My First Trail Ultra (Yurrebilla 56K, 2013)

Thanks to Steve from SRG (Southern runners group) who planted the seed about this trail running event during the Marathon Training. 

It is very strange how the mind quickly forgets about pain experienced during the previous race.  I think it is similar to when my wife Sophia went through pain during her pregnancy and delivery. She said never again that’s it… But few years later went through it all over again and then again….!!! (We have three beautiful boys)

When my runner friends started talking about elevation gain and descents, I decided it is time to upgrade to GPS based Garmin. So I invested in my second watch Garmin 610. Sadly didn't realise the battery life is only 7 to 8 hours.

I was back in to training with my SRG friends after some well-deserved few weeks rest.  Thanks to Mark from SRG who was happy to drive me to the first official Yum training. I decided to go slow and not repeat the past mistake on this training (especially coming back from injury). 

After 30 mins running by myself on the trail I realised I am going around in circle and seem to have gone lost!!! (Apparently this is normal). I realised it is sensible to come back to main road and go to finish line. Stopping bikers and asking them directions to reach the agreed finish location, I chugged along the road slowly.

What a relief when I saw Mark and his daughter driving on the same road and trying to find me.  Few phone calls around to the important people to let everyone know I am safe.  Mark asked me; how come you didn't answer your mobile, my response mobile is safely packed in the car at starting location. Then got a stern advice from our SRG leader to carry mobile and map on trial runs and follow signs marked for Yurrebilla. (Ohh dear I thought read maps this is going to be fun alright, what I have got myself in to….)

I was being cautious after my first failed training run. Glad the rest of the training went smoothly, thanks to SRG members. (SRG mates always made sure I was never out of their sight during all training runs from then on-wards). And it is not called getting lost as per SRG dictionary apparently it is called taking detours.

On race day I followed the advice given by experienced David and SRG friends.  Luckily course was very well marked and lot of runners on the course so chances of getting lost or taking detours was minimal. Was very happy I may not have to refer to my map or ring anyone if I detour. 

Adelaide runners are very lucky to have great support from volunteers. All the checkpoints had plenty of food and drinks.  Also the Yurrebilla trail run is where you can actually gain few kilos by the time you reach the finish line. So yes there is plenty of good food available at all the check points.

It was another hot day in Adelaide; I stuck to my plan and started slowly. Since my new Garmin watch battery does not last more than 7 hours I had another problem. (All runs has to be religiously recorded in Garmin!!!). One of the volunteer helped me with strapping the charger to my Garmin watch at one of the checkpoint.  All was going well, and I was looking forward to meet my wife and kids at the 50k checkpoint.

But at the 42K mark mind and body were not very happy. It was rather hot out there. I slowed down and was crawling at this point. My wife rings on the phone, to check if I am OK, few questions came firing at me; where are you? Why are you so slow? We are waiting for you. We can see all runners passing except you. Hope you are feeling OK, can you make it. I have powerade and banana for you; hurry up, and with that we ended the phone conversation.

Felt better or maybe guilty for keeping my wife and kids waiting. Relentless forward motion and off I continued towards the next checkpoint to my waiting family. Now more than eager to meet them and show OFF I suppose, I am strong and I can do it. Finally made it to the checkpoint and saw my wife and kids. Hugs, kisses, drinks, photo, Facebook update and then continued up the beautiful hill called Black hill which I think was mocking at all the runners.  

David our SRG leader briefly passed me and checked if I am OK. I assured him I am fine and he continued.  Next another SRG checked on me while passing by. It was one long descent down the black hill. Cannot say I enjoy running downhill after running for more than 8 hours by now.

As soon as I heard Cow bells, whistles announcers voice and a big cheering crowd  I sprinted now the last 100 meter with a big smile (showing off I am strong runner) to cross the finish line and collect my first Ultra Medal!!!

It was a great feeling to see my SRG friends and other runners, volunteers, cheering and calling out my name as I crossed the finish line.  

I am an Ultra Marathon Man!!!

My First Marathon (Barossa)

Beginning of 2013, I decided to join the Marathon Mentor (MM) program through SAARC managed by Chris.  Chris is an amazing coach and has been helping the Adelaide running community. Adelaide is very lucky to have people like Chris who spends his personal time to mentor starters like me.

During one of the presentation session organised by MM group, I met Terry and Don who suggested me to come along for run with SRG (Southern Running Group). I was very happy and eager to run with a group on weekend which is closer to the place I live down south of Adelaide.  Same weekend met SRG leader David and the rest of the club members, and went for my first group run. After the run a traditional coffee catch-up with SRG group.

It was time to get serious and invest in one of those super-duper watches. I spoiled myself and bought Garmin Fore60. This was fun to run with a pod stuck to my shoe lace and heart rate monitor strapped to my chest. Come home after every run and upload data and check stats. Pretty cool stuff!!! 

