My First Ultra - Trail Running Blog

Over the AAF journey we will be releasing everyday adventurer stories. Here’s Brendan’s story, he is a triathlete who is about to return to his roots in trail running with his first ever ultra. Brendan’s favourite thing about running is the zen space it brings you to. We are only a run away from feeling good again through focus and sometimes pain.

My First Ultra

I’m looking at the Australian Adventure Festival as a completely new challenge. I’ve competed in many events before, but it is in October 2015 that I will to run my first ever event ultra-marathon.

How did I make the decision to take this on you ask? The thought came to me some time back. Not for the reason of wondering whether I could physically run the distance. Many have done it before, so in my perspective, it’s not a complete unrealistic achievement to reach the ton. Rather, I am in search of a different experience and sense of accomplishment.

To give you a bit more background, I am a 28 year old triathlete. I have been in the sport for five years, but my introduction to endurance sports came at the age of 20 through a local trail running group. My first outing on the trails was one of the most profound moments in my life. At heart, running is where I feel most connected. Since that first run, I have taken up coaching and have worked with people who have gone from their first 5km fun run to completing an ultra in just a three-year period. Having seen the transformation, it seems that if you are blessed with the desire, extraordinary accomplishments are achievable.

As the coach, I have bypassed increasing my running distances and rather divided my attention across the endurance of three disciplines with triathlons. In a way, it is weird to potentially dilute the joys of one discipline by combining three and basing the success on the meshing of each after the other. Past lapses in triathlon training allowed me to do 90-100km a week when running only. I miss this time on foot dearly.

Famous ultra man Dean Karnazes famously said: ‘If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon. If you want to talk to God, run an ultra.’

Karnazes quote reminds me that there’s something to be gained from this journey that will change my life. I’ve run for 42km a couple of times and I’ve run for five hours on trails once. Now I want to find out what it feels like when I reach that point and say to myself: “ok, plenty of km's still uncovered… now what happens?”

To then keep running and find out what happens will be amazing. I’m not expecting an angel to come from heaven and fly me across the last 40km, but I am expecting I’ll come across some solid mental walls that will need breaking down.

I am accepting this challenge is outside my comfort zone and am setting out to prepare both my body and mind with training. I’m preparing for this potential conversation with God. Wanting to have the cake and to eat it to, I could be planning to bite off more than I can chew. After all it wouldn’t be worthwhile if it didn’t challenge you.

Brendan

AAF

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