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Monte Rosa Recap, OCC Prep, and Keeping Your Toenails feat Kate Avery and Nathan Pearce | Episode 120
406 Plays7 days ago
This week on the pod we have a double guest special as Jess is joined by Kate Avery and Nath Pearce. Hear how Kate's recent euro races including her win at Monte Rosa 15km went, and catch up on what Nath has been up to since UTA and his plans for the rest of the season.
Also hear some listener questions answered and the usual results for the week - plenty of good chats in this one!
RESULTS:
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Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
Music
00:00:10
Speaker
Hey guys welcome to the Peak Pursuits podcast. This is episode 120 and I am Jess Jason. And today we've got a bit of a treat for you because we've got not one but two guests and these are not ah just some ordinary guests. They're two very high profile runners in the Aussie trail scene.
00:00:32
Speaker
Um, So firstly, we have ah the queen of like short mid distance trail running in Australia, I would say. um a bit of a inspiration and pioneer in the women's ah sort of space um and just showing us all what mum's strength really means. ah So first guest is the amazing Kate Avery.
00:01:04
Speaker
How you going? Thanks for that in intro. um Very kind. Yeah, I'm going good. Thanks for having me on How's, so you're logging in from Spain.
00:01:16
Speaker
How is it over there? um Good. I'm currently on holiday after a little bit of training and racing in Europe. um I'm going to make the most of it.
00:01:25
Speaker
And whereabouts exactly are you? in some little town. yeah um so we flew into Alicante and then like an hour's drive. Some Some nice beaches, we've got a pool um and then like it's a it's a family holiday so we've got the my two sisters, my mom three little girls running around which is very cute. um So yeah, some good family time.
00:01:51
Speaker
That sounds so nice. um And you're fresh off Wien at Monta Rosa, so we'll get you to do a bit of a race recap in a second. But first, I will just intro our second guest because we also have one of probably the biggest names in the men's short series. trail running scene in Australia. He's no stranger to the podium in the 20k distance in some of the biggest races we've had in Australia, fresh off a second at UTA. So the one and only Nath Pearce. How you going, Nath?
00:02:28
Speaker
Thank you. Better after that intro. ah feel ah Kate, I feel like we're we're celebrities out here. like it. ah like it I don't think I need my um tickets punched anymore, but I'll take it.
00:02:46
Speaker
And you're logging in from Victoria, Melbourne? From my ah beautiful apartment here in South Tiara. Beautiful. And you raced this morning at Lakeside 10?
00:02:58
Speaker
Yeah, ah I did a bit of a session through it. But um yeah, XCR season. So just repping the club singlet and getting points for the the crew. So um yeah, it was it was a good morning for it. So yeah, a couple of quick results out there. Yeah. And it's also amazing. Like I ran 34 minutes and I think I came 200. So like the depth is, is it's ridiculous.
00:03:22
Speaker
The depth at Lakeside Turn is crazy. Like all of the juniors coming through, it's it's pretty cool to see, but it's next level. Especially that start line, it's crazy how fast they go up at the start.
00:03:34
Speaker
Yeah. like ah I stood back. Usually I'd stand at the front, but um I stood back just so I didn't get caught up in it. So, yeah, they're calling it what? track flight of yeah Trackflation, I think it's called.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yeah. that Everyone's just run so quick. Yeah, awesome. And you're just coming off a bit of a training block post UTA. So we'll get a bit of an update from you on what's coming up race wise. But let's start with...
00:04:07
Speaker
with ah women first. So I think, yeah, Kay Avery, let's go through um a bit of, yeah, what you've been up to, because I know you've done a bit of a training block um over at St. Moritz, and then you snuck in a couple of races um while you were over there.
00:04:26
Speaker
So yeah, just give us an update on um where you're at and yeah, a race recap from last weekend. um So yeah, so I was lucky enough to be able to spend just under six weeks in Samaritz.
00:04:41
Speaker
So then while I was there i just thought I would see what races were going on which I also thought worked quite nicely. One I love to race so if there's an opportunity to race I'm probably going to take it. But like having six weeks there at altitude I think it's quite, I guess in any block, I think it's quite hard to have ebbs and flaws but when you're racing I think naturally that happens anyway.
00:05:08
Speaker
um So I feel like the block worked out quite nicely there like i didn't I haven't come away like, oh, I'm exhausted or I'm like ready for a break or I need one. um Because I think I did around three weeks and then I did a 20k race.
00:05:25
Speaker
Well, it was meant to be 20k, but I think there'd been some landslide, like landfall something like that. I don't know. Anyway, it ended being and it was 30 degrees and it was altitude.
00:05:38
Speaker
um anyway, so yeah, twenty two k with route just under 1,000 metres overt. And how long had you been in Europe before you raced that one?
00:05:47
Speaker
Oh, it's about three weeks. Okay. Which is also like a nice time with the altitude as well, because I felt like... I will literally only just found my climbing legs and I remember like talking to the physiologist there and I was like, you know, like, is there some could there be something wrong with me? Like, I feel like my like legs don't feel good climbing. And he was like, have they ever felt good climbing at altitude? was like,
00:06:12
Speaker
ah yes. I think maybe I just needed a little freshen up going into it and then um yeah that race went well, but the last few K I was definitely ready to be done. with the heat.
00:06:26
Speaker
um The race didn't start till 11am and it was toasty. So I did that one. saw a photo of you like sitting in a trough of water after that race. Is that that one? Absolutely. Yes. Like if I finished, because that was also useful before because I've got this, it's called a purpose hat. um I sent from aid station um and it's a cooling hat.
00:06:52
Speaker
oh yeah That was so useful before just to be able to like, I just kept dunking it in. um They're actually very good hats. Okay. So you just dunk it in water and it like holds the water in. Yeah, and it has like some kind of technology because it's like, you see like, they look like little, not beads, but like, there's little holes. Anyway, like peaks, is it like fields.
