TURRINI LOOPS THE NARRABEEN AND WINS

Kate Dzienis • January 29, 2018

Contributed by Luca Turrini, 2018 Winner of the Narrabeen All Nighter

THE NARRABEEN LAGOON IS A STUNNING NATURAL COASTAL LAGOON METERS FROM THE OCEAN. IT’S SURROUNDED BY NARRABEEN STATE PARK, A THRIVING BUSHLAND HOME TO A LARGE VARIETY OF BIRDS, RODENTS, BATS, FROGS, MARSUPIALS AND FISH. ALL AROUND IT, A MAN-MADE WALKING TRAIL IS A POPULAR TRAINING GROUND FOR RUNNERS AND CYCLISTS.

On the first weekend of January (January 6) the trail was home for one night to the ultra running community due to the Narrabeen All Nighter (it’s 10th edition). With a number of distances to choose from – marathon, 6hrs and 12hrs either in a team or done solo, the race was an out and back circuit on a 5.2kms loop.

This year was my first year taking part, and I used it as training for a 24hr race I have planned for in March, so there wasn’t any specific goal aside assessing where my physical and mental fitness levels were at. In a nutshell, I managed to run strong throughout and I ended up recording 25.5 loops, 134.4kms, taking home the win and setting a new course record.

It was a good and welcome omen for all things to come in 2018.

I run with my head
For me, running is often more about what goes on in my head than with my legs, and Narrabeen was another example of that. I had a good run because I channelled my mental energy to useful action and I didn’t accept shortcuts.

The last few months have been incredibly stressful; ever since I quit my IT career to follow my passion for running and fundraising, I second guessed myself and doubted my decisions, mainly from a financial stand-point. So

I got to the race day worn out and overloaded with emotions.

Although, I’m actually lucky I got to the race on time as I was disorganised leaving all the logistics to the last minute – quite not like me. On my scooter, riding like a maniac to Narrabeen, I felt full of negative emotions and was upset with myself – I was still stressing about work, the things to do and change, and the future, the children, and on and on and on.

I finally had enough, I shouted to myself “Stop it! That’s enough whinging for the day. Do something useful with all this tension, use it to forward motion.” Throughout the night, every time unnecessary thoughts came to mind, I just acknowledged them and parked them for later, choosing to use that mental energy for things more useful in that moment. Simple things like taking in the surroundings, reading the nametags of other runners, listening to my body and keeping fluids up. Not wasting any mental cycles in things irrelevant to the task ahead.

And while pushing back thoughts was initially hard, few hours into the run I felt relieved. Mentally and physically, it’s like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Back to the race

The night was warm, about 25 to 27 degrees. I ran the first marathon with friend Andy Heyden, and we chatted the whole way.

He was unable to stay for the full 12 hours, so I was on my own from 3hrs 30 mins onwards, which I didn’t mind, honestly, as I needed some time alone to get it done. I ran every lap consistently, and at no point did I feel bored, or that I’d had enough, or I was pushing the pace.

Being an out and back course with different distance events sharing the trail, and starting at different times, there was always someone approaching in the other direction, or someone to overtake or overtaking me.

There was always a brief exchange of words, a chat or just a mutual nod or cheer to keep me entertained – best of all, most runners were smiling, which was a great booster.

I sat on a stable and comfortable effort and reached the 100kms mark in 8hs 50mins, just before my watch ran out of battery. I continued to run totally by effort, losing track of my actual distance or pace, which felt good for a change.

I didn’t have an official support crew for the night and I was lucky that a volunteer named Dave offered to help by keeping me fed and accommodating all my requests of different drinks at every lap.

It was so hot, I went through half a bottle per lap, or seven litres of liquids in 12 hours, and every lap I just felt like having something different…it was either more ice, electrolytes, coke, less water.

No shortcuts

Dave was setup at the finish line and, with about 70 minutes to go, he advised me that if I could keep my laps (5.26kms) under 30 minutes, I would most likely have enough time to attempt one last half lap before the 12 hours. I started my second last loop thinking I didn’t actually need to do another half lap. It was a training run, and I’d already reached a good distance.

Also, I’d thought to myself that if I did another half lap, it would I’d have to jog back from the other end of the course anyway, so one more lap it was.

I thought briefly that at the other end, there would be nobody to cheer when I finished, and if just kept the pace, I wouldn’t make it and nobody would know any different.

Then another thought came to mind.

“This sounds like taking a shortcut, and that’s cheating. What’s good about that?

I laughed to myself as these are the exact sorts of thoughts I have on my training runs.

So, I increased my pace just a little and surely, I got to the finish line two loops later with exactly 15 minutes left – enough to complete another half loop…only just! I had to bolt the last 200-meters to reach the timing mat a few seconds under the 12hs cut-off.

Pictured: Luca Turrini. Photograph – Supplied.

Ultramag contributor Luca Turrini is a world record holder endurance runner and keynote speaker with a passion for unusual running adventures and training the mind to achieve often seemingly impossible feats. Born in Italy, he is now an Aussie based in Sydney.

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2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026

AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026

AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time. From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points: At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event. The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line. At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time. Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events.