HURT 100 – 2019 (the mud slide)

**Thanks to https://www.augustodecastrophotography.com for the awesome photos.

After a DNF in my first attempt, I’d made it a focus to get another shot at this amazing event.

On the 19th January 2019, I took on the HURT 100 mile race (161km) in Hawaii.

The race itself has 5 loops of 20 miles (32 km) and 4,900 feet (1.5 km) of accent / decent each loop. The race participant finishing rate is less than 50%.

The preparation

The journey was great in the lead up, I had three awesome races and clocked up some impressive mileage:

• March 2018 – Gone Nuts 101km Adventure race (Finisher), 18hrs 8 min
• July 2018 – Adelaide 24 Hour (Finisher) – 151.80km
• October 2018 – Ned Kelly Chase 100km (Finisher) – 11hrs 11min

It’s not enough just to run ultra marathons, through the entire journey, the Aussie Mudders have supported great causes through the process. Total funds raised across the journey: $28,860.00. The following are some of the main charities close to our heart that we have raised funds for:

• Cancer council;
• Camp Quality is the children’s family cancer charity;
• National Breast Cancer Foundation;
• Depression2Extinction;
• Ambassador Athlete for Depression2Extinction;

I also took the time out to give back to the ultra running community, volunteering my time at various events and forums.

Volunteer at he Coburg 24 Hour Victorian championships

Responsibilities:

• Runner registration table;
• Runners hydration table;
• Event bump out;
• Grave yard shift;

Volunteer MC at Raw challenge 12 hour enduro obstacle race

Responsibilities:

• MC for the Event;
• Runner registration table;

Australian Ultra Runners Association (AURA)

• Current AURA Member;
• Committee meeting attendance and events;

I must admit, volunteering my services as MC at the Raw Challenge Enduro 2018 was incredible. The power of motivating other people was priceless. I met so many amazing people on that day. My whole aim for the day was to lift people up and make them smile as they passed the finish line for the next loop.

I decided to use my participation in this epic run to help promote Depression2Extinction (d2e) and the fund raise for their programs that aim to eliminate the STIGMA of Depression.

I really like the approach d2e are taking to address these issues, it’s completely different to what other organisations are offering in this space. I thought this would be a great opportunity to contribute.

Mental health issues and its impact in society is an ever growing trend around the world:

• 300 Million people of all ages suffer from depression globally
• 2/3 of people with depression do not actively seek nor receive proper treatment
• The total economic burden of depression is estimated to be $210.5 billion per year.
• 80% of those who received support for depression show an improvement within four to six weeks

Many people suffer in silence – the D2e programs focus on physical movement, mindfulness and human connection, which aims to change the way society addresses and perceives mental health and depression.

That being said, all proceeds for this campaign went directly back to supporting the 3 primary programs at d2e:

1. Everyday Ambassador Athletes
2. YourStoryMatters Small (Support) Groups
3. HEAL Events (Helping Emotions Allow Listening)

The lottery

There is not much to be said about the lottery. There were around 500 applicants and with 130 spots available – I didn’t make the cut. However to my surprise I was listed as 15 on the waitlist.

The waitlist allows spots to open up pending other participant drop out. I didn’t receive official notification that I had a place on the 15th November 2019.

Coaching

I realized that what I had done previously didn’t work, so I reached out to a family contact to get some help. Tim Ballintine, Founder of Koa sports had worked with my cousin Craig Percival. Craig was a well-known Australian Ironman athlete who passed away after suffering multiple heart attacks during knee surgery. Craig had two earned international attention in the triathlon world when he completed eight full distance-length triathlons in eight days in each of Australia’s eight states.

Craig, who inspired many through the sport, was also a popular coach. He regularly competed in long distance races for charity and raised $100,000 through his eight races in eight days attempt.

Craig always spoke highly of Tim as a coach, so for me, this was the option I turned to for help. The run up for the event wasn’t very long, and a quality approach was implemented. Tim and I worked through the needs of the race looking at all the data to lay down the right strategy.

The months leading up

Hawaii

The day after I was notified, I was due to be in Hawaii for a Jiu Jitsu competition that I had booked months earlier.