00:07:18
Speaker
Is it graphite? Is that what they're using or something? Like... the Because there's headbands of it. I think it's graphite. I don't know. I'm not sure. I'd have to look into it better. But, um yeah, like, even the peaks, there's cool. So I feel like when you get a breeze. And then also in trails, like, you I sometimes struggle with but wearing, like, a cup. So, like, you can also, like, flick it up as well. Oh, yeah.
00:07:44
Speaker
So I was like, this is great. Because, like, normally then I'd, like, I were, like, just a normal cup, like, I'd turn it round in, like, like Like when the trees are over you. I don't know. I feel like real clumsy when I have a cap on in trails. Yeah. So, yes, I did that race.
00:08:01
Speaker
And then six days later I did. It's called a VK, but it was 7K with 1,400 meters vert. um so i then It was definitely one.
00:08:15
Speaker
It was and we finished above 1,300 meters of altitude. oh my god. It was a bit spicy. The first 5k, stunning.
00:08:25
Speaker
Like these lovely single track trails and then like you popped out and like the views are incredible and then the last 2k was a bit of a Scramble. A climb and a scramble. Yeah. Like, it was great fun.
00:08:43
Speaker
um But, and I felt good, so that's nice. But once the I hit the last two gates, well, that was not my strength, so. And how long did that one take?
00:08:54
Speaker
That took 75 minutes. Okay. Where was it? So it's tied in a town called Pontresina.
00:09:02
Speaker
It's just like minutes, if that, from Samarit. Oh, um Yeah, and they said that you could get a chairlift down, bit the chairlift obviously did not go that, well, obviously, but it didn't go that high. So you had to run down for a while.
00:09:19
Speaker
And then, so I think I still, I think I still descended like 900 meters and then got on the chairlift. Oh, shit.
00:09:28
Speaker
um Wow. but yeah So you came second? Yeah, I came second in that one. um Did you know the person that won? um I know she's made Swiss teams um before and she's won that race, like, i don't know, for the past five years or something. yeah She's a bit of a cool sex person.
00:09:51
Speaker
um Yeah and like that race is cool as well like if you wanted kit like they helicoptered it in for you. What?
00:10:01
Speaker
Coming back down yeah. Wow. Yeah. um So yeah that one and I thought that then leaded well into um
00:10:12
Speaker
monterosa but I was initially planning on doing the forty yeah three here and then I decided to drop it down so it didn't fit as well but it's still after that I still had a good little block going into it and um yeah that that's in the Aosta valley in Italy and it's stunning um And yeah well just what motivated the decision to jump down a distance?
00:10:40
Speaker
So I have um in December, I'm going to in New Zealand. um And then i'm toying with another longer one in February. So i just didn't feel like I wanted to do...
00:10:58
Speaker
three big blocks um and yeah so that was the main decision and then the two longer races were the longest I will have ever raced and they suit me much more.
00:11:11
Speaker
um yeah Like, hopefully the 60K in December would probably have took me a similar time to the Monta Rosa. Yeah, okay. Because it's super techie. And what did the female winner um run that 40K in at Monta Rosa? 5.30. Okay.
00:11:32
Speaker
Wow. And, like, the women that the front of that race, like, the top five or – like, I think the woman that won it is a – medaled at world champs last year.
00:11:46
Speaker
Okay. i was gonna say that sounds really fast for that course. Well, yeah, so the the course this year was definitely a little bit slower because it was hot. um Because um Petter who won the 43, was about 20 minutes slower than the previous year and he said it was just cool and um better conditions the year before. So I think it was slower again because it was hot.
00:12:13
Speaker
Yeah. um But how was the 15K? Was it as turkey as you thought it was going to be? Well, Well, but I mean, there was one descent that was pretty technical um towards the end of the race, but it was...
00:12:26
Speaker
it was lovely for me for the most part, like you there was lots of little single track trails, but like, you we were still climbing, but like flowy. um And like, that's, I love a single track.
00:12:39
Speaker
This like got a little bit no that you can still run. Yeah. um yeah So yeah, no, there was there was plenty of good running. um And I knew the woman in second from being um on the New Balance team.
00:12:55
Speaker
together a few years ago um and she loves a good technical downhill so i was like i'm just gonna gonna i'm just gonna try and run pretty hard and try and get a good enough gap that when we get to this descent because it dropped like or like just under 400 meters in a key um and and it was like what it was a little bit No, they were rocks that you could step down, they weren't steps.
00:13:25
Speaker
um And i was like, I've just got to gain as much time as I possibly can. and then I was like, it's alright, she gets close or passes me because we've got 2k of like good running again.
00:13:38
Speaker
Anyway, managed to get a big enough gap that she didn't catch. But I felt good. um And yeah, it was a good day. So that was nice. Awesome. Got the win. And did you get any cool prizes from that race?
00:13:54
Speaker
Um, what no, well, and there would be if you weren't gluten free, but, um, lots of, um, like local brownies, cookies, meringues, a big hamper, which I was, i always like to see what you get at these things. Cause I feel like you can often get like really random things.
00:14:13
Speaker
Yeah. um But it was good, like Charlie Hamilton was there, obviously didn't have his dear arm. but yeah, it was good to catch up with him and um get out crewing a little bit.
00:14:29
Speaker
Yeah, how's he going after the event? Like, is he, he's not injured or anything? No, he's not injured. He had gut issues, um which gets the best of us sometimes, you know? like yeah I know that all too well. um So, yeah, no, he he seemed fine, but obviously disappointed, but um yeah, took it on the chin and he's already planning his next races.
00:14:58
Speaker
Nice. Yeah. Might be some local ones. Okay, cool. Just space. um And would you go back to that race? Like, did you enjoy the atmosphere? Like, was it organized really well? Yeah, I thought it was run very well. And like, also, what was nice about this event, especially being in the 20k distance, is they it I felt like we were treated the same, like they still were like, did the whole thing on the start line, they had, um like, the elites in the front, and they
00:15:32
Speaker
asked them to get there early and they had people like, they were introducing people and having people like run in and the crowds were good. um Yeah, like I thought it was ran very well, which was nice. um And possibly I'd go back, but we're going to try, i thought I want to try and do different races. um yeah It's the same as like the races that I've picked towards the end of the year. I just want to try something different. I feel like I'm not going to do it forever. so yeah i will obviously I will obviously go back to some races, but I feel like it would be nice to try some different ones.
