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Targeting the Ticket Episode 6!
312 Plays4 days ago
Welcome to Episode 6 of Targeting the Ticket, our series covering the Golden Trail National Series in 2025! In this episode Nathan, Bridget, and Toby are joined by Sim to discuss how Coastal Ascent panned out (or didn’t) for the crew and what the results of that mean for the overall series. With the final now just days away hear how Toby, Nath and Sim feel leading into the race and Bridget's decision making behind not racing.
The discussion also continues on the challenges of a series like this in Australia and some thoughts on where the sport is heading/how to improve.
Thanks for joining us on Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod and share your thoughts, questions, or your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
Nathan: @nathanpearce_
Bridget: @bridget_lunn
Toby: @lang.toby
Sim: @theflyingbrick_
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life
License code: VJ9EPZM2AQUSWRXL
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Transcript
Introduction & Episode Context
00:00:28
Speaker
Hello listeners, welcome to episode six. I think I've got that right. Damn, I really should check these before I start this. But episode six of Targeting the Ticket.
00:00:39
Speaker
I am Simone Brick. I am joined by the three stars of this series and that is Bridget Lunn. are we doing, Bridget? Hello, we're doing well. Very glad to hear that. Nathan Pearce, how are we doing, Nath?
00:00:52
Speaker
Yeah, getting by. invite. That's a good state to be in. I like that. And Toby, Toby Lang, how are we doing? Feeling pretty good. Good. Very good
Race Withdrawals: Toby & Bridget's Decisions
00:01:03
Speaker
to hear. Now, we haven't caught up in a few weeks and it feels like a fair bit's gone down, even though it's only been one race.
00:01:10
Speaker
But this episode is being recorded on the Monday before the final of the series that we've all been following along this Saturday at Brisbane Trail Ultra 26K.
00:01:23
Speaker
I do love how it's still called the BTU 20, I think, being 26K. So just an extra half hour of pain for your money. um But we recently did the Coastal Ascent.
00:01:34
Speaker
Now, the recap episode was meant to be checking in on how Bridget and Nathan's races went. Toby, actually just quickly, Toby, you did decide not to race. Talk me through the decision to not race.
00:01:47
Speaker
I just decided that like I didn't think it was really worth it for me. It was during exam period for me. So i just thought I couldn't really justify 10-hour drive, you know five hours each way, and then spending time getting accommodation and all of that for a race that I didn't really need um for the actual overall ranking. So ah just decided not to do that.
00:02:10
Speaker
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense and sounds very smart and sensible. So that's good. And I'm going to come back to you a bit later for how you're feeling for this weekend and we'll get to the overall rankings. But Nathan Bridget, it didn't actually happen in the end. So Bridget, I'll throw to you first.
00:02:27
Speaker
What went down and why weren't you on the start line? Um, yeah, I think in the last episode I was a bit on the fence. That was about a week before the race. And ah thought about it and I thought about my exams and I thought about, you know, everything that i spoke about before.
00:02:44
Speaker
And in the end I was like, yes, I'm going to do it. And I let my accommodation charge me and I was like set to go. And then like two days before i got sick. And I kind of woke up with a sore throat and I was like, yeah, you know, it's just a head culver to go away.
00:02:58
Speaker
And it just did not go away. um And yeah, with that in mind, I thought it was not worth rocking up to a 20 something kilometre, 25 kilometre race and um potentially making it a lot worse.
Health vs. Racing: Prioritizing Well-being
00:03:11
Speaker
i I don't know. I did actually run... that weekend. I did like a really, really small session on the Saturday and like the worst 16 kilometre run of my whole life on the Sunday.
00:03:23
Speaker
um So part of me is like, i don't know, maybe I should have forced myself to go, but I don't know. I think it's hard to make that call and it's probably better to consider the long term health over a short term race, um even though that has unfortunately put me out of the series.
00:03:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. It's always path not taken. You can never know. Like you could have gone and tried to race and then literally not run much since because you got fully knocked down. So yeah, I might not have even finished the race. Exactly. Exactly. So it is a big risk to take when you're unwell and you're trying to, um, yeah, I think I always have that golden rule of like, can I run easy feeling normal ish Like, you know how sometimes you've got a head cold and it's above the shoulders and you can still jog and it's really not that bad and you're like, yeah, I'm not perfect, but I can run.
00:04:14
Speaker
Then I might race. But by the sounds of it, you're a little bit worse off than that if you can't make it through 16Ks without feeling pretty shocking. So I'm going to say you made the smart call and well done on making the smart call as hard as it is.
00:04:28
Speaker
um Did you follow along the race at all or were you are you the type to then just switch off and try not look? ah I don't know. Like I was trying to check the results. I think, I don't know finding results in some of these races is hard. I remember like flicking through a bunch of websites not being able to find them.
00:04:43
Speaker
Yeah. um And yeah, I guess everyone else that I knew racing had pulled out by that point. um So yeah, I just checked the results at the end kind of day, I think. Yeah.
00:04:54
Speaker
Fair, fair. And Nath, similar story for you. The flu got you. Tell us about it. Yeah, no, I think i think the the flu was definitely going around and I don't know, like I probably should have, with work and everything, I should have probably prepared a bit bit better being over in Adelaide that that week. um You just sort of open yourself up to sort of different germs, right? Like you you're hopping on a flight, then you're seeing, I probably see on average 30, 40 people a day with work. So yeah.
00:05:28
Speaker
you're crossing paths with, yeah, who knows what. so And then coming into Adelaide at that point had sort of started to get some sort of real low, cold mornings. So I think, yeah, it was getting passed around and then lot of people in Melbourne as well were getting sick. So many. um Like I reckon there couple of, yeah, a fair few DNS from from this race just due to sickness. And Thursday that week I...
00:05:56
Speaker
had gone i had ah an activation um with Garmin and that run, like we were only rolling like sort of 8K, 5-minute pace. Like it was nothing. But ah just my body just felt off. And then I woke up Friday morning and I was just like, hmm.
00:06:15
Speaker
this is not great. And so I had to sort of soldier through the day, hop on a plane, flew home and then ah was already in the mindset of, yeah, I've got my flight tomorrow morning to head up to Newcastle.
00:06:27
Speaker
Luckily, fortunately for me, i I've got a couple of mates up there so I had accommodation sorted. So I i didn't have ah cost there but um woke up Saturday morning just bedridden.
00:06:41
Speaker
Yeah, proper one. ah Like I think looking at my skin temp throughout the night, like um Saturday night it got up to 2.2 plus. So like into, yeah, is –
00:06:57
Speaker
yeah which is Ash, yeah, it's up there. So, um yeah, it sort of knocked me around and i was bedridden for about four days. So um it was probably safe that I did pack my bag and I was about to head out to the airport. glad you didn't. You might have spread that a few places.
00:07:17
Speaker
Exactly. Canceled my flight two hours before it and, yeah, got some credit. So I'll utilise that later
Impact of Illness on Race Results
00:07:25
Speaker
in the year. But, yeah, it... It's a shame. um And as we've touched on previously in these these episodes is having this massive sort of stretch of yeah' you're crossing two seasons, right? like Yeah, yeah. Like your first two races are in autumn and then you come into winter and um with a country the size of Oz, you're crossing um different sort of weather patterns and stuff like that. So it's inevitable. Yeah.
