BAD JUJU, DIRT NAPS & A 200 MILER

Kate Dzienis • April 30, 2022

Contributed by Kirsten Maplestone, AURA member (Aspendale, Vic)

IRRATIONAL SOUTH 200 MILER, MURRAY BRIDGE (SOUTH AUSTRALIA), 6-10 April 2022

Countless times I’ve trained for a 200 miler only to have COVID stop me from crossing the state lines. I just assumed it would never happen again, but next minute I was on my way to South Australia. Seeing old friends again was a great distraction of what was about to happen…it wasn’t until the race briefing that it hit me, this was going to hurt and the internal panic began.

Twenty-nine runners fronted the start line at Murray Bridge (17 women and 12 men). I was soon left for dead, as usual. I had my fast walking swagger engaged sooner than I thought. Catching COVID in January ruined most of my training plans and mojo but I had nothing to lose but try to see how far I could go. I was catching people who were getting lost on course and it was happening early on. The Lavender Federation Trail was created by Terry Lavender – there are no beautiful fields of purple perfumed lavender as most people assume. This trail is extremely tricky to navigate, it had spur trails coming off the main track with no reflective signage. All you see is sign saying either ‘follow the fence’ where you’d hit many wide trees or fallen trunks having to give them a wide berth adding up extra steps, ‘follow the road’ where you have to leave the road to read the next tiny marker hidden somewhere, or ‘follow the track’ where there could be 20 sheep tracks coming off the same line all merging. Let’s not mention the 290 stiles we had to climb up and over. Most had electric barbed wire right up to your crotch with no protection – it certainly kept me alert.

Anyhow, I literally survived by the love of other people and luck. The runners I met on course would always appear at the times I was in need. Rob was my first friend, and had great banter. We came across Farmer Phil at 40kms who welcomed us to his land and followed us along the fence line for a quick chat. He even put bottles of water out on a bench at the top of a hill. I thought this was the aid station but we had another kilometre to go. What a legend.

I went into this race with no crew or pacers but early on Tamas adopted me while waiting for his runner. A furry blanket and a seat for my feet was always on offer. He would fill my water bottles up while I grazed on what I could get my face on and then he would send back on course. I kept seeing him and it was detrimental to my experience. His love and enthusiasm at aid stations was so uplifting and gave me the push to keep going. The hot sticky days were energy sapping, he’d pop up and we’d follow his perky voice like a flock of exhausted sheep.

On day one, I was told about the 1970s serial killer who dumped bodies in Truro. I had all these visions and felt bad juju by the time I got to Truro (153km). Anyhow, I got lost again. I was starting to panic – little did I know we had to cross the water back and forth a couple of times (Terry Lavender had stumped me again with his trail design). Anyhow I was saved by two head torches – it was Rob and the sweep. It was a long and draining leg, I’d used up a lot of energy and I started to see pigs dressed in Mexican outfits, parrots and a trucker hat shop. Rob’s voice would snap me out of it and I’d refocus my eyes but it was starting to concern me. Two days with no sleep and it was time for a nap.

I took 1.5 hours at Dutton (173km), a luxury I normally don’t have time for. We got up at 3.30am and Shaun was waiting for us with enthusiasm and promised we were leaving at the best time for views. The sunrise blew our minds. Four of us and the sweep took the namaste moment. Sometimes you’ve just got to stop and breathe.

Through the next night we were taking dirt naps more often and getting slower and dealing with more pain. My feet were killing at this stage. Sammy and I were literally laughing at anything. I learn she teaches Cheer, so I started my own ‘Give me a K-I-R-K” with some fancy arm movements. We were funnier than the comedy festival (although I don’t think anyone would pay to watch our show). As we came into Waterloo (258km) I was in my usual panic and pity party. I felt like I wasn’t going to finish. I took a 20min nap and Sammy went on. It was a hot and draining 27km to the next aid station. I had a cry in the bush. Further on, a lady came rushing out of her house (which we rarely saw) to wish me all the best and that she’d been watching our trackers. That was all I needed to get a boost and snap into gear. How sweet that she would even think of little old me plodding along.

