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Training Through a PhD, Stair Masters, and Knowing When to Pull Out Of a Race feat. Britt Harriden | Episode 117
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In this episode Vlad and Sim sit down with Britt Harriden to get to know her journey into running. Achieving an incredible 3rd at this years short trail champs while conducting research for her PhD and working full time, Britt has plenty of stories to share about her unconventional training pathway into trail running that explain why her endurance is so good now!
Also get an update from Vlad on why he didn't end up running GC marathon, and Sim details an adapted endurance week as she prepares for Trofeo Kima!
Join us on Patreon HERE
Results:
- The Trail Running Series Race 2: Anglesea (VIC)
- Mt Misery Trail Run (SA)
- Sydney Trail Half Marathon - Winter (NSW) Saturday Result, Sunday Results
- North Head Night Run (NSW)
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
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!
Follow Vlad: Instagram | Strava
Follow Sim: Instagram | Strava
Follow Britt: Instagram
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:08
Speaker
Hello and welcome to episode 117 of the Peak Pursuits podcast. My name is Simone Brick and today I'm joined by Vlad Ixl over
Vlad Ixl's Recent Experiences
00:00:18
Speaker
in Perth. How are we doing, Vlad?
00:00:20
Speaker
Yeah, doing not too bad after Gold Coast weekend that I didn't um participate in, but I'm pretty excited about some of the results coming out of there. Yeah. Doing well. We'll have to get to some of your decisions behind that um in ah in a bit. But how long has it been since you've actually been on an episode? It must have been a few weeks now.
00:00:37
Speaker
Yeah, probably at least three or four weeks now.
Introducing Brittany Harridan
00:00:40
Speaker
Yeah, so we will get a bit of an update from Vlad coming up soon, but also joining us for the first time is Brittany Harridan. How are we doing, Britt? Good, thanks. Excited to be here.
00:00:51
Speaker
It is awesome to have you on, especially after you had such a ripper start to the year and then we keep seeing your name popping up all through the Canberra Trail series and feel like we've said your name that many times. It's about time we've actually had you on. um So we're looking forward to in this episode we're going to get to know Brittany and all of her results so far, how she got into it. We've got some of the usual results coming up from around the country and some news particularly with Hard Rock coming up this weekend.
Brittany's Running Origins
00:01:20
Speaker
But to get started... Do you go by Brit or Brittany? Most people call me Brit. I was going to say from memory, it's Brit all the time, but then I just realized I'd go straight in and I shut up. I'm only ever Brittany if I'm in trouble and that's obviously off my mum, so I don't go that. Fair. Cool. Okay. So Brit, um, well let's, before we get to this year, which I feel like has been one of your more consistent and more breakout kind of years on some of the bigger trail races and last year. Um, but I actually got to run with you a bit, geez, I don't even know how many years ago now, and that was a lot of fun overseas, but yeah, talk, talk us through, first of all, what got you started into running and at what age?
00:02:05
Speaker
Yeah, um I was actually always a runner since since a kid. um I just loved running. Dad was quite um into endurance. So whenever year he used to go out for a run, I always wanted to to join in. um i was quite good at cross country throughout school, but it was never really, um and never trained daily or I wasn't wasn't part of athletics or anything like that. was just something I kind of enjoyed. um My primary sport throughout um my younger years was horse riding. I actually owned three horses and competed fun on weekends basically in that. It wasn't until probably 2015 that I signed up to my first half
First Marathon Experiences
00:02:53
Speaker
marathon. And prior to that, I used to just casual runs. um Back then I had no concept of pace or time or distance. um I don't think smart watches or anything like that was um around back in the early 2000s. So yeah, it was 2015. I signed up to my first half marathon and and I came third and i was like, oh, wow, like this is this is kind of fun. Like, I don't know where this will take me. Yeah. Um, yeah, but I used to always, I was kind of a gym junkie, um, but more on the cardio machines. So, um all my training leading up to that, that marathon was actually done on the Stairmaster and I would spend two, two and a half hours, um, training on the Stairmaster, you know, running, just running stairs for hours and hours and, um I eventually got the name in the gym as the Stairmaster Queen um at Mastering the Stairmaster. So yeah, I was just always up for challenges and seeing how far I could push myself. So running was just sort of um something I just absolutely loved.
00:04:05
Speaker
Yeah. And at that point, I feel like the stairs are building a trail runner already, but was it all you're running on the road at that point or were you actually running trails?
Transition to Trail Running
00:04:16
Speaker
No, most of it was all on the road. So my background was pretty much road running um i used to venture out on weekends yeah and i would um mostly on my own um i didn't really know many people that were kind of interested in that at the time so would just you drive myself to a random trailhead and and run to however far and then i'd come back home and have a look at the maps and see where it links up and if i could create a loop or if there's any mountains that i could run up um
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, I wasn't huge into trail running. um But throughout, when I moved to Canberra in 2013, I used to go up Mount Tennant all the time.
00:05:00
Speaker
And in 2016, 2017, when I was doing my master's, I only had to attend to uni um three days a week. So on the other days, I'd just train the house down and I'd drive out to Mount Tennant and just do like, you know, three laps up the stairs bit and come back. And um it was just something I really enjoyed. it was just, yeah. I love, you know, climbing up to the top of a mountain and seeing the views and,
00:05:26
Speaker
Yeah. sorry That's cool. That's cool. Because and I do, like in my mind, I'm like, well, if you are, you you entered a sort of road half, but then when you speak through what you were actually doing, I'm like, you were training like a trail runner in many ways. However, not many people also would be doing two hours plus on a Stairmaster. So was that just in, like, did you look at that as training or for you, was that just, here's a challenge for the day to go do? It was just a challenge. Like, and throughout those years, I did set really random challenges. Like before the Stairmaster, I used to do sit on the roller for two to two and a half hours and and row 30 Ks. um It was just like, i just wanted to push myself to see how far I could actually go, which I
00:06:17
Speaker
think is what has built up a really good endurance um engine for myself to be able to do these long distance races that I do now. um But yeah, i was I never really got out and did lots of trail running.
00:06:31
Speaker
um Most of it was in the gym. My first trail race that I signed up to was, I think, the mountain up downhill running that I met you at, Simone. Oh, National Champs. And that was my first ever.
00:06:45
Speaker
What year was that?
Balancing Running and Adventure
00:06:47
Speaker
back in 2022, I think. um Yeah, okay, yep. Yeah, 2023 was my first ever trail race that I'd done. Prior to that, it was just doing my own thing. If you'd been going up the stair side of Mount Tennant before then, then it wouldn't really have seemed like much of a trail race when we're just going up and down the fire road. But that was a yeah brutal way to start.
00:07:10
Speaker
A lot faster. stuff So, yeah, it's good. So at that point, um had you been competing much on the road or like had you looked at running as a competitive outlet or more of an adventure outlet? Like why was the balance at that point when you started that trail journey of like training being more adventurous and just having fun versus actually training for specific events? Yeah, it wasn't.
00:07:39
Speaker
So i I lived on the Central Coast area in 2019, 2020. And in, it was the back end of 2019, I decided to um turn up to Terrigal Trotters, which was a running group on the the coast, um because I was doing pretty much everything on my own. And I kind of thought, oh, I'd be nice to have some people to run with.
00:08:06
Speaker
And when I, the first day that I came It was their 10K time trial, which I was not aware of. um And a couple of the guys introduced themselves and they were like, oh, so today we're doing Brooks Hill time trial, which is basically running up this massive hill and back down. And um they said to me, what sort of pace do you run at? And at that I still had no concept of pace or times. I never really followed the elites or anything like that. Um, but just based off my little Apple watch that I had at the time and what I was doing in the gym on the treadmill, I was like, Oh, like, you know, four minute, four minute K's. Um, I should be out of front of that. And they kind of just looked at me like, okay, you don't know what you signed up for. Anyway, I ended up running it and, um, running under 40 minutes. So under four minute K's for the 10 K time trial. And they were just like, wow, like you're like our fastest female. Um,
00:09:04
Speaker
And I was kind of really accepted into that group. And they were like, we train on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings um if you wanted to join. But at that time i I couldn't because I worked an hour
Training and Academic Pursuits
00:09:15
Speaker
from where I lived. So I had to commute, um which is why I always started the training early in the morning. I used to get up at 3.30 a.m. and do my two hours of training and then go to work. So, um wow yeah, it was. And then when i i moved back to Canberra in 2020,
00:09:34
Speaker
Um, prior to that, when I was on the coast, um, I was still sort of pushing the limits with my training. Um, I think some weeks I was running over 200 Ks, which at the time seemed, yeah, like I was like, okay, that's, that's how I can push myself. Um, but it definitely wasn't smart. Um, cause 2020 came and I ended up with, um, quite a few stress fractures, which took time, had to take quite a bit of time off. um And then when I moved back to Canberra, um I started running with a few groups around Canberra and getting a bit more structure and consistency in in my training and in my running.