00:16:09
Speaker
Yeah. And you're on a little, like, two-week break now, and you'll get back into training, like, once you're back in Australia, or will you get back into it when you're over there?
00:16:20
Speaker
Yeah, so I'll get back into it here because I'm gonna go home after this um for a little bit. So I'll go and join in with um people. Actually, so when I go home, it's a little town it's a little town and the Run Club um that I first started running with, like some of the like kids that I ran with still run. um So I go back and join and join in with them, which is always is nice. Like on the track or?
00:16:50
Speaker
um Track, but I got them all doing some trail sessions last time I was home, so. Get them to fit in with your training schedule. um but let do it it's like It's good fun, isn't it? like i don't take We're not going on like technical trails or things that people can't run on. yeah, so they were more than happy to. It's good fun. And there's a little trail race at home um that some of them have done before, so was like, oh yeah, you know.
00:17:16
Speaker
we can all go and do that yeah yeah that'll be fun um so yeah so i'll be home for a little bit um and then yeah i'll get back running and the first one's not till december the 60k no it's not um but i will definitely do some races before then um okay yeah i just i need to look at the calendar but better um and see what fits but um what's the one in new zealand uh it's the kepler challenge oh beautiful yeah oh i think yeah that looks awesome it looks stunning and people i know that have been there have said that it's great you have you risked this there's a shorter one isn't there
00:18:00
Speaker
Well, yeah, so the when I did the root burn this year, um everyone's like, oh, you're going to have to come back and do the Kepler. ah They're the two. Hopefully your weather's better than what my root burn was because that was the worst.
00:18:14
Speaker
Yeah, it was snow and hailing, lightning, minus three. Yeah, it was not good. But i I could imagine, because I looked back and i was like, I could imagine it on a clear day. would have been beautiful, which I think Kepler is quite similar. Like, it's you go through a couple of different national parks and stuff.
00:18:33
Speaker
Yeah, like it, it yeah, and from the, mean, obviously I've only seen the pictures, but it looks stunning. um But there is a twenty k so get yourself there.
00:18:42
Speaker
I'm occupied. I'm occupied. What's happening in December? Oh, December, nothing, but I'll probably be having a break by then, I reckon.
00:18:52
Speaker
Okay. You must have a busy race season planned. Yeah, so um yeah, if we jump into but what I'm being done. So a quick break in the show to thank Bix. Bix has just come out with their 30 gram gel in two brand new flavors. This is a new gel, new flavors. You've got the choice of the salted strawberry or the berry. The salted strawberry is also packing 300 milligrams of sodium as an increase, whereas the berry has 200 milligrams. Both make them perfect for the conditions we have in Australia, yeah whereas most gels on the market do not have sodium within them. What Bix has done here is take the recipe for the gels that work so well, that 1.8 ratio that is very, very friendly on the stomach and added a soft, subtle, but very tasty twist that you can dial in your race day and your training nutrition to that extra fine detail.
00:19:42
Speaker
As you know, bix has been supporting the show from the start and it literally helps keep the podcast coming to you every week. So if you want to support the show, level up your own nutrition game, head over to the Bix website, use our brand new code PEAK, P-E-A-K, for 20% off at checkout. And with that, let's get back to the show.
00:19:59
Speaker
Yeah, just since to UTA, I um had probably raced, I think it was like seven races within sort of two races. two to three months. So I thought I needed to have a bit of a break and with work and stuff like that, it's always, um, tricky just trying to sort of work it all in and winter's probably a good time to sort of just settle down and, and lock in. So just been doing, um, XCR, which is our sort of club cross country here in Victoria.
00:20:28
Speaker
Um, But yeah, I've got now just sort of kicking into gear and before you know it's like, yeah, two months away, I'm going to be running Hounslow just as sort of a tune up. And then the following week, 17.
00:20:41
Speaker
seventeen Yeah, yeah. So I've always sort of looked at it and um wanted to do it. But yeah, the time of year has always been sort of, I've either been away overseas or there's been something else on. Yeah.
00:20:54
Speaker
No, you enjoy that one. It's um super runnable. Like there's heaps of stairs, but it's like, I don't know, it's pretty fast. Yeah, I'm going to be careful because, yeah, the race next the following weekend, I'm going to be in Japan. So, um which, yeah, as it is a tune-up, i' I'll run it smartly.
00:21:15
Speaker
not um But, hey, knowing me, I'll get white line fever and give it a nudge. i' was going to say that. Yeah, and I i know of James Barnett's running as well. So we've been sort of running together recently. and ah yeah yeah theres There's some hills that he might give me a nudge and I'll give him a nudge.
00:21:33
Speaker
So the competitiveness has already started to kick in. um But, so just sort of building up, that will be just, yeah, a good one to sort of see where I'm at and um off the cross-country sort of training and and stuff. But then, yeah, head over to Japan and do the, I think it's round six of the Golden Trail series. So it's the Miyoko series.
00:21:55
Speaker
trail um i was i'm in an aring between that one and the china one the following week after japan so but trying to enter that i i got to a point where i was like i can't even figure out entries or okay emails weren't getting responded to so i was like i'm out i'm just going to enter this japanese one and yeah do that so Was that one the China one part of the World Mountain Cup that you did earlier? No. So if funnily enough, so that one, yeah, so that was World Mountain running World Cup. But this the China trip in um September is actually Golden Trail series.