I got to Mintaro (285km) shattered. George, who had already finished the race and looked fresh as a daisy, came to visit me along with some pasta, YUM. He kept telling me I had 15 hours to do a marathon but it wasn’t computing in my head as achievable. I had a sack of fluid swishing around my right ankle at this stage and that’s all I was focused on but decided to just leave my shoes on and have nap. Sammy was waiting for me. She had hated that last section on her own so made sure everyone knew that I was NOT to leave without her.

We both woke and went on our way laughing into the darkness. I’m sure everyone thought we’d lost the plot. Sammy didn’t even know trail shoes existed and had a $13 head torch from Kmart – I loved her style but there’s only one way to learn, by living. We smashed out the next leg. We had a few laughs with the last aid station vollies, another hour sleep (although my feet were so sore I couldn’t rest) and were off again…and soon lost again. By this stage we were both crying on Arnie the sweep and freaking out that we’d lost valuable time. The poor man was so patient with our breakdowns, farts and dirt naps. He just calmly smiled and played along with our drama

As we hit the main stretch of Clare, people started to appear. Tamas, who had looked after both of us, was honking his horn up and down the street and jumping out to hug us. People walked us to the finish, it was so touching. I wanted Sammy to experience the last place honour, she deserved it. Everyone formed a tunnel and cheered, it was the most epic welcome. Hugs everywhere. 98hours and 43minutes. My shoes come off and Darcy, a young girl I made friends with, poked my blister really hard. I’m just happy it didn’t explode on her. I was on an emotional high of seeing the run directors (Shaun Kaesler, Michelle and Melanee Maisey), all the other legend runners and those who had volunteered.

An hour or so later I got my trophy and quickly passed out on the grass. I can’t explain the true beauty of a 200 miler, it’s the people, nature, and the challenge (some good bling at the end helps too).New Paragraph

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AUTRA News Report 19-02-2025

By Kate Dzienis • February 19, 2025

The latest in race results, covering Cradle Mountain Run, City Run, Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut and Yaberoo Trail Ultra.

