The crisp cold air heralded the return to the 2021 Ultra Trail Australian landscape as runners from near and far gathered nervously on the start line. No longer a race to the start as is sometimes the case, many needed to plan a little ‘extra time’ for the mandatory COVID-19 check in’s and parking, and wrist band checks at the race precinct before making their way through the narrow corral to the starting area.
It was an exciting atmosphere on the oval, meeting old friends and making new one’s as all tried to keep our social distance socially. It had been two years since we gathered at this iconic race. Two years of plans crushed, programs changed, motivations wavering. Two years since dreams were formed, moulded, and sent through a thousand revisions before we would finally toe the line.
For some of us, the revisions meant an entire course change. The 22km event which normally sent runners out from Queen Victoria Hospital, Wentworth Falls into Kedumba Valley was no longer, and instead we would join our 50k friends up the road towards Narrowneck where we would continue our journey for a few kms before descending into the valley via the Golden Stairs. Due to trail closures from previous bush fires and bad weather, these stairs would only become available to discover to those new to them a few weeks before race day, or perhaps on race day itself.
Being seeded in wave 2 for the 22 was definitely an added bonus. We ran and descended down Golden without much fuss, overtaking one wary traveller who was a little nervous with the unstable terrain. From here we bounded off along the nice flowing single track towards the landslide. Having run this countless times over the years it felt easy and fun, knowing what was coming ahead. It was only here at the landslide that people finally caught up from behind, yet we all clambered over the boulders happily sharing our trail banter, one girl behind me remarking how she loved my On Cloud Venture Peaks and what were they like to run in? Great! I said! LOVE THEM. We continued the chat along the flowing trail, about six of us happily finding comfort in our pace, using each other to enjoy the moments before us.
By now it was warm enough to remove the arm sleeves thanks to the forest floor, which I promptly pushed down to my wrists (I might need to pull them back up later when I get to the cliff tops, I thought hence it was around a crisp 5 degrees). As we weaved and flowed through the single trail, jumping over tree roots, dodging mud and rocks, I remember thinking how much effort it really was on this new course to concentrate on your footing while moving at pace with people in front and behind you. I remarked to those around me that the greatest challenge of this terrain for runners in the 22k would be the technical nature, especially for those that aren’t accustomed to it, since the course had remarkably changed to mostly technical single trails and stair ascents and descents in it’s entirety (apart from some open road), compared to the original open fire trail for the majority of the course previous to this year. This would prove challenging, not only from a concentration perspective, but for a confidence perspective for those that perhaps are not used to this type of terrain, hence creating some challenging bottlenecks on course, which is of course what happened in some of the later waves in the event and may need revising if this course is to continue into the future.
As we moved along, concentrating on every step, a speedy guy came up behind and asked politely to pass. We let him go and no longer than 2 minutes later he was hauled up on the side of the trail, blood gushing from his leg as he had taken a tumble. We checked on his welfare, and he said he was ok and to go ahead, which the myself and rest of our pack did, feeling a little concerned that he would be ok with still over half way to go.
The switch-backs were ahead and I knew in my mind this might be where I start to come a little undone, but they actually weren’t too bad. We just ran and hiked, ran and hiked and I remember taking in some nutrition here in preparation for the climb up Fernbower Stairs ahead.
The week before UTA I had paced and crewed around 60km on an average of four hours sleep in four days at the Larapinta, so UTA was never going to be a stellar performance, however I wanted to feel the essence of a race again. I wanted to be amongst it. (And yes, I wanted the medal), and most importantly I wanted to share this experience with my husband who had trained for the past two years for this moment. Mark was running just ahead of my footsteps and it was really him that kept me moving. The legs by the time we made it to the stairs were feeling heavy and fatigued. I remember telling him numerous times to just go ahead, but he was determined to stay with me, which selfishly I was thankful for. I can honestly say not loosing him became the priority of my race, so every time he ran I tried to run too, even if the legs didn’t want to comply.
