More than a Run + Wrap up - UTMB Athlete Interviews

BEVE WITH BENN - EP31 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/23dxtmYebkbr1tllnfMC9K?si=b152704266ac41af

• Welcome to Beve with Benn Episode 31

• Beer of choice? Czech Please Pilsner - T-Bone Brewery - Hobart, Tasmania

• What happened last week and what's up this week

• Coaches Corner - Mental Health - Socials

WELCOME - NEW ATHLETES

• Haylee Neal

• Alex Richardson

TRAINING TALK

• Last week's training sessions (Strava)

• Strava Leaderboard

• Training Peaks - SNL Group

UPCOMING SESSIONS

• Next weeks Sessions

• Refer Training Peaks

• Sunday Long Run - GNW - Patonga Loop

RACING CALENDAR

• 14/10 Lonely Mountain Ultra

• 22/10 Beach 2 Brother

• 28/10 Great North Walk Ultras

• 11/11 Bouddi Coastal Run

• 18/11 Mt Stromlo

• 26/11 Central Coast Running Festival

• 25/11 Alpine Challenge

• 1/12 Coast 2 Kosci

• 7/12 Ultra Trail Kosci

2024

• 17-18/2 Tarawera Ultra Marathon

• 24/2 Snowy Mountains Ultra

• 3/3 Runfest Port Macquarie

• 9/3 Six Foot Track

• 15/3 Australia Alpine Ascent

• 22-24/3 SNL Blue Mountains Bender

• 22-24/3 Buffalo Stampede

• 23/3 Noosa Ultra Trail

• 6/4 Jabulani Challenge

• 7/4 Canberra Marathon

• 7/4 Mt Solitary Ultra

• 7/4 Hill 2 Harbour

• 21/4 Newy Marathon

• 16-18/5 UltraTrail Australia

COACHES CORNER - MENTAL HEALTH

• World Mental Health Day - Tuesday 10th Ocotber.

• More Then a Run - 25th November - Dixon Park Merewether.

• SNL Team registered for Movember (More then a run team - https://au.movember.com/team/2442263?utm_source=qrcode&utm_medium=mo_app&utm_campaign=movember&utm_content=app_share_teamspace_qr

Mental Health, we all know it effects us and or people that we are close too. Sometimes more then others and certain triggers set us off and can send us into a hole, isolating ourselves. Pulling away from those that are close to us and or hiding from facing situations and or avoiding company and or socialising.

Social media - The way we use and how it affects us to identify the triggers. If you are posting on socials and or sharing your life and or feelings, you are opening yourself up to the world and people that see it are also likely to comment and or share their own life and or experiences to whatever you are sharing and or opening up to.

So you have to be excepting that and not to get hooked on the comments and or chasing likes or kudos. Post to share your story for your own kudos and likes, creating stories about your life to have memories and store those experiences to look back on and learn from. Not chasing likes and others comments for approval. Its your life, share it for you only and create a story of your own achievements and life wins. For you and those close to you. Not for the open world but those that matter. Be proud of what you have done.

Uploading your runs on Strava to capture a history of your training. A training log for your own records to monitor your own progression and not for approval of others to see and give you kudos. Work to your own goals and just be you and do you. Not for a kudos on socials. Don't go chasing kudos by posting just the big runs and or the runs that look good on socials. Share the journey for you and of you to be able to celebrate your own achievements and wins. The important people or the people that really care will be there not just for the kudos but sharing the whole journey, so embrace that and not the negative people that comes with social media, the keyboard warriors, trolls, that sit on their socials scrolling and looking for things to pick at and the share to make fun or and or put people down. Let them do that, don't let that effect you. They have nothing better to do and likely have their own triggers and hide from the world behind their own socials.

Be you and be proud. You don't need approval, you don't need to post or share video's telling people about your life, Just be in your life and experience the moments of your life and with the things that make you happy. Share it with those that are there for you and care for you.

ATHLETE INTERVIEW

CCC – ATHLETE INTERVIEW – STEVE DEVLIN • 15:09:07 - 131st - 99th male

Were you nervous before the race? I wasn’t… Given this is arguably the biggest mountain race in the world you would think I would be. This wasn’t arrogance, quite the opposite actually. I had pondered my feelings in the days leading up to the race and came to the realisation that.. I had simply trained really well and the result I get from it will be equivalent to what I put in, bar something silly happening. With that realisation, I set a plan to enjoy the race as much as possible, making sure to lift my head often unsay wow, to make sure I stayed in the moment, and what result comes from that ill be happy with. It was an amazing mindset to have, something ill do again in future •

What did you think of the Start? CCC isn’t quite as grandiose as the full utmb, however they really ramp it up, its really an amazing feeling standing on that start line in Italy, the music is pumping, you can feel the energy of all these other super fit people around you, from all around the globe.. you feel proud, excited, a little nervous, all at once. Its something you have to do at least once in your life. Hard to describe in words. •