00:22:38
Speaker
So it's the race seven of the Golden Trail. um But it's also on the Great Wall of China. So i was like. There's not many opportunities you get, but um yeah, run on the Great Wall of China twice. That could have been pretty cool. But no, so it's all leading up to the grand final um or the finale in in South Korea that I've got the ticket for. So bit of an Asia tour this year, like China at the start of the year and then um Japan and then South Korea. and
00:23:09
Speaker
Thereabouts in South Korea is the final. Yeah. It's down, oh, it's sort of like in the middle of the country, um just sort of like in a ski sort of resort, ski town. Do you know if that was where Asia Pacific Champs was couple of years I don't know. i might Yeah, might have to have a little look. But, um yeah, I don't know. The name's ah yeah confusing as all hell. Yeah, try and pronounce it.
00:23:35
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. No. Um, but yeah, I know it's in the middle, so I'll probably, um, yeah, flying well, flying into Seoul and spend a couple of days there. I know the trail running there is pretty cool. So yeah, a days there and then, um, Emma, my girlfriend, she'll meet me, um, before we go down to the sort of a com, um, where the race is. So that should be a good, um, good little trip that one.
00:24:01
Speaker
Um, but yeah, 20 what 26k with 2300 so it's a bit sort of longer and we're starting to get to the longer stuff for me um well my gum is telling me that i should do it in two hours 20 but i've no i don't know ah don't know what um what to expect but depends what the train's like but that would be fast Yeah, I think both Japan and South Korea, it looks like it's going to be pretty runnable.
00:24:30
Speaker
um Like the Japanese race is pretty much all ski fields. So it's all like single double. I'm hoping it's just sort of single track um sort of carved out throughout where the ski runs are. Yeah.
00:24:45
Speaker
But, yeah, like I've started to build my long runs up with a fair bit more vert. Like I went out to Donna Boang and Kate, you will love this. I went and did it twice. saw it. I saw it, actually. Not for the faint-hearted. Like I didn't think about it.
00:25:01
Speaker
The up, I'm fine with. I didn't realise... You run 2,000 metres up, you've got to run 2,000 metres down. And Donaboyang is, it's not the flattest of terrain. How are your legs after that?
00:25:16
Speaker
It took like, so the following day, fine. And then the doms kicked in on the Tuesday and then lingered until about Thursday. But funnily enough, I felt better on the second ascent.
00:25:28
Speaker
Like the that was the best I felt the whole run. so i was like, had music in and I was feeling it and I was just like in the flow. So I just probably went way too hard on that second ascent.
00:25:41
Speaker
And like, um yeah, I was like, yeah, okay, next time I do that, I'm not going to go too hard. oh But yeah. How long does that come out here? So that was two and a half hours.
00:25:53
Speaker
um so that was yeah, twenty k with about thirty overut yeah wow Yeah. So yeah, went from Warburton up to Mount Vic, back down, got fuel from the car and then went back to the road, the road crossing and just turned around there.
00:26:12
Speaker
Um, but yeah, so, um, yeah, was, it was good is good. Like I felt strong and, was able to consume, i think, 250 grams of carbs. So i know I can take it on. So, yeah, hopefully. I do think that climb is good for conditioning, though. Like, I would definitely use it again.
00:26:34
Speaker
o going to race it again. the
00:26:39
Speaker
Oh, it's like after, yeah, Donna double this shit, might like I was broken for a week after that. Pretty brutal. Like, yeah.
00:26:49
Speaker
Cause it's, I didn't run down hard enough. Cause it's not technical enough that you can't kind of just let it go. m So, but yeah, so that's sort of what my training will be for the next sort of couple of weeks is just building those long runs up to sort of acclimatize. And how do you go like doing that much vert on a Sunday? Then how do you go like with rolling into sessions on Tuesday?
00:27:14
Speaker
Are you adjusting your training? Yeah, so like last week, because, yeah, I did that last Sunday. So on Tuesday this week, um I just sort of did more of a threshold session rather than like a VO2 flat session. But Tuesdays are my flatter like road running sessions anyway, so which is good because like our group, the PM crew, we just kind of like – roll into those Tuesdays. No one really has a plan. It's just sort of like someone will throw in a suggestion, everyone will agree or disagree, and then we go our own ways if if the other. So, yeah, I just sort of did a threshold sort of workout, um which that's what I'll do. I'll probably like when I do a bigger weekend, a lesser, like still keep the volume but just less intensity, yeah I think.
00:28:05
Speaker
Yeah. Because you're self-coached, aren't you? Yep. Pretty much just, i've I've actually written a plan for this block. Um, cause I just thought with trips, like back to back like that time will fly. And I think the other part of it is like, you gotta to enjoy like that process, right? Like, it's like, you don't want to just take off long runs and be like, yep, sweet. It's all leading up to this. And then you get there and you just like, oh,
00:28:33
Speaker
shit, two months has gone by. Um, so yeah, so I've written a plan, um, or a rough plan, like obviously with work and stuff like that, it's always hard to sort of fit it all in. Um, but no, it should be, yeah, should be good.
00:28:48
Speaker
Cool. So you're leaving two weeks for Japan. No, so that's in September. So two months. Um, so yeah, it's a week after Hounslow. So,
00:28:59
Speaker
Yeah, so it will be a quick turnaround. So that's why, like, yeah, Hounslow will just sort of be that. I'll probably run it not 100%, but, hey, if I'm feeling good, i'll I'll give it a bit of a nudge and then 110%, heart rate at 190.
00:29:16
Speaker
But I'll just, from that, I'll jog, hop on the plane. um I booked direct flights, which were a bit more dearer, but I thought... direct flight rather than spending 20 hours just circumnavigating the world to just get 10 hours away. um And then, yeah, and then into South Korea. So that's sort of a four-week block back home, get ready for South Korea. And then um in November I've actually applied for Asia Pacific Trail Champs. so Oh, no way. For the short trail. I thought, hey, I've got to step into the trail world at some point. Step it up.
00:29:55
Speaker
There we go. Now that I'm like with these runs, I'm going to probably be running sort of three, three and a half hours anyway in some of these long runs. So I thought with 2200. Hey, short. It'll short then.