00:10:16
Speaker
um Yeah, but still wasn't really competing at that point. Yeah, wild. um I love the journey so far. Very haphazard. I'm assuming no coaching until this point as well. But ah you've alluded to it a few times throughout there. But what what did you study initially? And then what was work that you were trying to fit all this crazy training around? Yeah, so I studied a double undergrad degree in sport and exercise science and nutrition.
00:10:45
Speaker
And then i went down the avenue of doing nutrition and dietetics master's degree. yup So i had finished that and then I moved to the Central Coast to work in a clinical dietetic role for a couple of years, um which was quite a it's quite a stressful, busy job at times. And I think running was definitely that that stress outlet for me. Yeah.
00:11:12
Speaker
Yep. Yeah, and then i know you said just before we got on that you're on the back end of your PhD now. So when did, was that why you moved back to Canberra or when did that start? Yeah, yeah. In 2020, I took up an offer to do a PhD um and six years later, i I'm still still going. um I started it full time and ah COVID had hit and so i was kind of just starting the data collection component and that took a halt, wasn't able to to complete that um in the end of 2020 and 2021. So in 2022, I decided to take 12 months um intermission break from the PhD.
00:11:55
Speaker
yeah um And that was when I probably did a few more road races, um did a couple of 10K road races and half marathons, had a bit more time to dedicate to training. And then in 2023, went back to the part-time and then um because I went back part-time I lost my scholarship that I was on and had to kind of pick up some work so now I work full-time and study part-time oh gosh all around the training um can I ask what's the PhD like what's the um study yeah so I um developed a functional food product um using the Australian native Davison plum so I'm using a um
00:12:41
Speaker
a powder um and I've incorporated that into a sorbet and I'm testing um inflammation and muscle recovery in long distance runners.
00:12:54
Speaker
Oh, that's cool. so That sounds both delicious and very, very like useful and delicious. We love it. Yeah. Yeah. um Awesome. Awesome. So you've got that 2022, 2023 period, uh, where you started doing a bit more of the trail and like, obviously I met you at national champs. I love that national champs was your first trail race.
00:13:19
Speaker
ah Yeah, was just it was just like my my backyard, like they were like up Mount Tennant and I was like, yeah, i I think I could do that. Like, and it would just be kind of fun. um so yeah, but I hadn't done, yeah, that was my first one. And then that was my last one, i think until 2024. Yeah, going to say, because your first one on ITRA is 2024. And I'm also just thinking back, I'm like, that's an it's an odd vibes trail race to jump in for your first time because they're very small. and Well, back then, especially very small and not much fanfare, um but can be can seem quite intense. Yeah.
00:13:55
Speaker
um And because you're all, you you with a small field of very fast runners, it's usually what would put most people off signing up. So it's it was awesome to meet you there. um I think that's where I first got to know that you can definitely run on the trails. um But then you didn't, yeah, pop up on results until what was it, 2024 at Stromlo Running Festival, the 30K? Would that be your next one? Yeah, um I actually, that year I did, so Colin Marathon was, it's a local,
00:14:26
Speaker
trail running event in Canberra. yeah Um, I entered that. So that was my first proper trail marathon in June that year. um and I remember signing up for it because i I, really wanted to do a trail race. I wanted to do it somewhere local because while studying my PhD, I'm kind of tied to kind of being around Canberra with all the stuff that I need to do for the PhD. So, um, Yeah, it was a local race. It was a marathon. It was on the trails. um And I was like, okay, I'll sign up for it. um
00:14:57
Speaker
And then two weeks beforehand, I was like, I should probably go out and actually run the course and see what it's like. Because I had spoken to a couple of other runners and they were like, oh,
Trail Marathon and Performance
00:15:09
Speaker
there's like, you know, massive hills and it's like quite hard um and difficult in um some of the some of the Ks. And so was like, oh gosh, like I was like, better go out and find out, you know, how hard this actually is. Um, so I did a kind of recce run on my own and I came quite close to the course record just on that recce run. And so it ended up becoming a challenge to myself of like, can I break this course record, um, in the Cohen marathon, which was set at like four, four hours and two minutes, I think that the previous year.
00:15:45
Speaker
And, um, Yeah, and so I ran and ended up breaking that course record by ah just over 10 minutes. um And I think that's sort of where I got the um fire to want to race more trails and kind of see where where I can take myself. Yeah.
00:16:04
Speaker
I love that. I love that. That's, uh, you've definitely got the success early, um, in terms of, but it makes so much sense considering what already two or three years earlier, you were some weeks, some weeks clocking 200 week. Um, So yeah the endurance is there. um Then were you all just in 2024 and the first half of 2025, were all your races in Canberra just local? Just because they're not showing, like nothing, not much is showing up on ITRA for that period. So I'm not sure what you did throughout.
00:16:37
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Like of I think all of them were in Canberra. i did the Chimnoi series as well in 2025, which is just local Canberra races. Yeah.
00:16:49
Speaker
Yeah, but not many, not many races throughout that period still. Yeah, and then in 2025 you then came out in September um for the, I think that was the changed date six-foot track marathon because of the flooding, um and then came second at six-foot track, which is a very well-known race around Australia and a very fast marathon.
00:17:16
Speaker
had anything changed at all or was this just the next progression? Like had anything changed in your training or what you were doing? Did you have a coach or was this just sort of the next step? Yeah, I did Razorback earlier that year in March. Oh, really? Which is why I hadn't signed up for, yeah, yeah. But I don't think the scores were on the scoreboard for that year.
00:17:38
Speaker
yeah And that was my first ultra um event that I ever signed up for. So it was sixty four k in the Victorian Alps. And, yeah, I ended up coming first in that. um And I thought, well, you know, kind of really, really liked the the scenery and there was just so many mountains to climb in that 64K.
00:18:03
Speaker
it was just it was just beautiful and I really enjoyed it. um And so, yeah, when six foot got postponed, I was able to put in a entry to see if I can get in.
00:18:15
Speaker
Um, not much had actually really changed with my training. The, you know, throughout the years, um from 2020 2024, was still averaging about 160, 170 Ks a week.
00:18:31
Speaker
Um, it's only been in the last two years that I've kind of dropped that, um, back because the PhD is kind of picked up and work's been really busy. So I haven't been able to dedicate as much time to training. So, um,
00:18:45
Speaker
On my average week, I'm running around 120, 130 Ks. So, yeah, there wasn't a huge change in the training that I was actually doing. i was still doing sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays. um Yeah.
00:19:03
Speaker
Do you think then that the drop down in mileage actually helped perform or don't really have much info from prior times to actually make that comparison? Yeah, that's a hard question to answer. It probably did. definitely felt like 170 k's a week, my legs were just always fatigued, didn't have much bounce in them week to week. And then dropping the k's, I did, yeah, definitely felt a lot better mentally and physically. yeah. 170k a week on the trails is a lot. Like that's 15, 16 hours of running? Yeah. So I'm still doing sessions on the road. We have a nice lake around Canberra that was doing all my sessions around. And then on weekends, I do a 20k trail run on a Saturday and then a trail run, 30 to 35k run on Sunday. So yeah.
00:20:00
Speaker
run on a sunday so yeah yeah a lot So it's a lot of
Race Strategies and Challenges
00:20:06
Speaker
hours. like Yeah. yeahs I mean, if you would have been all road running, you would be hitting 230, Yeah.
