Again in December, ultra-distance runner Giles Penfold accomplished the Kosci100 – however not with no contact of struggling. Right here’s why he’ll be again once more this 12 months.
We Are Explorers acknowledges that this journey is situated on the normal Nation of the Walgalu and Ngarigo Individuals who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for 1000’s of years. We pay our respects to them because the Conventional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was by no means ceded.
The Race
The Kosci100 is one among 4 path race distances organised by Extremely Path Kosciusko (by UTMB), with the 30km, 50km, and 165km variations all happening on the identical weekend.
The 2023 version was its second 12 months operating, beginning and ending within the village of Thredbo within the NSW Snowy Mountains. I used to be one among 614 runners who laced up on a cool December morning to tackle a formidable course – 106.4km lengthy, with an elevation acquire of 3055m – that included reaching the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, at 2228m, Australia’s highest peak.
614 barely insane folks! | @koruptvision
My (Bold) Purpose
I needed to clock beneath 13 hours – formidable, however I rated my coaching within the lead-up to the race constant sufficient to dare to dip my hand into the jagged jar labelled RISK. Enjoying it protected has received me to the end in ultras many occasions – this time, I supposed to tinker with my consolation zone, to push onerous, and actually take a look at my limits.
My second intention was to remain current and absorb each second, it doesn’t matter what. As a form of antidote to the punishing thoughts video games and self-doubt that had dogged me earlier than, I’d attempt to give attention to the sensory expertise: the beautiful panorama, the scent of the bush, the rhythm of my foot fall, the wind in my face.
My extra purpose was to acknowledge and thank the volunteers on the support stations. With out them, occasions comparable to this aren’t doable. It’s one thing you are inclined to neglect whenever you’re doing all of your finest to remain alive.
One thing I Didn’t Anticipate
That there’d be 70km/h winds within the morning, excessive temperatures, and little cloud cowl in the course of the day, and a fierce thunderstorm within the afternoon.
Warmth and publicity proved a merciless mixture for which I wasn’t ready. At 9am, I arrived at Charlotte’s Cross (26km) drenched and dehydrated.
My Dad, who’d pushed the 500km from Sydney the day prior to this to behave as assist crew, requested how I used to be feeling.
‘Yeah, not bad’, I lied.
Cool, cool, cool, cool – every little thing is ok | Photograph by Tim Bardsley-Smith
By midday, it felt just like the solar and rugged terrain had taken a contract out on my life. Over the following eight hours or so, it proved unattainable to replenish the fluid I’d misplaced. Perhaps a drone flying subsequent to me, drip-feeding me two litres of electrolytes an hour, may’ve carried out the trick.
It was some consolation to fulfill loads of my fellow runners as deep within the damage locker as I used to be, but preventing to maintain going. Eighty-five clicks in, there was a beautiful stretch of 20km between support stations the place I handed 9 runners, all strolling, all smoked. Sean, an Irishman I’d shared a couple of kilometres with earlier, was amongst them.
‘Do it for the zombies!’ he known as out as I ran by. I can solely hope I did the undead proud.
The place I Stuffed Up
My want to flirt with discomfort received the higher of me. I took it out too onerous and suffered consequently. On the upside, it’s empowering whenever you’re compelled to depend on your thoughts to assist pull you thru and also you do.
The primary 5km of the course required us to climb 650m. As I pushed, endeavouring to remain near the lead runners, my poles ripped into the bottom and my lungs heaved as if I have been sprinting. The sprawling views over the valley proved a spectacular distraction from the interior dialogue of, ‘Shit, am I cooking my race here already?’.
About an hour in, I reached the summit of Kosciuszko.
Can’t consider I ran to the highest of Kosci | @koruptvision
White zebra stripes of present punctuated the gray 360° panorama. It was right here I realised there was a worth to pay for operating 5km at tempo tempo, at elevation. I felt torpid and dizzy – and solely had one other 100km to go. How good!
It was a strong suffer-fest up till kilometre 65, the place my legs lastly got here again to life.
The Greatest Moments
Having my Dad crew for me was particular. As a former runner who’d wrecked himself going a little bit too onerous again within the day, he’s no fan of my ‘self-sabotaging’ to run huge distances. I did my finest to cover how horrible I felt throughout the race, as a result of dad and mom love to fret an excessive amount of, however I used to be grateful to have him there.
The attractive and unforgiving panorama of Kosciuszko Nationwide Park was a excessive level (pun supposed).
A lot of the course hugged the Snowy and Thredbo Rivers, taunting me to dive into their icy waters headfirst to chill down and slake my thirst.
A goosebump second was operating previous a gaggle of supporters by the facet of the path on the 90km mark. The 5 cheered as loudly as they might, one girl’s yells of ‘You’re my hero!’ one way or the other despatched a surge of power by my physique. It’s wild how just some loud folks can psych you up a lot.
What I Discovered
The great thing about Mount Kosci and its setting will really take your breath away – however for a lung-busting expertise, attempt operating 106km by it at an ill-advised tempo. I suffered immensely due to it.
It left me breathless in inspiring and difficult methods | Photograph by Extremely-Path Kosciuszko by UTMB
Looping again on my preliminary purpose, I didn’t tick off the STAY PRESENT field always, however I did put a wholesome dent in it. The secret wasn’t to stay perpetually grounded and current, however to watch and perceive what was happening in my noggin.
The extra I did this, the higher I grew to become at noticing when a seed of thought was value watering or burning. Remaining attentive to the ideas that flowed by my thoughts had compounding results on my efficiency and manner. I struggled much less and ruminated extra. The important thing studying was the ability of reflection over response.
Reflection > response | Photograph by Tim Bardsley-Smith
Why I’ll Go Again
I’ve unfinished enterprise at UTK. I used to be given a painful lesson in 2023 – subsequent time, I need to really feel snug for 80% of the race, operating inside myself, solely gently pushing the boundaries.
I’ll by no means tire of the rugged magnificence of those wild areas. The Snow gum forests, boulders, lakes, rivers, and peaks added to what was already an unbelievable expertise.
The volunteers have been caring and engaged, and the power of everybody concerned was infectious, typically making the hair on the again of my neck stand on finish. Hundreds of individuals coming collectively to have fun path operating and the immense problem by no means will get outdated. The environment at UTK was electrical, and I do know I’ll be again.
See you once more quickly! | Photograph by Tim Bardsley-Smith
The 2024 version of Extremely-Path Kosciusko will happen on the twenty eighth & twenty ninth of November. For more information and to enroll, try the Extremely-Path Kosci web site.
And to search out extra races, head to our occasion calendar!
