thenext.run - an Ultra that a little birdy told me about

The 19th of May 2020 marks the start of a new training program counting down to a new event for me. A last one standing event - Birdy’s Backyard Ultra 2020.

If running an ultra long distance, in maddening circles and doing so in the peak of winter at Lake Towerrinning where the average August maximum is just 15 degrees celsius wasn’t crazy enough, the last one standing format ensures a dnf for everyone except the winner.

To be clear it’s a 6.7km course around Lake Towerinning with runners starting on the hour every hour until a final solo lap within cutoff by the last one standing. Everyone else gets a dreaded DID NOT FINISH (dnf).

This is new too - training for many months just to not complete the race.

But the lure in this event and the flush of others like it popping up all over the country, is not in the winning. As with most runs we don’t all finish first. The excitement is the chance to test oneself on many levels.

Can my Queenslander constitution adapt to running in the great southern cold with beanie, gloves, base layers, running jacket and “running” nose?

Can I step up (or down rather) my bull at a gate road pace to a longer lasting trail endurance focused 6-7km/h and not be bored to tears?

Can I run through the night? This will be my first night event.

Will I be able to handle the logistics and practicalities of body repair, toilet breaks, fueling and drinking in the precious minutes between laps?

And the biggest hurdle of all….Can my longest race distance to date of 65km, be stretched out to make it to my goal of 24 hours and (160.8km) with only my current base and 12 weeks of focused training?

But it’s not all gloom and doom. This new goal has brought some new vigour in planning tricks for my training schedule. I’ve added slow night runs in with head torch and Jet and Walter setting the 6km/k pace (my 2 kelpies) 3 times a week. I’ve added these to my normal day run (so that is a 12km+ run in the morning, and up to 18km at night) to up the “tired legs” factor.

The Pacers - Jet and Walter

I’ll be running the event with a select group of only 100 punters and with the venerable host Shaun Kaesler -Madman, USWA race promoter and all round champion - good times and non stop laughs, camping and probably a few beverages around the firepit at the end should make for a memorable weekend.

I’ll post up my training schedule shortly, and if your north of the river somewhere near Kallaroo I am looking for a training partner too.

So that’s mine - What’s the next run for you?