00:20:13
Speaker
yeah That is a lot of running. Too much. yeah um Well, it's it's got you in good stead now, I think, obviously now that you've got some of the fresh and freshening up too of our not running quite so much as well. But, yeah, from six-foot track last year into then starter this year where you've come out and come third at our National Short Trail Championships in Snowy Mountains in the fifty k as well as a month later going back again to win Razorback Run. And I just looked at your times. you're incredibly consistent. What was it, 8 hours 49 and then 8 hours 47? So yeah wildly consistent there. But, yeah, what would you put those those results down to? in And was were you aiming at national at our national champs, suppose, first question there, were you aiming to get the spot for Asia Pacific or were you just aiming that to be there to race?
00:21:09
Speaker
Yeah, i was just aiming there to race. um I knew this year was going to be quite full on um because with the PhD, I had the trials to run. So I had to get through 30 participants. And so i knew that my training would have to to be less of a priority. um And I was actually supposed to run UTK um in November prior to the national champs and I had to pull out. So i thought this race um would be a good one to still be to run up in the snowies.
00:21:47
Speaker
um So yeah, it wasn't really aiming for a time. um was kind of just just wanted to race it. And I definitely came into that race very fatigued. um I think at 30 k's, I kind of wanted to pull out. Um, but I was like, I just within myself, I just didn't want a DNF. I just didn't.
00:22:09
Speaker
Um, yeah. So I just continued, continue running for the extra 20 Ks and ended up being the course ended up being longer than 50 So I was like, Oh gosh. Um, but I was kind of glad to, to have pushed on and and finished that race. Um,
00:22:25
Speaker
And then Razorback, really wanted to do a lot better than my time last year because last year was my first time ever running around that area. um So I didn't know what I was in for. But this year i was like, yeah, really set to kind of run ah a good time, much better than last year. um But 3K in, i i had a stack and um I ended up,
00:22:52
Speaker
having a blow to my knee and my wrist. And when I got up, I was like, oh, am I going to be out of continue, because i I'd have 60Ks to keep going.
00:23:03
Speaker
um But I did. i ended up just, um yeah, kind of not not being able to run at what I had planned to run at, but just kind of, yeah, and enjoy the scenery. And that whole day, but just being out on the trails kind of got me through to the end. And then when I finished the race, um I went to the medic tent and I was like, oh, you know, I think I've just like kind of sprained my my wrist. And she looks at me and she goes, I think it's actually fractured. We're going to send you to hospital. And so I was like, okay. um Yeah, ended up going to hospital and they x-rayed and I had broken the, um or fractured the scaphoid bone in the thumb. That's not a good one to go.
00:23:49
Speaker
No, no, but I've been rehabbing it hard and it's going to say that one takes a long rehab. I've had a scaphoid injury before many years ago and I, I injured mine bad enough that I couldn't move my thumb for two years straight.
00:24:03
Speaker
Oh no. Scaphoid's not a good one. No.
Training Philosophy and Balancing Life
00:24:08
Speaker
so so yeah, say um that, that trail still has me and I'll probably be back next year to try and do better okay so what I've gathered so far is that there's an insane amount of will and grit in what you do and that sense of adventure do you have a coach still or is this still just you figuring things out as you go along yeah I'm still just figuring things out as I go along um yeah I've never really been coached by anyone one-on-one um I've kind of just always done my own thing um
00:24:43
Speaker
And yeah, I know find it hard and I find it hard, you know, when you're juggling full-time work and a PhD to kind of, I guess, fully commit to and like listening to the coach and and being out, you know, being present and being able to do the sessions that they've planned for you. I just don't think I could do that justice right now um because some days I wake up and I'm like, I'm too tired. Like I just don't have the energy and I'll i'll skip. um
00:25:14
Speaker
doing training or something like that. It's good to know you're human. Yeah, is that also challenging because you have that run group that you train with on Tuesday and Thursdays? I don't train with them now. there's I jump in on um sometimes there's a group that run out um at Woden Track in Canberra. So i sometimes jump in with them on Tuesday mornings or I um sometimes train with just Jason and Jenna on Tuesday mornings. um But, yeah, I still try and be consistent enough to have two sessions a week. um Sometimes I might shift the Tuesday to a Wednesday and Thursday to Friday or a Saturday, depending on energy levels at the moment.
00:25:58
Speaker
Yeah, but this year's definitely been tough with fatigue and and kind of knowing, you know, when to step back and when you can push. Yeah.
00:26:09
Speaker
Yeah, the the forever challenge. um But it's good to know you're human and you do get tired. I've been just listening back to some of your things. I'm like, when when does this woman rest?
00:26:20
Speaker
um That sounds great. um Does your studies, like your background in nutrition, do you think that helps a lot? And do you have a big focus, like say in six foot and those sorts of things? Like do you put a big focus on your nutrition for those sorts of races to get you through?
00:26:35
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, a part of me wanting to study nutrition um was because I was kind of battling a severe eating disorder and I really wanted to get as as much background knowledge um as possible. So that's kind of what led me down the path of nutrition. yeah um And over the years, i mean, it's always been a tricky spot for me um and particularly, you know, fueling properly and knowing how much to fuel for these races. um sometimes I go in a bit like I have the background knowledge, but being able to apply it to myself within these races is also sometimes a challenge. um So it's kind of a work in progress, but definitely over the last couple of years, I've really tried to focus on that and um consuming more throughout running and that.
00:27:25
Speaker
So yeah, it definite definitely helps knowing what I should be doing. It's just being able to apply that. Yeah, how do you find that internally, that sort of battle of going logically I know what I should do but for some reason my brain's telling me that this logic does not apply to me. um he I've been there before and it is it's just that you go an incredibly smart human being and know, know what I should be doing but for some reason it's really freaking hard to just go something. And so do you have anything you've learned along the years that's actually helped you apply it to yourself a bit more or sort of the ways that you've learned to try and get through that barrier? Yeah, I think if I think back to, you know, um when I felt like absolute rubbish when I finished race and have not consumed much, um I go back to thinking, well, you don't want to feel like that. And then, you know, it takes you a week or two to recover because you haven't fueled properly. um And I also think the period um in 2020 when I had ah multiple stress fractures, that was purely because I was overtraining and significantly under fueling. So I think it's kind of learnt lessons that, yeah, just building on that each time.
00:28:42
Speaker
But it's definitely it's definitely a ah challenge sometimes, yeah. Yeah, the mind. This is why I've gone into psychology. I've gone the opposite way of instead of the nutrition side, go into the psychology side um because there's such a huge interplay though there um because, yeah, they're both – it's hard to tackle from both ends. um That is definitely for sure. Yeah.
00:29:07
Speaker
where Where do you sit now like with your um sort of comfort level of of going, no, I'm looking after myself well and I feel like i this is sustainable versus this is very much still a work in progress? and um Because for me, i guess it's it's harder to follow plans and that sort of thing when – you're still figuring out yourself within that realm of doing too much too little and that internal battle like to me the internal battle gets louder if someone's telling you what to do and what not to do um so where where do you feel you are at if you're if you're happy saying at this point with that yeah yeah I mean it it is still a battle sometimes um some days I do really well and other days I still feel like ah I fight myself against it um And, yeah, it's it's hard to, um yeah, it's hard when you when you know what you should be doing but in your brain you're you're still fighting against what you know is right. yeah
00:30:11
Speaker
that's That's the most difficult bit. Yeah, so I think it might or always be like a work in progress. You know, some days you might execute it really well and other days, you know, you might just have to. yeah, continue that that fight for what you know is kind of right.
00:30:30
Speaker
Yeah. I think we're all works in progress at all times. So that's that's the case for everyone. But yeah, I guess when when it comes to this in sport, it's it's um heartbreaking when you can see, even in yourself, um that the mistakes you've made has led to a certain of injury or something something going wrong such that you can't do what you love and you're like, but i knew I knew how to stop this logically, but I just didn't know how to stop it in real life, like actually stop it sort of thing. um And it can sometimes feel like you're almost taking your own dreams and path away at times, which for me was the most, not disheartening, but just like challenge where you're just like, come on, I really want to be able to do this and I want to be able to do it long term, but how do I actually make this work? So for that, do you have anyone, any um people you lean on or people you see for it? Um, no, mostly, mostly just mum telling me that I need to continue. Love a good mum's input.
