Race Report - Hume & Hovell Ultra 50km Trail race

When I was looking for my next extraordinary challenge earlier this year, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but after coming off Husky Tri, the time needed to go for a triathlon again paired with launching a new brand, the travel and life stuff just wasn’t where I was at. So, with running my weakest of swim, bike, run and also being the most accessible, no bike to lug around, no pools to find – running was it. And because I’m me, a regular run like a marathon was not what I was looking for, so 50km ultra trail race it is!

This was a terrifying challenge, while I had done an ironman, and a standalone marathon, I had never run that far and not through trails. So I got myself a coach, ordered some nutrition, and looked for a race. I had heard about the Hume & Hovell race from a couple of people, they said they loved the underground vibe of it, it was low key and tough! Sounded like nothing I’d ever done, and it lined up with timing, so I entered (not before imposter syndrome kicked in and I nervously emailed the organiser worried I needed a qualifying event or that I didn’t have the background to be let in!).

I’ll skip through training, but honestly, the training is more than 90% of the race, and getting to the start line in one piece, not injured, prepared mentally and physically, is a win in itself. Unfortunately because I have a toddler, I got sick on the Monday before the race with a head cold that had me light headed and out of breath even on the Wednesday before race day and checking the cancellation policy on the Airbnb. It was so disappointing and heartbreaking thinking about pulling out but I was already so worried about making the distance, doing it with a cold didn’t seem possible. Luckily I was talked off the ledge by my run crew, and I decided that even if I walked it, I would still make the cut off, and it would be a waste of the training.

Race Weekend

So on Friday afternoon we packed the toddler and the dog into the car and headed to Tumbarumba. A 5-6hour drive from Sydney, and a stunning spot if you’ve never been! Highly recommend. We got to Tumbarumba just before the registration finished so headed in sign my waiver, collect my race bib and have all the mandatory gear checked.

Still not feeling 100% but good enough to start, we had our favourite pre race meal – Tuna Pasta – and a good nights sleep. The race didn’t start until 9am, a very leisurely start time compared to my swimming and triathlon days! After some vegemite toast and a smoothie for breaky, we wrangled the family including the dog, to head to the start line. It was so incredibly low key, with the start/finish line at a campsite with a firepit and some amazing support crew set ups for the 100km and 100mile races.

Race Day 

We assembled at about 5 mins to start and a race first, we had a roll call! There were only around 50 starters for the 50km, so they called out all our names and we confirmed we were there. With the start lined with a small crowd of family and friends, I didn’t even hear ‘go’ and we just followed the crowd.

The first 12kms was a relatively flat out and back across some farmland, a few stiles over fences, some boggy grass sections and a little creek crossing that got my shoes drenched in both directions. I was keeping it as easy as possible, chatting to people, and keeping a conversational pace and we had a long way to go.

Once we hit the start/finish line again, I saw the family, did a toilet stop, and grabbed something from the aid station – part of my race plan, always grab at least 1 thing from the aid station. We were off to the second out and back, the much tougher and longer section. We followed the river for a while on quite a technical single track and the one little injury I had in the training flared. I had a sore arch of my foot on one side, and as the side of the river was angled it really flared the pain. That foot pain, paired with still not feeling great with a bit of incline, I was getting more and more lightheaded, I was starting to trip already. So I slowed right down, trying not to fall and get my heart rate back under control, which meant I let the person I was running with go ahead – something the competitor in me was not happy about – but I knew we were still not even 20km in.

After a wrong turn, and getting back onto the trail, we started the climb, this was a 3km+ climb so I knew I was in for an hour or more of hiking. I felt like absolute shit, I just kept telling myself that it is a long day and things change, so I will feel better at some stage. Keep drinking, keep eating.  As we started to hit the summit, the 22km runners started coming the other way downhill and flying! And a couple of others in the 50km caught up to me. I was grateful for the company but disheartened I had slowed so much.

I hit the aid station at the top about 25km in, in the perfect time as I had just run out of water. With a full refill, and some watermelon that was the best watermelon I have ever tried, I headed off again. We had another 8km or so until the next checkpoint and turn around and I knew it was going to be mostly downhill.

We hit the descent, with my foot still hurting, I took it easy but we had a nice little crew of 3 of us together which was great for company. We finally exited the bush to a stunning view of Mannus Lake. With a couple of kilometres to go in the exposed sun (at this stage it was around 1pm) I was determined to just keep consistent, one foot in front of the other. We ran past the checkpoint, with 2km to the turnaround point, I just wanted to get to that turnaround point and know I was on the home stretch with 16km to go. I just hit the turnaround point when I heard a car horn excitedly honking and saw my family driving by waving a cheering. I was so happy to see them and it gave me such a lift.

I hit the checkpoint and took my time, regrouping, refilling, eating and it was so good to see Andy and Georgia. They did a mandatory gear check making sure we had our snake bite bandage as there had been a number of sightings and I was off, feeling so much better that I was heading back a familiar route, and there was only 16km to go. I can do 16km.

I headed off, kept with my strategy, hiked the hills, run the flats and downhills. Even as I was climbing, I felt better than I had all day. Not sure if it was the caffeine, the combination of the pain killers, the stop and refuel, the kickass playlist or that I’m just an endurance person. Probably a combination. Once I got back to the checkpoint, some more of that amazing watermelon and I just kept feeling better and better. My pace picked up, I was descending so much better. The last hour or so flew by, and with 5km to go, I started to catch up to people and pass them, and I loved feeling good and having the carrot to chase. I didn’t see a single person the whole climb back up and descent down – over 10km, but on the flatter more technical last 5km, I caught up to 3 people and passed them, one within the last kilometre.

8 hours, 13 minutes, and I had done it. I absolutely wanted to be faster, I wanted to hit under 8 hours, but given how I felt through the first two thirds, and that I was going to pull the pin only 3 days prior, I was so proud of myself. I did it. I got some big hugs at the finish line and revelled in cheering the other competitors in.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I cannot recommend the Hume & Hovell event enough. It is a completely different event than the big events, but it is tough, it has heart and there wasn’t a single person that I came across who didn’t smile and give some words of encouragement. So if you’re up to tackle something extraordinary, with some pretty extraordinary people, put it on your list.

A couple of things to note for those with kids, the vibe at the event HQ was amazing with a couple of families with kids, they set up an impromptu kids race and the kids played and ran around together all day shaking their cow bells. Tumbarumba has an awesome kids playground and pump track, and even the winery – Courabya Wines - we went for a celebratory lunch on Sunday had a kids playground. It’s so family friendly, it’s definitely an event to bring your kids to.

- Lana Casey, owner Live And Breathe Active