🤯Breaking 101 & A Western States for the ages
"“I give this thing my all to show those who would watch what it truly means to give one's all." - Sam Harvey
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re here for you like the Western States commentary team, up late smashing the caffeine☕ to keep you up to date with all things NZ trail running.
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
Dead Cow Gulley - CONTINUED
Western States Results
My Worst Run Ever
Things You May Have Missed
Mountain Skag Pic of the Week
Preview: Krayzie Midwinter Backyard Ultra
Note: Due to the length, some email browsers will hide some of the content - make sure you click ‘view entire email’ or click through to substack.
Straya🦘 Backyard Masters - Dead Cow Gully - CONTINUED
Now, where were we?
Ahh, that’s right. When last week’s edition hit your inbox, Sam Harvey & John Wayne Bayne were still running in circles, about to finish their 47th lap😮.
Little did I know that Sam hadn’t even finished his warm-up. John went on to clock out at 51 loops, adding a cool 17 loops to his PB💪.
What happened next is truly remarkable.
Sam continued running for a further 54 hours🤯. The longer he went, the stronger he looked.
The records started to tumble. First, it was the Queensland record, then the Australian. Harvey Lewis from ‘Murica🌭 bettered his American record.
Just like that, the unthinkable seemed possible. Was breaking The World Record on the table?
The sleep monsters eventually got Harvey Lewis😴, and then it was down to Phil Gore and Sam Harvey.
What I didn’t realise was Sam was having difficulty breathing. He came into the event with a cold, and it was suspected he now had a chest infection.
He was struggling so badly that the event team was discussing pulling him. Sam was allowed to continue, but a vehicle followed closely behind.
On Wednesday, mid-morning. The impossible became a reality. Sam and Phil lined up for loop 102. Sam turned back immediately, and Phil set off for his record-breaking lap.
That must have been one hell of an adrenaline rush. After 4 days of running, you only need to run 6.7 KM. The mental chatter must have been insane. I was half expecting a rogue Kangaroo to add some late drama and KO him mid-loop😂.
Phil got the job done. He ran in so smoothly that it looked like he was finishing up at parkrun. An emotional finish to an utterly crazy few days at Dead Cow Gully.
The event was grassroots. No timing mats and no race bibs. At times it was hard to tell what was going on.
Fortunately, Adam Keen from Aerobic Edge stepped into the void. His Instagram stories and posts kept thousands captivated for days.
He gave a behind-the-curtain look at what it takes to break such a record. Fingers crossed🤞, he can make it over to Bigs Backyard, and we can all go along for the ride once again.
I asked Adam what he thought the difference is between people throwing down 28-32 and those going 50+. Is it entirely mental, or are they just physically in top-end savage shape?
“Definitely both! But from around the 60-70 hour mark,` it seems clear that they are unbreakable, and it’s most likely hallucinations i.e., Harvey or something like that, which will knock them out rather than them deciding to stop. It almost starts to become routine. The same thing happens to the crew. I think you become more efficient and go beyond tired.”
Sam’s performance was heroic. Very few people will ever understand what he went through over those 4 and a bit days. I know my mind starts glitching out when I stop to think about it😵.
Below is a post from Sam’s Instagram. It gives you a look into what drives and inspires him and the sacrifice made to achieve greatness.
“I give this thing my all to show those who would watch what it truly means to give one's all. May the depth I achieve show you the limitlessness of which you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
This week, we broke the backyard ultra world record of 677 km or 101 loops. Hours before the end, on the morning of the fifth day of racing, I collapsed without being able to get enough air into my lungs. A lung infection had progressed during the race into suspected pneumonia. While the team and the doctor wanted to pull me from the race, I was desperate to get the job done that I came here to do.
Break that fucking record.
I was allowed to carry on looping as far as would get Phil the record if I stopped at 101 loops and he ticked over the 102 after me. Not the result I came here for, but winning comes in many forms, and if not for my loops, the old record would still stand.
I surpassed all but one of the many trials that this race presented, so I win.
I made many friends within the running community, both on course and after the event, so I win.
I got to share the successes with my amazing family and crew, so I win.
I made my backyard ultra-performance a thing of art and beauty, so I win.
I now know that I will win Big's Backyard 2023, so I win!
I am nothing but grateful for the experience that Australia's Backyard Masters has given me”
Sam is an ambassador for I Am Hope. If Sam’s achievements have inspired you, consider donating to the cause.
In the wee hours of Sunday morning NZ time, the 50th running of the Western States 100-mile race got underway. Stoke was high, the snowpack even higher.
Fortunately for the athletes toeing the line, this was one of the top 5 coolest years. Make it through the snow, and you have the chance to race this iconic course in near-perfect conditions.
Let’s look at what happened in the Women’s race.
Women’s Podium
🥇Courtney Dauwalter - 15:29:33
🥈Katie Schide - 16:43:45
🥉Eszter Csillag - 17:09:20
Quick, someone call Dirt Church Radio. This might be the ‘greatest run ever.’ Courtney Dawaulter just went and set the Western States Course Record alight🔥🔥🔥.
She controlled the race from tape to tape. Katie Schide did her best to make her work for it, but it was always a question of how far under the record and how deep into the overall top 10 she would finish. No one in the sport makes it look easier; she just glides along the trail😎.
Ultimately, she lowered the record by over an hour (previous record 16:47:19) and finished 6th overall. Absolute insanity. Schide also had the race of her life, finishing 4 minutes under the previous untouchable record.
The times this year were faaast. To put it in context, no one had come within 23 minutes of the course record - Ruth Crofts's winning time last year would have been good for 5th this year!