00:31:31
Speaker
Um, yeah, she says it very brutally honest. Um, and you know, she kind of reminds me of, you know, remember that time that, you know, you had this or you had that, or you didn't feel properly, you know, you don't want to end up back there. And yeah, you kind of,
00:31:46
Speaker
think about it um but yeah yeah it's all good so that's mums are mums are the best because they know us um they know us well and they're very good at picking up and going hey um and you know it's always coming from that spot of um pure love for for you so I hope that that does continue and like because on as you as we go through have gone through your running so far it does seem to be picking up and just getting better and better.
00:32:17
Speaker
And it doesn't surprise me that you went from feeling exhausted all the time to dropping the mileage and then all of a sudden things feel ah clicking a little bit more. um But where do you see your running going now and where do you, or where do you want it to go Knowing the success you've had so far in such a short time versus then what could be in the future?
Future Goals in Running
00:32:38
Speaker
Yeah. um I just need to get through the ph d um So kind of just,
00:32:44
Speaker
you know, being consistent, um, building that base. And then i I do hope that, um, I can try and qualify for world mountain running champs next year. Um, that will probably be a goal. The PhD likely, um, either the uphill mountain running or a vi a short trail,
00:33:08
Speaker
um distance. Yeah. Love it. That's a big difference between those two. yeah There he is i love I love just an uphill mountain run, but I also do love the grind of of a distance kind of run. So yeah.
00:33:25
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. um And then I would also like just to do um some of the bigger racing events around Australia that we have. Buffalo's kind of been on my cards for a little while, just so happens that all the races fall in March, um which makes it tricky which ones you you kind of pick and choose. So yeah. Different one, different years. There's less's plenty there's plenty to go around.
00:33:52
Speaker
Might be different next year. yeah Yeah, yeah, that's true. yeah Might be. um And so I think we did say earlier that at Snowy Mountains you did get a spot on the team for Asia Pacific, um but the PhD is not letting that happen this year, I think you said? Yeah, it's I just think that competing priorities, trying to finish the PhD, working full time and then dedicating hours to training to kind of, um yeah, race overseas and do the Australian team proud I think would be a challenge and something's kind of got to give there and unfortunately running has to, yeah, take the hit there.
00:34:34
Speaker
Makes total sense and i have every faith that there will be, there's one another one in two years' time. so um Yeah, exactly. Not too long to wait till the next one um and I think even just the fact that you did get that auto-qual puts you in good stead for world champs next year um as well. So, um and proving that that goal is achievable for you. So it's music to my ears that you want to do that um because I think it's been a long time coming all the way back in 2022 when, geez, your first tri race, you were what, fourth at that national champs? so you were already so close and could have made the team, I think, that year really.
00:35:12
Speaker
Um, so it's, uh, it's been a long time in the, in the works. Um, what would you say just because I'm always interested in this, when you say you want to do some of the bigger races, you've mentioned Buffalo. Are there any other ones around us that sort of you have your eye on? Um, definitely probably UTK or UTA races as well. Um, I haven't, haven't done those. um I have signed up to the Tarawira 50k next Feb. Oh, nice. um And that's just a goal in in hoping that I submit my thesis prior to that date, that I'll be able to raise that one quite well.
00:35:52
Speaker
um Yeah, yeah. I'd just like to also, it'd be cool to get a few more races on the board that have a score um that will that could um put me in a position to potentially race some of the bigger ones overseas as well.
00:36:09
Speaker
Yeah, as NHRA score or UTMB, both of them. Yeah. yeah Yeah. Thankfully, we're getting more of them around us. Thankfully. Yeah, we are. They're coming. They're coming. Vlad, you got any questions for Britt and what she's spoken us through so far?
00:36:28
Speaker
Are you still doing the Stairmaster? Yeah. I'm not, no. ah I don't have a gym membership at the moment because we have ah like a just basic gym downstairs, which I i do free weights and band work with. But, um,
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, I do miss it. I think it's it's i think it's quite good training, cross-training. yeah Yeah, definitely builds up some strength. And also i was listening to Billy's um podcast episode yesterday and he was talking about the Stairmaster. I also did a bit of Stairmaster a couple of years ago and actually enjoyed it.
00:37:05
Speaker
But, yeah, they're pretty you really need a gym membership for it. Yeah, this apt timing because um with my bum calf, I've spent three hours on the Stairmaster in the last week um myself for the first time in a while. So, yeah, Stairmasters are great.
00:37:23
Speaker
um Awesome. Well, Britt, I hope you can stick around. um It's been awesome to sort of now be able to put a story and – some of the timeline in for people when we do say your name inevitably at more and more races, um, as
Sponsorship and Promotions
00:37:38
Speaker
we move forward. Cause I think every time one of the Canberra trail series or something pops up, it's always, it's always your name, um, at the front or near the front, um, which is cool to see.
00:37:48
Speaker
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, whereas most gels on the market do not have sodium within them.
00:38:13
Speaker
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.
00:38:28
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.
00:38:47
Speaker
Vlad, give us give us a quick update and what why the decision behind not racing Gold Coast after that being one of the
Vlad's Training Decisions
00:38:56
Speaker
goals? Yeah, um pretty much did like a session, like a Tuesday track session a few weeks ago, like two or three weeks ago, and woke up in the middle of the night after it with fever.
00:39:07
Speaker
um So I had like two easy days and I was feeling fine. Did the Friday session. Heart rate was a bit elevated, but I was feeling fine. And then again, like I woke up in the middle of the night with fever. So I knew something was a bit off.
00:39:20
Speaker
um And yeah, had two days off. I didn't really have like the symptoms of like sore throat or runny nose, but I was just a bit... low on energy um so yeah it took a whole week of just jogging and heart rate was still pretty high um so i just thought like there's no point like trying to push it with the whole travel and um you know the whole race if i'm not gonna run a pb you know i look at road marathons as
00:39:52
Speaker
more like for and for now, like, you know, like I just want to try and improve my PB different to a trail race. If this was a trail race, I probably would have traveled and raced it. um Yep. But yeah, just not feeling like 100% fit, im scared that maybe over pushing it when I wasn't ready to over push could maybe bring me back a couple of steps backwards.
00:40:18
Speaker
So, yeah, um decided to not go. And yeah, it's a shame because obviously I missed Buffalo because of sickness. um Both times weren't too bad. um It feels like both times I got it from my daughter that got it in school and my buddy was able to fight it off.
00:40:36
Speaker
um like without me being like fully sick but it still obviously affects training and yeah and when you're traveling so far energy levels yeah again that's that's another thing you know that's still like a five hour flight uh four and a half hour flight to brisbane and then an hour to the gold coast so just like it's not worth it um yeah and then again like you know like i've i'm obviously just turned 39 i am You're still young. Thinking about that.
00:41:05
Speaker
Yeah, that PB like, yeah, actually like, you know, like it probably could happen in next three or four years. um But still like it's a bit of a shame because it's such a fun event. Like last year i had so much fun. um You know, the crowds, like the whole vibe of a road marathon is super fun.
00:41:23
Speaker
yeah it is a good opportunity to run quick. Yeah. And it's not like I'd like to do many of them, but like once a year, it's a good feel. um But also like looking back at my training this year, I've trained for for 100K, like an early hundred k in TerraWare this year. So that meant that I missed out on a lot of like speed work in summer.
00:41:41
Speaker
um So the group that I train with, they do a lot of track work during summer. me doing like a four-hour long run on the Sunday, meant that on Tuesday, i didn't want to like over push the speed. So i was doing a bit more threshold stuff.
00:41:56
Speaker
yeah And actually coming into winter, I felt fit, but not as quick as last year. So that also put a bit of doubt on my marathon ability um of yeah being able to run a PB. um But yeah, I guess that's just...