Final 2024 Points Competition Results

By Alexis Oosterhoff • January 30, 2025

Results for the 2024 AUTRA Points Competition have been finalised, and are available on our Points Competition page. Full details of the top 10 (as shared on Facebook during January) are detailed below, and results for all participating AUTRA members can be found in the documents at the above link. It was a real battle throughout the year between our top two finishers, Phil Gore & Kevin "BK" Matthews, with both giving it their it their all at events, and through contributions to the community - volunteering at multiple events, and submitting articles to our monthly newsletter, Ultramag. They finished within 2km of total distance for the year (Phil on 1203.087km, and Kevin on 1205.510km), and it was only Phil's final volunteering effort on 6 Inch Trail Marathon in December that gave him the that very narrow victory. As you'd be aware from previous communications, this marks the end of the Points Competition. With trail running (of all distances) now incorporated into AU T RA's constitution, and after careful consideration of the costs of the competition payouts in it's current form, the committee felt it was time for it's retirement. This marks my seventh and final year of delivering the points competition to membership (2018-2024), after taking on the role from Cheryl Symons. It has brought me great joy in doing so, and I feel like I've had an opportunity to get to know so many of our members through seeing their race (and volunteering) performances over the years! I'm continuing in my role as the AUS/NZL statistician for DUV (from whom we shared the data for the points comp), and you can expect to continue to find your ultra-race result on their site. 1st Place - Phil Gore (WA) - 86 points Phil's achievements this year have included a massive 265.653km (and 2nd place) at the IAU 24h Asia & Oceania Championships, wins at the Red Dirt Backyard Ultra (33 laps), the Australian leg of Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship (96 laps), and the Soochow/Taipei 24h Ultramarathon (270.826km). He also knocked out an easy (!) 72km at the Light Horse Ultra 24h in between supporting his amazing wife Gemma. Those two 24h wins netted Phil new Oceania 24h Open Male records, IAU Level 1 qualifiers, and pushed him to the top of Australia's 24h trophy board (with only the great Yiannis Kouros having run further). Phil topped-up his points by contributing one article to Ultramag, worked as an Event Director at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, and volunteered at a further five events through the year. He finished on 86 points. 2nd Place - Kevin Matthews (WA) - 84 points Finishing in 2nd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Kevin Matthews. He monstered his way through the year with finishes at Australia Day Ultra 100km, Delirious WEST 200mi, 24 laps at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, 190km at Light Horse Ultra 24h, 23 laps at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, and also completed Feral Pig 100 miler, Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km. And to top things off, he contributed five articles to Ultramag, and volunteered at five events. BK ran 1205km in Ultramarathon races this year, all of them AUTRA-listed, and surpassed 100 marathon finishes (including 51 Ultramarathons!) Kevin finished the year on 84 points, a massive 34 points ahead of our 3rd place finisher Sue Robertson. 3rd Place - Sue Robertson (WA) - 50 points Finishing in 3rd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Sue Robertson. Sue completed the Ultra Series 100 miler trilogy of Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST, and rounded out her year with the Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km races. She received 30 points from the racing at AUTRA-listed events, and was awarded a further 20 points by volunteering across eight events and contributing two articles to Ultramag, for a total of 50 points for the year. Thank you Sue! 4th Place - Margie Hadley (WA) - 47 points Finishing in 4th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Margie Hadley . She was the top-female finisher at both the No Time to Die Frontyard Ultra & Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, 2nd at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, ran 182km at the Australian 24h Track Invitational and placed 3rd at Coast to Kosci. Margie received 47 points in the competition 5th Place - Melissa Robertson (NSW) - 44 points Finishing in 5th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Melissa Robertson. Melissa took out 1st place at Irrational SOUTH 200 miler, 2nd place at Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place at Hume & Hovell 100 miler, 3rd place at Rumble in the Jungle and 6th place at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100 miler! She also volunteered at the GNW 50km event, receiving 44 points in the competition! 6th Place - Aaron Young (WA) - 42 points Finishing in 6th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Aaron Young . Aaron finished in 1st place at each of the Ultra Series "Triple Crown" of 200 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), 55 laps at Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship, and rounded his year out with Feral Pig 100 miler. Aaron receives 42 points, just nudging ahead of Maree Connor (who also finished on 42 points) on a count-back 7th Place - Maree Connor (NSW) - 42 points Finishing in 7th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Maree Connor. Maree had an outstanding year, achieving 2nd place with 221km (and an IAU Level 1 qualifier) at the IAU 24th Asian and Oceania Championships, 1st place at the Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place with 67km at the Southern Sydney 6h race, and 1st place with 116km at the Narrabeen Allnighter 12h. Maree also competed at Spartathlon race this year (for which she contributed an article to the September Ultramag on her experience), receiving 42 points in the competition. 8th Place - Darren Linney (SA) - 41 points Finishing in 8th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is SA's Darren Linney . Darren completed 34 laps at No Time to Die BYU, 199km at the Adelaide 24h race, and 814km at the Australian 6 Day race, for a total of 1241km raced and 41 points . 9th Place - Tristan Cameron (WA) - 40 points Finishing in 9th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Tristan Cameron. Tristan completed the Ultra Series Triple Crown of 200 mile races (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), along with Feral Pig 100 miler, for a total of 1154km raced and 40 points. 10th Place - Jen Millum (WA) - 39 points Finishing in 10th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Jen Millum . Jen finished 1st at all three of the Ultra Series Trilogy of 100 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), and was 2nd female with 35 laps at the Wild Dog Backyard Ultra. With a volunteer stint at the Yaberoo Trail Ultra, Jen finished the year with 39 points in the competition. To view the complete list of members who secured points in 2024 click here and then follow through to Points Summary under the 2024 tab. All winners have already been contacted, with cash prizes distributed for 1st - 7th places, and AUTRA Store vouchers sent for 8th, 9th & 10th.