One of the local athletes had reached out to me and invited me along to his 40 mile birthday run (Duane), naturally I agreed. He has indicated that the pace would be “conversational pace”. At that time, I had just come of the back of a 100km race but had undertaken minimal elevation work. Needless to say, the conversation I had was mainly with myself. I ripped my shoe completely open on the trails and at that point, I decided to call it a day completing half the volume anticipated.

Always good to have a wake up call – The Hawaiian athletes are absolutely amazing, I felt very honored to spend some time training with them.

During my time there, I connected with various athletes and friends with a focus on some specific elevation training. There is something to be said in relation to the ability to train on the Tantalus trails, there is nothing quite like it.

By the way – I ended up coming third in the Jiu Jitsu competition with some coaching assistance from the good people at Uptown Jiu Jitsu. It was safe to say the Marines had my measure, but it was fun.

Melbourne

When I returned to melbourne, my recovery program was just as important, if not more important as the workloads. I knew I would need some extra assistance in this area, and the experts at Fluid Health didn’t disappoint. They offered support in the lead up to the event to support the d2e journey.

I took full advantage of their facilities, utilizing the:

• Hyperbaric chamber
• Hot / cold recover baths
• Sauna
• Recover boots

I’m forever grateful for their assistance to hold my old bones together.

New York

Because I didn’t originally get in I had planned other activities and holidays. New York was freezing, I did most of my training on treadmills and stairwells.

I think this assisted my running technique somewhat, even though I’m not a massive fan of treadmill running.

On my last day there I decided to sack up, and cut a lap around central park. I was flying around it effortlessly. It had almost been two weeks of not running outside. There is something to be said to this cross training phenomenon.

Melbourne

I returned home to finalize my peak, with all the elevation work I’d been doing my – legs felt like granite. I felt running strong, I felt ready.

Race time

I arrived in Hawaii three days out from the event. My support crew and I caught up that night to outline the plan of attack. My crew had people close to me that I trusted to keep me safe:

• Veigo – my brother Grant (AUS)
• Coach JJ – Founder of d2e (TEXAS)
• Giltos – Long time partner in crime and his son (Giltos Jnr) (AUS)
• Kash – local mate with local knowledge and his Fenix 5 (HNL)

I’d already packed my drop bags back in Melbourne, so there wasn’t much else to do to get ready.

We attended the race briefing on the Friday ready for a 6am kick off the next day.

I didn’t sleep a wink that night, I felt like I’d rested with my eyes closed for 8 hours.

We were up at 4:30am to kick off at 6:00am. I had shook hands, hugged and fist bumped those people important to me and it was time to race. I believe it was at this point that I relinquished control around race strategy to the crew.

Lap 1

I was calm on the bridge and I saw some familiar faces from my visit in November (Anna & Wookie) which put me at ease.

The race started and I tried to stay with them for the first leg. Coming into the first aid station, I looked at my watch and I was 20 minutes quicker than my previous year. Now this was a problem, because we had planned a slower first lap (6 hours 30 minutes). I filled my water bottle and got out of the aid station straight away. At this point I slowed the pace out of fear I would get my ass kicked for going too fast. When I got to Nu’uanu I had my water bottles refilled and grabbed a bag of potatoes to go, along with my hiking poles.

It had been raining most of the time, the mud was slick but with 130 people running over the trails – it wasn’t going to get better.

The hiking poles were handy coming out of Nu’uanu due to the pitch of the incline and the ankle breaking pipes (where the night marchers reside) heading back to the nature centre.

On the way down the pipes I could feel some slight cramping in my calves and knew this needed to be managed asap. Time on the lap was 5 hours 38 minutes.

As I came down to the bridge I saw coach JJ and I just said “I’m struggling”, and then I could see Veigo (as he was yelling and screaming). I also saw somebody else, it was Jacki. I ran behind Jacki at the last HURT 100 (for as long as I could). She finished the race that year and is someone I have amazing respect in general. I high fived Viego and hugged Jacki then proceeded to the aid station.

This part of my experience was incredible. I sat down and my legs were so pumped, they felt like concrete. Now this may not have happened like this, but its how I remembered it. I was on the clock – I had 7 minutes to get what I needed and get out. I was wired, I couldn’t focus. I was look everywhere except where I should be looking. Veigo was changing my shoes and socks and then Coach JJ clicks his fingers in front of my eyes and said focus, pay attention – look right here. I immediately stopped; I didn’t realize what I was doing. He asked me how much I had to eat, so I told him. He responded – it’s not enough. At that point, Jacki came over and conferred with JJ then said you need to eat more “what would you like?” I asked for rice and potatoes. JJ started massaging my calves. Jacki returned with a rice ball and said, try this, if you like it I’ll get you some more. I ate it and nodded my head. Meanwhile the boys were fixing my legs, dressing me, filling my kit ready to go. Coach JJ was smashing watermelon into my face. Jacki retuned with a sandwich bag of rice and potatoes with the instruction that I was to start eating the contents and by the time I reached the top of the hill, the contents of the bag will be empty.

I couldn’t think for myself to know exactly what I needed to keep enough fuel in my body. It was exactly the instruction I needed. I left the aid station within the 7 minutes with my bag of food ready for lap two. I also committed to slowing it down.

Lap 2

During the initial climb on lap 2, I met another Aussie, Lucja. I’m not going to lie; it was nice to have some company. Her husband had finished the race the year before. It was during this period, I coined the phrase “eating pace”. Eating pace is kind of like conversational pace, but more focus on not spilling your food. True to my instruction, by the time I reached the top of the hill all food had been consumed. Lucja and I stayed together down to the Paradise Park aid station.

Support crew could now attend aid stations and on my way in I spot Coach JJ, Chet then Veigo (who was still yelling and screaming). I felt amazing and coming into that aid station is something else. It’s like a celebration; it was such great motivational feeling.

My team is in the aid station, jacki is there and I’m cramming food in my face like its an eating completion. I believe it was mildly entertaining.

I remember looking over at Lucja, and she was still sitting down, but I was ready so I proceeded out. In hind sight, I wish I’d waited for her as the support was extremely beneficial.

Off to Nu’uana.

On the way up I connected with a runner named Patti who had injured her ankle and was talking about pulling out. I encouraged her to hang in there and make it to Nu’uanu, as I had some strapping tape in my drop bag that she was welcome to use. I take the lead and get to the river first. There about 20 people there cheering, which maded me smile. I’m crossing the river and there is a dog on the rocks, so I reach down to pat it. My calves start to cramp, and I fall into the river – I couldn’t help but laugh.

I hit the aid station and advise the volunteers that Patti needs my strapping tape. I see Jacki again, she was so instrumental in bringing me back online for this lap and I will be forever grateful. I leave Patti with the volunteers and head back to the nature center. I was a lonely trip back. On the way back up, I started vomiting on myself but kept running.

I had requested for one of my water bottles to be filled with Coke, half way back I tried to pull it out of my holder and the lid came off and fell on the ground. As I bent down to pick it up, half that sweet, sweet Coke drained from the container. The liquid gold spilling on the course gave me a massive chuckle, and I bellowed out NOOOOOOOOOO!

I came in for lap two in about six and a half hours. I now know, I can have a pacer on the course and it just got dark.

I hit the aid station and Veigo was kitted up and ready to go. Coach JJ looks at me and said you smell terrific. It must of been the vomit, for a moment I did consider bottling my Oder de vomit, but conceded that the brand may not take off.

Again it was a slick change over; Giltos was on smelly foot duty and Veigo smeared my legs with cream. I took some food with me with full knowledge that I couldn’t eat.

Lap 3

This lap was a blur, I thought I did well – but I couldn’t tell you where the time went.

Heading down to Paradise Park was so slippery; I slipped and fell once at the top which made me be more cautious and slower. At this point, stories where coming in about how many people had dropped.

At Paradise Park, I needed something to settle my stomach. I had some crystallized ginger and a cold turkey soup. Glycogen level were so low and I resorted to saying ‘put it in a bag, I’ll eat it later’, which really meant – I think the food wants to come for a lap of the course with me.

As we are leaving Coach JJ has a brownie in his hand and instructed me to eat it. I responded, telling him to put it in a bag. It was made clear that this was a non negotiable discussion, I was eating it, whether I wanted too or not.