🥝Nancy Jiang - 23:57:22 - 23rd
Nancy had a great start to her first Western States campaign. She worked her way through the snow and high country and ran into Robinson Flat in 16th.
She would continue to run between 15-17th for most of the day before starting to fade after the 90-mile mark. Unfortunately, Nancy was dealing with foot and calf issues, a hangover from smashing through all that snow❄️ earlier in the day.
At the top of the final hill, Nancy roared back to life, down the hill, and onto the track. When I tuned into her live Instagram stream, she had 4 minutes to finish to break 24 hours and get the silver buckle —3 minutes to spare, fighting to the end⚔️.
It might not have been the fairytale race I thought she might have, but it was still an incredible debut at the 100-mile distance.
I’m sure she learned a lot, and if she takes on the 100-mile distance again, she will go into it with a lot of confidence, knowing that she has done it before.
Congratulations, Nancy, on a tough, gritty performance.
Men’s Podium
🥇Tom Evans - 14:40:22
🥈Tryler Green - 15:04:09
🥉Anthony Costales - 15:09:16
Tom Evans put on a clinic to become the first non-American to win the Western States since Ryan Sandes in 2017.
He predicted the winner would need to run a time of 14:28. Fortunately for him; his 14:40 got the job done. This was the 4th fastest time in history, with only Jim Walmsley and Jared Hazen running it faster.
However, the 24-minute margin doesn’t tell the whole story. For the first 100 km of the race, he was tag teaming with Dakota Jones, and it was anybody’s race.
Jones left Forest Hill (100 KM) aid station ahead of Evans, and it was reported that he said, “I’m going to try and break Tom”. Evans must have heard him and took exception as over the next 8 miles (14.4 KM in English), not only did he pass Jones; he put a further 10 minutes on him. Ouch.
🥝 “Danny” Jones - 15:22:15 - 5th
What a day for Dan Jones, AKA “Danny” (for anyone listening to the ‘Murican🌭 commentary). Jones ran a patient race and stormed home from the ‘Rucky Chucky’ river crossing to take home 5th place.
I don’t know Dan’s target splits, but I think he probably would've taken it if a magic-running genie offered him a 15:22 the night before the race.
It’s hard to believe this was his first 100-mile race. He was in the top 10 from the gun and appeared unfazed by the big stage. He just went about his work, running in 7th for most of the morning.
There were some reports at Michigan Bluff from a reporter that he was running gingerly through the aid station; maybe he was just nursing a log💩 because he continued to tear his way through the course.
Danny appeared to get stronger as the day went on. Once out of the hot canyons, the flatter faster terrain played to his advantage.
He swallowed up Dakota Jones, Jeff Colt and got as close as 30 seconds to 4th place Jiasheng Shen.
A truly inspirational performance from one of, if not the hardest-working athletes around. Here is some context for his time:
💪 It is the 22nd fastest time at the Western States. Only 12 people have run faster.
💪He ran the course 12 minutes faster than Killian
💪His time is good for the podium 7 out of the last 10 Western States
💪He ran 25 minutes faster than his training partner Hayden Hawkes ran last year when he finished 2nd.
In breaking news - Karori Park, Wellington, unveiled a statue of Danny Jones this morning in honor of his performance.
Also, shout out to Thomas Watson from Auckland, who got the job done in 26:50:07.
Worst Run Ever
We are back at the late-night poetry open mic for this week's Worst Run Ever.
Branch looms overhead, Runner dashes, full of glee, Wham! A tree branch thwacks.
Stars swirl, birds take flight, Runner sprawled upon the ground, Trees chuckle softly.
Bystanders gather, Laughter mingles with concern, Worst run ever, choice.
In the realm of trees, A lesson learned, quite humbled, remember to duck.
-Sara Davidson
Keep the stories coming in! Send them to trailrunningnz@gmail.com
They can be short or long. Funny😂 or sad😭.You can own it, or it can be made anonymous. They can even have a happy ending.
Things You May Have Missed
A fake Tailwind NZ FB account was trying to nab people’s CC details. Stay vigilant out there in internet lands!
Upcoming Events
Krayzie Midwinter Backyard Ultra
Saturday 1st of July - ???
If, after the last week, you find yourself backyard-curious🤔 like me, this week, you get a chance to follow along with Krayzie Midwinter Backyard Ultra.
Unfortunately, the entries are closed for Krayzies, BUT if you’re in the Christchurch area, head down to Spencer Park to cheer on the runners and check it out.
If you’re keen to help in any way, message them on Facebook, as there’s always a need for more volunteers/crew.
For the nutjobs who are running, Tony Sharpe has done the weather analysis for you.
In a nutshell after a wettish week or two right up to Race Eve its tending towards drier and cool, but not frosty.
The weather models are all over the show and changing almost daily at present, but the attached graphic is the summary of a whole bunch of them combined, with probability ranges.
Don't put your raincoats at the bottom yet for raceday as a couple of outlier model runs have rain, but at this stage it looks more promising than not.
Try and make it to Monday and Tuesday, that will be the best weather
-Tony Sharpe
Good luck, everyone. Fingers crossed🤞 that it’s still pumping this time next week.
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
This week's #Mountain Skag is from Trev on Hemi Matenga, Waikanae.
If you can’t get to the tops, sometimes the next best hit is a massive tree!
Tag @trailrunning.nz and use #mountainskag on Instagram or email trailrunningnz@gmail.com to enter.
Every entry goes into the monthly draw to win a Mountain Skag T-Shirt or hat.
We will be back next week with more trail-running news, yarns, and glory.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
PS - Andrew McDowall won the #Mountainskag May competition with 60% of the vote. Some sweet swag coming your way.