00:07:53
Speaker
and Yeah, it was a shame, but I'll still head up to Brisbane. so Good. yeah we go Yeah, very glad you'll still be in Brisbane. And, um yeah, honestly, that week, so ah for context as well, Katinka, one of the favourites for the series, also taken out in the same week by the flu.
00:08:11
Speaker
um In that one week, and this is all in Melbourne actually, I had over a third of the runners I coach out sick in one week. It was actually the worst I've ever like experienced in terms of people just messaging like I can't run too sick.
00:08:26
Speaker
And to be fair, i've ever since I've kind of gone into hibernation mode of like people stay away from me, I can't deal. um Because, yeah so to recap, we did recap a bit on the main episode about Coastal and about like how much it kind of annihilated the female field especially. Yeah.
00:08:46
Speaker
of the series, but the overall results on the female side, it was won by Jessica Purbrick, ah her first race in the series. So um not eligible for overall results.
00:08:58
Speaker
Ingrid Cleland was in second, Grace Handley in third, Romy Wallenscroft in fourth, and then it was the woman in fifth, Georgina Beach. She was the first finisher that was had done another race in the series. so So that was her second race, put her eligible in the final, and in the end put her up into second overall.
00:09:18
Speaker
So great result for Georgina, um but obviously we were originally at the start of the season meant to have Bridget, Katinka and Mia all at this race, um which I would have loved to see the showdown.
00:09:32
Speaker
Like as a fan of the sport, i'm I'm just kind of sad we missed that, but hopefully you're all so young that we'll get it in future years, no doubt. so Next year. Exactly, exactly. Like it will happen at some point. It's just the things conspired against us for – And as I mentioned this in the other podcast where it kind of like it looks quite sad at the moment when you look at the overalls for the female. There's only four eligible and it like compared to last year, it looks like a backward step. But I did point out that honestly at the start of the year, it was a step up originally.
00:10:04
Speaker
Like the first two races had us with a deeper women's field and more excitement as someone that's been in the sport for a long time, I was stoked on what was happening at the start of the year. And then it felt like one fell sweep. Oh yeah. Cause Steph Austin also, I did find out from Steph that she just couldn't make the final.
00:10:22
Speaker
That's why she raced the 50 K not the 26, but it would have been fun to have her in the series
Series Standings & Consistency
00:10:27
Speaker
too. yeah, Either way, the women's side, those results leave us with myself in the lead um of the series still, which I was not expecting at all going in. I was kind of going to be thankful if I was in about fourth by the time you had you three and Steph the in there as well. But I suppose if there's one thing I've learned, and Nathan, in some ways you've touched on this, because the when series are long, um half the battle is staying in the series um for these sorts of things. And so that's why I think I've always learned the hard way ah in the past that rocking up is half the challenge. So i very nearly pulled out of Kunun-Uni myself Like I was almost not getting on that flight to that one. And now I'm like, well, my mediocre performance um by my standards and what I felt like kind of kept me in it, which is, um yeah, um'm i'm I'm now I've developed this thing of like when you're healthy, just try and run even if you're not fully fit to race because you never know what happens in a series. But
00:11:29
Speaker
um Yeah, I'm in the lead. And then Georgina Beach, she's in second. um It is the top under 23, Anusha Munan in third. However, I do believe she is not making the final due to injury.
00:11:42
Speaker
And then in fourth overall is Annika Keel, um who I think has been, she came across to the first two from Perth. yeah. She's committed to the series um and I'm assuming will be at the final, but we'll chat more finals soon ah because on the men's side, ah for the results of Coastal, Toby and Nath, did you guys follow this along at all?
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah, I'll look at the um results afterwards. It's a... you know It was somewhat, expect well, very expected in most ways for Leo Peterson. He got the win. and it the times are off from last year or slower than last year because the course was slightly different, um had more gain and was slightly longer from what, and I was trying to do some of the comparisons on Strava, but it was essentially like, okay, the course was just harder because it was quite different in some places. But Leo got the win. Three minutes behind was Ben Otis, who is an American living in New Zealand.
00:12:38
Speaker
um with a very fast half marathon time. And third was Thomas Banks, fourth Zach Newsham and fifth Lucas Au, or how do i pronounce AU as a surname?
00:12:50
Speaker
one Either way, because he is in he is in the overall ranking. So where that leaves us um is Leo is leading the series with two wins on 200 points as expected Toby, you're still sitting in second on 182, so you're in a real good spot.
00:13:07
Speaker
And then in third is Thomas Banks, who was, what, third at Coastal. um And then in fourth, Michael Kernaghan, fifth, Zach Newsham.
00:13:19
Speaker
um And then sixth was Lucas... how or whichever one it is that I just mentioned. So it's, what, 200 to 182 to 176 to So I'm going to say especially from second to fourth, you guys are pretty tightly packed, um which makes for an interesting time when there's triple points in the final.
00:13:40
Speaker
But, yeah, ah Nathan, what are your thoughts overall on the coastal in the end? Did it go how you thought it would go just based by the results or...? Yeah, it's interesting that you said i hadn't even, i'd like, broken down into the Stravas or anything like that. So I saw the times and i was like, oh, it's interesting because, yeah, it was quite similar to what I ran last year.
00:14:02
Speaker
um And I was definitely not sort of the fittest that I could have been at that race. So I was kind of like, yeah, something changed. But I
Brisbane Final: Strategy & Predictions
00:14:11
Speaker
do know last year our course got changed. Yeah.
00:14:15
Speaker
I knew there was probably ah um they were going to revert back to the original. ah So you know where we went ran into town and did a bit of a loop to an aid station? That loop wasn't there, but there was two separate out and backs with extra climb. So it had over 100 metres more climb, which when you go from 700 to 800 and something does make a decent difference.
00:14:36
Speaker
um And then the ending was very, you know, that um but as I think as far as I could tell, you know, the thing we came down at the start with like the big um stairs, I think they go up that at the end too to then go back down to the finish. So it was quite different. little different, yeah. Yeah.
00:14:52
Speaker
um And that's why it's... On the women's and the men's side, it was quite a bit slower um overall. I did have a quick chat to Leo and his take was that he was just running with Ben until about 3Ks to go, he said, or a bit ah towards the end and took off um to get the win, I think. Yeah, did hear that. Like I think don't know where it was, but there was like a post-race interview where he sort of had mentioned that, yeah, he'd sort of 2, 3K to go. He just sort of went, I'm going now.
00:15:22
Speaker
Yeah. So yeah, no, obviously Leo was the favourite. When I first got sent the results, I saw Zach was in, it showed Zach was in third and I was sort of excited for him, but um wasn't to be, and kept ended up fourth, but that was an awesome result by him. But yeah um I think, yeah, now it sort of just leads up to if Toby um can sort of get on top of Leo at Brisbane, who knows with the weather, right? Like it,
00:15:52
Speaker
um We saw last year there some people falling like flies. So think, it sets it
00:15:59
Speaker
yeah it sets it up yeah I would probably go to say it's it's more sort of tailored. Brisbane's going to be more between Toby and Leo and um the other boys will probably be fighting it out for the the minor places. But um I know Kerners isn't heading up to Brisbane. He isn't now, okay.
