The UTA adventure begins!

It’s pretty daunting entering a trail ultra for the first time. Even more so when it’s a race that’s away from home on a course you’re unfamiliar with. Figuring out race tactics on a course you’ve never run is challenge enough - the logistics of getting there and back and navigating things like mandatory gear are an added burden.

If you’re an absolute beginner when it comes to ultras, let me walk you through the process I’m going through for the Ultra-Trail Australia 50k which, as I write, is less than a week away. So I’m finalising my plans.

In this post I’m going to deal mostly with logistics - how I intend to get to Katoomba from Brisbane, accommodation at the other end and the mandatory gear required for the race. I’ll also cover off on how my training’s been going.

My next post will dive into the detail of the course, what I’m expecting and the tactics I’ll apply on race day as a result.

Getting there and staying there

One of the wonderful things about my transition to working for myself is that I’m under no time pressure. So rather than fly to Sydney, then hire a car to drive to Katoomba for the event, I’m embarking on a road trip.

I plan to head inland, through Goondiwindi and Narabri before stopping in Mudgee overnight. I’ve booked my accommodation, choosing a hotel that’s equidistant between Mudgee Brewing Co Brewpub and the Three Tails Brewery. I’m not sure about you, but for me trail running and independent beer just seem to go together.

Then it will be a relatively easy two hours on day two into Katoomba. Regarding accommodation, I was late to sign up for this race so the options were pretty thin on the ground. But I’m travelling alone - my usual entourage is staying in Brisbane - so my needs are modest.

Being a big event and part of the UTMB family, UTA has an accommodation partner. So when I was struggling to find an option that didn’t require driving up and down the Blue Mountains every day, I reached out to them.

They were able to find me a dorm room at the Katoomba Christian Convention Hotel. I’m pretty sure I’m in a room with five double bunks so I might be about to make nine new friends. Just like school camp!

The best thing about this, of course, is that it’s walking distance from the event precinct and start line. So that should make race day straightforward. And I won’t be sleeping in my car.

Mandatory gear

When you enter a race like this, there is a mandatory gear list that you are expected to carry. Generally speaking big events like UTA will carry out spot checks to ensure you are carrying everything you are supposed to.

Often these checks are carried out on the course. There are real consequences for failing to meet this requirement - mandatory means mandatory. And I figure it’s not that big an ask, after all, everything you’re required to carry is focused on keeping you safe out on the trails.

This is the list for the UTA events (there are some addition items for the Miler and 100k):

Of course, you’ll also need a running vest to squeeze all that into. It’s amazing how much you can fit into these vests without compromising comfort. If you start running ultras, a decent running vest is a must-have item.

Although I would still consider myself a relative beginner when it comes to ultra running, this is not my first rodeo so I have most of this gear already. All except the “high visibility safety vest”, so that’s one purchase I’ve had to make.

This is a “weather dependent” item, which means it will only be on the mandatory list if the weather forecast suggests it will be required. At this stage the weather forecast Is pretty ordinary - rainy and cold - so I’ve decided to make the purchase now on the assumption I’ll need it rather than wait for confirmation the day before the race, then find I can’t get one in Katoomba.

Training. Who needs it anyway?

I must admit, I have always had a shamefully ad hoc approach to my training. I did think all that would change when I found myself with more time on my hands at the start of the year, but I never quite got organised enough.

That’s not to say I don’t train at all, or that I don’t think about what I should be doing in the lead-up to races. But it does mean I am usually well and truly underprepared. UTA is no exception. In fact, it’s much worse than usual because of the heart wobbles I’ve been having over the past month.

So my message is: don’t be like me. There are plenty of good training plans out there on the interwebs. Many events include training programs either as part of the entry fee - Surf Coast Century did this last year - or for free, like the Guzzler has this year.

As always I’m planning for success by following the golden rule: start slow. I suspect I’ll finish even slower, but just getting to the finish line will be victory enough.

In the interests of transparency, I am competing at UTA on a complimentary ticket. I am paying all other expenses involved with the event - travel, accommodation and so on - out of my own pocket.