep down, I had it by this stage.

Not sure what beach this is but there’s a funny story attached to it.  While running on the trail my diarrhea finally got the better of me and I was forced to scuttle off the trail and into the ocean to wash off my shorts. So here am I,  shorts in hand,  unbeknown to me two walkers right behind me. Needless to say both parties didn’t know where to look. Funny now, not so amusing at the time.

I made aid station two in last place and pulled out my COVID test which proved my diagnosis, positive. Devastated doesn’t get anywhere near what I felt. I rang my Wife in tears , my dream shattered, a broken man. Two things would stop me finishing, an injury of course and COVID. I was having such a good time and was living the runners dream, Run Britannia was everything I imaged it to be and more,  and to have that taken from you was just gut wrenching, even now I find it hard to describe the feeling.

I had always said if I did catch COVID during the event I would pull out. I wasn’t prepared to risk possible long term physical damage trying to run an ultra a day while recovering from the virus. Recovering from any virus takes time and the strain on the heart , combined with my age, was a risk I was not prepared to take. It was the right decision to leave when I did and return home to recuperate, the right decision but it didn’t help.

Back in Oz I spent two weeks sleeping more than anything else. COVID drained me physically and I was mentally destroyed leaving Run Britannia early, not a happy chap truth be told. It took me over six weeks to even think about running and I cut myself off from family and friends , working from home but really just existing. What made it worse was I knew the event was ongoing and I cut all ties with social media , it was just too hard .  Dark times indeed.

As the image below shows I was fairly inactive post Run Britannia, physically and mentally broken.  Probably my longest time without running , bar injuries, in the last ten years. Dark times indeed. I also discovered how easy it is too put on weight, without really trying and am now learning how hard it is to shift it. !

The last seven or so weeks I’ve found my mojo and training has stated in earnest for the Feral Pig 100 miler in the first week of November. ( https://feralpigultra.com.au/ ) The best advice when you fall off a horse is get back on , this also rings true for ultra running albeit riding a horse in an ultra will probably get you disqualified ?  Post Feral is my fourteenth 6 inch ultra start in December ( https://6inchtrailmarthon.com ) and then the Australia Day Ultra 100k late January ( https://australiadayultra.com/ ) before Delirious West 200 miler in February ( https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ ) , Light horse Ultra April ( https://lighthorseultra.com.au/ ) and Herdy’s Front yard in May.  ( https://herdysfrontyard.com.au/ ) Looks like I’m well and truly back on the horse from a racing point of view.

So that’s it for Run Britannia, didn’t even finish the first week so very disappointed but had so much fun when I was there. Met some wonderful people who I regret not getting to know better in my short time but I always envisages five weeks of togetherness not less than one. The organisation was top class , thankyou James and his crew, and if you’re thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for this beast of an event I recommend you do. Will I go back ? I would love to but the cost and time away from the family is tough to justify two years in a row but never say never, if the dice rolls my way who knows?

Would I like to go back ? 100% yes, it was such an incredible adventure there is nothing I’d rather do but sometimes you’re dealt a hand and you just got to play it, this year I twisted when I should have stuck.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

We left our accommodation which we had been in  for three nights and boarded the bus to take us back to the finish from day four, which was a carpark outside a pub in Bideford.  Straight away I saw the answer to my prayers, a motorised scooter, just what I needed for another day mainly on concrete paths or b-roads. This was frowned upon by my fellow competitors , and probably the owner of the vehicle, so off on foot I scampered.

The first ten kilometres from the start was on concrete paths that run through stunning scenery. Not quite the coastal beauty we had experienced previously but flat and fast.  It was good to get some kilometres under the belt early and we hit the first pit stop very quickly. I ordered my obligatory tea with three sugars and wolfed down a few Rat Race bars. I had ran with my good mate Dave ‘Dangerous’ Douglas and we shared some great stories and bad jokes, time disappeared quickly, funnily enough like Dave at the pit stop. Dangerous didn’t like to hang about and treated each stage as a mini race, I was more than happy to chew the fat , and drink the tea, at aid stations, after all it was Run Britannia  not Race Britannia.

As well as myself there was one other Australian who had made the long trip from down under, here the two of us ham it up for the camera.

Highlight of day two was definitely spending time with Dangerous Dave. We were room buddies and two peas in a pod, time with Dave passed very quickly despite his very bad jokes. Meeting someone for the first time but instantly knowing you’d be good friends is rare and with Dangerous I had that connection. I have many regrets with leaving Run Britannia early but missing out on spending the extra four weeks running with Dave is my main one.  He killed it of course and was one of the dozen or so runners who finished every stage, despite a dodgy ankle for a few stages where he had to hobble the whole stage and his Father passing away in the first week. Dave is a genuine nice guy, plain and simple. I look forward to spending some time in his company, someday.