What was the hardest part of the race? For me it was the climb up to Grand Col Ferret. I was in Chamonix a month before the race to see the course and I suppose try to acclimatise to the elevation. Chamonix being only at around 1050m high, I felt it was enough, but it wasn’t. Neat time I will go up to Tignes at 2000m and train there.I say this as, the climb to Grand col ferret, the altitude hit me.. I felt like a sloth hiking up that.. it just makes you feel super unfit and your brain can’t quite compute why you can’t morello its funny. This was also the only part of the course I didn’t get to recce. After I got over the Col though, I started to fell better again. •

What did you enjoy the most about the race? Oh ma, the crowds are unreal, unlike anywhere I’ve ever experience. They read you bib to see what your name is and start calling to you “ keep going Steve, you look good Steve.. wowowowow” it really pulls you back into the moment, makes you smile and jeez, when you can smile you’re doing great in reckon. Also a close second is of course running up that finish line Chute, man.. indescribable. •

What did you use for nutrition? This was also a bit of a revelation for me. I had planned on using Precision nutrition gels 90g ones, plus six hydration tablets. I was also conscious of the weight I was carrying, as my focus was to be as light as possible. So I toke about 5 hours of gels with me with the plan of reloading with my partner at Champed lac, about 7 hour in and using the aid station stuff… bars and liquid carbs from Naak.. But what actually happened was I fuelled almost exclusively from the aid stations lol it was awesome. So I dint need to carry much at all. I did keep one 90g gel and a 30g caffeine gel always with me and naak waffle between stations, then at stations, I drank a fuel naan carb 500ml, and fill another up for the road, along with a 500ml water. Other times I ate watermelon to bread or salami.. whatever looked salty haha. I had zero stomach issues. Awesome. It really mad me ponder how much time and stress people put into nutrition.. people really think and stress to much about it all.. just get carbs and salty stuff in before you’re hungry or thirsty. • Where you happy with your result? Easy answer, yes.. was hoping in the 14 hrs bracket, ended up 15:09 which was good enough for 100th pl male and 16th in my age group, pretty darn good for an amateur at the world champs. That being said, I really ran within myself, as I said earlier, my focus was enjoying, finishing. So I stayed within my red line the whole race had zero lows. If I had pushed, speaking hindsight on mysids here, I think I would be in the 13h something finish time no worries. Maybe in 2025… •

Is there anything you would change in your race? Honestly, no. I enjoyed myself. Of course there is lots to be improved upon but I wouldn’t change anything perse. •

Was there anything that you disliked about the event? Its a tiny thing, but I find the index result you get from this race is very poor. You/we are racing again the best in the world, and your score is very low.afterwards despite finishing top 100 male The competition you run against should be what decides the index score, not your position alone. •

Biggest Highlight? For me, spending a few before the race training in the alps, unbelievable feeling.I camped in a tent to save money, but it was actually better than the hotel, it fell real as, waking up, opening your tent to a view of month blanc and making a coffee on your camp stove before deciding which mountain you’re running today, straight from the tent. Amazing • Did you have a crew? How was the crew? Yeah my Partner MIMI and two friends from Germany, Flo and Kat. Oh man Mimi was an amazing pit crew. I have never had one before so did t expect much, but jeez it was brilliant, seeing her, but then her looking after me while I was fumbling around haha brilliant. My two friends from Germany also were awesome, Flo kept running like 1k from each aidstation to meet me and video me, he is a content creator and is making a little doco of my run there. Was really cool to always see him, knowing the aid station was only a few mins away. •

Any funny stories during your race or following? Haha not really during.. but what was funny was during a recce run in Courmayeur a week before the race, men and Matt Crehan had just recede the first climb up to Bonatti hutte,, we cam back down to have a beer and wait for our bus, but both our phones died, bering in mind our bus tickets are on an app and we had just ordered two beers, which wed have drank lol.. We need up finding this dude in the cafe who we are certain was the mayor of Courmayeur who charged our my phone for 45 mins while we drank our beer. But upon going to pay, expecting my phone to be half full it was only 1% haha just enough to pay and run to the bus to show our tickets haha it was a scramble we could have down with out after the recce run… Needless to say we made the bus, but we were stuck in it for over two hours trying to get through the tunnel… without phones to at least oil time haha 1st work problems. Now me and Matt always say, the mayor off Courmayeur charged our phones haha •

What did you do after the race / recovery? Cold water, cold ice cream and pizza is my go to. My quads were really the only issue, they were wrecked from those downhills. Some active recovery the days afterwards in Italy. But mainly Ice cream:D •

Anything else you would like to add? If you are pondering doing utmb in any of its forms, def do it, but if possible, go early, camp if you’re not that rich like me. Its such an amazing experience. Plus, recess are a must hey.

