Tarawera is that race for me. The race that despite all my efforts, never goes quite right. For those new here, I’ve started the miler three times after running my first 100k race there in 2017. I entered in 2018 only to be diagnosed with pelvic stress fractures two weeks before. I gave the 100 … Continue reading Race Recap: Tarawera 100 Miler 2025
0714- I have shit everywhere. I should do my drop bags and get it done. 0800- Doomscrolling and coffee. 0811- Which shirts did I pack? 0814- Trying to convince myself that having my period on race day is a super power? Searches Dr Stacey Sims, I need an inspirational Wonder Woman quote. 0835- I just … Continue reading Tarawera diaries- T minus 24 hours
It’s hard to know where to start. It still doesn’t feel quite real. But somehow, I got from Kawerau to Rotorua, 100 miles (162km) under the power of just my own two feet. To be honest, I can hardly believe it. I thought it would be hard, but I didn’t really comprehend just how hard … Continue reading Race recap- Tarawera 100 Miler 2024
In two weeks time, instead of sitting in my bean bag drinking coffee with my ball obsessed kelpie getting increasingly frustrated with my lack of interest in her ball, I’ll hopefully be about 30k into my journey to cover 100 miles (160km) in one go. I would have travelled from the start line in Kawerau … Continue reading Tarawera diaries- the hay is in the barn
Yes ok so it turned to shit and I didn't finish my race. I think everyone got that memo. And yes I've also reached the anger stage of the 5 Stages of Grief so bare with me here. In sorting through the emotions of falling short on such a big goal, I've been reflecting on … Continue reading Lessons from my first attempt at the Tarawera 100 miler
It's 7 am here in Rotorua and if everything had gone to plan, I'd still be running. I'd hopefully be leaving the Redwoods aid station and completing the last 6 km of my first 100 mile race. But instead, I'm here, drinking coffee in my pjs on the back deck of an Air Bnb analysing … Continue reading Time to call it: another DNF Tarawera 100 mile
With five weeks to go until my first 100 mile race and the panic and paranoia is starting to set in. It’s the prequel to the ultimate taper tantrum that often includes buying shit you don’t need, over analysing your training, foam rolling (because you literally have never used the thing) and research into all … Continue reading The prequel to the taper tantrum- 35 days to go!
"Trail and ultra running is inclusive". There are few things at the moment that get my blood boiling as much as this sentence, especially when it comes from a middle aged white man. "Ultra marathon running attracts a certain type of person", they say when questioned about the fact that there are a significant amount … Continue reading How much does it cost to run 100 miles?
Control. How much control can you have in 2021? A lot in some areas, not a lot in others. It seems crazy to be planning races and adventures and travel. It feels more exciting than it has in the past, more risky, more privileged. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t travel 5km last year, or because … Continue reading Training update
Yes it's true. I'm biting the bullet. It's only taken about 56 days and this bullet has been a hard pill to swallow. It's weird, I thought I had come through all that 2020 was rather well. It's all relative of course, but I considered myself one of the lucky ones. I mean if running … Continue reading My 2021 Running goals
MelMac Runs 