00:16:20
Speaker
So that's sort of one less um competitor. button That would have been interesting to see. But then you've also got... ah other people coming into the mix because there might be one Ben Duffus there.
00:16:31
Speaker
And the points is just based on your position. So he will can get in the way of points in a big way and change the outcome of the series or anyone else that rocks up. to the final, which is fun. I do love that there's currently 18 points between you and Leo, Toby, and it's 18 points between first and second is the difference um in the final. So unfortunately, if you come first and he comes second, so ah Leo still wins based on his season performance um because it goes back to your performances in the races, who's one who's the head-to-heads, unfortunately, when it's a tie. I'd almost go to say the final has more weight, doesn't it?
00:17:11
Speaker
Yeah, it does, but in the event of a tie, it just says the best place on one of the qualifying races is the first separator. It'd be like making the grand final and winning, but then going, no, the other team won more during the year.
00:17:25
Speaker
Well, it would only be if it's a draw, but anyways, yeah, that is how it's going to go, unfortunately. So, Toby, you do still need to finish two positions ahead. Bend office might help you on that front, though. You have a blind bar and anything can happen. I think that's the thing I love about this, especially on this men's side at the moment.
00:17:43
Speaker
is anything can happen on the day. Like we saw last year, I'm blanking on names. how are blanking time Tate. Yes, Tate. We saw last year Tate leading with 5K to go and then absolutely falling off the cliff because he went the wrong way because he was redlining that hard. Like,
00:18:01
Speaker
It's just the case that this is trail running. Anything can happen on any day. Ankles can go. Heat can get to people. So it's almost it's just it keeps you in it the whole race in that way. But Toby, thoughts going into the final now in that second place position?
00:18:17
Speaker
um I think I'm going to try and just hang on to that second place position, to be honest. I feel like Leo's... Like, first of all, just being able to beat Leo on the day would be crazy for me. Like, I feel like he's just, like, on a different level compared to me.
00:18:35
Speaker
But then to beat him by enough to actually beat him overall in the series would just be completely crazy. So I think I'm pretty happy with just trying to hang on to my second place. Yep.
00:18:49
Speaker
um because I think I've looked at the points um for Tom Banks and Michael Conahan. It's still, we're basically on an equal number of points. So it's basically whoever wins in the final for us is going to, you know, come out on top overall.
00:19:05
Speaker
And I think there's Zach Newsham as well. He is a bit further down. so I think, I can still finish in front of him. i mean, behind him. Behind him, but it's still only two places or so because of just how many points difference there is between each, depending on where you are in the field, but especially at the front. It's still only a couple of places, so it's still like... Yeah.
00:19:26
Speaker
It's like if I finished like right behind him, think I'd still win overall. But yeah he's also under 23, so he's also... you know, going for the under 23 spots. That's got to be concerned there. But yeah. yeah I did do some fun mathing um for you. And even if you come second, because you're also top of under 23, you win the most money out of anyone.
00:19:49
Speaker
Cash. Yeah. That's what I'm going to try and do. I mean, Leah still gets the flights to Europe. yeah Exactly. You don't quite get the package that's worth a lot, lot more, but at the same time, you get the cash. It's good. Yeah. That's what I'm going to try and hope for.
00:20:04
Speaker
But no, I think ah overall, like obviously that is important to have those like those intentions going in of going well, there's there is a lot to lose. um there's There is ah obviously also a lot to gain, but then there's that idea of going, well, if something goes wrong ahead of me, I'm here and I'm ready.
00:20:24
Speaker
But if everything goes right ahead of you, I'm also here and ready to protect where I'm at. So it's not a bad spot to be, not at all. And you rare you definitely ran this last year. What position were you last year?
00:20:37
Speaker
Yeah. ah think I was like, I came like overall. It was not, I didn't feel great that day. it was not a great race. It was quite hot. I think I was like at the start of getting a cold. yeah So I remember getting back home like two days later and just being completely out for like a week, having some sort of cold or flu.
00:20:57
Speaker
So hopefully this year will be better. um Looking at the weather this year. was going say, I'm just looking it up. Yeah, I think it was like 20 degrees when I checked it. Whereas last year, I think it was it was quite warm last year. It was about 26 to 27 last year. from Yeah, I remember that being like that would that affected me last year. so hopefully this year should be a bit better.
00:21:17
Speaker
yeah yeah Yeah, it's so forecast for only 21. So that shouldn't be too bad. Even zero to one mil of rain. So I would happily take some rain on this course. That would that would be amazing.
00:21:29
Speaker
um Yeah, so I think it's for me, it's I did try to get a um start list, but couldn't quite get out hold a hold of one before we before we were recording. But for me, it's always interesting to just see who else rocks up, like who's going to be there that might get in between you and other people or you kind of just hope aren't Yeah, Nath actually. To be fair, Nath, what's your plan here?
00:21:54
Speaker
got of doubt about the fact that you're going to be there and I'm like, we've got Ben, but we've also got Nath. You're going to shake some things up. Yeah, I had a good, reasonably good training week last week. I'm i'm still working off...
00:22:07
Speaker
probably about 50 lung capacity because from all the coughing that i've had from um the flu i've strained my rib cartilage so i don't know if anyone's ever done that before yeah no it hurts it it's not great like i i went out to um mount st leonard's yesterday so did you were you there yeah i i went out um Only did half of it because every, like any incline, i my lungs do not want to go past a certain point. So it is it's not comfortable. So this um Saturday will be, hopefully I come good during the week and then I'll oh be able to rip it. But I think the smart play will be to use as ah sort of more of a training run. But, um hey, you put a race bib on and,
00:23:00
Speaker
Yeah, i was going to say. West is history, right? Like, who knows? So, i like, if I come good, I think I'll i'll definitely be up there and, like, probably am in a fitter spot than I was at UTA. So, um yeah, it's just a matter of if I come good from this sickness. Yeah.
00:23:22
Speaker
It'll be, if you do, and if you are, like um I'm praying for the, like you come good and you're feeling real good on race day, we get a pretty much a rerun, hopefully, of UTA in some ways.
00:23:33
Speaker
Because if Ben's there and if you're there, I have chatted to Ben. He is only 90% sure he's going to be there. He's had a lot go down between UTA and now as well. um But if you and Ben are there and Leo, it's a fun little showdown again, which was a really cool race at UTA to follow along as well.
00:23:50
Speaker
um So that'll be good. Do we know of anyone else that might come? If Kernaghan's not there, for me that's sad, it would have been good to see how he went um overall in the series and also just at this race. I think it would have really suited him.
00:24:03
Speaker
But do we know of anyone else that might be there shaking things? Billy's still floating around? Billy Curtis might have. Oh, no, Billy. I think he said somewhere. i vaguely remember him saying somewhere that he might be going.