00:42:13
Speaker
you know, taking a chance on a 100K race going to affect, you know, being like a slower Twitch athlete, um going to affect your ability. Your ceiling is a bit low. My ceiling is a bit lower right now um in the speed sense of things, but the fitness is still there. Yeah, that balance of like that strength and fitness versus speed, um which actually we did have a question come through of asking where's your marathon p PB motivation sitting at the moment, Vlad?
00:42:43
Speaker
um So your motivation to go get a PB, which what is your current PB? At 226. It's still pretty high. like i It's not at to the point where I'm just going to like follow a marathon plan for 12 weeks.
00:42:57
Speaker
I love trail running too much for that. But you know kind of putting three or four weeks aside for it, like I think kind of works. So like last year i did UTA, few weeks of road running and I did Gold Coast. That kind of worked. um And I was hoping that that was going to work this year as well. It didn't really.
00:43:16
Speaker
But I think like maybe it's just a bit easier to train for a marathon during the Perth summer rather than the Perth winter. um Again, like that sickness, like like i don't know I don't know about Victoria or ACT, but like literally around here, everybody got sick. like Oh, yeah. Everyone in my group got sick. You too.
00:43:39
Speaker
So, yeah, it's just that kind of yeah tricky time of the year to train for a marathon where you need everything to be like, perfect almost to run a PB where trail running is a bit different. It's a bit more skill. Um, it's yeah, it's not the same. It's not as precise as a marathon.
00:43:57
Speaker
Um, so yeah, I'd rather train for a trail marathon next winter or trail race next winter rather than focus on a marathon. So yeah, that might mean that am I might try and do like a Japanese, um, race a bit earlier on the year. Oh, that'd be fun.
00:44:13
Speaker
Yeah, and like, you know, coming from Perth is the same time zone. um Probably a bit of a cheaper trip as well. So, yeah, kind of makes sense. But yeah, I'm not 100% sure.
00:44:24
Speaker
I'll see what trail the dates that come out from trail races um next year and see if I can fit a road marathon there. But yeah, I mean, I have that goal to run sub 220. You got that. Yeah. um You can do that. hopefully in the next few years. As long as I go like a minute or two quicker for the next few years.
00:44:43
Speaker
it might be doable but yeah you got yeah it was good to see like so many quick runners and and quick times in the Gold Coast and um yeah it looked like a wild I don't know if I'll be there next year but yeah yeah Britt have you done a road marathon like fully targeted sort of gone and raced to all that road marathon I I haven't I've done a virtual um back in 2021 when COVID who canceled all the races. I ended up doing a virtual one around them the lake in under three hours. so It's kind of always been on my my list to run one, but, yeah, the the dedication that you need for everything to align yeah a road marathon, it's like, oh, that can be last on my list. We're very similar in the end then because my marathon PB is also a COVID cancelled marathon that I just went and ran by myself um because there was nothing else to do. So um awesome. Yeah, they definitely just – I don't know, there's it's just there's much more of a fine line you're walking on, which to me is is somewhat somewhat similar for like a trail 15 to 20K where like a small thing goes wrong and you lose 30 seconds to a minute and if it's a competitive race, you're losing many
Trail Running Community Discussion
00:45:59
Speaker
places. And like, yes, we don't have the just usually the times to go on. Maybe something like Cies and I'll you do where you can have like – Everyone's run this course so I know what time I could should aim for.
00:46:10
Speaker
um But, yeah, in in trail, like once you actually get up to the marathon distance, there's there's too much other stuff um usually unless it's flat to take into account, um I find. So I'm with you, Vlad, on the like it feels mentally like – things can still go your way more often when the prep hasn't been picture perfect.
00:46:32
Speaker
um Is that what you... Yeah, exactly. I mean, I think like, you know, i think it just because like, you know, depends how technical that trail is. If it's a bit more technical, like skill just comes into play a bit more and you could end up with a better result. um But yeah, on the roads, it's just like you just got to hit the paces um and you got to put in the work around those efforts and Yeah, it is fun at times, but also like, I don't know, like putting eight, 10 weeks dedicated for marathon training, I would definitely struggle with. Oh, when you know you have the skill for the trail, like, because you're right, it is it's ah it's a skill to be able to navigate technical terrain and it takes different muscular strength to be able to do navigate the multiple ups and downs and ups and downs. um, without your quads blowing out or like losing your climbing legs and that sort of thing. So when you have the skill to know that you can perform at a higher level on the trail, it it does take away at least for me and by the sounds of it for you too, Vlad, some of that desire to go, well, I can go absolutely smash myself to try and get this one perfect, like I need the perfect day with the perfect prep. And then i know I'm going to be
00:47:43
Speaker
decently but meet mediocre comparative to where you can sit on the trail. Yeah, I mean, like now that trail running is becoming a bit more competitive, it definitely makes it harder as well. Yeah, yeah. I think, you know, realistically,
00:48:00
Speaker
you do more of what you're better at. So like naturally, you know, you're going to do better at a trail race because they're a bit less competitive um and then you want to do more of that. So it just becomes easier and you become better at the same time.
00:48:14
Speaker
um But yeah, trail running is moving. to a new direction as well. It is so competitive right now. And if you I don't know if you saw the Quebec Golden Trail.
00:48:25
Speaker
Dude. They're going quick on some technical trails. like and Do you see how packed they were? Yeah, I mean, it just looks like a road race on trail.
00:48:36
Speaker
Yeah. Did you see any of the coverage of this, Britt? Do you watch Golden Trail at all? I do, yeah, but I haven't. I've only seen little snippets on Instagram. but i Yeah.
00:48:47
Speaker
Yeah, I've seen some of the little snippets of them. They're like a K to go crossing a river and there's like six of them all together still in a line. um I did notice that El Huzin got a bit angry at Philemon. I think it must have been Philemon at one point and I'm like, oh, there's some beef. There's some beef coming up here. Yeah. yeah um It was also, I don't know if you noticed it, but there was also the um Broken Arrow Sky Racer. They had a bit of a push and shove yeah between them.
00:49:14
Speaker
Yeah. So that's building It's becoming common. um But yeah, I was also, because Madalena got a bit of a clear run in the women's on this one. um But yeah.
00:49:25
Speaker
Even then, like it's still, I've loved those races so much for the fact that you're on a start line and you're like single file packed the whole way. Like you' it's not a Aussie trail race where you get some clear air and you might see no one for two, three hours um sometimes. it's a you might be having a bad day but if you back off any more than you absolutely need to you'll be passed by 10 15 people um sort of thing and on a good day like the difference between pushing to the line and not pushing to the line can be five six places if you can um sprint finish at the end there like it's
00:50:04
Speaker
It's awesome and it's much closer, I suppose, to what you see on the road. not Never going to be quite that because we don't have those massive packs that you can get on a double-wide highway. um But, yeah, the Golden Trail on the weekend, that was definitely one of the – seemed the more packed ones in terms of, I think, six guys in a single file with a K to go, figuring out who's going to make the move. um Yeah.
00:50:27
Speaker
Tense. yeah um Tense for sure. I mean, really fun to watch though. I think that as like live broadcasting is becoming better in the trail running space. It's just so exciting. um And I think it's also exciting to see the level of...
00:50:45
Speaker
women's trail racing like increase especially with tover now like i've watched zagama and i'm like i just can't wait to watch a run downhill and mount blanc marathon was watching the live stream was like show us show us tover on the downhill um she's insane i think it's just yeah i think the sport is really going to grow with you know the competition but also like coverage is just so good Yeah, yeah, it's it's awesome and it's scary at the same time.
00:51:13
Speaker
um But I love that that the scary is what keeps you going, and what makes it more exciting. um And, yeah, I'm now what I leave for Europe in three weeks today, which is freaking me out a little bit um because my first race in Europe, that means, is in less than four weeks.
00:51:30
Speaker
um And I'm just looking at it like, oh, I might be left behind here, but that's okay, this year at least. Um, but yeah, I'm, um, I, and annoyingly, which it's fine. I, oh this year for me is all about like just regaining some of that confidence and confidence that I can do it next year again, essentially. Um, and it's trying to figure out my body and what it's currently doing, but I've managed to, for the first time in my life, I've never really had muscle problems ever.
00:52:00
Speaker
And a week ago I popped a calf, um, which have you ever done your calf before, Vlad? Not really. I mean, I have pretty tight carbs at times, but um now I've been looking after my carbs with daily yoga.