Dave was also useful to act as a human shield so I was always keen to let him lead as we ran along the b-road ‘killing fields’ , as I call them.  As I said in a previous post cars aren’t expecting runners on these roads and you really need to approach every corner under the assumption there is a Volkswagen van being driven by a homicidal maniac just around the corner, whose sole purpose in life is to add you to his hood ornament.

Saw this outside a local church and couldn’t resist, you’d be mad not to surely.

Dave and I made our way through the countryside stopping only for the odd photo opportunity too good to turn up.  He has a flare for photographer Dave, as well as running.  How good is the scenery ? Clean streams flowing under beautiful hand built bridges from a by-gone era, so quintessential English.

A Dangerous Dave original; photo.

The day was spent mainly on back lanes with the odd section of b-roads , running through picture postcard English countryside in perfect summer conditions. The organisers couldn’t have hoped for these conditions in their wildest dreams, we were truly blessed.

Leaving the last aid station for the day I started on the last climb and was met with the Union Jack flying in the wind. An in credible view on a day of incredible views, this day really couldn’t have got any better.

The last trail in the Dunkery and Horner wood, how bloody English is that ?  The image below shows the last rise to the finish aid station on Exmoor. Conditions really were stunning and a sharp contrast to the start the next day.  I was just behind Martin and we both finished within a few minutes of each other. There were three or four other runners waiting to greet us, as well as the Rat Race crew, at the finish, hugs all around and then onto the food.

We finished day five on Exmoor in glorious conditions. The Rat Race crew were there and I gorged on protein shakes, donuts and fruit. After running all day it was an oasis of food, just what us runners needed.  My Altra Vanish Tempo’s had been through a rough couple of days and looked the worse for wear but had been a good shoe choice for the day. Probably back to the Altra Olympus trainers for day six as there would be some time on Exmoor, which was mainly single track trail. Unbeknown to me at the time today would be my last full day on Run Britannia and it was certainly a day I will never forget, similar to day six but for completely opposite reasons.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

We viewed a forty one day stage, mainly on road, as a rest day after three brutal trail days running nearly sixty kilometres each day.  I’d miss the ocean views but not the testing terrain, I was ready for a short (relatively speaking) , easy road day.

After about ten minutes running it was time to say good buy to the coast and we wouldn’t see the ocean again until we arrived in Bideford at the end of the stage.

Once we got on the back roads I even bumped into a deer which I wasn’t expecting so close to civilisation. A surreal moment where we both stopped and just eye balled each other before the deer vanished, pretty cool start to the day.

A lot of day four was on back lanes and b-roads, the back lanes were ok but the b-roads were like the killing fields. Motorists didn’t expect to see runners and drove accordingly, you had to be very careful how you crossed any corners making sure you gave yourself and the vehicles space to avoid a collision. You needed to keep your wits about you that’s for sure and on a number of occasions I was forced to find safety deep in the hedgerow. To be fair it’s not the motorists fault , we were invading their territory. Still made the day interesting.

It was another big day as we left our first county moving from Cornwall into Devon. I don’t think you will ever get those conditions for the Cornwall stage again, they were absolutely perfect. Constant sunshine but never too hot that you couldn’t enjoy your surroundings and what surroundings. I truly believe, when conditions are that good, there is nowhere in the world I’d rather be. If they could just warm up the water , maybe climate change will turn Cornwall tropical , or should I say more tropical?

There really are no words for Cornwall, it had put on a show and delivered the most magical conditions showcasing all she had to offer, perfect , just perfect.

So it was over to Devon and see what she had to offer us, I was leaving my comfort zone as I grew up in Cornwall and we always had a rivalry with our nearest neighbour, albeit I was looking forward to some Devon Scones with Jam and Cream.

Truth be told it was very hard to distinguish between a Cornish lane and a Devon one. You were also just as likely to meet Lewis Hamilton wanna-be’s in their Volkswagen Vans so you still needed to keep your wits about you or you’d end up a hood ornament.

The one oasis of hydration and nutrition , apart from the local village shops or town supermarkets,  was the Rat Race pit stops. These were a gourmet smorgasbord and manned by the best helpers since Father Christmas discovered Elves. We were treated like royalty  and the hardest part was leaving albeit the next one was never far away. The crew were so good and the tukka was delicious , again I must mention the Rat Race bars.

Funnily enough I did manage to miss a few pit stops and this was entirely my fault as they were well marked and before each day we were drilled on their locations. The old adage ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’… it’s like you can put out a pitstop but you cannot guarantee the runner will stop and find it !

The final part of this stage was the South West Coastal Path which was stunning. We left the ‘take your life in your hands’ b-road , ran over a picturesque bridge (see below) and then followed this path to Bideford. Some great images and I even persuaded a cyclist to take a photo.

