Running my first 250km ultra-marathon in 12 years (Part 2)

Hi Friends,

I last left you at Part 1, with the race beginning. Now, as I write this, I am two weeks beyond the race. What an interesting experience it’s been. And it’s wonderful to be able to share it with you, because it’s truly beautiful.

For the past few years, it’s been a well-known fact that I struggled with depression and a lack of purpose. Despite having the world at my feet, I mentally burnt out. In essence, the experience has been a gift. Throughout it, I have rebuilt my mental resilience. Now, I was seeking to re-tap my physical resilience.

Back between 2004 and 2014, I completed six ultra-marathons across the world. Each was 250km, six days, multi-stage, self-supported, and held in the deserts of Atacama (Chile), Gobi (China), Sahara (Egypt), Antarctica, Namibia, and Madagascar.

I found my gift in ultra-running. It was a test of so many variables. It sharpened my problem-solving abilities and built me for the endurance required to build my life. My entrepreneurial drive has come from energy generated by an application to fitness and well-being. I live my life the way I choose to optimise my well-being, not just for myself, but also to be a "good energy" to others.

The secret for me has been to slow down to speed up. My "Life 1" was moving at high speed. It’s taken years to land it into its current "Life 2" formula. If my intention is flow and simplicity, I am still on a continued path of transformation!

The answer I was seeking by doing a 250km ultra-marathon was: did I still have the stamina? Could I accomplish it without much or any training? My curiosity led me to sign up for the race in the South of NZ. Over six stages from 22 to 28 February, I covered 250km with 8,000m of vertical ascents across the alps of Central Otago. This is my backyard, and I was eager to explore it.

With the Parihoa sale zapping my emotional energy over summer, I kicked it back a gear to keep balanced. It made me unmotivated to train and I thought of pulling out. But the energy of a good friend in NZ convinced me I could do it. With my overseas mate KS coming to do it with me, I fired up at the last minute.

We rapidly went through my equipment list and bought all the missing things. I enjoyed putting it all together. Unlike the deserts where I could only carry a 6kg pack with all the gear and food in it, this race allowed “supported” competitors a 15kg bag between camps. This was luxury. I filled it with all my favourite things: warm clothes, good food, and even coffee beans. OK, it wasn’t exactly "luxury," but it was better than I’d had before.

The first three days totalled 110km. Relatively flat, the landscape around Lake Hawea and Wanaka was undeniably beautiful. Spirits were high, with 70 competitors enjoying themselves. I got into a flow with my pace and gear. It was a beautiful feeling to return to. Ultra-running is like a meditation to me. My feet definitely hurt and I quickly developed blisters, but I put up with them.

Day 4 switched into a near double-marathon. Around Coronet Peak, we covered 72km. It was a long, tiring day of climbs but extremely inspiring - some of the best landscapes I have seen on the planet. I found myself in good balance with all the variables - food, hydration, pace, mind - and motored on through. After 15 hours out, I collapsed into bed.

A rainy rest day at the 182km mark gave way to a 33km mountain stage which was tough. I couldn’t get into it initially, but eventually warmed up and enjoyed the scenery.

The final day was 33km and a gentle course from Arrowtown to Queenstown. We finished in the heart of the resort town, 250km chalked up. My mate KS and I held our hands in the air in completion. We both appreciated that our 40s bodies could cope with it - and reasonably effortlessly, I found out. It really intrigues me to train a bit more.

I felt a real buzz from accomplishing this goal. Returning home to immediately entertain some guests, they were amazed by my energy. But after they left, I had several days of low energy. My body ached and I just slept, ate, and did little. Most of my first week of recovery floated by. In the second week, the body started to return to normal; I went back to the gym and more movement. Now, in the third week, I am returning to normal.

I recommend pushing yourself on one or two goals each year that take you out of your comfort zone. For me, it was that and a genuine desire to know if I still had a passion for ultra-running. It had been the first in 12 years. I was concerned I wouldn’t have it in me, but what I discovered was that it was always there. It gives me confidence to know it can be re-tapped.

So now I am enjoying the extra fitness and feeling ready to tackle future goals. I’ll talk about those in part 3. I hope you enjoyed this account.