50K IN A RASHIE, BYLES STILL PULLS PODIUM FINISH

Kate Dzienis • March 1, 2019

Contributed by Matt Byles, 3rd Male at Leaning Tuart Ultra, WA

My first ultra race of 2019 was the Leaning Tuart Ultra held on February 3 in WA. Since my disastrous run over 25km at the Australia Day Ultra event a couple weeks prior, I was in two minds about running this. The positive for entering was that it was an opportunity to alleviate some of the disappointment of the ADU run but on the negative side I had done nowhere near enough mileage to complete a 50km without suffering terribly.

However when the esteemed Ultra Series WA head honcho Shaun Kaesler announced the winners of the free entry to the Leaning Tuart Ultra, low and behold I was one of them. I thought, I can’t throw away a free entry. Snow will be falling in Coober Pedy before I win anything else again, so I had better take advantage of it and I might as well run the 50km.

Which turned out to be closer to 53kms thanks to the well-known ‘Kaesler Kilometres’.

Despite my stupidly spontaneous decision to enter another event with no specific training for it, my wife and kids were enthusiastic about coming down to support me. We left early on the day of the race with a plan to stay on the Saturday night at the camp grounds.

We got down to the event location in plenty of time, but I was left a bit stressed with a last-minute call of nature. I had to strategically time my run to the toilet a few minutes before the start as the crowd waiting for the dunnies resembled a 3am line up for Pearl Jam tickets.

Early on I settled into a conservative pace, for once letting the shorter distance guys run on ahead. The course was four laps of a figure-eight loop, with the start/finish point in the middle. The trail was flat and soft in parts, but generally quite firm.

My pre-race goal was to run around 4 hours 40 minutes. Given the bonus kilometres, and the soft surface, this would be the equivalent to approximately 4 hours 20-odd minutes for a straight 50km. Decent enough especially as my previous 50km best was over five hours Up until this run, my fifth ultra, my races involved more crashes than a kid’s dodgem car race.

The first lap was comfortable going through in 1 hour 3 minutes. Well ahead of the plan, but I felt good and kept up the same pace. Past halfway in 2 hours 6 minutes and by now, I had a reasonably big lead in the 50km event. My crew/family were right on point with my drinks. Everything looked to be going a little too well as it turned out.

This is the time to point out my biggest mistake of the whole weekend though. As this was a beach themed event, I had (foolishly) decided to wear a rashie shirt. The problem with these bad boys is that they don’t breathe. It’s like wearing a wet towel after a couple of hours of running, and by the midway point of the third lap I was boiling like an egg. I began to experience dizziness during lap three, and had stopped sweating. A bad sign.

During the realisation that I was in some trouble, I managed to get through to the end of the third lap (approximately 39.5km). I still had a decent lead, but my pace had slowed and I went through in 3 hours 14 minutes. My wife took off my rashie and tried to cool me down. I guzzled about three litres of water in five minutes. It was time to assess whether it was a smart idea to run for another 13-plus clicks with heat exhaustion.

The temptation to push on despite all the physical warning signs and growing mental demons is both a blessing and a curse. After a DNF at the ADU in 2018 when I attempted the 100km, I have developed a sheer disdain at even the thought of pulling out in an ultra. Yet, in these moments of distress you start to bargain and compromise with yourself. It takes a stronger sense of purpose, belief and motivation to keep going when all the logical signs point to calling it a day.

Off I go on the final lap shirtless and with a fresh bottle of iced water. However, I got just a few hundred metres from the start/finish area when all the cold water and diluted electrolytes re-surfaced. After the fun of uncontrolled vomiting, I promptly drank the entire bottle I was carrying.

One of the Ultra Series WA regular runners/entertainers Frank Chauveau noticed my incapacitated state and stopped to help. As I walked for a bit with Frank while telling him about trials and tribulations, I started to feel a bit more human. Which was good as second placed at the time, Logan Vickers had caught up to me. I managed to stay with Logan for a few kilometres but he started to pull away and I dropped back. The company and words of wisdom from Logan about not quitting were extremely helpful. I had already decided to push on, although being sick all over the local flora I was as close to pulling the plug as you can get.

The rest of the final lap was incident-free, but my pace was slowing and when Rob Freitag passed me I suspected I might be pushed off the podium. With a last drive over the final few kilometres, I managed to hold off the next runner and finish third in 4 hours 37 minutes. Under my pre-race target and an unexpected top three, particularly given the very good competition.

As I reflect on the event, a few things stand out. The amazing comradery from all the runners out on the course, with mutual encouragement and appreciation, was a privilege to be a part of. This is a special group of people and it inspires me to be a more supportive runner. I am especially thankful to Frank, Logan and Rob for their help and words to me when I needed it most.

Another is my gratitude for the absolutely committed and incredibly effective crew which I am so blessed to have by my side. My wife and kids are a major part of why I do these crazy races, and to see (and hear) their encouragement and support makes it all worth it. Finally, the organisation, passion and commitment from Shaun, Chris and the vollies is always just incredible to witness and appreciated beyond words. I can’t thank these guys enough for taking the time and effort to stage these wonderful events.

Despite the issues, I am pretty chuffed at the final result and pushing myself through the physical issues. To not only finish but hold onto to a podium place and cross the line inside my goal time. It was a bonus to spend some recreation time with my fellow runners after the race and at the campsite on Saturday night. I just cannot wait for the rest of the 2019 Ultra Series WA calendar of events.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater