A Summer of Fun Runs for TUM

Tarawera ULTRA Marathon
60 km of hard core, trail running, climbs and drops, peaks and valleys, twists and turns from Rotorua to Tarawera Falls. 
One of those big, "I'm really not sure I can do this but going to give it everything I've got" dreams.
I saw this video in mid 2013 and it just captured my imagination - the sort of thing that I keep coming back to no matter how ridiculous I think it is for someone whose catch phrase is "I'm not a runner" to attempt an Ultra.  I dare you to watch the video - but I take no responsibility for the consequences if you get hooked too.

You can read a bit of my journey to TUM, from 2013 thinking about it, to May 2014 doing Rotorua Marathon purely to prove I could run enough to enter TUM, then entering on the day entries opened. 


So, this was my Summer of Fun Runs for TUM.  And it really was (mostly) fun.  Don't get me wrong, I had some truly dark moments.  Usually on that ruddy great hill on the Western Okataina Walkway.  Some moments were TRULY dark - like trying to simulate the race start by leaving the Redwoods carpark half an hour before dawn, but sitting in my car too scared to get out in the dark and start running on my own!  The worst moment I can remember was starting for a late morning run from the Redwoods to Okataina and becoming aware that not only were my feet practically dragging, but my brain was fuzzy and I was becoming incapable of making sensible decisions.  I'm not sure if it was heatstroke or fatigue, but not a good place to be in when the place you're in is the middle of nowhere with no support available.  I knew I was in that vulnerable place where taking a wrong turn, or spraining an ankle, or just lying down and going to sleep, was all too possible.  Finishing that run was one of my highlights of the Summer, because crikey, I had to dig deep and keep  my legs moving on automatic pilot. 

I ran and I ran and I ran.  Actually, a runner would probably tell you that I ran hardly at all, but it was a lot of running for me.  My training plan looked something like this:
1 x short run 5km per week
1 x medium run 10km per week
1 x long run every 1-2 weeks - growing
And as per usual, a significant amount of biking and touch rugby and fun along the way.

I ran when we were away from home on family trips:

 

 

 I ran boring road runs around the city - and discovered the Matapihi Railway Bridge and Waikareo Estuary:

 

 

 I ran home after family outings, the long way:

 

I ran the first two legs of the course and the Okataina Hill nearly killed me:

I ran the last two legs of the course, then turned around and ran back to my car:

 

........... and then I realised I was a nutter who just ran 47km in training.  And enjoyed it.

 

I ran the first two legs starting before sunrise to imitate race day conditions: (then turned around and ran back)

I ran in the dark, in the heat, and in the rain.  I ran watching wood pigeons, tui, possums and wallabies.  I ran through bush, forest, suburbs, puddles, cow pats and bush lawyer.  I ran with music, with the sound of my own feet, with the wind in the trees and the birds singing.  I ran solo.  I ran and thought, ran and planned, ran and sang, and even ran and danced.  I ran with the world as my screen; taking in what I could see.  I ran in joy, in tears, in pain, in euphoria, in boredom, in frustration, in peace.  I ran when I was motivated, and when I was too afraid to not run.  I ran adventures, with a pack of food and water and a map.  I ran with the Personal Locator Beacon and Rescue Helicopter Membership a husband buys a wife who keeps disappearing onto the trails and out of cell reception. 

(Actually, I walked a lot, but that would have sort of ruined the poetic symmetry I had going on there so I didn't mention it.  I'm also talking myself up a bit - take a look at my average paces and you'll get an idea of the amount of walking I did.)


And then it was time to run TUM.