The images never do the actual scenery justice, I even went to the expense of buying an iphone 14 pro but still the final photos never show how good it really was. A photo doesn’t show the whole picture so to speak, the summer sunshine warming you as you move along trails that make you glad to be alive, breathing in the beauty of all around you.  I really haven’t got the vocabulary to fully describe the feeling, if there are even words that are available. You just need to get out there and experience it yourself. Crossing this bridge, leaving the road, and heading onto the South West coastal trail was invigorating as I also knew the end was in sight and I was feeling great. No fatigue just enjoying the moment and cruising to another finish.

Although there were sections of concrete the surroundings more than made up for the terrain underfoot. So much greenery, England in full bloom is a glorious place to be.

There was trails as well as the concrete footpath so you were never too far from some great trail running and the odd stile to keep you honest.

When I persuaded a cyslist to take this photo I was close to the finish and feeling so good. The stage was relatively short compared to the previous three days so I had lots left in the tank, it was virtually a rest day as we had also left the testing undulations of the coastal path. It had been a great day.

All that was left to do was get a great selfie with some of my housemates and then all scuttle off to the pub for a good feed, tell a few tall stories of the days adventures and prepare to repeat the whole process the next day, we really were living the dream.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

Day three and it was another glorious day in sunny Cornwall. Padstow to Bude would turn out to be very , very special. It 59km kilometres of incredible running over scenery that defied logic at times, it was just too perfect. I felt like I was seeing a picture postcard around every corner, each one outdoing the previous.

Managed to get some video of the ferry crossing and Dave ‘Dangerous’ Dougla getting reprimanded for standing on the seats. I wish I’d taken more video, next time !

The highlight of day three was running through Port Isaac, an iconic village made famous by the TV series Doc Marten.  It did not disappoint. I’ve added three images below but could have added hundreds more, the place is a picture postcard on steroids’ and the conditions were absolutely perfect.  When the weather is this good there is no where else you’d rather be, nowhere.

The only downside is the water looks so inviting but if you venture in there there is a good chance you’ll lose the family jewels for many hours , post dip, it ain’t warm.

How incredible is that view, it was hard to move on , leaving such a paradise and a true Cornish iconic village. Thankyou Port Isaac, you delivered in spades.

We were warned on day one that North Cornwall was one of the hardest sections and although we were blessed with perfect conditions it didn’t disguise the terrain which was testing. If you weren’t going down steep slopes you were ascending similar gradients. Luckily there were no time pressures and it was up to each runner how quick they’d run the stage. Stopping for a photo was also an excuse for a well earned rest or a break for some hydration and nutrition.

The beauty of the Cornish coast is the splattering of small village stores hidden in the coves supplying the best refreshments, like unplanned aid stations filled to the gunnels with delicious offering. I was parched and this ice cream , together with some lucozade energy drink, recharged my batteries big time. I skipped off up the next hill with renewed vigor before bumping into some tourists who offered to take a photo, the day just kept on giving.

Experiencing the runners high after a great Cornish ice cream and also happy for a rest after the hill I had just clambered up. Notice my foot wear in this photo. I had gone for the Altra Vanish Tempo’s , which were brand new at the start of this stage, this was a mistake as I was taking my life in my hands on some of the steep climbs, especially going down. My logic was the path was very runnable and there was road sections ahead, with hindsight I should have packed my Altra Olympus runners and swapped at one of the aid stations.  My lovely white tempo’s were christened early in the stage when I jumped into a cowpat (a flat round deposit of cow dung) while coming off a sty.

I have added an image of an example of said cowpat, sort of landmines for ultra runners . Needless to say my lovely white Altra Tempos would never be that colour again.

It was a blessing to leave the coast to the back roads where we offered some protection from the sun. You were always on the look out for water and this watering hole was extra special as it had goldfish, I assume they had been deposited there and just survived ?

Maybe they’re dangerous and thus need the cage to protect the general public from being mauled to death, a Cornish version of a Great White shark perhaps ?

As well as backroads there was a few trails to keep you on your toes and these were heavily shaded which was a respite from the unforgiving sun.

Eventually the days running had to end and I was disappointed when I reached the finish for day three, albeit I was looking forward to a sit down and some tukka. Imagine how excited I was to receive an authentic Cornish party , bloody stoked. I devoured the beast quickly and then stripped off and had a relaxing (and invigorating ) swim in the ocean.  Laying in the ocean I reflecting on the best day yet and wondered how much longer the event could keep producing the goods.

After the Cornish pasty it was back on one of the buses and we were whisked away to our overnight accommodation.  We’d be here for three nights and I was grouped with five other runners in a three bedroom chalet, with sea view of course and close to a great pub which would feed and water us.  As you can see from the image below it was burger , onion rings and chips, real ultra food.