00:52:16
Speaker
Nice. What about you, Britt? you ever had calf problems? No, the general tightness. Yeah. yeah Well, so I had two weeks of general tightness on this calf and then I went to do my very first proper, like, like full length trail session in like nine bloody months. And on one of the flat non-technical parts, it wasn't too bad, thankfully, but I understand now why people say it pops. Because it's just like this moment of feeling like you got like pinged in the back of the leg by like something sharp. um And I felt it go and I was just like, okay, okay.
00:52:50
Speaker
I'm not like, it didn't feel that bad because I could walk straight away. But I was just like, there's no point rushing this. I am, this needs to heal, whatever the hell it is. um And so I did an immediate pivot because I also have been freaking out a little bit about chema coming up, which is now seven, eight
Simone's Personal Training Insights
00:53:07
Speaker
weeks away. um And the fact that that has what, 4,200, 300 meters of elevation gain. Um, and so it actually, in my mind became a bit of a relief, not a relief, but I was like, okay, we can make this a good thing because I turned last week into just an endurance week.
00:53:23
Speaker
Um, because the thing that I lost that I've been the most sort of annoyed at losing and wanting to get back is just that feeling of being able to go for a really long time and your legs just keep going.
00:53:35
Speaker
Um, so yeah, essentially I put in a 22 hour training week with like, uh, multi, like sun Saturday, instead of a long run, I jogged four K's to the gym cause I can jog flat and short.
00:53:48
Speaker
Then I did an hour of heavy lifting into an hour at 27% average on the treadmill into an hour on the stair mill into the four K jog home on the flat. And I'm like, that's good enough for a long run ride um because I had what, like 2,000 meters elevation gain and I was squatting heavy. So that then into, if note neither of you will probably know Glasgow, into yesterday I did six Glasgow loops. which is the most I've ever done. But Glasgow's like 1.3 K with 430 meters climb or so.
00:54:23
Speaker
Um, and then I loop back down. So the loop is about 3 K with 430 up 430 down or 3.5 K through. Um, and I did six of them. Um, and it just like the whole week was essentially like that. That was why I got so many hours of training up. It was I had two days with almost nothing, but the other days were like four or five hours of just uphill. So I got about 7,000 meters vert for the week.
00:54:47
Speaker
um And my biggest progress win for this entire year so far was yesterday at Glasgow because the last time I was there was in February with Kate and we set out and we were going to do two loops and I was hoping I could do two loops. And I did one uphill And then literally had to sit at the top for half an hour while Kate did her second loop because I was that dizzy and I was exhausted and my legs were cooked after one rep.
00:55:13
Speaker
And that rep took me like 23 and a half minutes, 23 minutes, 15. And then yesterday, like my first two reps were low 24 minutes and my slowest by the last one was 27 minutes. And I almost went out for a seventh because I felt good. And I was just like, okay, we're back, sort of like speed's not back, but Endurance is getting there, which is kind of what I need for chemo.
00:55:36
Speaker
um So, yeah, I actually have a happy update finally for a week, even on a week where I pinged my freaking calf and I couldn't actually run. um But making the most of a bad situation.
00:55:48
Speaker
annoying situation but that's why as soon as you said stair master at the start um Brit I was like ah that's like my friend this week is the stair master I just kept trying to get like a thousand meters vert in an hour on the stair master um for I think I did that three times so bit of fun um but yeah can confirm that like yesterday running again and then even on Saturday Saturday was the first time I'd actually run on the flat in a week and like It's amazing how different my legs feel already and actually how much better they feel even though I hadn't run.
00:56:24
Speaker
Like it's almost like they felt more back to my normal than if I'd just done my normal training that I was meant to do for the week, which is confusing but also cool feeling because I don't know. It just feels like. It's like a feeling that you're strong, like you have that fitness strength in your legs.
00:56:43
Speaker
Yeah, it's like I had – it's almost like I've been running for a while now feeling like I do feel weak and I just feel like fragile whereas the last two days like as I was running around and as I was doing things and climbing, like even when I would did the 2,000 metres vert in the gym on Saturday, it was just like i have to I had to like tell myself to stop so that I could go again the next day because I wanted to keep going whereas for months now it's been like – forcing myself to keep going because I know I need the endurance, but it's just not there. Whereas now it feels like it's almost there and I have, I choose to stop.
00:57:21
Speaker
Um, but then it doesn't seem to so far to, I haven't done that much running on the flat. So I've got to figure that out, but it's like, it seems to feel even better again, which, um, I, we expected it to feel a lot worse.
00:57:34
Speaker
I don't know. like Yeah. I think you can build a lot of durability in your legs um from those kind of easy. I guess zone one, were you doing it like pretty easy or were you pushing it? Oh, when i was when I was on the Stairmaster or going uphill, I'd have my heart rate sitting at about 160, so upper zone two.
00:57:51
Speaker
um So i would like my overall training for the week had many, many hours in upper zone two. Um, so there was, yeah, usually like on the bike, I'm usually sitting a bit lower, but I did do like some like high resistance bike sessions in there as well. Um, so a lot of the time when I'm climbing, I hit like 155 to 165 for my heart rate the entire time for like two hours straight. Yeah.
00:58:19
Speaker
um So um i I was also ah treated as a gut training week though because I was getting in my 100 grams of carbs every hour for that um because you can't really sit at that high of a heart rate comfortably and recover to do it again the next day without it.
00:58:34
Speaker
um But, yeah, I feel like I just went on this big experiment and then I got to yesterday and went, oh, this seems to have worked. um However, because of the calf and then also ah trying to, like, navigate that, I was the slowest I've ever been downhill.
00:58:51
Speaker
And I was like, okay, I've got the endurance and the climbing legs, but my downhill's not my downhill yet. So that's the next thing that is the the mission to pick up. But yeah, was an interesting experiment that I might do a little more often when, I don't know, my legs need a break from running, but can keep doing something is just go, let's just do a whole bunch of upper aerobic work. And it it seems to be working. I don't know. no sight Well, no real science behind this other than I did what felt good for a very long time every day.
00:59:25
Speaker
And I think at different times, obviously, different training feels better and worse. And I think like Britt was saying, like a lot of volume at times feels really good and then bringing the volume down feels suddenly good as well. And, you know, I just think you just have to be flexible with your training and to do most that feels good.
00:59:46
Speaker
yeah But I also know that like high volume at times feels really, really good and you feel really fit. But then if you do it too much, that's when you like start overcooking yourself a little bit, overtraining a bit and you got to bring it a bit down. Well, um that's where it's easy for me at this point because I have three weeks. That's all I have because then I fly to Europe and I'm on a road trip. I'm not going to be getting in big kilometers or big hours. yeah um And as much as I do have that first race, which is a thirty k in Italy, Like the main race is Kima, which is still eight weeks away. And so I'm kind of like, well, three big endurance weeks, then I've got another four weeks until the race kind of thing where it'll be lower. Seems manageable or seems smart even because I was so scared about the fact that this is going to be an eight-hour race and my legs were feeling tired after two hours of anything.
01:00:39
Speaker
um which I feel a bit little less worried about now. so i think cross-training does help with fitness. And also it's kind of a bit of a different mental stimulus. So it's not just like, you know, running, you're doing something else and mixing it up.
01:00:56
Speaker
Yeah. yeah and Yeah. I mean, I think personally, i'm going to like I've done a lot of cycling in the past, um but after I'm going to come back from Europe, so around September, I'm going to probably put in a bit more cycling in my training just for a couple of months because I can see the benefits of cross-training at times. I've experimented with a lot more cycling and It doesn't work for a long time, but for like maybe like two or three months of added cycling, it just feels a bit better after it.
01:01:27
Speaker
um yeah So, i yeah, I mean, personally, I don't think cross training would work for me if I do it like all year round, but putting in maybe like three months of like a bit more specific cross training kind of helps, if that makes sense.
