NUTRITION TRIAL AT LIGHTHORSE WORKS A TREAT FOR HOOKER

Kate Dzienis • May 30, 2021

Contributed by Michael Hooker, AURA Member & 1st Male at Lighthorse Ultra 6hr

Lighthorse Ultra, 1-2 May 2021, Woodvale WA

In early May I ran in the Lighthorse Ultra event hosted by Ultra Series WA and held at Perry’s Paddock in Woodvale. The format for this event is to run a 2.5km loop continuously for the whole duration of whatever time allocation that you choose to enter. This can be for 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours. For me, I chose to enter the 6 hour category after sweet talking my coach Tony Smith into the idea of having a solid hit out, as I wanted to trial some different nutrition during event conditions in preparation for a future event that I have coming up on my run calendar.

I generally don’t repeat running events but I have a soft spot towards Lighthorse. The theme for it is held in remembrance of our fallen heroes of the past, and also our service men and women of today. My family has been represented by various members in both of these categories and the event honours all those who have served and sacrificed in national service for our country, enabling us to have the freedoms we live with today.

In preparation for Lighthorse I set myself a personal goal. This was to run 80km during the 6 hours, all while trialling some different nutrition and hydration tactics. I didn’t have an ideal lead up to the event the night before as I attended a good friend’s 40th birthday celebration, and I didn’t want to miss out on that. So despite only getting an hour and a half sleep, we arrived at Perry’s Paddock early Sunday morning around 5am, with clear skies, dew on the ground and the fresh feeling of a new day brewing. We set up camp with Sergio Gustinetti and his partner Jordanna Cassidy after pre organising to share a gazebo.

I was set up, and went through my final preparations and then gave some final instructions to my wife Tatiana who was crewing for me, as she always does. At 5:40am, the race brief began and following that a moving pre-dawn service, including a rendition of the last post by a bugler.

It was now 6am and time to start my run, the sun was still below the horizon and a head torch was needed, as were my gloves. After a countdown we were off on our first lap, both the 3 and 6 hour entrants. I began well, heading straight towards the front and quickly settled into my planned pace. I was joined at the front by Josh Chugg who had entered the 3 hour category and Ryan Willmot who had also entered the 6 hour. We paced around together for a few laps, chatting about our individual goals for the event, as well as nutrition and future goals and events. I really enjoyed the company and conversation, but it was short lived as our races drifted in different directions due to toilet breaks.

After about 5 laps I was now running solo which I’m accustomed to as most of my training is done that way. The laps ticked over swiftly and the sun was rising higher in the sky and with it the temperature also grew. It was time for a little wardrobe change and for my big Bunnings hat to come into play. The encouragement on course was amazing as always, not only from spectators but other runners on course. It’s something I truly love about Ultra Series WA events, the camaraderie of the tribe.

On lap 16, and just prior to the 40km mark of my run, my left calf decided to cramp up. This caused my stride to change and I found myself skipping and favouring my right leg. After the change of stride for about 10 metres the cramp disappeared and I was able to resume my usual stride and pace. A little further on that same lap another cramp and again with a skip or three, and a short distance it subsided. I got back to the main coral and asked Tatiana for an extra salt stick, thinking I must be needing it. I hit my first marathon distance in a time of 2:55:30 and apart from a few cramps was feeling great. I began thinking that my goal of 80km was almost a certainty and with a few calculations running over in my head, I was suddenly raising the bar mid race to 85km. I was able to maintain my pace and as the laps ticked over so did the cramping episodes.

Lap after lap I was having cramps kick in during each lap, almost every kilometre. I paused a few times over the next 3-4 laps and stretched my calves out on the small bridge handrail every time I came to cross it. This helped but only momentarily, I began asking for and taking more salt sticks as I passed my aid station, more than I had planned in my race plan spreadsheet.

Unfortunately, the cramping just continued, but I just persevered, and somehow managed to stay on pace for my revised distance goal. I reached close to 70km and with just over 1 hour to go my cramps were getting worse. I was still running well but struggling more. During that 28th lap, I came up behind Kevin ‘BK’ Matthews who recognised my footsteps and turned to acknowledge me as he had done a few times earlier in my run, so I slowed and asked him what he did for cramps. He told me to stop at his gazebo and see Rob Collins who would be there and as a professional masseuse, BK told me he’d be able to help with some magnesium spray and a quick massage. So this got me excited at the thought of possible relief.

As I approached the aid station coral, I saw Rob and stopped to ask for his assistance. He was quick to satisfy my plea for help. I quickly circled up and around the start line to complete that lap before returning to let Rob weave his magic on my cramping calf. With a few squirts of magnesium oil and some manipulation to my tight calf it began to relax ever so slightly. Moments later I was feeling better and off running again.

Half way around that next lap and feeling more free in my stride, I cramped once again. Not as bad as I had been prior to Rob’s massage though and moments later it eased. I pushed on thinking to myself just 4 more laps, and with just under 1 hour to go I should be able to reach my initial goal of 80km. I thought to myself that it was enough and began to settle, that I’d just take it really easy for whatever time remained after that. But then I began thinking about the theme of Lighthorse once again and suddenly I decided not to settle, so I pushed on.

I became more determined as my cramping had eased a little more. Once I reached the 32nd lap and 80km goal, I still had about 20 minutes to spare. So I thought to myself one more lap to reach 82.5km and then I’d collect my bean bag for my final lap and see how far I could get around before the siren sounded to end the 6 hours. I finished the 33rd lap and collected my bean bag with 10 minutes to go, slowing slightly and telling Tatiana as I passed her at my aid station that this was my final lap and that I’d see how far I could go before the siren sounded. I said that I was gonna take it a little slower and just cruise and that I did. As I ran that last lap I began getting excited about the idea of finishing and suddenly began feeling really hungry, the prospect of being able to eat some real food and refuel became so appealing that I began thinking about what I might like to eat. Suddenly the finish siren sounded and I dropped my bean bag and then stopped my Garmin. I was done, 6 hours and 84.37km covered. I was completely satisfied with not only what distance I’d achieved, but with what was to me a great event, and a successful nutrition trial, despite my cramping issues.

Special thank you to my bride for taking such great care of me as always. To my coach Tony Smith for always having me trained and in great race condition. To the race directors Wayne McMurtrie, Emma Luscombe and all those who volunteered their time and energy into making another successful event for everyone in the Ultra Series WA tribe. To Sergio and Jordanna for letting us set up camp with them for the event, and for the many laughs and larrikin moments on course. To Shane Johnstone at Valetudo Health, who assisted me with a last minute call for help to alleviate some sudden race week hip soreness, and Rob for the mid race massage.

Last but certainly not least, to all the other runners who participated in the event, congratulations to you all and thank you to all those who yelled out words of encouragement to me during my run, those little words of encouragement really do make a difference.

Pictured: Michael Hooker making another lap at the 2021 Lighthorse Ultra. Photograph – Shannon Dale.

Pictured (Inset): Michael Hooker racing his 6hr at the 2021 Lighthorse Ultra. Photograph – Andrew Yeatman.

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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.