THE WORLD TRAIL CHAMPIONSHIPS EXPERIENCE

Contributed by Lauren Rooke, AURA member/Australian Team (Trail World Championships)

Trail World Championships, Miranda do Corvo in Portugal, 8 June 2019

On May 31, my husband and I excitedly boarded the plane for the 2019 Trail World Championships. I was stoked to be selected as one of five women and one male to represent Australia, and the only South Australian athlete. The Championships took place in Miranda do Corvo, Portugal on a 44.2-kilometre course with 2200 meters of climbing. While these numbers looked fairly timid on paper, there were large sections littered with tree roots and jagged rocks, best described as the Sturt Gorge River Trail on steroids. There were steep ups and downs, with very little flat sections on offer and caffeine was in high demand due to the concentration needed to stay upright. A high DNF rate was surprising for a World Championships and the first aid tent was kept quite busy.

The lead up for me personally had been a mix of highs and lows. I had experienced the highs of 4th female at UTA 50km, 1st at Wonderland and 2nd in the Five Peaks races in mid-2018. Then there were the lows of pulling out of Yurrebilla with Influenza A, injury setbacks and some big life events. There were certainly times when I questioned whether there were more worthwhile ways I should be spending my time, but despite this I felt called to give running a new go each day.

My typical week leading up to the championships consisted of seven to 10 runs and between 100 to 140kms with 2000m+ climb. This was a mix of speed sessions, easy runs, strength sessions and a three to four hour long run on Sundays. Sundays were my favourite because there was always an adventure to be had and about a dozen different runners joined us over time. Some mornings we chased vertical climb and managed just under 2000m in 30 to 35kms. Other mornings we ran to a destination and picked people up along the way. The only constant was that there was always a weekly brunch date at the end with my husband Kieran. We have well and truly mastered the post-run baby wipe and deodorant shower to scrub up well enough for admission into most cafés!

After several weeks of these long runs, it was time for the taper. Once the taper period started, it was similar what I hear of teachers and their start of holiday sickness time. I unfortunately contracted the most hideous gastro bug and after the 30 hours of travelling, also developed temperatures. After missing a plane due to Kieran convincing me of the necessity for this hotel buffet breakfast, we arrived in Porto.

We spent three days up in the mountains at Gondramaz, which were incredibly spectacular and I walk/jogged a few short distances on the course as able. The course surprised us with its technicality and we gained some insight into the whole distance from other European runners who had trained on it numerous times over the previous months. We then moved to the team accommodation in Coimbra and met some of the Aussie teammates for the first time.

On the day of the race I felt miraculously better than I had done all week and felt so blessed to be able to start. There were many doubts over whether I would finish but Kieran, a little more acquainted with my stubbornness and the power of prayer, assured the others I would.

The start was an elbow fest and alike anything I have been a part of, with little to no regard for cheekbones or nose heights.

The first 7kms took us straight through a river and then a tunnel knee high in water. We then began our rocky ascent and athletes resorted to helping push each other up steep sections in unglamorous ways. One athlete from a non-English speaking country asked ‘can you move in with me’, presumably meaning to say ‘can you move for me’ and I snapped out of the hurt locker into fits of laughter. There were many times like these where I was really struggling, and then something happened that would change my mindset. Another example was during the last 10kms when another runner and I started descending on the rocky, steep and tree-root laden trail. It was so ridiculous that you really had to either laugh or cry. After both of us slid down a section on our backsides, we both chose the first option and started laughing. Yet another time, a cheer squad assumed my green uniform was Brazil and escorted me up a giant stairwell with enthusiasm yelling ‘Ale Brazillia’. There were also the various ‘official’ photographers who seemed to like closeups and a fisty cuffs between kids over a cowbell. Our Aussie support crew was outstanding, albeit lacking cowbells.

While these moments are memorable, the rest was honestly a blur. What I do remember though, is feeling so much relief as I finally crossed the finish line.It was the end of a painful race, with an exhausted and sickly body, but I finished and that’s all that mattered. There was no ‘did not start’ or ‘did not finish’ by an Australian’s name. 142 of 188 female runners is nothing special but the experience truly was.

Thank you my friends, family and the many people who offered to join me on runs, to the Australian team and to the support crew. I would especially like to thank iOMerino, for their provision of such wonderful gear. Being kitted up with iOMerino arm warmers, buffs, thermals and gloves has made 5am starts in winter seem so much more appealing! Also to Salomon for their packs and shoes to keep me safe on the trails and Suunto for my new watch.

Pictured: Lauren Rooke with her Australian team mates at the 2019 World Trail Championships. Photograph – Supplied.