Getting M*A*S*Hed

Wellington Anniversary Weekend was the second M*A*S*H Backyard on the Kapiti Coast. Fi Hayvice and the team put on another amazing show, including great running weather - mild and dry with cooling southerly breezes. The Backyard format requires competitors run 6.7km every hour, on the hour, until they can’t (or won’t) any longer. The event goes on until only one person is left standing.

This was my second ever Backyard event, so an obvious goal was to go past my previous performance of 26 laps (174km). For me, the bigger result that I wanted to achieve was to get to 24 hours for the sixth time and then to be more present and curious than I had previously managed at that stage of an adventure. As part of that, it was important to me that I connected to my running values: challenging myself, improving, enjoying myself and being grateful.

I tried to treat my preparation with the same level of intention as I would encourage my athletes to do so. The result I wanted to achieve from the event was clear, but there was a fair bit of time dedicated to developing the strategy and tactics. From there, it was a case of briefing the ever-attentive Lucy as my crew chief and leveraging the rest of an awesome WoRM crew to make sure that Lucy would be supported in everything she needed. After getting down on Friday to help set up our team gazebo, and to check and triple-check all of my bags - fuel, hydration, gear - it was time for the simple task of just running in circles for as long as I could.

Every set-up crew needs a sturdy backside - Neil’s is ideal

The early laps are a challenge in that they aren’t challenging. I always feel jittery to get going and eager to settle into a rhythm, while knowing there is little or nothing to be gained by pushing the pace, beyond a little extra time to rest. Fortunately, I have done enough of these now to expect that feeling and embrace it. I mostly kept to myself in the early stages, then started to chat to people more as the Saturday progressed.

The WoRM runners get ready for the challenge ahead - Max, Rob, Beez, me and Lara (L-R), credit: Neil Wilson @wiltheshort

During the afternoon, the temperature really lifted and I was grateful for the forward thinking of my crew. One blind spot of my preparation was around active cooling, but I was grateful that Els presented me with a refreshed ice bandana every hour through the hottest part of the day. It was also a huge boost to have lots of familiar faces stopping in throughout the weekend to support for a little or a lot of the time. It was particularly special that Liam made the effort to come down from Rotorua especially to talk me through some low moments and step in overnight to allow Lucy a nap break. Liam and I have shared a lot of crazy adventures, he paced me at the Faultline 100-miler and we did our first ever 24-hour event together, so he knows what I go through during these challenges as well as anyone.

The WoRM support crew played a big role on Day 1…

Very grateful for Els’ ice bandana in the afternoon sun, credit: Neil Wilson, @wiltheshort

The challenge was largely uneventful through 12 hours and 50 miles. This was the point where fatigue and lethargy started to set in a little, but I was trying to not reach into my bag of tricks too early. My mood started to drop a little in the following couple of hours, so at 11pm (end of Lap 14), it was time to hit the caffeine button and take the first of my Precision 100mg gels. By that end of that lap, I came flying in to a round of high-fives at reaching 100km and knowing that I was coming to the darkest hours of the night on a high.

It was important to remember that in these longer events that mood does rise and fall, as do blood sugar levels and best not enjoy the highs and not get too despondent at the lows. I knew that it was only another few hours to get through before sunrise and the inevitable mood increases that would follow that. At this point, the headphones came out and some upbeat tunes helped to turn the night into a party. 

There were so many inspiring people out on the course and it was great to both connect with new people and old friends. There were a few casualties though the night though, including Max from our tent at 3am, in spite of me and Lara screaming in his face to carry on - if that didn’t motivate him, he must have been done!

Just before 9am, I came through 24 laps and 100 miles, and I felt the best I have ever felt after 24 hours. I put this down to a mixture of experience and fitness, but mostly improvements in my fuelling and hydration. This has come about through intentional practice, supported by my own research and some excellent support from Hannah at Real Health Sports Nutrition - what she doesn’t know about nutrition for long endurance events and training isn’t worth knowing.

…and an even bigger role on Day 2

I knew it would be challenging to reset after reaching that 24-hour milestone, but I went in with a plan to do that. During Lap 27, I felt confident of making it to 30. On Lap 28, my right leg just completely gave in, with cramping and discomfort in my calf, glute, hamstring and hip. I managed to hobble in within the time limit, with Seb generously waiting to keep me company as he pushed his own limits.

Lucy massaged my cramping calf and I tried to set out on Lap 29. After 1km, I was just about moving fast enough, but knew I would need to walk some of the lap. I switched to a walking gait, which was complete agony. At this point, I knew that the game was over - even if I could somehow get around that lap, it would be at an unacceptable risk to my health and fitness. I stopped and phoned Lucy for a lift, then led down in the sweet embrace of a grassy verge by the side of the road.

Celebrating a fantastic weekend with a top crew

Overall, I was delighted with how the event went. I certainly challenged myself, learned, had fun and was grateful - for Lucy, the whole of the WoRM, and Fi’s awesome team for putting on an incredible event. 

Once we had returned home, eaten heaps, slept for a bit and woken groggily on Monday morning, we checked social media. It was incredible to see that the only three athletes still going when we left on Sunday afternoon - Beez, Ants and Macee - were still going. All three of them were absolute champions and it was a privilege to share the starting corral with them 29 times - excited to see what they will do while representing New Zealand in the World Championships later this year.