00:24:14
Speaker
No, he is. he Well, at Wandi Cross, when I was there with him, he definitely said he was going to be there. So there's another man in the mix um to shake things up with, which I think is the main thing that's going to make it the most interesting because as you go further down in points, sorry, in positions,
00:24:31
Speaker
The difference between points gets closer um and those sorts of things. So definitely on the men's side, it's going to be a case of obviously if Leo crosses the line first, we just kind of go Leo's one.
00:24:43
Speaker
um But even behind, it's goingnna there's going to be a lot of like quick mental math by people at the finish line going what's happened where, like who's got what points and what what are we figuring out. So From that happening at the women's finish line last year, very much so with like just trying to bridge it. You were the one that came in and like it was like a crux of like who's coming across. I was causing all the problems.
00:25:09
Speaker
no No, never causing problems. It was just that's how it was going to go down. It was like, okay, this this however many minutes it was of tension on the finish line of who's won the series, like who comes around this corner first. It's wild.
00:25:23
Speaker
And that was so much fun. um I think that really made the series for me, even though I wasn't even part of it. I was just watching on and going, oh my gosh, um heart and throat sort of stuff. So that was cool. But you're not going to be here this year, Bridget, I believe.
00:25:38
Speaker
No, I don't think so. I was thinking about what you said um before, which was like, you know, rocking up to a race, even if you're not feeling like as fit as you can be, because I if you're healthy, you should just race anyway and see what you can do.
00:25:51
Speaker
um But in saying that, um and I don't think I'm ready to race 25 kilometers at the moment. yeah I did do cross country last weekend. So like two days ago.
00:26:04
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, it was good. um But yeah, not my body's not perfect at the moment. um So while I could sort of only just manage to race 10K, I think it also showed me that I definitely am not ready yet to do 25 just coming off the back of this injury saga.
00:26:22
Speaker
Yeah, that's fine then because you're not quite ticking the box of there's nothing actually stopping me, I'm healthy kind of deal. um i' more i'm On that front, I more meant you genuinely are healthy healthy and able you're just maybe not feeling your fittest or your readiest or there's other mental things in the way that might you might be going I'm not going to feel it on the day for us women it honestly can just be it's the wrong time of the month for us to race and you go I don't want to those are the ones I think they're still value in rocking up to because yeah definitely no um but the ones that are just genuinely on paper are risk
00:26:55
Speaker
yeah but safer to stay at home um for sure because you know as nate said you put a bib on and no matter what your body's telling you on the day you're gonna go like yeah
Organizing a National Series: Challenges & Comparisons
00:27:04
Speaker
that's what happened on the weekend too i was like i'll just treat it a training run and then all the nerves leading up to the start line i'm like oh i think i'll just try and race it then yeah yeah exactly exactly so No, it'll be interesting. I know on the women's side from just from people I've chatted to, again, haven't seen the start list, Maddie O'Donnell.
00:27:23
Speaker
um So she was in the series. She was fourth at Donna Double um and actually still has a decent number of points, but hasn't, again, done any other races. So isn't overall eligible, but she is coming to Brisbane. So that is going to be a lot of fun.
00:27:39
Speaker
I don't know either of Georgina and Annika, but I am going to assume that they will be there since they are guaranteed some prize money at the end of this one by finishing. um just So i'm going to say they'll be there. Anusha, we've heard, is injured, so she's not going to be there, unfortunately, um which does leave us with no eligible under 23s, which is sad times on the female side. so that money is just going in the wayside. But um yeah, interesting times. I um i don't know where do we even go with that. It's like I think this is part of the challenge of having a series in Australia. We were about to riff on this before we started recording, but Nathar stopped you because I wanted to get this on recording. But essentially it's like personally,
00:28:28
Speaker
having been in the sport in Australia for many years, this having a series like this is really exciting. It is something that I think we need and want as runners in Australia, that as trail runners in Australia, but at the same time, there's so many challenges.
00:28:44
Speaker
And part of it, I've already said in the other podcast, and I think we've already chatted before that maybe the publicity for the thing could have been a bit earlier and a bit more amped up, but at the same time,
00:28:58
Speaker
There's also just the fact that when you're trying to travel in Australia for these sorts of things, it's just as expensive and just as far as many of the Europeans going across many countries to do so.
00:29:09
Speaker
um see yeah, Nath, this is your freedom to go now about what you were saying before I stopped you. I don't know. Like I think I've spoke volume previously around how it's how like the strategy but behind the racing. Like I understand that we have to – um sort of suit a large portion of people coming. But I think having them so strung out is, that's the first hurdle.
00:29:37
Speaker
Like one, you've got four states, yes, all on the eastern side but the side of the country. So anyone- Shout out to Annika, who has been doing it from Perth, just as you say that. Which, yeah, is is massive. But I think with this, we you almost need to have it controlled with certain... Because I don't know what the other national series are like. ah Are they...
00:30:01
Speaker
quite close together or are they one? spread over a similar timeframe. Some of them have even less races. Like I know the Japanese one, for example, has like three races that are all about 40Ks or at least it did a couple of years ago.
00:30:13
Speaker
um But it's the Japanese races. They absolutely love their running. So people get behind it. It it is a smaller country again. um So a lot of the other series, ah to be fair, I'm not sure on this year. How many are there left? There's like six left.
00:30:30
Speaker
um So, yeah, Japan, South Korea, China, like there is a lot of the Asian ones. But by the looks of it, yeah, so Japan has two in July. They haven't even started yet.
00:30:41
Speaker
um Japan has two in July and then one in September, and that's their three. And this is the other thing. Like ah the final's in October, right, and we're competing our final to of this weekend, right? So it's like even between the final and going to the championship or the final in October, it's a long period of time.
00:31:07
Speaker
Don't you see that as a good thing though coming from us for planning and training and like getting a good training block in? Like i view that as a good thing. Yeah, but I think if you're ready to do it, you should already have plans to be over there.
00:31:23
Speaker
Like, the would you really though i don't know okay bridget i'm gonna ask you this question if the if the final was so it was really close like say four weeks three weeks like they are like japan and end of september if they were that close is that a good thing or is that a barrier to sort of you actually being able to even accept the ticket or those sorts of things Yeah, I think it would make it hard to plan around like uni and if you had job a job and had to take time off work, I think that would make it a bit trickier.
00:31:56
Speaker
um yeah Yeah. well ah This is the thing. like i think Because it's all funded, right? If you win, it's funded. All you need to know is ah alert uni, alert work, whoever it may be, that, hey,
00:32:12
Speaker
I possibly may have, and these are the hurdles that we have in Australia. Like yeah not everyone, we don't have the luxury to become full professional trail runners just due to our landscape and where we're situated. And unless you've got a lot of backing to be able to go overseas for a long, long period of time.
00:32:32
Speaker
Unfortunately, these things have – there's got to be a quick turnaround. And I reckon it's better – you're better off. Yes, okay, you can prepare, you can build up and you can plan.
00:32:45
Speaker
But ultimately, you if you're competing to win, you should already be in the mindset of going. Yeah, absolutely. Yes, we know. And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. think in some ways the National Series, they're designed for up-and-comers, right?