The train of goodness started on the stairs and we all marched up like soldiers going off to war. The momentum of our footsteps one after the other carrying us high into the sky. It felt like a long time, and it was. This staircase never ends, and when you think it might finally be over, there is more just up ahead. RMA Sophie Geraghty had caught up and we spent some time commiserating together on the difficulty of each step, and encouraging each other to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Finally we reached the top to the road where some of our RMA friends were cheering and it was a welcome sight. I tried to look strong, but I couldn’t run. It was more like a shuffle at that point! I had actually forgotten we went down the road here, so I was slightly disappointed that I was going right and not left, but I used it as a surprise around the corner moment to keep me interested, and we jutted back into the trail down the stairs at which point I remarked “what goes down, must come up” to the guys around me. Funny that.
Sophie, Mark and I had a little bit of fun and banter here, running and hiking (more hiking than running) until we saw the photographer perched at the top of a long walkway leading up-hill. Of course we sprang into true trail runner fashion and flew into a run. One must look professional for the photos.
We made it back to the road, past the aid station in which I had decided was not required due to both my bottles on front being pretty much still full and the one in my pack remained unopened, and ran along the road to some cheers before making our way into the last trail section leading to The Three Sisters.
Here is when it got tough for me. My trail buddy Sophie had found her running legs and she was off ahead no where to be seen. Hubby was hell for leather towards the finish line with only a few kms to go and I was hanging on as hard as I could. I would see him, then lose him, see him then lose him. I tried to run as many steps as I could as these were actually runnable steps, every now and then slowing into a strong hike (well, it felt strong, but it was more like a dawdle, which was as much as my legs could take) and thought ‘one step closer to the finish is one step closer to the finish’. Remembering that will always get you there.
Mark kept turning around and taking photos of me. I thought that I was dying and remember thinking that I could keep a record of the moments UTA chewed me up and spat me out, but I actually love every photo he took, and every photo the race took as I always managed a smile. They show how determined I was to just keep moving. Its amazing how your body can be so tired, yet will itself to finish what it started. Never forget that.
As we descended down Katoomba waterfall towards Furber Stairs there was a group of female hikers who were inspired by these people ‘running through the trail’. They gave us all encouragement along the way. Maybe we encouraged them to give it a go next year. We will never know. We rounded the bend and headed straight for Furber Stairs. This was it…time to dig deep. The legs are GONE. The heart is WILLING. Over the years I have learned to use the railings. Hands on knees and just go, or use my hands to pull me up and that’s exactly what I did. I was determined not to loose hubby here, not that he would drop me. We had chatted earlier about how we would finish…hand in hand to the end. Some people were literally stopping dead on the side of the trail. I encouraged them that it wasn’t far. This is the last bit. The last little push. Common’ you’ve got this. I was encouraging them as much as I was trying to encourage myself, because I really had nothing left in the legs by this point. We got to the top of the stairs and hubby went to run and I remember telling him that “I needed a moment to walk”, then I did a shuffle, then a run, then I just had to use the boardwalk to pull myself together as we inched to the finish line. My moment was arriving. Queue cowbells and cheers.
Coming around the corner, the finish line was in sight. Then, cheers from every direction. Someone called out my name. I dont’ remember who it was, I was focused on the finish line, and hubby and I side by side found our running legs. We smiled, held hands and flew towards the finish. It was all I had dreamed of, to run by his side in the trails where my heart is always fulfilled. I was so thankful in that moment to have that moment. One I will remember for the rest of my life. 21 years of marriage and 22kms. You can’t ask for more really.
From the first time I stepped onto the trails and heard about races, UTA had been on my list. I have since competed in three UTA50 events and the UTA100. The UTA22 was the icing on the trail cake. I said it might be my last UTA, but I think its only just beginning. Who knows what 2022 will bring.
To all the RMA that took on UTA, no matter what distance, no matter your finish time, be proud, because Ultra Trail Australia is a premier event. It is a brutal course no matter how afar you go, but the memories will last forever. I was so privileged to see hundreds of RMA over the weekend. It was so encouraging to see so many women taking to the trails. You are all amazing! Congratulations!
Nicole Bunyon.
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