00:30:07
Speaker
short it will be short by then So that's two trips to... Oh, no, you'll be... Will you just stay Well, that will be China if I get selected. So, now Well, and this is the other thing. With work, like, I've been spoiled for choice the last two years. Like, I went six weeks over in the US and then six weeks in Europe last year. This year I thought, hey...
00:30:30
Speaker
probably should not um push the button so yeah had that china trip at the start of the year and then i'll just do like sort of fifo trips which um with japan south korea and then china so what um yeah what made you decide to jump up the distance I don't know. Everyone's been talking in for it. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Everyone's just been like, you got to do it. You got to do it. So I might go and do it. And if I have a bad race, I'll go, I told you so.
00:30:58
Speaker
either Or I run really well and go, maybe it is time. But no, I think um like the goal is still mountain running at world champs next year. So still the vertical and and the classic. But I think as Kate said just before, it's like, yeah,
00:31:16
Speaker
Hey, we're not going to be doing this forever. um And at the end of the day, thirty seven k is not too much dissimilar to sort of 25, Yeah, that's true. In the scheme of things, like...
00:31:28
Speaker
like we do call it short trail, which I've been telling people and they're like, that's short trail. I'm like, yeah, that's, that's the mentality sometimes with, uh, trail running. But no, I think just another opportunity. Hey, like I love representing Australia.
00:31:44
Speaker
Like it's, it's been one of my favorite things, my whole career. So, um, to be able to do that again and, and like just spending time with the Australian team and, and meeting other people from other countries as well.
00:31:57
Speaker
Yeah. No, that's exciting. I think we should probably hear on that team announcement pretty soon, which will be cool. Yeah. Um, cool. So yeah, I'll just, we've got like one listener question, um, that we could all kind of answer, but i'll quickly run through. what about your week?
00:32:21
Speaker
Yeah. Your training. check through An update on my training. Um, so yes, getting ready to leave for Europe. um in a couple of days and my training's been going really well like I um have battled with a couple of sicknesses um I feel like every second person Canberra is sick at the moment like it's just the weather it's so cold um so nothing too bad but just like annoying um kind of dragging it out a little bit having to shift sessions but um
00:32:56
Speaker
Yeah, just been running really well. Like the sessions that I have done, um I've just felt more myself again, like for the first time in probably like over a year since I've had the stomach issues. So I'm pretty happy. and I feel like I'm in a good spot.
00:33:14
Speaker
um So, yeah, I'm pretty excited to get over to OCC like and finish off the training block. Yeah. yeah i Yeah, I've been sort of in the bigger mountains here in Canberra for the last few weeks for my long runs and like the longer climbs are feeling really good. So um yeah, I'm looking forward to kind of stepping it up over in Europe and um getting on the course a bit, um hopefully getting like accustomed to the trails over there and like the longer climbs. um But yeah, all is like going pretty well. I'm i'm pretty happy.
00:33:59
Speaker
Yeah. um Yeah. I feel like it's a little bit better. Yes. Yeah. I'm very excited for the views. um But actually we did have a question on OCC um that might be good for you, because I think you're the only one of us that has done it. um But we had a question from Phil come in who asked like what segments of the course would be best to run in the lead up to OCC.
00:34:29
Speaker
um Yeah. what What do you think? um I think you could miss the first section that goes um yeah from the start into Champail Lac because in comparison to the others, it's like a little lump.
00:34:42
Speaker
There's nothing. um And then Champail Lac into... is the one with the little church Triunth?
00:34:51
Speaker
Anyway, from Champilac that climb, that's a good one to do, so you're aware of how long it is. And then also the descent, it's not super technical, but I think it's a nice one to do.
00:35:05
Speaker
um Because i feel like there's enough like points that you kind of then would be able to be like, I know what's coming. um And then also like if you've got polls, um there's a section as well like just before you get to the top so then like once you get to that you know you can put them away. um So yes I think that's a nice one to do.
00:35:29
Speaker
um But then also your course changes. So from I think Triant, do you then still go Cold Balm? ah I'm not sure what the difference is, but I know there's a different peak on the Swiss side.
00:35:43
Speaker
um Yeah, then that one might be different because you you don't go up Flageyre. um I should really look at the the course a little bit better. um Because, yeah, Flaugeot, I would have said it's like a nice, easy one you could do. um Because it's not that hard to get into Argentina. You can just go up and run down.
00:36:02
Speaker
um And when you do it on fresh legs, it doesn't feel that bad. It's quite nice. and at the end of the race, it's pretty hard.
00:36:11
Speaker
So, yeah. Is OCC the one that got changed from like fifty five k to sixty five k uh or whatever it was see i think it's 60. yeah it's like it's already long yeah it's like yeah exactly it's like yeah 50 and then it's like yeah let's just add on another 10 just cause yeah yeah like the only the only perk to that is that it still has the same amount of climbing in so at least you're not having extra distance and extrovert so be nicer it won't be just more views as well
00:36:48
Speaker
Yeah. so yes um But yeah, I think I'll have enough time to probably see most of the course. I'm still kind of tossing up um whether to do Sierra Zanelle because I did get a spot at that race, which is three weeks before OCC.
00:37:08
Speaker
um And it's only like a week after I arrive in Europe. um So yeah, Yeah, I do. I'm probably just going to see like how I travel um and how I feel when I get there because, yeah, it is – it would be like a really cool experience and like a race that I'd love to do. Yeah.
00:37:31
Speaker
but it does kind of take away from being able to see the course that week. um And also I've heard if it's really hot, like it can really take it out of you um because it's super exposed.
00:37:45
Speaker
So I've just got to keep that in mind that I won't be like used to the heat when I get over there. so Yeah. And it's also like, even if if it doesn't fit, like that race is on every year. Like hopefully yeah you could get back and you could do some different ones.
00:38:01
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I think, um like, my goal is to probably do as, like, as well as I can at OCC. So, like, I don't want to risk taking anything away from that or, like, taking anything away from the training that I can do while I'm over there, especially because, like, I've had a bit of sickness in the last couple of weeks, which is, like, put a few bumps in the training. it'd be nice to just have, like, some kit consistency going into OCC. Yeah.