01:01:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. That's the way I've looked at it in the past. um But I guess now with what I'm looking at with the fact that no, like there's, there's having that like internal knowledge of, I have dodgy joints and then there's the external validation of how you've got this condition that means your joints are unstable. That now has me going, well, maybe cross training and stair master and those sorts of things just needs to become part of what I do as opposed to more mileage if if it's going to keep me healthier for longer.
01:02:12
Speaker
Jury's out, I'm not sure, but it's i guess it's just part of what I'm looking at of going, is this now something that needs to become more a part of my routine? um on the year round in just in order to get the time in to get the fitness up without overloading the impact that can be what hurts my joints or makes me get more imbalances and everything. Cause I've got that many imbalances. It's ridiculous. So it makes sense that that's why road running's always really hurt me ah because it
01:02:44
Speaker
It accentuates any imbalances. Trail running is a lot better because every step is different anyway. So that's why i can I can run so much longer on the trail than I can on the road. um And the road, I'll pull up sore super easily, but it's because lack of one hip and the other hip and one ankle and the other. an My ankles especially. My feet hit the ground differently because I have very different ankles. um but that doesn't matter on the trail. So I guess, yeah, I'm starting to experiment with all the cross training to see what works the best and what doesn't, and I'm going to put Stairmaster right up there.
01:03:17
Speaker
yeah I think personally like just flexibility, just flexibility, is important in training. um Like whatever worked last year is probably not going to work the next year and just trying to adapt and change and give your body different stimulus. That's what I'm going in into now. Like I've kind of learned that in the past two years that it's – whatever worked for my marathon build last year is not going to work again because what I did last summer is not exactly the same as so I'm going to do this summer. So flexibility.
01:03:50
Speaker
That's almost your entire running journey, Brit, with the rowing and then the Stairmaster and then the massive weeks, the lower weeks, like flexibility. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Oh, I love it. I love it. Awesome. Well, there's all your updates form from us three um for where our training's at with a bit of training chat chucked in there.
Future Plans and Podcast Closing
01:04:12
Speaker
There's not too much news for the week other than the fact that Hard Rock 100 is this weekend. Britt, do you follow this one every year or no?
01:04:19
Speaker
No, I don't. Yeah, okay. Hardbrook 100 just looks like one of the most wild 100 miles out there. um But very small fields but still deep, like deep at the front. um So in the women's there's Courtney DeWalter, Kareth Arnold.
01:04:36
Speaker
Tara Dower is doing the backup and I think she's, from what they were saying at the Western State Stream, I think she's trying to go for Courtney's overall, like the double record where they add the two times together.
01:04:47
Speaker
um because she was, what, sixth at Western States? So, and then this must be, what, two, three weeks later? So, wild times. um And then Casey Lichtig. On the men's field, there's Ludovic Pomeroy, Tom Evans, Jimmy Ellum, not sure who that is, ah Dylan Bowman and Arlen Glick.
01:05:05
Speaker
I do know all the other names, but Ludovic stands out to me as, I think he's won this before or has been right up there. But, yeah. I find Hard Rock interesting because I like it.
01:05:18
Speaker
Western States is a lot more exciting, especially with the live stream and just the the depth of the fields. And then Hard Rock always seems like this um very cool event, but I can't remember ever actually following it. I just kind of look at the results um and I don't know if that's most people or not um but it's yeah it just looks out there and then it's the opposite of what we've been describing of like there's usually I think there was one year where Killian and someone else were like quite close together but it's usually just massive gaps from fairly early on from my memory but yeah Vlad do you follow Hard Rock? Not really. i feel like Western States got that build up with the golden tickets and yeah pretty small fields in both races, but at least like Golden Trail, Western States got their golden tickets. So like you follow like the whole progress throughout the year. um where This is yeah just a big mountain hiking competition. um
01:06:17
Speaker
It's beautiful. like you know Get the highlights and the trails. It looks so beautiful. But I don't know if I would want to do it personally. um Yeah, a lot of hiking.
01:06:28
Speaker
I think I'd do it for the adventure and having been in that area, it's it is gorgeous. um So if you were looking at it as an adventure, like if you look at it as a hike, just a fastback, then I reckon it would a lot of fun. To race it I think would be even more interesting again mentally in a way, um but the high altitude makes me not really want to spend that much time at high altitude. um because it's Yeah, it's very extreme.
01:06:55
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's definitely one of the, on the wildly extreme ends for what we do. So, yeah, for those following along, I'd like, my pick's always going to be Courtney because it's her hometown um or it's her home mountains. So I'm not sure you can bet against her.
01:07:08
Speaker
um But yeah, interesting times for this weekend. Then the only other news is that Skyline Scotland, which was one of the Aurea events series that um they went down. I can't remember who bought some of the others, but some of them have been bought. um And then now Skyline Scotland has been bought by UTMB.
01:07:26
Speaker
um So the general feedback from what we found online is positive so far just because the race was gone otherwise. um And then from Shane, who might be the one of the race directors, and we've got a quote, this is the start of a new chapter for Skyline Scotland and a big step forward for trail running in Scotland. We've been in conversation with UTMB World Series since 2021, which is means...
01:07:51
Speaker
They've been looking for it for five years, so that's good. um But, yeah, it's just good to see that, like, have you guys seen some of these runs around Scotland? They're like some of my dreams by the look.
01:08:03
Speaker
It does look amazing. Oh, yeah. it's It's wild, wildly out there. i actually spent all this week watching a medical show um that was like extreme medics in Scotland and I got to see all the helicopters as they came in and rescued people, which, yeah, not the most heartening show at sometimes, but at the same time I was just looking at it going, oh, there's a look at that trail um as they were running along and, yeah, definitely looks wild.
01:08:29
Speaker
Talking about UTMB races, that we mentioned that Vietnam's got a UTMB race now. Vietnam. Yeah, I don't think we talked about it on the podcast, but um yeah, there's a new Vietnam Highlands Trail by UTMB now, which is like not bad time of the year, January 8th to the 10th. Okay. which Yeah, also like easy flights from Australia.
01:08:54
Speaker
do you have any of the stats on it for like the vert and that sort of thing? It'd be hot, surely. Yeah, no, I don't think so. Like I don't think it'll be too crazy in January if it's like Highlands. Yeah, okay. But yeah, I think they announced it like a while ago. But ah just like now that you brought up and another new UTMB race, I was thinking about it. um But yeah, it's on their website. It's the 10th January. The website says, yeah, for of January, 2027. Yeah.
01:09:20
Speaker
yeah Oh, yeah. So they don't have 100 mile though. There's just the 100K, 50K. Yeah, i mean, they'll probably bring it out, you know, few years in. Yeah, 100K has 5,500, which means the 50K, I'm going to guess.
01:09:35
Speaker
Oh, the 50K is actually 56. I do love how many of the 50Ks are so much longer. Yeah, 3,000 up and down to this. That looks awesome. Yeah, and I think like with those news that a lot of, like not a lot, but there's ah um that Vietnamese airline that has like so many direct flights to Vietnam now. Yeah. um Will be a pretty good option from Australia.
01:09:59
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. it's It's good having more access to these ones. These are more ones you can put on your bucket list there, Brit, for like getting your points up and those sorts of things or getting direct entry into like OCC and CCC and stuff. um Yeah.
01:10:14
Speaker
Yeah, it's ah it's nice having so many more options in the area, that's for sure. Yeah, it looks beautiful as well. It Yeah, go look at the website, guys. looks insane. um For another race that we've got the results for, so getting into results now, that looked absolutely beautiful. um We had both Ian Best and Kate Avery at the Bernina Ultrax Vertical. um And the finish line of this one on top of a scrambly mountain just – They've got drone shots of it and it looks wild. But Ian came third and then Kate came second.
01:10:48
Speaker
So haven't been able to manage to find the actual times of things, but we do have their results at least. So congrats to both of them. Ian also did Marathon de Montblanc VK where he came and the Ian 48th.
01:11:04
Speaker
ian came forty eighth And then also overseas, Lara Hamilton was 15th at Grossglockner Mountain Run. And Vlad, I think you said you've been you looked at this one before.
01:11:15
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, I've always been on my bucket list. I've ran around there like many times. um So I know that finish line and seeing it at races, it just looks so much fun.