Athlete interview PETER STOREY 13:48:36 - Champex-Lac (56.3km - 3600m Elevation)

answers. No not nervous just knew it was going to be a long tough day. The photo taken of me before the race sums this up.

Wore Solomon ultra glides. Didn’t change shoes. Starting in Italy was beautiful.

Race start was good with the pens laid out well for each start group.

Hardest part was the 1st km and every km up to the 54th km. The altitude got me early and never recovered from that. Continually had dizziness and headaches throughout the race and couldn’t run downhills due to knee pain. Wasn’t much about the race to enjoy except the scenery.

Nutrition was ok early. Used Naak soft food which was good but struggled to stomach food after 20km. When cramping started soon after I took crampfix then started vomiting soon after that. Shuffled for 20km to La Fouly without taking anything.

Not happy at all. First ever DNF. A number of things contributed. But simply wasn’t fit enough due to ongoing injuries. I knew it was going to be tough but those climbs were brutal. At the 41km checkpoint La Fouley I was so malnourished that I couldn’t get up from table for an hour due to dizziness and exhaustion.

When I was able to stomach some rice and broth I thought I could run again but soon vomited it all up and it took me over 4 hours to walk 14km to the next check point Champex Lac where the tail walkers caught me and my race was done. I would change a lot. Bust mostly be better trained.

Multiple challenges but couldn’t overcome them. No real highlights for my race but was nice seeing Niss at Champex Lac 54km where I was swept. Biggest highlight was seeing Benn, Mark, Suzie and Linda all finish their races. No crew for first half but couldn’t utilise Niss when I got to Champex Lac.

Was great for her to help me get back to Chamonix. No funny stories but found the transport at Chamonix non existent when we got back and had to walk 10km to get back to Les Houches. After the race drank and ate too much cruising up the Rhine and Rhine rivers with Niss.

ATHLETE INTERVIEW: LINDA STANBOROUGH 23:31:55 - 1166th - 50th - 215th

Were you nervous before the race? 150% nervous

What shoes did you wear and or change shoes? Hoka speedgoat wide - no change I planned to but as no issues left things as is

What did you think of the Start? EPIC - The music was amazing so glad to have fellow runners Pete and Mark there, got to Steve for a wave but missed Suzi. Even more awesome was the support crew coming Thankyou Mark Haylee Paul and Mel.

What was the hardest part of the race? When my leg pain started and getting down that mountain to the checkpoint.

What did you enjoy the most about the race? So many things the lead up in the town, the scenery on the run, running in the heat one minute and picking up snow the next, running in the dark and looking down at the city lights one minute and being on a trail with mooing cows the next.

What did you use for nutrition? Koda gels, tailwind, a couple of bars, lotttts of orange and watermelon at the aid stations, coke, some soup and bread too, Mark fed me a heap of chews at aid station 80 I only drank from them on couldn’t stomach food. Were you happy with your result? Yes considering I could only hike for the last 25k

Is there anything you would change in your race? No injury. Defo some more down time after before starting to glider a few more days would have been nice, maybe less activity before, but maybe not I do like to cram it in

Was there any challenges and or how did you overcome them? Really only the pain in my leg I thought was a cramp but am still trying to find out what, it’s the most pain I’ve experienced, makes others seem like nothing, (just like those mountains!! ). I couldn’t really overcome it I tried stuff for cramps, went to medics, had a lie down, but in the end I just had to accept it and either stop or carry on and finish with the pain.

Biggest Highlight? Seeing crew at checkpoints and Mark walking/running the last 2k with me and of course finishing! It’s been a bit like child birth straight after I was never doing it again, but now

Did you have a crew? How was the crew? Yes Mark Paul and Haylee. Amazing they had a lonnnnggg day too and also learnt lessons for ‘next time’. They make all the difference the first 54k took forever but then having smaller distances to see them made it so good They kept me going at 80k

Any funny stories during your race or following? Mark Suzi and I were at aid the 70k aid station and Mark Paul and Haylee had their Aussie supporter shirts and they played I come from a land down under and we all danced to it. It was a vibe! I left there so excited as it was only 10k to the next station - so frustrating to get that pain at 75k!

What did you do after the race / recovery? Epic tour of Italy and Slovenia, refer Facebook lol and I’m now only recovering that I’m home!

Anything else you would like to add? If you go don’t underestimate the mountains yes mountains! Australia only has hills!

ATHLETE INTERVIEW - SHANE BOOBY - 15:41:09 - 1541st - 137th - 1141st

Were you nervous before the race? Nervously excited. Couldn't wait for it to start. After a 0430am alarm, 0500am Bus, Arrived in Orsiere around 0630am with more than 2hrs to kill before wave 3 start.