00:38:30
Speaker
to go your travel yeah Yeah. um Cool. So we also had one other question from Liam, which is around foot care. So he's asking, um what's your pre-race toe care?
00:38:50
Speaker
routine to stop them from getting smashed or losing toenails do you tape them trim them in a certain way or have any other tricks nath do you have anything ah I'm pretty fortunate. and Like I've got nothing actually. um No, like I think just wear cloud on cloud ultra pros. I'll just tell them to wear the best shoes ever. um No, I've actually never had issues with with my toes. It's more just maybe blisters, but –
00:39:20
Speaker
yeah um But no, like I think, hey, you if it's from jamming, it's probably a a shoe size yeah um like issue there because you shouldn't really be having like – having your toes jammed too much up into the toe box. um So it's either around like how you're tying your shoe, like you if you've tried um the like the trail loop sort of nook thing that you can sort of relieve the pressure on top of your foot so you can keep them as
00:39:52
Speaker
as tired or yeah, if it's maybe, um, the width of the shoe as well might not be perfect. So I think that's probably the first point that I would i'd say if they're having an issue, but, um, yeah, in terms of the care, ah yeah, I can't, um, unfortunately advise anything. Okay. What about you, Kate?
00:40:15
Speaker
Uh, wants to look at my toes. um I do think, like what Nathan said, I do think finding the right shoe as well, like, yeah, like I had no issues coming down Donna in my shoes, but my toes still don't look very
00:40:30
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I feel like a lot of people buy, like, a lot of people, i don't know, like, when I used to work in a sports, in, like, a footwear store, I remember people, like, really wanting their shoes to be, like, tight fitted.
00:40:46
Speaker
And I think, um especially for runners, like, you just want a bit more room. um Like, yeah, at least, like, we used to say at least, like, a thumb width from the end of the shoe.
00:40:57
Speaker
That's the standard. um But yeah, other than that, i do have terrible feet. So I do, i yeah, I don't know. I've um had struggles with blisters on the bottom of my feet, on the sides of my feet. So Fix-em-all tape is the goat for blisters. i pretty much cover my feet in that before a race.
00:41:26
Speaker
I've probably had to go up a shoe size in trail, like half a shoe size, um just to, like, give enough room towards the end. bent and also, like, socks is another thing that you need to do about.
00:41:41
Speaker
Because I've also had blisters, like, on the ball of my foot from... um, like cotton socks because they don't breathe as well. So you get really like sweaty under your foot. Um, so yeah, I think like playing around with socks, like polyester ones or like a mix of polyester or like, um, merino wool ones are really good. Um, yes. I was going to say, don't wear merino at Donna though. I've done that before and I've learned my lesson.
00:42:11
Speaker
Oh, does that, what is it? what did Well, I was just like, I don't know. I think it was just like, they're just a bit thicker. Right. So like you probably, your feet warm up a bit too much and then coming down the descent.
00:42:23
Speaker
blisterville but um but yeah like as you said i think yeah just making sure the shoes the right size but then also the per like the best fit as well like if you if you've got a wider foot you're probably gonna cop it on the big toe and the little toe and then um if the shoes to sort of um depending on the toe box as well if it's not rounded enough for your foot um there'll be pinch points actually found something today. So i wore like a new shoe that Art6 is releasing in August. It's the Tom Evans shoe that he wore at UTMB, the Meta Fuji 2.
00:43:04
Speaker
And because it has a different lace system, like it doesn't have your normal laces, like it has the drawstring, I'm used to like locking my ankle into the shoe. And because it's a drawstring, like you can't really – do that because it doesn't go back far enough.
00:43:20
Speaker
So yeah, I was struggling with like my foot moving forward too much in those, um which is ah annoying because the rest of the shoe feels really nice. Like it's got a much better like carbon plate system. It feels a bit more stable, but still like really cushioned and better tread. So i don't know, I've got to figure out if I can like make some of my own custom holes in the back or something so I should put some lace in there. but Well, was going to say, like, because it's a booty upper, that one, isn't it?
00:43:53
Speaker
Yeah. So you could probably afford to go, um like, a size down, I reckon. Like, I think with those booty uppers, because they were a little thinner than, like, your stock standard, like, heel arch. So you're probably losing about half a centimetre there just being a booty. So I reckon you could easily get away with going half size down. And at the end of the day, you're probably going to be racing in that shoe, aren't you?
00:44:18
Speaker
So it's like... Yeah. Like, hey, you might go on some long runs out there, but like more of those key long runs, like whereas any other day, you're probably just going out in your sort of normal beaters.
00:44:31
Speaker
um So I think, yeah, going half down, like that's my experience when I've gone in more sort of lightweight uppers. It's like a ah track spike.
00:44:42
Speaker
Like I'm almost a half, a full size down in track spikes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I could try that. yeah How do they feel? They... They feel pretty nice other than that. Like, um yeah, like yeah they still feel like a super shoe. Like they feel like bouncy and like a lot of energy, but um more kind of locked down than the first version. So like I think the problem with the first version is that was so stiff that like if you hit a rock or something,
00:45:11
Speaker
um your ankles would just like roll. But with these ones, because I think the foam is maybe like a bit more forgiving um and the carbon plate is like a different shape, it kind of wraps around rocks and things a bit better.
00:45:26
Speaker
um So, yeah, I think they're definitely like a big improvement, which is cool. Have you tried them yet, Kate? No, I haven't. No. um But yeah, like I'm curious to know what the carbon plate is, like what's different. Because in the first one, I think it's the same with most brands. It was like forked.
00:45:48
Speaker
Maybe it is the same. thought it was different, but I think it is forked again. Yeah. um But maybe it feels different with like the form.
00:45:57
Speaker
um Yeah, no, I haven't tried them, but it'd be good to... that'd be good for 60k because I feel like the other sort of ASICs shoes that we have, the Fuji speeds are a bit more like low profile. So these ones are like better of the ultra distances.