00:33:01
Speaker
So the National Series are designed for to give someone a sort of break, a chance to go overseas and see what it's like to compete overseas. They're not actually designed for the top professionals, I don't think, based on how they're how they're spread out and how they're fashioned around the fact that there's also the World Series.
00:33:20
Speaker
So they are expected to be the tier below. It's expected to be the people that aren't living the professional lifestyle that are going for that chance to prove what they can do overseas, right?
00:33:31
Speaker
And I think when you talk about that tier and that level of athlete, often they're not the athletes that are going like, yes, like maybe you've got to still get a Leo and those sorts of things, but they're not necessarily, and I think,
00:33:43
Speaker
coming I don't know if this is my female brain, Bridget, tell me about this one, but it's like, I don't know many races where I'm, or series where I'm going in of going, I'm going to win this. Like the confidence level there that you're speaking to.
00:33:55
Speaker
I'm like, if even if I put myself in Bridget's shoes or in my younger self's shoes, there's no way I'm going to my uni or my job and saying, hey, I might win this thing until I've won that damn thing. Like there's just no way I'm doing that.
00:34:07
Speaker
Even if I'm confident in myself, I'm not, I would never, especially as a young up and come out, have had the guts to do that. And therefore, like when, when I think of my first welds, I made the welds team in like April and I had until September to prepare. And I needed that time, like mentally, physically,
00:34:24
Speaker
as an up-and-comer and as a tier very much below at that point, I was a newbie. Like I needed that time to wrap my head around what I was doing and it not to be this really hard, overwhelming experience overall.
00:34:38
Speaker
I think if it was thrust on me a month after I made the team, I would have been like a deer in headlights going, I can't do this, what's happening, and not prepared at all. So get what you're saying. If it was 100%, that's why the – the To be fair, even this year, the World Series ends in the start of August and the finals in October. So like there's a massive gap there too because of other things.
00:34:59
Speaker
But usually it is about a month between. And that's perfect when that is your entire plan for the year. And you're going, yes, like for me, I was, whether I made the final or not, I was going to the final.
00:35:10
Speaker
So I was in that mindset then for sure um when I was doing the World Series. And then I agree, you want less of a gap. But I don't know when Toby, you can, you can lean in on this, but as an up and comer, like if they're, everything's too entwined, like what, what's your thinking behind, like Toby, you're in second.
00:35:30
Speaker
If this was a month before the final, are you preparing for the fact that you might go like mentally? um i think it's also the fact that like, if you don't get it, you might want to have other plans.
00:35:42
Speaker
Yeah. Like locked in, like, Because, you know, if you're in the position where, like, maybe you go, maybe you don't, you also kind of want to have another plan to do, like, another event, which might, you know, as Australians, that it might involve going to Europe at a different time. Yeah. And, like, being able to afford to go, like, more than once if you do get this just isn't going to work.
00:36:04
Speaker
Yeah. I think it's, like, you kind of have the option to either do this final or do, like, something else that you want to do And having it really close, it kind of makes it, difficult because you kind of want lock in plans as soon as you can think yeah like yeah I suppose Nath hear what saying but also when I think about it this year I'm like a month before this is the world so the trail running calendar works against everyone every year in my books um just as being a trail runner and seeing it for many years you have to pick and choose
00:36:37
Speaker
But also, i don't know, more time from Oz to prepare seems better to me. And that that's prep that is literally why the final is now. um Like I know they did that by design to make it so whoever won had time to prepare. Yeah.
00:36:51
Speaker
But then, and then the spread of races, like I suppose my theory slash book, like the way I look at it is a lot of the challenges could possibly be fixed by just having more races.
00:37:04
Speaker
Still the same requirement for number of races, but you have more of them. You're going to get more at that final and you're going to get more competition. Um, just if say, even if you had two more races in the gap that were in different areas,
00:37:17
Speaker
um I think that's a really good idea. I was thinking about that. Just adding one extra race in that awkwardly long break in between would, yeah, help ah help get a lot more people to the final, I think.
00:37:29
Speaker
And it would be, i don't even know, maybe even in Adelaide. The Adelaide has so many good races. Like it's... It's hard financially still for everyone. I get that. um And that's possibly the challenge. I think that is a lot of the challenge. Bridget, you didn't quite get cut make the cut for under 23 this year, unfortunately. You're so close.
00:37:47
Speaker
But I think that is half the challenge for under 23s is just financially affording getting to trail races. Like there's yeah not many in the sport and B, affording it's hard.
00:37:58
Speaker
um I think you were saying in the last one as well some kind of like support for the top couple in the earlier races to get to some of the later ones would be really helpful given that they are so like far apart distance wise.
00:38:13
Speaker
Yeah. yeah i'm but ah Brisbane have done it like they're offering quite a lot of support for people to come to the final which is awesome. There's accommodation, free entry and I believe they've even put that outside just the people that are currently eligible.
00:38:28
Speaker
for the overall. So, um, that's really good of Brisbane. Shout out to Brisbane again for that. But yeah, I think it's interesting to watch what's sort of happening with the Golden Trail series, even over the, um, global scene, because the first American one of the year happened this year. And I was just interested to see how few internationals were on that start line as well, because they didn't have travel support anymore for the elites.
00:38:52
Speaker
Um, Compared to previous years, at least. Nath, you were there for one of the golden trails last year. And it was like, you just look at all the flags on the finish list. And it was um everyone, whereas there's a lot less this year. And so it's like almost we're seeing the same thing on a world scale where finances is what gets in the way.
00:39:11
Speaker
of people getting to different races in the series and those sorts of things. So, yeah, I don't know where I'm going with this other than saying it's hard. um ah Yeah, I think, like, logically, yeah, having almost a race in every state would work.
00:39:28
Speaker
Yeah. And unfortunately, yes, everyone goes about how cheap running is. It's one probably one of the most expensive sports in the world, the amount of shoes that people need to buy and those sort of things, right? like And unfortunately, race entries just seem to be going up as well. but Yeah, I would say it's a cheap activity and an expensive sport.
00:39:51
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. So and I think to get to that point, like you've you've got to invest a little bit into it. And yeah, but then also having a race in every state could work in favours because someone from Perth can race the race in Perth and then go to Adelaide yeah or something like that. Right. like and And then climate wise, it's going to be quite similar.
00:40:16
Speaker
um Whereas I will always say having a race in Brisbane for the final in the middle of June. um love it. End of June. You get some hot. ah like It's a bit unfair. Oh, come on. Heat training.
00:40:30
Speaker
Everyone knows how to do heat training nowadays. But you just never know what type of weather you're going to get. Like last year it was 26. Welcome to trail running, man. and one um But then it's also like – Donna Double was, I think that was almost 30 that day.
00:40:48
Speaker
It was warm. says No matter what time of year you can get stuff like that. Like we just saw Broken Arrow. It was hot one day and snowing the next and then hot the next. Like no matter where you go in the world when you're a trail runner, you literally just have to be prepared for all weather.
