The day before the 100km world championships





Well it’s the day before the 100km World Championships and I have taken some time away from the activities in the athlete village to write and reflect on:
- The journey to get here, focusing on the bigger picture
- The waves of negative thinking over the last 3 weeks I wish to compartmentalise
- My focus for tomorrow
The journey
For those who know me well, it has been a dream of mine to represent Australia in the 100km World Championships since I ran my first 100km race aged 19 in 2010. I fumbled around for many years, relying mostly on my natural fitness with minimal training, using races as my main training, with distances up to the mind-numbing-at-times 24 hour event.
Following the sudden death of my 28 year old brother, I became hungry to train and be focused at this goal I had been haphazardly striving for. Under the coaching of Australia’s best 100km runner and also the friend responsible for introducing me to the world of 100km racing in 2010, Brendan Davies, I started my focused journey toward this goal in late 2017.
I call it a journey in that there were many parts to it. Keeping in the positive reflective mindset, working with coach Brendan, and nutritionists Ellie and Chloe, I’m super happy with the following over the last 9 – 12 months:
- How far I’ve come with my hill aversion. My perception of hills has changed so much. Last December I was calling a slight incline a hill rep in training with UP Coaching. In June this year, I was actually looking forward to the uphill sections of Comrades as a break from the downhill jarring.
- How far I’ve come with my heat aversion. This time last year I was avoiding racing in hot races at all costs, prying out race calendars for the coldest, best conditions. This year I’ve raced in 39 degrees, didn’t notice the heat doing a 26 degree marathon, and have tricked my mind into running comfortably in the heat I had once avoided
- How far I’ve come with my top end speed as an ultra-marathon runner. I always used to brush off those 5km, 10km and even half marathons as ‘for speedy runners’ and ‘not for me.’ Thanks to Brendan both in the training sessions, particularly track and long tempo, as well as challenging my thinking, I have shaved off 2+minutes in my 5km, 4+ minutes in my 10km and 5+ minutes in my City2Surf.
- How my body has adapted to be more aerodynamically like a runner. I would always make excuses that I was eastern European blooded and slightly bulkier naturally but really was just not being disciplined enough. My meal plan was so fun to follow, so tailored, featuring ricotta pancakes, healthy ricotta cheesecake, pad thai, coconut rice, bounce balls, various meat/fish dishes and fun veggie dishes. I really wouldn’t have been able to lean up and have so much fun along the way without Ellie and Chloe.
The thinking I wish to box
The last 3 weeks have been a bit challenging for me with 2 different niggles that have meant I have been doing my running mixed with cross training for the speed work. It’s very easy to get caught up in focusing on the ‘here and now’ and was caught out on numerous occasions by Jerel and also by coach Brendan on today’s taper run.
My thoughts have been:
- I didn’t get the pace I was doing 6 weeks ago at the V02 reps session – I must have lost fitness
- My 10km tempo run today didn’t make the pace I had intended – I must have lost fitness
- It’s so humid and hot here in Croatia – I am not strong racing in that
Upon reflection on those thoughts, Brendan thought I started the V02 session way too hard and was battling lactic for the rest of the session, Jerel reminded me that the tempo 10km I did in Kiev was 35 degrees Celsius, and Jerel reminded me that I am the queen of sponges – both adding STOP focusing on it!
My focus tomorrow
When I started ultra-running, a book appeared on my doorstep called ‘Run the Race’. It was a study tool for the book of Hebrews which, as a non-believer at the time, I had not yet read (aside: I found out a year later my close friend, Sally, a Christian praying for me at the time, had sent me that book and definitely played a pivotal role in me becoming a Christian later that year). Tomorrow, knowing that I most likely will not be allowed music during the race tomorrow, I re-read this book and am committing this to memory:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (Hebrews 12:1–3)
I am so grateful to be here, to be able to representing Australia, for all the support from everyone back home. I am thrilled to have Jerel, mum, and dad here to watch me. I remember when I used to have to do ultra-races behind my mum’s back as a teenager as she was so scared of what they would do to me having seen me all white and yellow after my first 100km. It is a privilege to run with such a strong Australian team, captained by Brendan Davies and Tia Jones.
Tomorrow I will have my inner journey meditating on Hebrews and the endurance race set before us. I will be smiling from the inside out in gratitude and asking Jerel to throw hot sponges at me if I deter from any of that smiling!
Special mentions:
Thanks to Lily for coming over at least once a week to beat, poke and burn my body! The acupuncture, massage, and moxibustion kept my body training up to 200km a week with very little niggles over the last year.
Thanks to David at 4G Health and Performance for dry needling that one niggle I did get 3 weeks ago after City2Surf! It fixed it in a flash and loved trying out the Alter G beforehand.
Thanks to the aforementioned Chloe and Ellie for your real time nutritional advice and setting me my fluid, fun and interactive meal plan to get me to my goal of 20 BMI. Thanks for putting up with all my WhatsApp questions too!
Thanks to Macquarie University for your support for the last 5 years – I can vouch that Macquarie University is a true elite athlete friendly university, supporting athletes from such a wide variety of sports.
Thanks to Peak Altitude for your support. I definitely felt training in your altitude chamber helped me immensely to get to my peak top end speed.
Thanks to Fila for your continued support – I fit right in here in Europe in your attire!
Thanks to the Hyatt Regency for the steam rooms. With 100% humidity today, my body will be jumping for joy having spent 2h56 in your great steam room facilities in Kiev.
Thanks to all my training buddies for the fun you have made running over the past year. People ask whether I have a social life and you definitely make running my social life. Special mention to Alana, Leigha, Adam, Caroline, Jess, Meredith, Ollie, Manal, Enrique, Lachlan, Hendy, Eddy for the mileage fun!
Thanks to Brendan for your coaching, pushing me in training, and challenging me to push my limits
Thanks to my family for putting up with me in Kiev!
Thanks to KPMG for being such an elite athlete friendly company and for being so accommodating around my training and supportive to get me here today
Thanks to St James for keeping me centred!
Thanks to AURA for making this possible
Thanks to Jerel for you enduring love, support and being so accommodating – liebe dich sube!