In March 2013 I officially became part of the SRG group. David and his SRG members were very friendly and provided support and tips. Few members of the club were also training for the Barossa Marathon same as me.

During one of the long training runs, Steve from SRG suggested something about long trail run up in the hills called Yurrebilla 56K Ultra. I thought to myself I will be just lucky to do 42K Barossa Marathon, not sure what is Steve going on about...

I continued my training with SRG and during this training also completed my first 10K trail run. Gosh that was the Best!!! Running in the hills up and down and slippery (I did not have any tumble).

Race day, goal was to complete my first Marathon in less than 4.5 hours. It was early start for the slow runners (this time I had Garmin watch and Gels, things were getting serious). Tim from SRG was the pacer for 4.5 hour Marathon. Few of the SRG members were following him religiously. I thought to myself this is too slow nah I am not staying with you and off I went feeling great.

During the course I came across other SRG who all encouraged each other and kept moving along. At the 34k, things were getting tough and my knee started to pain real bad. That’s when I realized this is the so called “Hitting the Wall” which I have been hearing from experienced runners. 

People standing alongside the course cheering and telling not long to go; You look great (ohh yea wish they were right I am thinking!!!); You can do it and all very motivating comments came flying at me. But it was me on this side thinking, where the heck, the turnaround point is. My knee was getting worse and I had to walk some part of the course.

Most important I had to remind myself to show a big smile not the painful look when I see a photographer...OK. 

Tim and his religious followers overtook me effortless and smiling at the 35k mark.  I felt like an idiot!!!  Lesson learnt here hard way. So mental note made go slow and steady next time.

Slowly ran, walked, crawled and finally a sprint to the finish line in 4 hours and 33 mins and got my first Marathon medal. 

I am a Marathon man!!!

Smoker to Runner

I am married man with three young boys aged 12, 7 and 4. I am working in the IT industry for the past 20 years.  After the birth of our third son I quit smoking and boozing. Took me 25 years to realize there is nothing to gain out of these bad habits.  To be a good role model to my kids and family it was the best thing I had done. 

After quitting these bad habits my taste bud returned. I started enjoying cakes, sweets, and all the wrong foods. Result was not very good, an increasing waistline, sad but true it was time to update my wardrobe with comfortable pants. 


I was 39 put on few kilos. Also I do have history of diabetes in my family. Things changed the day I came back home after a big Chinese greasy takeaway lunch.  Made me sick of what I am doing. I weighed myself 66Kg. That day I decided it is time for me to make changes to my lifestyle. 
Started to go for regular walks and eat healthy. Got bored of walking and started to go for slow jogging. Started enjoying my slow jogs and was able to run non-stop for 5k. 

Got over excited and registered for my first running event in Sept 2012 City to Bay 12K run. The longest distance I had ever run was 10k on a treadmill.

I was waiting at the start line with other 49 thousand people. Some were doing some very strange stretching or boasting about some super-duper watch to measure the time and distance. I quietly stood and took in the entire atmosphere. Probably may have gone to the toilet for the 50^th time while I was waiting for my turn to start.  I was wondering why some runners are looking at the watch then at the sky, this was going on for sometime until they had the big satisfaction smile on their face. Maybe some kind of prayer before you start running I thought!!! (I later realised it is the fancy GPS watch).

Finally here comes the moment and we start.  Slow and steady try to keep my nerves down; I chug along following other runners. Adrenalin kicks in as I saw some fast runners and tried to keep up with them; oops this is hard slow down I told myself.  I kept a steady pace. Not sure why there was one mum with pram on the course. Here I am trying to dodge her or pass some walkers who are busy talking about their gas and electricity bills.

I crossed the finish line in 1 hour and 3 minutes. Yay I have done it, I am a hero, I have completed my first running event. I got hand towel and a free Sunday Newspaper for completing the race (Sadly no any medal). 

For my wife Sophia, kids and my family I was hero.  And off course thanks to social media (Facebook), all my friends and family found about my running adventure and were proud of my achievement.

This running business was certainly addictive. I started looking around on the internet for any other running events in Adelaide and saw the McLaren Half Marathon event in October 2012, and I registered two days before the event. My wife thought I must be crazy for running 21k !!!

So far the longest distance I had done was City to Bay 12K run previous month. 

Back to the start location for my second running event. I overheard some runners talking about gels, pacing and fancy watch that will measure your heart rate, give you elevation, time, distance blah blah blah.

I thought to myself what you need is good running shoes and stamina mate that’s it!!! 

I crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 3 minutes. My first Half Marathon done completed without any training in October 2012.

Thanks to face book, I am hero again for my wife, kids, family and friends, what an achievement. Well I was hurting, limping in pain for the next few days; never mind bask in glory and enjoy the moment.

After this event I realised it is time for me to join SAARC (South Australian Road runners Club) and invest in one of those fancy watch which will give me stats!!!