00:41:03
Speaker
Like that's just part of trail running. i I don't know. Like I think, there yeah, there's there's a lot that could be done. But then if the also the other thing is if you have too many races, the points for the throughout the series become deflated.
00:41:20
Speaker
What do you mean? Well, because the more races, if you have to completely complete just two yeah before the final, but there's five major races, well, who goes to what?
00:41:31
Speaker
And then it's like, There's more depth for more people in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne compared to Perth and Adelaide. And more the Sydney people are going to be like, well, I'll just do the New South Wales one. But then five other people rock up.
00:41:46
Speaker
And then so that's where the deflation comes in. So I personally think they should just have races Australia the more populated spots. Unfortunately, yes, it's it's not great, but I think there you'll just be like, okay, well, that's that hub, that's that hub.
00:42:06
Speaker
And then you just go there, do those, like, and we all know we can, you can back up a race a week later, maybe two. I know it's a bit of time, but it's like, if you can go, i don't know, head over to Victoria from Adelaide or whatever for a week, week and a half, and get two of the races done and then you're done and then you're like, I now just need to focus on Brisbane.
00:42:31
Speaker
yeah That could work. Yeah, yeah. Whereas, like, having a race, then having a couple of weeks or three weeks between and then having another race in a different state. Yeah, that is how the Golden Trail World Series looks after people.
00:42:44
Speaker
They try to have two races week apart in different parts. Yeah, going back on what we were saying before, like, if you're a student, you can't just spend three weeks somewhere on a holiday. Like you don't get that opportunity. So I think, yeah, that'll, that's an issue.
00:43:00
Speaker
Yeah. yeah Like I don't, genuinely, I don't think there's a perfect way to do it for everyone for sure. Like, There's, and when you talk about also diluting, in some ways that's that's part of being in a series as opposed to a singular race is picking your races in the series that to A, either suit you or go after the most points. Like that's part of it.
00:43:19
Speaker
If you're committed enough to go, hey, I know I live in Sydney, but the race here is going real competitive. I'm going to fly to Perth and race that one because I'm going to get more points. All the power to you.
00:43:29
Speaker
That's, to be fair, exactly what I'm doing in Skyrunning World Series right now. Like, it's how the series work. You pick the races. that work the best for you both on paper and physically.
00:43:41
Speaker
um And I think di when you say diluting the point, I think that for me when it then comes to you're at the final with four people on equal points, all the better for it.
00:43:52
Speaker
Like then it goes, okay, we're here, we're at the final, everyone's here to prove who's going to win this thing because up until that point you can have that many arguments of who's the best or who deserves to win sort of thing, of who's got the best results over the series.
00:44:07
Speaker
But at the same time, it's like, well, that like that's part of what I love about being in a series. But what, Nath? I've got a question for the group, though. Go. yeah Like, you're traveling for a race.
00:44:20
Speaker
And this is a part of a series. There's only four races. prize money would having something incentivizing because I think the the the whole promotion around the event is are the the series as well I don't think like i could go to any of my running friends and be like have you ever heard of the Golden National Series no wouldn't wouldn't know what it is so even in the trail world i reckon there would be certain people out there that just wouldn't know there's this avenue that they can take and um so officially looking at the under 23s right like i so there's is there only two left in the men and well one in the women's but she can't compete it um
00:45:02
Speaker
the final yeah like what an awesome ah opportunity like in the female if you're a 20 year old all you have to do is run in two races and get to Brisbane and you're getting paid yeah like how I don't know like there there's so much opportunity but I don't think it's getting to the right people um yeah not yet for sure or the avenue I don't know like the events as well like ah If they know that you've competed in the first round, Kinyani should be trying to get Toby, myself, ah Leo. They should be trying to drag. Like you've got you're one of three racers and i have to compete at one your races. Yeah. You should be trying to bring that competition to your one.
00:45:51
Speaker
make your rate the interesting one. Like, I don't know. There's so much possibility with the marketing side of it.
Enhancing Competition & Visibility
00:45:59
Speaker
And then you create this profile of the rates. And I understand, like,
00:46:03
Speaker
these races are mass participants. So it's like you've you do have that, you've got to harness that element. But how fun would it be to be like if we all went to all four races?
00:46:16
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think half it is the athletes getting behind it, like as much as they possibly can, and half of it is like what you're saying of races inviting past participants and those sorts of things. there is it's It's interesting to see because there is a big culture of that in a way in America.
00:46:32
Speaker
and in the year and in Europe, like it's just like it's the done thing almost. Like if you're part of a series, other races in the series will try and get all the top athletes from that series. so It's just that nothing like this has ever been tried to do before in Australia. So even knowing all those race directors, it's like that's just not even a thing that would probably cross their mind in some ways because it's not something that's done.
00:46:53
Speaker
But that doesn't mean that hopefully over time we can sort of go, hey, like here's some really cool ways to improve this thing. based on And I think that's where it needs to be. There almost needs to be post this series, a forum to be able to just be like, all right, everyone, like all the race directors are in. um it is like it'd It'd be awesome because getting every one of those races, like, um,
00:47:21
Speaker
the boys at Coastal, they I was fortunate that they reached out and they wanted me to come along. Unfortunately, obviously, with sickness, I wasn't able to make it, but they reached out.
00:47:31
Speaker
They were like, we want you to come to our race. You came last year. Like, it would be awesome to have you along. And it's like, well, yeah, um okay, like I'm part of the series. Like I've got only a choice of three races.
00:47:45
Speaker
yeah If you want me to be yours, I'll come to yours. Yeah, yeah. Like you don't need to like – An entry is an entry and I'm not asking for accommodation flights or anything like that, but it's just the getting invited to something is a nice feeling.
00:48:02
Speaker
Yeah, I feel you. When it is you're trying to sort of give in to the like give back to the community, if they then reach out and you say, oh, how good is Like I um ah feel a part of something.
00:48:18
Speaker
Yeah. Whereas when you're just are entering a race to rock up and they're like, oh, yeah, well done, like, see light up like you later, like, you're just kind of like, oh, okay, cool. But, like, I don't know, there's got to be some onus on both sides that, yes, the athlete's got to buy into it, but also why why are we buying into their event if they're not investing back?
00:48:42
Speaker
Yeah, no, I hear I hear you. It's hopefully going to be an interesting shift in a way. um i I don't know. i don't know where the I don't know where next year leads, um to be fair.
00:48:55
Speaker
But at the same time, it's it's all interesting hypotheticals. But I think on the whole, like this is where the sport has moved overseas in a lot of places already.
00:49:06
Speaker
There's a lot of places also like Australia that are catching up in a big way um where the boom's happening, but it's all still very... um let's just say there's the professional side of the sport is by no means established um in many places around the world still. America and Europe are just ahead, of way ahead, way, way ahead on that front.
00:49:26
Speaker
um So you and me, Nath, having seen quite a lot of what goes on overseas, it's like you come back and you go, oh, I can see all the places that this can get better. Like you can just see it all straight up.
