North Face100km Ultra ...by POPT Michael 'Titch' Turner

I have experienced some tough endurance events in my time, however the North Face 100k Ultra with over 4,500m in elevation gain, stairs, steps, tricky walking tracks, night running and more stairs has taken tough it to a new level. When my good mate, LSPT (Trishy) Muller asked me to enter and run with her during the event I thought, I haven’t had allot of chance to get many miles into my legs, as the ship (HMAS MANOORA) has been at sea. However I thought if I  start cracking out the miles on the treadmill while away and squeeze in a couple of long runs in Noumea then I may get to the finish line in one piece.

 We arrived in the Blue Mountain at a spectacular place called Leura on the Friday night, Trishy arrived a little later as her ship Melbourne is in the process of doing work ups and leave was not pipped till 2100. If you think that that is a bad enough lead into to a major race, she then told me they had taken her treadmill off the ship so they could fit extra equipment into the hanger for deployment. I asked what she was doing to get the miles up she told me SKIPPING!!! Along with the running of 100k you also had to carry Food, 2L of Water, safety equipment, head lamps, thermals and a change of dry clothes.

The event itself kicked off at 0700, on a very brisk Saturday morning with about 700 brave soles toeing the start line.(Or should I classify them as nutcases)It is broken down into 5 checkpoints where you can refuel get medical help or just take a breather.

The first section from Fairmont resort, Leura to the top of Golden stairs is 0-17k, we started off nice and easy and cruised to about the 15k mark when we started heading up Golden Stairs, it was no longer a run more a mountain climb at one stage I glanced at my heart rate monitor and it said 182, my mind went racing back to my coaches comments of control your HR, I thought how do you do that out here. Trishy was powering through the first section which was a good sign.

 The second section from Golden Stairs to Dunphys Camp17-38k had some of the best scenery one could ever ask for; it also took our minds off the mountains ahead. After heading down the Tarros Ladders it was onto a downhill leg that really tested the Quads that led into the 38k checkpoint. It would have been easier to ski than run down, Trishy was starting to get some pain in her ITB, so she took a couple of  minutes did a few stretches while I took the chance to smash about 4 fruit buns in.

It was then back on the road again for 38-54k section from Dunphys Camp to The Old Ford Reserve. At This stage we where hoping for a nice easy section and that’s what we thought as we where running over some undulating hills until we came across a path that would have looked better at the CERBERUS rock climbing wall than a running event. We kept trudging on to make the 54k mark. This point was the first time you came across your support crew, and the runners had their support crews waiting and it was a hive of activity. Our support crew was Trish’s other half (Kate) and her sister Sal. They did a magnificent job.

 From 54-67k Old Ford Reserve to Katoomba Oval we followed a dirt road which was great for the legs as it was quiet even until once again we started heading up, this climaxed with a 1-2k stair climb that sent our HR through the roof again. At the top of the hill night was starting to fall and it was out with the head lamps and on with the florescent vests. We had to wear these as safety precautions for the roads. The 67k checkpoint was at Katoomba oval and for the first time I was starting to feel the cold. We where greeted by our support crew and HMAS Melbourne’s SWO. They had toasty’s waiting for us it was the best ham/cheese/tomato toasty on the planet and disappeared in a Nano second. The cold was really starting to bite, as reports it had dropped to about 2 degrees. We both put on as many clothes as we could find 2XU long pants, beanies gloves and everything else we needed and it was on to the 89k mark.

The next 22km would have to have been the toughest I have ever run, over 4 hours should give you some idea how tough the terrain was, from Katoomba Oval to the Queen Vic Hospital (67k-89k).We had heard some nasty rumours that this was the hardest section both mentally and physically but as I left I felt really good apart from my quads feeling torn apart. I was running as hard as I could to try and warm up. This section we headed back down into the valley and things didn’t look like much fun as we headed towards the giant stairway. Every thing you go down means you have to head up. The steps where long and killed the quads, at the bottom of the stairway we headed out onto a road that spiralled down, I could feel every step as it was smashing my quads and toes as they where pushing into the end of my racing flats. This went on for another 5k until we started heading up, the fun was over and it started to become a real mental game. We finally made the 89k checkpoint and this was a real relief. I didn’t want to stop for long as it was freezing!!!

From Queen Vic to Fairmont resort was only 11k, so spirits were again high as we moved towards the finish. I think this course was designed by a sadist as we once again left the road and had to combat more creeks, water and steps all in the dark. Finally we saw the finish line, and after 17.31 hours, Trish then sprinted across the line to beat me by a half a second ha-ha.

 Very long day at the office, I have black toe nails and very sore legs. As I left the Fairmont resort I thought no chance of this again, but as the days have past I am thinking with the right prep maybe I will have another crack ………….

Titch