INJURIES DON’T STOP MCLEISH FROM CONQUERING 100K ADU

Kate Dzienis • January 31, 2019

Contributed by Andrew McLeish, AURA member

The 2019 Australia Day Ultra (January) race was a huge goal for me. Last year’s event was my first attempt at the 100km distance and I experienced my first ever DNF. As a result I struggled through mental blocks and injury most of 2018 and had a fairly inconsistent year of training.

Three months before race day this month, I was facing lower back and hip issues. Disappointingly, an MRI revealed some long term problems, and I was advised by my doctor not to run for six weeks, which would have taken me to mid-December.

As many know all too well, my running break lasted only about two weeks as I was climbing the walls, and just between you and I – pretty much losing my mind. I worked with the physio and managed a solid two months training block.

One of the minor hurdles of ADU for me was, and still is, the midnight start time. It can be trying at times to work out pre-race nutrition and achieve adequate sleep.

This year it forecast be a very hot 38°.

My A goal was simply to finish the distance within the cut off time of 15 hours, though I’d hoped to come in under 10:30:00.

Leading up to the big day, I’d also restricted my longest training runs to 32km so as to not flare up any previous niggles, so I was understandably nervous for not having included a particularly long run in my training – I was, however, happy with consistent high mileage weeks.

Another big thing I had been working hard on was slowing down my pace; I have a tendency to go out too fast and blow up early, so my plan was to start at a 5:30 pace and hold it as long as I could, knowing I would slow down after a few laps. A normal cruising speed for me is about 4:30.

One part of ultra running I love is the whole lead up to the race – all the planning, nerves and adrenaline.

Race day plan was to get up, eat a hearty but healthy breakfast, light healthy lunch then rest, rest, and rest – and not eat again until 10pm when I’d eat my normal race day breakfast. It was awesome advice from WA ultra runner David Kennedy; this way I wouldn’t be running on a full day’s worth of food, and it worked a treat because I didn’t stop for a toilet break until around the 70k mark.

Finally midnight arrived. Lining up at the startline I tried to seed myself towards the back of the pack to stop the adrenaline from getting the better of me. Off we all went down a dark path with a beautiful view of the red moon shinning over the top of the water.

My first lap was slower than planned. I was averaging around a 5:40 pace which I was very happy with, and for the first time in the three years I’ve been running, it felt comfortable to run at a slower pace.

Around 37km my knee started playing up (this was a new issue and not one I’d had before) and it felt like it was clicking every time I lifted my leg and was getting quite painful.

I quickly re-adjusted my goal to 15 hours. I was going to finish this no matter what. Early on, I decided on a walk/run strategy and to focus on breaking the distance down into 3km segments, so each aid station. These 3km segments felt more like 10km though!

I reached the 50km mark, halfway through. A quick shirt and shoe change, a few Panadol and my wife had managed to find me a knee brace – and what a difference it made. I was pain free for the next 15km and managed to run more than I walked.

By now the course was pretty full with competitors, because as the sun came up the shorter distance events were starting. It helped enormously to see lots of my friends on the course, and it was great encouraging them and getting the same in return.

The 75km point came around, and I was in a lot of pain, walking more than running. On a positive note though, I hadn’t had any cramping, I usually struggle with cramping around the 40km mark so I was staying focused on the positives.

The final lap was quite emotional. Thinking about my two girls brought on happy tears. I had almost done it, I knew I was going to finish. With 6km to go, the low battery indicator flashed up on my Garmin, and all of a sudden I was running a fast pace again – I had to crack that 100 before my watched died!

Finally, I could see the finish line. What a massive feeling of accomplishment running in to the cheers of all the Ultra Series WA crew, family and friends. Hearing my wife and brother-in-law screaming me over the finish line, what a feeling! The atmosphere and the comradery felt amazing, such an inspirational group of people all in the one spot.

In the end, I finished in 12:26. It’s the longest distance I have ever run and it was the longest time on legs. Strangely perhaps this TOL is what I am most proud of.

I still have the long term goal of completing a 100 miler and this latest accomplishment takes me one step closer to that.

Pictured (feature): Andrew McLeish at the 2019 ADU 100km event. Photograph – Shannon Dale.

Pictured (above right): McLeish with his daughters after finishing his 100km. Photograph – Supplied/Facebook.

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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.