What shoes did you wear and or change shoes? Hoka Speedgoat 4 GTX. Trails up/down are very technical rocky and Rooty. Generally firmly pack with little loose gravel.

What did you think of the Start? Great atmosphere watching the first 2 waves set off. Orsiere is a fairly tiny village so not huge crowds lining the start but lots of school kids to high 5 on the way out of the village.

What was the hardest part of the race? The hills were long and steep as expected. Developed stomach issue on final climb, couldn't keep anything down. Too close to the finish to contemplate not finishing. So just had to grit my teeth and push through to La Flegre and down into Chamonix. Not much running. Just trying to keep moving forward and not falling over. Was all worth it meeting the family and running with them through Chamonix and right through the finish chute.

What did you enjoy the most about the race? Just the whole experience. The race, the scenery, the whole atmosphere in Chamonix all week.

What did you use for nutrition? Used primarily Fixx Electrolytes and Maurten Gels. I think my stomach issues may have been caused by losing track of my nutrition over the final stages of the biggest and penultimate climb and following descent. It was so windy and cold at the top, I rushed through to get out of the cold and then didn't obviously eat enough on the technical decent. So when I ate at and on the way out of Argentiere onto the final climb, I was already fairly hunger flat and my stomach began to reject everything I tried to take in.

Were you happy with your result? Would have been nice to not have had the stock issues over the last section and to not have to use the head torch but it was never about a time, ecstatic to have finished and have an amazing experience.

Is there anything you would change in your race? Not too much. Could execute my refuelling through that middle section. Body held up well, so all the SNL strength sessions paid off. Could probably improve my capacity on those long steep climbs to eliminate a few of the little rests.

Was there any challenges and or how did you overcome them? The main one was the stomach issue mentioned earlier, and being close to the finish, I just tried to push through. Biggest Highlight? The whole event and experience. It may well be a once in a lifetime experience so I just tried to enjoy the amazing scenery and the whole atmosphere.

Did you have a crew? How was the crew? No crew but seeing the family gave me a boost at Argentiere and running the final section into the finish with the kids was super special.

Any funny stories during your race or following?

What did you do after the race / recovery? Post race my wife bought me some lovely French bakery items to enjoy with a beer but I was too nauseous to even attempt them.

Headed off the next day for a very relaxing week in Sardinia, enjoying the beautiful beaches and refuelling on pizza, pasta and beers.

Overall very happy with the whole experience. The 3mth training block with SNL leading into the event is probably the most consistent training I have ever completed for a race. Apart from the stomach issues the body performed well and recovered very quickly...so very happy in that respect. If you ever have the opportunity to get over and run during the UTMB week, I am pretty confident you won't be disappointed.

RUNNING EXPERIENCES

• Blue Mountains - 22nd March 2024!!! (8 weeks from event)

• TRAINING PEAKS

SOCIALS

• Sunday Runs - Patonga Loop (GNW)

ATHLETES QUESTIONS -

What are the common questions I have been ask about shoes

• I don’t run, what shoes can I walk in

• Will these make be run faster

• My Friend said to get a pair of Hoka’s

• I am not wearing the Bondi’s

• Do you have them in white

• What shoe will stop my shin splints

• I want to run a marathon, what's the best shoe for a 4+ hour marathon i want the Next %

• Can I prey in your store

• Do you have On’s - what are they?

QF’s WITH BENN (quick facts) Jess Bennett

Favourite Race Experience? UTA 22 in 2019, the atmosphere is just amazing and one of the best races I’ve been in.

Favorite race distance? I am still trying to find my favorite but at the moment I guess 21-25km would be my favorite if I needed to pick one.

Race you want to do? I want to do the Tarawera Ultra is probably the next on the bucket list!

Best Learning and Running / Training Tip? On hills let your legs cycle, try not to hold back when going down you use more energy doing that. Where if you roll and let go, you go faster as well!

Favorite Running Shoes? Unsure on this one, I’ve had many different types. At the moment I am running in brooks and they are good!

Favorite Session of the Week? As weird as it sounds intervals, I love what they can do for running especially in improving your speed and cardio for the longer runs! Holiday

Destination you want to travel to? Hawaii is somewhere I have always wanted to go. Ideally it’ll be fly to Hawaii, stay there for 1-2 weeks and then cruise back through bora bora ticks a lot of boxes haha

Fun Fact / Something about you? I like to cook. I love experimenting with curries or any type of dinner dish.

Thanks for joining me @ Beve with Benn, Stay tuned for updates. Post your questions and updates on racing

Stroke No Limits Coaching - stick to the mantra of my 3 D’s #desire #determination #discipline