100km from Rotorua to Kawerau + 2610m vertical gain – 2910m vertical loss
I was happy that we traveled to NZ on the Monday before the race as there is a 3 hour time difference between Queensland, Australia and NZ and it took me a couple of days to get used to it. A few people had told me about the rotten egg smell at Rotorua and yes they were right, the smell is from the geothermal activity in the region but it does get better the longer you stay :-)
Saturday morning 7th February, it was a 6am start, I was pumped!!! Almost a 1000 people gathered at the Red Woods car park in front of the starting gate. I had decided again to start at the back of the field so that I wouldn't get hyped up with the electric atmosphere and start way too fast. This was not a smart move! The first 12.5km to the Blue Lake Aid station were painfully slow. It was pretty much single trail all the way and there was not much room to pass. I also sprained my ankle in the first leg but it wasn't too painful (yet). My position through the Blue Lake aid station was 348th, I was behind on my schedule, I had some serious time to make up!
I dropped off my light and picked up my backpack at The Blue Lake Aid station as Nath "The Waterboy" would not be able to get to the Okareka Aid station and the Okataina Aid Station was about 25km away. It was a tough section, but the volunteers, supporters and other random people (Including someone playing the saxophone in the middle of nowhere) made the run very entertaining. A helicopter filming the Tarawera Ultra flew past, photographers everywhere and before I knew it I had made it to Okataina
I managed to pass a few people and picked up some time and I was in 290th position going through. The next leg to the Tarawera Falls was just spectacular! Cruising through a couple small checkpoints (Humphries Bay & Tarawera Outlet) I knew that once I got to the Tarawera Falls the hard part was done. This was also the finish for the 60km runners.
I was feeling pretty strong but I knew 40km was still a long way to go. Still slowly working my way forward in the field, consuming a few more SIS gels, Clif Bars and a couple banana's, I made it to the Titoki Aid Station. Now in 259th position and still a little behind on my time, the 80km runners turn left straight to the finish line but the 100km runners turn right for the Awaroa loop. 30km to go...
My plan was to take it steady up to 80km and give it my all in the last couple of legs. The 8km loop at Awaroa was harder than I expected. My heel started to get really painful and my knees had enough as well, especially when running down the rocky hills, they were screaming at me.
I made it to the Fishermans Bridge Aid station, I was in 238th position and pretty much running on time. The Kingaroy Nutters totally surprised me with this sign :-) It definitely was a pick-me-up moment. Thanks guys!! Only 10km to go, this was what I had trained for, getting out of bed before 5am almost every day of the week. I turned my music up, cruise control kicked in and off I went. I didn't stop at the checkpoint instead grabbed a gel from Nath and said that I didn't have time to stop. Passing 29 people in the last leg, I could hear the crowd at the finish from miles away, it felt like the longest couple of kilometers in the whole race. I can't explain how happy I was to see the finish line of this stunning epic run!!!
Official finishing time 13 hours, 44 min
209th position, 48th female and 26th in my age division
A special thanks to Nath. I should really call him the hydration and gear specialist. I couldn't have done it without him.
Also a very special thanks to my coach Brendan Davies who helped me
prepare for this race. It has been amazing to have Brendan as
my coach!!! Only 13 weeks until The North Face 100km at the Blue Mountains NSW. With Brendan's help I hope to smash it this year!!
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http://www.upcoaching.com.au/