Finally a perfect sunset before retiring for the evening and preparing for day four, Bude to Bideford, a 41km day, virtually a rest day. I could hardly sleep I was so excited.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

We spent the first evening back at the Lands End YHA which meant a thirty mile return journey. There was little conversation on the minivan on the way back, we were all toasted from a hard days trail running and contemplating a similar fate the next day. Apparently the North Cornwall sections of the event are among the hardest trails and also you have to run seven days straight before your first rest day. All these factors were playing on everybodies minds as we sat in silence on the journey back to the start.

Once back at the YHA it was time for a well earned hot shower and some great dinner before I went straight to bed and sweated out the head cold that had been bothering me all day. I was out like a light and awoke the next day invigorated, unfortunately for my three running room buddies I had also snored all night , allegedly.  So back on the bus we went to drive the thirty or so miles back to Portreath and restart the adventure at yesterdays finish line. It was surreal to be back at Portreath and without any fanfare we were off again. A good friend of mine, from my youth, Zelah Lewis joined me for the first ten or so kilometres and her company made the time disappear as we caught up with probably forty years of news.  We were so focused on reminiscing  I missed the first aid station which meant as we parted company I was out of food and drink, rookie error.

Luckily as Zelah turned for the return trail to Portreath I was caught by four runners who restocked me with Rat Race bars (my go to food on the run) We stayed together for most of the day and the highlight was ice creams from a pub later in the morning as the temperatures heated up.

Managed to find aid station 2 albeit I was travelling in a group of five so I just followed everyday else.  Enjoyed sitting down and grabbing some great tukka, from memory a wrap of some sort, not important at this stage in the day , you just want food and as much as possible. On a side note the Rate Race bars are awesome and I would mainly use these throughout the day.  The Cornishman pub was just next to aid station two and had to get the image below, just perfect. I use that term a lot in these posts.

Conditions for day one were perfect but day two was even more perfect, if that is even a thing ? Cornwall really was tugging at the heart strings by showing herself at her very best, it really does not get any better ? These were new trails to me as when I left Cornwall nearly thirty years ago I was a hard drinking surf chasing machine and running was only a thing you did if you were late for last orders at the local pub. !  The views on day two were incredible, just incredible. When the weather is this good Cornwall is probably the best place to be on the planet, in my opinion. I was blessed.

Along the coast trail you are constantly coming across beach crossings that last a lifetime and every one is picture perfect, breaking up the undulation of the coastal trails. These beach crossing are a welcome relief and give you time to relax and smell the roses, so to speak.  You breath in the views .

Linking the beaches, coastal trails and small Cornish villages are the incredible back lanes over grown with lush greenery, and stinging nettles ! You needed to be on your guard as you moved through these lanes though because Cornish drivers can all take on Lewis Hamilton in their Volkswagen campers and consider a runner a potential kill rather than an obstacle to be avoided.  A few times I made a life saving dive into the hedge and on a number of occasions was met with a wall of stinging nettles, which as the name suggests, it an unpleasant experience.

Its hard to describe the day without continuing the perfect, awesome, incredible theme I have been using so far on this journey thus far.  Cornwall was just putting on such a show and the images will live long in my memory. On so many occasions I wanted to strip down to my shorts and dive into the Cornish ocean which was so inviting, albeit I knew it looked a lot warmer than it actually is , so resisted. I was also worried about the possible chaffing issues I would be facing running for hours covered in salt water. My T8 running wear is good but salt water and clothing, mixed with exercise, are not good bed fellows. !  On that note a big shout out to T8 clothing who supplied me with all my running apparel. https://t8.run/ I cannot recommend this brand enough, clothing so good you feel you’re running naked. I remember the first few times I tried their shorts I kept checking to see I was still wearing them, they are that good. Chaffing is a thing of the past, no need to cover the family jewels in Vaseline. (albeit I use to enjoy that ?)

I felt strong as the day progressed and came into Padstow full of beans knowing day two was finished, a chalk and cheese experience compared to the day one slog. There were so many highlights it was just another perfect day, there’s that word again. I feel like I’m missing out describing so many experiences from day two but with time my memory becomes jumbled , a benefit of my advancing years.  I should have kept a journal like Steve , maybe next year ?

My little group of runners had split up by the time I reached Padstow and I was relieved to finally sit down after a long day at the office. Funnily enough I was a matter of metres from the finish but couldn’t see it and standing looking at my phone, confused, was saved by James, the Race Director, tapping me on the shoulder  and pointing me the one or two metres to the finish line. At the end of an ultra you really are a zombie ! It was great to sit down and admire the harbour views before being whisked away to our accommodation for the evening.

So day two done and dusted, a massive improvement on day one with the head cold banished.  Finished well up the field,  albeit it’s not a race,  but good to finish strong and enjoy the day compared to the slog on day one.  Now it was back in the minivan to the whisked away to the new accommodation for some R&R, a good feed before repeating the whole process on  day three, I really was living the dream.

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.

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!

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.

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

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/ )

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