00:49:37
Speaker
um But yeah, hopefully, hopefully over time, um we can we can slowly shape the sport in our own little corner of the world to be just as exciting. I think the thing i' I'm not even like, I don't get excited completely about all the necessarily even the prize money and all these sorts of things and all the sort of extravagancies that come with it. I just love seeing the really fast competitive racing on the trails.
00:50:02
Speaker
Like when you just see people absolutely letting and rip And the battle, the back and forth battles, like I suppose I tune into Golden Trail because hell Broken Arrow Sky Race, I'm watching El Huzin and Patrick and Philemon absolutely hand it to each other.
00:50:17
Speaker
And Joyce and Madalena swapping positions constantly. Like, I suppose that's what I would really want to see in Aussie soil because I know now we do have the athletes to do it. It's just like, how do we get everyone to one race?
00:50:32
Speaker
it's Yeah, it was it was like when I was in America last year. Like I was there for six weeks, right, and like I competed in four races. The amount of familiar faces I saw at all four. Yeah, everyone faced too heavily. just randomly picked four races. ah I'm pretty new to the world, so I don't know exactly.
00:50:50
Speaker
and it's America. There's 350 million people. It's the same size country, yet at all four races within a six, um and they're all in different states, I saw the same people.
00:51:04
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I'll probably be fortunate to see Bridget, Toby, or you well, I train with you, Sim, so it's a bit different.
Building Community & Coordination
00:51:13
Speaker
Different story. Like Bridget and Toby probably twice a year.
00:51:18
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. And I think having that community, building that is what will sort of set it aside. like And, like, I don't know, like even the fact that we don't really know who's going to be at Brisbane, like ah we should probably...
00:51:36
Speaker
be in the know and yeah i would love it if just all races had the thing where you can click to see who's registered um which is a lot more common overseas too um i will say but there's some races in oz that do it i think where is it it's like race roster so i swear there must be a thing they can click on the back end because for some races you can go participant list and some races you can't but you're right even that just makes a difference because you can plan or you can see who else is rocking up and if a few good people are rocking up it draws more good people in it really does and I think it just makes the whole event yeah so much just more enjoyable like I saw i was sort of a bit a bit jealous of um seeing some familiar faces up at Wandi Cross
00:52:18
Speaker
but that same weekend like and my you see the good camaraderie like everyone's getting around everyone it's it's an enjoyable sort of thing to see and I think if you can create that like yes it's competition but also we're all trying to like if we're all sort of biting against each other then as a whole we're not going to build so trying to get everyone at the most races yeah okay you might not have a great day you might it might be tough to perform at your best every time but realistically we're all going to build each other so if we can try and like i don't know band together and it's on the athletes it's on the event organizers it's on the brands and everything like that as well so and we are a big country we've got plenty of hurdles but i don't know
00:53:11
Speaker
Do we have a season where ever ah some people travel over to Perth? Like I haven't been in Perth for a long time, so I would love to go over there and race some of those races, but I wouldn't even know where to look. We should just create a countrywide group chat.
00:53:27
Speaker
Just be like, yo, team, which one are we rocking up to? But no, in all seriousness, and to bring it back to Golden Trail, I think we will still, there is definitely um still going to be a glimpse And a big glimpse of this at Brisbane this weekend, like especially on your men's field side, by the time you put Leo, Toby, Nath, Billy Curtis, Ben Duffus, Thomas Banks, Zach Newsham, like all, and whoever else rocks up there, you guys are going to have a banger of a race out there on Saturday.
00:53:58
Speaker
um um i just haven't seen the women's start list. So i just, genuinely don't know on the women's front of how much people how many people are going to be there or and that I know at least obviously there's going to be lots of people there um but at the same time hopefully we can like at least start to build that and I think we can at least do the athlete side of things right we can try and share And half of it is just sharing with each other. Like Wandi Cross almost came about because I was like, hey, Blake, I'm going to Wandi Cross. Let's go to Wandi Cross. and then it was Billy, hey, we're going to Wandi Cross. Let's come to Wandi Cross.
00:54:31
Speaker
Like just chatting and going, we're all going to go do this. Let's go. um And then as soon as a few people are going, you invite someone else and they go, oh, yeah, sure. Let's jump in. So Hopefully we can do it on that front.
00:54:43
Speaker
um But let's wrap this up on in terms of Golden Trail. ah We are going to catch up next week to rehash it. Bridget um so and Nath in some ways. You're not even racing Brisbane though, Bridget, and you've been good enough to stay on to chat through it all with us.
00:54:58
Speaker
But what are your tips for Saturday? I want to hear what you think is going to is going to go down before we then catch up next week to actually rehash it.
Race Predictions & Strategies
00:55:07
Speaker
My tips about who's racing or about the course?
00:55:10
Speaker
No, no, no. tips Sorry, tips as in who's going to win. Like what is what a word what's the order going to be and on on the finish line? Oh, who's racing? So can I say who's racing?
00:55:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Do we know? Katinka? Oh, no, Katinka's not. Sorry. Oh, Katinka's not. So she's, she's out. um So on the women's side, I will say my knowledge of who's racing is short, but I'm going to say it's, well, you've at least got me. You've got Maddie O'Donnell.
00:55:38
Speaker
I'm going to guess Georgina and Annika. And if anyone else is racing, by all means, reach out. That'd be fun. Like, please. um But women's side is maybe a little bit easier in terms of there's just less people to choose from.
00:55:53
Speaker
Yeah, a bit hard to, yeah. I guess um compared to last year, Sim, how do you think you you'll do? you feel better at this point in time?
00:56:05
Speaker
Well, last year it was like I was just coming off a really long injury. And so I'm chalk and cheese at the moment because last year I had pretty fresh legs. um I was running similar Ks by the time i got to, but Uh, now Brisbane was never part of the, a goal plan, uh, let's say.
00:56:25
Speaker
Um, so it is, it's a training effort on the way to CCC and will be treated as such still, like I'm not pivoting on my plan in many ways. So like I've just done a 17 hour training week and have pretty damn tired legs.
00:56:40
Speaker
But that being said, I know I race well. off heavy training Like i don I know I don't actually need a taper to perform because I've done it plenty of times before. And so I feel really good.
00:56:50
Speaker
Like I feel the best I've felt in a very long time. I am just also very aware I will be carrying a lot of fatigue. And days like that, I could have an absolute blinder and you can have an absolute shocker.
00:57:03
Speaker
You just don't quite, it's like any training session because you're um you're just rocking up and going, let's see what we got today. So in terms of my tactics, it's going depend on how I feel on the day, but you're either going to see me go, yeah, I feel great. Let's just freaking rip and absolutely go from the start and see how I stack up to my time from last year.
00:57:25
Speaker
But the fact that it's a lead-in race to another big race that I'm training ridiculously hard for, if things aren't pannin' out my way, i will be about as conservative as they come.
00:57:36
Speaker
And you'll probably see me running beside someone for a very long time. to then just hope that I've got the legs in the last 5K-ish. You're going to see one or two of those things. One of those two things.
00:57:48
Speaker
It could go either way. so you're not tapering for this run all? Are you going to do a session on Thursday? have a session tomorrow. I have a session Thursday. i will have just two easy runs on Friday.
