Why would you ever run 100 miles??? The Great Naseby Water Race

The Great Naseby Water Race

So: I ran my first 100 mile trail race at Naseby in 27 hours and 58 minutes. 

It was a seductively sublime experience. I now know why my coach had me do all those 30 second hill sprints...so I could look good sprinting at the finish.
My support crew Bonnie, Jamie, Simon and Jonno: they are incredibly generous human beings. They followed the plan we made. I ran the first 30km myself with my back/glutes cramping. Went into the caravan and burst into tears on Bonnie saying I'd gone out too fast and not eaten/drunk enough and my butt was painful. She just took over. Put me on the bed, rolled my back, gave me panadol and a big coconut/ricemilk coffee, packed Jamie up food when I said, "I don't know!" when she asked what I wanted to eat and we set back out 10 minutes later. That lap with Jamie Hawker reset everything and then Jonathan Scott took over till Simon came. 
Simon got the worst of it because he had to deal with the stomach cramps that stop you in your tracks and nothing he could say was right. We made it to the portaloos and you know what the best thing was? It was like a switch flipped, and it was all on. No more tears. Simon's English, accounting, pedantic ways were suddenly appreciated and valued. Da Boyz took over and asked, cajoled, nagged or bullied me every 15 minutes to eat or drink something for the rest of the race. 
I actually love the 10k loop course. The short steepish ups and the the long soft downs were kinder on the body. I liked the second loop best with the nice long downhill to the finish line. You'd think it would be boring, but it changed each time as the day and night progressed and you get to notice new things each lap. 


Highlights? Making Simon stop in the middle of the night, turn off his headlamp and look up at the Milkyway. Jamie telling me all about his 10 brothers and sisters at 3am in the morning. Even Jonno's appalling southern accented pig joke.The sun reflecting off the snow on the mountains in the afternoon sun. The lone fish rising along the edge of the dam lake that was mirror still in the twilight. Seeing Jamie running with Logan Austin to help him through another lap towards his goal, which he got! Jamie, Simon and Jonno all ran with me on the last 5k loop, which was what I wanted. We finished together as a team.

Bonnie Hawker: there are no words. She kept everyone updated, took photos, made food, wrote messages on a white board from friends. Looking back over FB, I have this incredible visual record of this journey. Aileen N Jamie Sinclair passion, caring and genuine kindness have created a unique experience. Richard Healey took a lot of these amazing photos. 

So in answer to the question: Why would you ever want to run 100 miles?

When you follow your soul you loose the crowd. 

You spend time with your wild, own, true self. 

You listen to and feel the rhythms of your body was it moves through the natural world unfettered by the trappings of civilisation. 

You find your soul tribe. 

I have found mine. 

Without you, I am less.