Running ‘Down Under’…

Twelve and a half hours on a plane from Johannesburg Airport and before I knew it I was having dinner with the Salomon International team outside the Sydney Opera House. We had gathered from all parts of the globe to run The North Face 100km ultra trail race through the world famous Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. Most of us arrived a week before the race to get over the jet lag; experience the Australian culture; do a few radio and television interviews and then most importantly to run and explore a few new trails.

We were based in Sydney for the first few days and did all the touristy things like going up the Sky Tower, visiting Bondi Beach, shopping etc. It was also great to meet and run with a few of the Salomon retailers in Sydney.

Two days before the race we made the much-anticipated trip up to the Blue Mountains were we could focus a little more on the race and run parts of the course. Faaak it was COLD in the Blue Mountains! I think it got below zero some nights. We stayed in a tiny town called Leura, where the local pizza restaurant served salt water crocodile pizza! I avoided the crocodile pizza as I did not want to have any bad karma ahead of the race – I had visions of running through crocodile infested rivers and becoming ‘sandman’ pizza.

Before I knew it the week had passed and I was lined up at the start of TNF Aus 100km with the likes of Kilian Jornet, Sebastian Chaigneau and a number of other top trail ultra runners. It was time to start running and I could not wait!

We started off at quite a fast pace but I felt comfortable and really enjoyed the scenery and single track leading up to check point one. Kilian Jornet and I were first into checkpoint two at the 38km mark and I was feeling great. But at around the 45km mark I started cramping and was not a happy camper. I had lost the spring in my step and my legs did not want to go anywhere in a hurry.

It was super frustrating but I think I underestimated the cool morning conditions and did not drink enough. I had to dig deep mentally the next twenty kilometers and at one stage I thought it may be faster to run backwards! But thanks to the Salomon support crew I hung in there and started feeling a lot better the last twenty kilometers and crossed the line in third place.

I was happy with a podium after how I felt after forty-five kilometers, but not with my performance. I can take a lot out of the race going into my first hundred miler (Leadville) in a few months time.

Well done to Kilian for winning and Francois D’Haene for getting a second – running with you guys this week has been awesome and a privilege. Congratulations to Nerea for coming second and to Jen for coming third in the ladies race.

I can’t believe I am already on a plane back home. WOW – what an awesome week! Thanks to Frosty, Greg and Salomon for arranging such incredible trip!

And thanks to my other sponsors Velocity Sports Lab, Red Bull, Cross Country, Oakley, Imazine, Hammer Nutrition and Suunto for your support and backing.