00:46:13
Speaker
because that's ah's definitely what my Gortu shoe has been. They're like even for the longer races. yeah Cool. um Well, moving on, we did have um a news topic. So actually had a lady called Sophie Grant um attempt an FKT, the Alpina FKT attempt. So that's 2,000 kilometre trail that – –
00:46:49
Speaker
that so that crosses eight European countries. So this week she... Oh, she's sorry, she's currently attempting the FKT. So this week she put pushed past the halfway mark, maintaining an astonishing pace of 63 kilometres and 3,600 metres of climbing per day.
00:47:10
Speaker
um She's on track to finish in roughly 30 days, which would shatter the men's and women's outright That's crazy. I can't imagine doing 60, like that's pretty much doing OCC like every day.
00:47:24
Speaker
That's insane. Oh my
00:47:28
Speaker
So like, where is it, is it across the Alps? um Yeah, says it just crosses in eight European countries.
00:47:35
Speaker
m So just FQTs, as a whole like obviously what people achieve isn't is impressive i don't get them there's a hot take i just i yeah i don't like i personally like i find like it motivating like do you know like competition and like the event and the atmosphere running
00:48:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think. Yeah, you go, Jess. I think, yeah, it's it's a funny system as well because I remember – because in WA it's like it's a massive thing for some reason. And I remember like going out for a trail run down near Albany and like um I just – like I was just doing my long run and then I checked my like time after on the FKT website and if I like had submitted my Strava file, it would have been an FKT. and I was like, oh, okay. But I just didn't know. was like, I can't be bothered.
00:48:47
Speaker
So I don't know. It's a bit – I think, like, the bigger ones are pretty interesting, like the ones that, like, a lot of people attempt because then it's, like – like, I don't know. It is more competitive, but – um Yeah, it's not for me either. But what about you, Nath?
00:49:03
Speaker
Yeah, don't get me wrong. like I've got a very good friend that um had the Bob Graham one um and she just did a lap around Cornwall. Super impressive. And I followed along and like I would be supportive of it. But like personally, you're never going to find me doing one.
00:49:19
Speaker
Don't backpedal now, Kate. like yeah like i'm said I think they're impressive, but it's not for me. yeah Well, I think, that and this is this is what trail running is, right? Like, it's like there's so many elements to it. And when I came to, like and like Jess, you would be quite similar. Well, we're we've all come from non-trail running background, right? Like, we we've all come into trail running and it's,
00:49:47
Speaker
It is like, well, like what is traveling? There's so many different elements. You've got backyard ultras. You got people running from the length of continents, like bottom to top. You've got these people running across the Alps for 30 days and 60K a day. But then you've got people like us who are like born to be like not fast as good. And like the quickest I can get from here to here is the best.
00:50:16
Speaker
I do admire people that like the amount of things like she would be seeing on this run, like it'd be phenomenal, but yeah, like there is an element to me that just like, oh, surely you just pack it in after a couple of days. You're just like, yeah, I've seen enough.
00:50:34
Speaker
i'm I'm done. But also like, how do you have the time as well? Yeah. But no, like, ah yeah, pretty phenomenal. Like, I think being able to I've done like relays where it's like 100K and we we do like 10K each. Like when you go to run again, my but like even just the 10K, like we run it fast, but it's like your body's like sore So like to do that on the 20th day where you're like, oh, I've still got so much.
00:51:07
Speaker
further to go but I'm so sore I don't know like it's pretty cool but I just think that actually some of these people that um have done these FKTs or just crazy runs um I guess actually do them for fundraising and charities so That's actually a very good thing.
00:51:29
Speaker
Yeah, I think. And like that. Yeah, it is awesome. But then I also just think there needs to be that element of don't just do it because you need like that's the next thing.
00:51:42
Speaker
Right. Like it's like whereas and it's the same with like how we're talking about me stepping up to the short trail distance. It's like every single person I speak to. Oh, when are you going to go longer?
00:51:53
Speaker
Like we need to stop that notion of like, To be more impressive, you've got to go the distance. You've got to like show that you've done something that no one's ever done before. Why can't we be impressed by someone doing something that every like a hundred other people have done? Like, why can't we appreciate every single person that's gone and done a marathon?
00:52:15
Speaker
ah You don't need to go do an ultra marathon to be one better. You know, yeah like it's like, I think. why can't we appreciate everyone like i appreciate usain bolt the same as i appreciate so sebastian salway like they're two different athletes but they both run yeah like it's usain bolt why didn't he go to the 400 like why why didn't he you know that's that question Exactly. But you're just continuously pushing it down the road. It's like, why can't we just all appreciate what we're all doing?
00:52:49
Speaker
We all do it for our own reasons. and But no, it's like, I think, um yeah, it's it's a different sport to what trail running that we do, if that makes sense, I think.
00:53:01
Speaker
Oh, definitely. Yeah.
00:53:02
Speaker
Yep, but it's still definitely amazing um from like a woman in sport perspective um that she's on track to um beat the men and women overall record. So, um yeah, amazing, amazing running. Sophie Woods. will Always fun when a woman does that.
00:53:24
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty cool. um and like how do you even try how do you know that you can do it though you know what mean yeah how do you train to be like yeah i'm ready to do this fkt i don't know i don't know i think i think um akana said something um like when she did the marathons i don't know for how many days um a lot of days ah fun but i think It was how many, sorry?
00:53:53
Speaker
I thought it was like 150 consecutive days or something. God, that's outrageous. um But, like, Nathan, what you were saying, it's like, oh, yeah, you know, like, you get up the next day, you saw, and then the third, fifth day, apparently, like, the start of it's the worst, and then your body's just like, all right, well, we're in.
00:54:12
Speaker
It's like a cold plunge. Yeah. Like, you go past the two-minute barrier, and then you're like, well, I'm numb now. I'll just keep going. Yeah. Yeah. Put an autopilot on.
00:54:43
Speaker
Hmm.