00:58:01
Speaker
But I also then race Saturday and I fly straight home so I can do my five hour long run Sunday. So. Oh my goodness. Yeah, there's not much tapering. Like an easy Friday where I just do two 30 minute runs, that will feel like a taper.
00:58:14
Speaker
Like that for me at this point, just with how heavy my legs are, like one easy day is kind of all it takes for me to come 90% good. um I think and I hope it continues on that that's me currently um but yeah there's there's not going to be a huge other than fact I travel Thursday so Thursday will end up being slightly lighter than usual just by the fact that you're adding a load of travel so um yeah that's that's that's where I'm at for this one it's an interesting place to be because I kind of expected to be doing this expecting yourself and Katinka and Mia to all be running off on me and
00:58:51
Speaker
kind of just being in that happy place where I get to have my session effort and not really care in many ways. Like that was kind of the plan for Brisbane. So mentally I will have to shift a little because obviously i so I want to win. Like that's quite, I'm not going to be there to not still win.
00:59:07
Speaker
But yeah, it's just an interesting, interesting ah place. because I really didn't think I'd be here. I would have given anything to win this series last year, anything to actually be healthy enough to race the damn thing and win it. And this year it was almost like not one of the A goals and yet i just by racing I'm here.
00:59:29
Speaker
Like that being said, as as we' all I'm like I just need to not get sick this week. Like if I get sick this week, that would be the theme of the bloody year at this point. But I'm avoiding all people so I hope you'll be fine.
00:59:41
Speaker
But, yeah, there's my thoughts and there's my take um on Saturday. It'll be interesting. Crazy. What was that, Nathan? I reckon can you you'll just with the what experience.
00:59:54
Speaker
Yeah, I do know my body. think also you'll start to, when you get halfway and you start feeling good, you'll start going, oh, I'm going to win this thing. Yeah, I will say like the back, the last 10K or the last hour of my four or five hour runs are the ones that feel the best.
01:00:10
Speaker
So i'm I'm banking on the back half, not the front half. That's for sure. um But yeah, Bridget, men's tips. Let's go. I mean, Leo is seeming pretty dominant, but I'll stick behind you, Toby. I believe you can, you never know what can happen on the day. You know, could be a wrong turn, it could be bad weather.
01:00:30
Speaker
You never know. So I think, If you stay like focused on that goal the whole time, you don't know what could happen. um That I think, yeah, that'll be really interesting to follow. I think I'll try and follow it live if I can.
01:00:43
Speaker
ah say So give me the order. Obviously put Leo in the front, but give me the order of Nath, Billy, Toby and Ben Duthis. Oh gosh, this is hard. I love putting them. Come on, there's no right there's no wrong answer. The fact that two of them are sitting right in front of you.
01:00:57
Speaker
No pressure. No pressure. I might be a casualty, but I reckon I'm going just try and take as many as I can. Yeah, I was going to say, you know Nath's going to try and take some balls. I'll just go out 5K, 15 minutes, just come me come with me if you can.
01:01:16
Speaker
Nath, just try and do Toby a favour and go blow the legs off Leo at the start.
01:01:23
Speaker
went out hard. i went out hard I might come good halfway. Who knows? You might. I would love to see it, Nath. I would absolutely love to see it.
01:01:35
Speaker
I could go hard, take some people with me and just go, I'm done. See later. See what you can do. I would not even put it past you to do that. I'd love it. Bridget, with Nath having said that, what do you reckon?
01:01:51
Speaker
Oh gosh. um I don't know. Nath, I think i'll I'll put you in third, but maybe that's just because I'm not super familiar with um how the other two guys run. So Ben Duffis is the one that was like four seconds behind Leo at UTA 22. Oh, okay.
01:02:05
Speaker
okay And he's been local. so And he's been local. All right, Nathan, you might be demoted a little bit. Shout out to Ben.
01:02:19
Speaker
This is great. This is absolutely great. No, I genuinely think between you guys it's going to be really close and I'm really excited to see it. Is that what you two are expecting? Like I'm not going to ask you two for tips because you're going to be in the race. Unless you want to give them, by all means, speak up.
01:02:33
Speaker
But are you expecting it just to all be a tight battle? I think so. Yeah. I don't know. Like, we'll see. I think it's a, it's a different course to what we've seen, um, for the rest of the series as well. Like it's a bit more of rollercoaster. So there's plenty of opportunity for certain people, um,
01:02:51
Speaker
in terms of, yeah, climbing, descending, and then flat as well. I'd love it if there's still a battle going on up Kokoda, um that brutal climb. Just the fact that Tate and Leo were battling up there last year and that was kind of Tate's undoing. How far is it to go after the top? You've got 5Ks, a very fast downhill.
01:03:10
Speaker
Is Yes, it's 5K off the top of Kokoda, and it is a long, like to me it felt a long way. because I got to the top of the coder in the lead and just looking back and going, please, please let there be no one.
01:03:26
Speaker
um But like also I also, misjudged the finish and kind of thought it was a K earlier. And I just remember that last K going, where is it? Like, bring it now. Anyways, it is a brutal last 5K. So if anyone's battling along there, all the power to you because that'd be kind of fun.
Trail Race Dynamics & Closing Thoughts
01:03:43
Speaker
But anyways, does that sum up this week? We're all going to catch up again next week. We might not go quite so deep in the end. We'll just rehash um what what actually happens in the end. It'll be very interesting to see. But any final words from the three of you?
01:03:58
Speaker
I just think they need to rename their races BTU25 BTU35. Yeah, true. 35. thirty five yeah true thirty five Which one? 35. Last time I did BTU 30 two years Yeah, true. It turned into a 35.5K race. Why are you saying BTU 25 when it's literally like 26Ks exactly?
01:04:19
Speaker
Surely you just do BTU 26. I haven't even looked at the course. ah yeah I should probably study it a little bit. But um ah I don't know. That's one thing when I joined trail running. i like you can You could just take it by a grain of salt. 100% take it by a grain of salt. It could be 3Ks either way, even 5Ks either way. To be fair, this one's 6Ks either way. Let's go.
01:04:41
Speaker
um Closer to the BTU30 than the BTU30 is. Yeah. yeah ah True, true. Toby, any last words? and How are you feeling after the chat?
01:04:54
Speaker
Nervous. Nervous. I love that. When do you arrive, Toby? ah Thursday. Thursday, me too. Nath, when are you there? Friday morning. Nice. See you Friday morning. You can do one of the easy shakeouts on Friday.
01:05:06
Speaker
Let's do it. BTU shakeout. i don't know what time I fly in. I think it's in the morning. We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out. Well, thanks for chatting, guys. um We will be chatting again very soon anyway. Nath and Toby, I'll see you both this week in know like two or three days. My goodness, it's getting close now.
01:05:24
Speaker
ah Now I'm nervous, Toby. Let's not do that. Okay, we are done. Thank you, everyone, so much for listening. We hope that you've enjoyed our rather rambling chat tonight and hypothesizing. But thanks for following along and we'll all speak to you for the final episode next week for this year.
01:05:41
Speaker
Thank you. Thanks, guys. Thank you.