01:11:26
Speaker
um But yeah, there's so many good races out there. But yeah, I've always wanted to do this one, just a straight uphill race, a bit more than a vertical K. I think it's about...
01:11:36
Speaker
1400. Yeah. yeah um Yeah. But just really beautiful. Beautiful. Obviously, a beautiful part of the Alps. um Yeah. So many good races around there as well.
01:11:48
Speaker
I think I'm going to be driving through there in August, I hope. Beautiful. Yeah. it's a bit of've done So I've done a race there, the Schlegers, I think. But that race is...
01:12:01
Speaker
Like it's not going on anymore. It used to be like a sky running race. But just because it's so extreme up there, it was like really expensive for like um search and rescue crews to be there. So like the cost of the event was like super high with so many crews around because it's just so dangerous. But um yeah yeah, just beautiful around there.
01:12:21
Speaker
Yeah, wild. Britt, do you have any overseas races that are like on your must-do list? No, I did sign up. So I'll be over in Europe next month as well. Oh, really? i signed that Yeah. it's just i think it's a local race, um but it's in Slovenia and it's the Trivlav National Park race. So it's a 44K with I think it's 2,800 metres of elevation. so Yeah, beefy. quite Yeah, yeah, just to.
01:12:51
Speaker
yeah for fun to love it slovenia yeah slovenia looks gorgeous yeah i think of what i was watching the live stream of the european um champs and i was like this is so beautiful like i think there's some yeah unexplored trails well not unexplored but like opportunities around slovenia and um poland as well like Poland is incredible. yeah I love Poland.
01:13:17
Speaker
like I'm quite sad I'm not going back to Poland this year, but I didn't have the best experience last year. I think we'll see a lot more races in those regions because obviously like Italy, Spain, um you know Austria, it's pretty developed already.
01:13:30
Speaker
yeah With those kind of parts of the world, there's a lot of good athletes coming out of those countries now. um It is like a sport that they can do well at. um So ah I think we'll see a lot more bigger races from those regions. Yeah. yeah And there is, I think there is. Sorry, there's another new UTMB race um in Latvia as well. I don't think Latvia is known for like big mountains, but um yeah, still a new place for UTMB to put on a race, probably because there's the demand in that in those regions now.
01:14:00
Speaker
yeah Yeah, Poland definitely, that has a really deep trail running scene and like quite but only in the last few years. Like it's not like, you know, the Italian side of things or or Spanish where it's been here. Poland is only like in the last five, six years. ah truly Yeah.
01:14:17
Speaker
But even doing Golden Trail back in 2022, like there'd be Polish reporters traveling around Golden Trail to report on the Polish runners. and I so think they're super passionate. Like they're really passionate. yeah Like Bart is like a superhero in in Poland. um Yeah, which is really cool to see that passion. I think Poland is not really known for road running, but um definitely they do really well in trail running and that team, like they did really well at the Europeans and the World Champs as well as a team as well.
01:14:46
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So if you ever get the chance, Britt, definitely worth checking out Poland too. So many. So many. yeah I know. There is. There is so many. Bringing it back home ah for some of the results for the week around Oz. This one's very close to me, actually. We had the Trail Running Series Race 2 in Anglesey.
01:15:08
Speaker
um The long course there on the women's side was won by Nicole Verant in 218, Holly Lambert in second in 224 and Martine Botha in 235 for third. On the men's, it was won by Matthew Bailey in 158.30 and then pretty close for Owen Todd in second in two hours flat 22 and then third, Matt Doyle, 201.51.
01:15:30
Speaker
So some nice tight racing there. ah The sixteen k And the women's side was won by Anna, oh, here's some tight racing. When the women's side was won by Anna Carrigg in 1.21.29 and with second place, Sophie O'Brien in 1.21.30.
01:15:47
Speaker
So a nice sprint finish there for first. ah Third place in the women's was Karis Carpentier in 1.27.31.
01:15:57
Speaker
And again on the men's, pretty close with Glenn McMillan taking out the win in 109.52 Drew Eckberg in second in 110.43 and Lachlan Johnson third in 111.37. And then just quickly, the short course 7K was won by Philippa Norgard on the women's and will William Dearness on the men's.
01:16:18
Speaker
ah Then the we had the On the Trails, Mount Misery. um They had their 24 and 15K. The 24K was won on the women's by Ellie Davis ah in 2 hours 25, then Talia Darwood in 2 hours 44, and Bruna Lanzoni in 3rd in 2 hours 46. And the men's Luke Butler won in 206, Nick Muxlow in second in 207, and Rain Watts in third in 2011. The 15K, that was one on the women's by Cassie Cooper, and then one on the men's by David Gomez.
01:16:57
Speaker
um And then... Oh, we had the, there was the Sydney Trail Half Marathon. Have you guys ever, have you done any of the runs around this sort of area in Sydney? Britt?
01:17:09
Speaker
No, I haven't. Yeah, this one's in, go. go I just find Sydney just all concrete, but there's obviously some trails around. Well, I actually found if you ever run a stopover at Sydney airport, there's a really nice trail, like 10 minute drive from the airport. It was like five k out, 5k back and it was gorgeous. Like single track, technical, all the good stuff.
01:17:31
Speaker
It surprised me. But, um yeah, they have to the this half marathon and I think they run the same course on both Saturday and Sunday. um So on the Saturday on the women's, it was won by Jessica Angus in 151. On Sunday for the women's, it was won by Chelsea Collard in 144. And then Sunday on the men's, it was won by Alex Thompson in one hour, well, that's nice and close, one hour 35.22 to Morgan Lindquist in one hour 35.31.
01:18:05
Speaker
And then on the Saturday, it was won by David Byrne in one hour 30.58, which sounds speedy and good to see Dave Byrne getting out. um Last but not least, we have the North Head Night Run at Manly Beach and that has 5 and an 8K. The 5K on the women's was won by Amelia Howard 2131 and on the men's Newton Samuel in the ladies.
01:18:33
Speaker
um They've actually got both got the exact same gun time. So they might have crossed the line together, but ah that just means that, yeah, but Amelia still got the win. Then ah the 8K, the women's was won by Yulia Chawna in thirty four forty three and was won on the men's by Alexa Sellys in 31-45. Nice.
01:18:55
Speaker
forty five nice That was not too many for the week overall, but it's it's really cool to see so many of these trial running series coming up. Do you know when the next one is for Canberra? Like have you been in part of that series this year, Britt?
01:19:10
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I think the last one, which is Aranda Meander, is on the 19th of July or that weekend. Yeah. Yeah, nice. Nice. I do love these ones. They're just like fun. And have there been, do you get some nice close racing for you guys at in the Canberra one?
01:19:29
Speaker
Do you find? ah You do with the the men's. They're a lot more competitive. um Yeah, yeah. But it's ah it's a great community, great vibes.
01:19:41
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Bringing it back to back to the local, which with what's coming up ah next weekend, other than obviously the overseas races since the European season is picking up, ah there's Rafferty's Coastal Run in New South Wales, three marathons in three days in Queensland, ah Howling Dog After Dark Trail Run in South Australia, and also Ultra Adelaide in South Australia. So a busy weekend for our South Aussies.
01:20:09
Speaker
um over there with their, they've got such an awesome trail community. I miss South Australia. um They're pretty damn cool. Awesome. Well, that wraps us up for the main show this weekend, this week.
01:20:22
Speaker
Can you tell my mouth's done? um but But we will, for those Patreons, stick around. We do have a quick chat afterwards just for our Patreons. If you would like to join our Patreon You can click the link in the show notes and it will take you straight there and you can get the bonus content as well as the interviews come out early and the shows all come out early without ads, as well as we try and give every single week some extra little bonuses of chatting through what's been going on in the trail scene or ah some of our training or any questions that you guys have because we will answer Patreon questions in Patreon bonus shows.
01:21:01
Speaker
So Thank you, Britt, for joining us. It has been an absolute pleasure and thank you everyone for listening. ah Vlad, good call on not doing Gold Coast. I'm um i'm excited for the next little period now, but ah yeah, good to have you back on. And yeah, this has been episode 117 of the Peak Bursuits podcast and we'll speak to you next week.
01:21:25
Speaker
See you guys.