Instantly I felt better and headed to Nu’uanu, It was pissing down with rain, the trails were super slick. I made it to the aid station. The guy in the Tiger suit that was dancing was amusing…..at least I think that happened. I sloshed across the river with disregard for the rocks that were elevated. I packed some more food and headed back out. The rain was hammering down. Again I sloshed over the river and I popped a blister. On the other side I applied some tape and turned to Veigo and said ‘get me out of this shit hole’.

I was in terrible shape. I felt as skinny as a raffle turkey. It had gotten to the point where Veigo had to give me micro directions – eat now, drink now, electrolytes now, run now, walk now. We powered up the hill and as soon as we hit moana cliff we ran all the way back passing several people in the process. I was vaulting over obstacles like I was doing pole vault (in my mind that’s what it felt like). Veigo and I have run countless races together and it was my absolute pleasure to have him looking after me. We cruise past the pipes and night marchers. Grab a quick snap for the memories and hit the aid station. I remember asking Veigo the lap time, it was 8 hours 22 minutes (insert sad face here).

I couldn’t tell you were the time went. Needless to say, you can’t drive the car on empty. I simply had no fuel in the tank.

It’s now 2:45am. Coach JJ is ready to go.

I smashed a protein shake, which was a-mazing. I’m sitting in that aid station and I remember turning to Jacki (who was getting ready to pace her athlete), saying I think I’ve cut it too fine. She responded that there was still time.

The crew changed me over and the medic patched up my blisters.

Lap 4

I had given lap four to Coach JJ knowing that it was the most difficult time of the race. He was armed with a bunch of topics; he even busted out a rap at the top of Tantalus which made me giggle. The reality was that I was moving, but just not fast enough.

My responses were limited to ‘yep’ and ‘I’m good’. I still wasn’t eating and now I wasn’t drinking.

Coming down to moana falls, I moved to one side to allow a runner space to pass and my foot slipped over the edge. All the while thinking to myself, that I needed to be coming up this section, rather that going down at this point. I felt it slipping away.

We hit the aid station and reality hit home:

• I wasn’t going fast enough to make the cut off;
• I wasn’t eating;
• I wasn’t drinking;

I had made it to the fun run (67.5 miles or 108 km) but I wasn’t going to make the cut off.

It was time to call it a day.

Coach JJ called the team, arranged collection and ensured I had appropriate monitoring at the aid station.

I feel that my support crew worked just as hard as I did to keep the progress going.

I got in the car and instantly I was shivering, so I turned the heater on full bore. I got back to the hotel and sat in a warm bath and started to nod off. I snapped out of it and throw myself into bed. I passed out for six hours.

The funny thing about that was Veigo’s hotel room card wasn’t working and he was bashing on the door. I heard nothing. He had to try to explain to management that even though his name wasn’t on the room he required access. All I could do was imagine his frustrated little face as he pounded on the door as I slept. This made me smile………brotherly love.

Summary and thoughts

• A massive congratulations to all athletes that were able to tame this course, my hat is off to you. That achievement is nothing short of impressive.
• You can participate in this event or you can go that extra step and actually be a part of the community.
• Another, DNF on the toughest course I’ve run. The 100 km fun run was achieved but not the 100 mile. Overall, I ran well but couldn’t keep any fuel in the tank to maintain the speed required to make the cut off. None of this is a negative, in fact I experienced some amazing things:
  • We raised some awareness and funding for Depression2Extinction.
  • I was witness to an amazing group of strangers that came together to try to get me to my dreams. Overwhelming at times. So a massive shoutout to Jeff Jackson, Grant Mannix, Cam Giltinan, Jacki Doppelmayer, Corey Kashiwa and the rest of the event volunteers, your friendship and assistance was priceless.
• The banquet was an incredible celebration of all aspects of the event, if you get a chance, you should embrace all aspects of the event. This has got to be one of the best events in the world today.
• This community has got to be my favourite in the whole world. Thanks Jacqueline Tellei for dropping off Nalo home made lemonade (recovery fuel) after the race.
• Lastly, but certainly not least thanks to everyone for their support. Sometimes you can lose sight on how many people you reach with a journey like this one. Hopefully, I’ve inspired people to take on a dream that’s hard to achieve. Just remember failure is not because you tried, you will always get something valuable out of it.
• Is there a chance of a race return….maybe one day I will tame the beast.