00:54:48
Speaker
Anyway, amazing effort. um We'll move on to the results now. um I'm going to deck out. It's all good. Thank you. can hear the kids crying.
00:55:02
Speaker
she's She's ready. I'll best try. I'll attend to Queen Margot. All right. Thanks for having me. Thanks, Kate. Catch you. Bye. um So the only international race that we had on the results list this week was Speed Goat, which I think is still kind of going, but um I just brought up the 50K results because there was a couple of big names in that one, ah mostly American runners. but
00:55:31
Speaker
um So at the moment we've got – Mason Coppy, who took the win overall. Anthony Williams was second and Cam Smith was third. And then Caleb Olsen was fourth.
00:55:49
Speaker
um And then actually Lauren Gregory, who was the first female, was sixth overall, which is pretty amazing. um How far is that one again? It's 50K.
00:56:12
Speaker
Yeah, wow. Is that a... Seems like a, so speed, goat the 50K is like the longest distance they have and then they have a 30, a 10 and then a summit which I assume is a VK. So that's pretty cool
00:56:41
Speaker
um And then moving over to the domestic races, um so we had the Australian Outback Marathon, um which was a trail race but not super hilly, so i only had 100 metres of elevation gain.
00:56:58
Speaker
um And in the women, we actually had an international winner and she was also first outright, so Melissa Castillo Garcao Monzo.
00:57:10
Speaker
was first in 3 hours 25. ah Second in the women was Gretel Janu in 3 hours 38. And third was Mary June Quinn in 3 hours 57. And then in the men we had first and who was second overall was Thomas Miller in 3 hours 33. Second was sam Gibbons hours third was Ryan in hours
00:57:41
Speaker
And we also had another iteration of the Sydney ultra marathon races. So that's some trail races around local trails in Sydney. So there was a 30, a 50 and 100.
00:58:16
Speaker
Yeah, so Mike Carroll took out the win in the 30. and second was Blake Abbott, about a minute behind.
00:58:27
Speaker
um And third was James Naldret from the UK. So we went on to those runners. And in the women, we had Alex Emerson in first in three hours, 11 minutes. Maddie Fleetwood in second in 3 hours 13 and Liberty Blundell in third in 3 hours 22. we'll just shout out the winners for the 50. So Bull took out the win ah for the ladies in 5 hours 02.
00:59:03
Speaker
And Vlad Shatrov took out the win in the men in 4 hours 23. And then in the Mitchell Thornton taking out the wind in hours for the ladies 1443.
00:59:16
Speaker
and we had lauren macfarlane taking out the win of the ladies in fourteen forty three
00:59:24
Speaker
And then lastly, we'll just take us to Borrelow Bush Run in New South Wales as well, where we had 16K with 180 metres gain and a thirty four k with of gain.
00:59:41
Speaker
so
00:59:42
Speaker
In the 34K the men, we had Jacques Bukovinsky taking out the win in two hours 30 Sarah Levitt taking out the win in the ladies in two hours 41. And then in the 16K, we had Alton Freeman taking out the win in the men's in one hour flat and Caitlin Ferrier taking out the win in the ladies in one hour 14.
01:00:08
Speaker
Cool. So that's their domestic... Some pretty quick times. Yeah. Yeah. um So that was the domestic results for this week. um And then coming up, we do have quite a busy week.
01:00:23
Speaker
um So over in New South Wales, we've got Rumble in the Jungle, Winter Trials of Manly Dam. And then in Queensland, we've got Great Pyramid Race, Border Bolt Run Festival.
01:00:37
Speaker
um and then over in Tassie, we've got the Kunani Trail Series, Tulosa Half. Um, we've got the Shree Chinmoy Canberra trail 100, which is a relay race, um, over in Canberra. You can do it solo or relay.
01:00:53
Speaker
Um, we've got Stuart Gorge trail round in South Australia, truth or consequences, part of the WA trail series. And we also have a trail series in Victoria, um called the Sylvan.
01:01:34
Speaker
It's out at the Dandenong. So it's just like the um east side of the Dandenongs. Awesome. And anything else coming up for you this week?
01:02:02
Speaker
getting that sort of longevity um to be able to bounce back from sort of steep descents as well right like yeah both um Japan and South Korea there's a lot of like yeah long c climbs but then long descents so it's like as like Buffalo this year was probably a good example it's like so tough when you like get relieved of running up a hill then you're banging the cords on a down and then you just hit a valley and then you just straight back up it's like trying to build that back up so yeah what about yourself nice um i'm flying to europe on wednesday say yeah just gotta pack and get ready for that and then exciting times i'm super excited to be over there like because i'm staying in the Asics camp in Chamonix. So it's going to be pretty good, I reckon. Like kind of. that would be epic. Yeah. Like i think think being a part of a group and like are surrounded by other people in those sort of situations is like, yeah, that's what you sort of live for, right? Like it's. Yeah. Yeah.
01:03:25
Speaker
like I did ATC, which was earlier in the week over in Cormier. Yeah. You're just, we weren't a part of the festival, but yeah, just being in Chamonix the whole week and, um, and like everyone lives and breathes trail running in Cham. So yeah.
01:03:42
Speaker
Yeah. I'm jealous. I'm jealous of, uh, so do you, when you fly over, like are you straight into Cham? ah Yeah, flying to Milan and then catch the bus down to Sham, which I think is like three or four hours.
01:03:55
Speaker
And then, yeah, four weeks in Sham before the race, which would be cool. Yeah, so you you'll probably become from the Italian side. So, yeah, you'll go through the tunnel and you'll just pop out into the valley and you'll be like, oh, here I am. How good. i feel Yeah, it's been such a solo grind in Canberra, like especially in winter. So I'm excited to have a bit more warmth and, like,
01:04:18
Speaker
people to run with it would be yeah it'd be so good just motivation yes definitely but yeah that's a wrap on this week a bit of a shorter episode but some good topics in there and a couple of amazing guests so thank you so much for joining nate um no worries thanks for having me yeah i hope the listeners enjoyed that one so thanks guys thank