UTNC RACE REPORT

My journey to run the Ultra Trail New Caledonia trailrunning event started way back in 2020. An event entry to the 130km was offered as part of the award for winning the Brisbane Trail Ultra 110km event. Due to Covid-19 and the subsequent border closures, taking part in the event was postponed until 2023.

Was this a classic case of two races in one? Let me take you into my world for a recap on an unexpected and rewarding UTNC 130km.

Having arrived in New Caledonia on a trip to engage with trail runners, run an epic event and showcase both the event and new Caledonia to runners all over the world, I was under no illusions that this was going to be a unique experience. Joined by my Wife Cheryl, film maker Anthony Gordon  and Peter Kouppas Omnichannel Brand Manager from Salomon we were about to go on an incredible ride as a team.

As soon as we landed, we set off to engage with the events team and New Caledonia tourism over lunch and then headed straight off for a short trail run which was the ideal shakeout after traveling from Sydney that morning. The day finished with race number collections, supermarket stock up trip and race briefing. The very next morning, off we went on a trip to check out the course. This allowed me to see some of the terrain and the slippery red soil of New Caledonia. What struck me most was that it was both stunning and remote. Whilst we couldn’t see most of the course, we did get to most of the checkpoints and this gave me a good understanding of what was ahead for Saturday.

Friday was an easier day for me as the rest of the team tripped through Noumea and the surroundings. Whilst a large focus of this trip was showcasing the culture and the entire running festival, I still had a job to run 130km the next day, so I made sure I spent time alone in my compression boots resting poolside for a few hours preparing myself mentally and physically for the journey ahead.

So race night arrives. With a 2am start, I’m down in the lobby at exactly 11:30pm with Anthony and our driver David. We head off to PLUM about 45 minutes drive away and get there with plenty of time to spare. I’m feeling pretty optimistic about having a good race but I also know it’s going to be a challenging day regardless. I definitely hadn’t had the racing year I was capable of so far in 2023 and hoped this would be a turning point.

Race start – Epic! I mean it’s 2am and here we are with the race MC doing dynamic warm up exercises, creating a tunnel to cheer the race director, Daniel Bonnefis on before we then set off. Its clear to me pretty quickly that navigation is tricky and even in the first two kilometres I stop a couple of times to check my route and ensure Im on the right path, by about 5 km, at the first really gnarly technical descent which in parts is super slippery, i’m actually overtaken and am running in third. We stayed as a group right through to the first crew checkpoint at 18 km.  It had taken us 2:13 minutes to reach this point, which was right on my race plan estimate, but with 235 metres gained in the 5th kilometre alone, this course was SAVAGE. 

I had  taken my first fall at 16 km landing heavily on my right Glute, but quickly regained my composure and got back into the leading group, despite the pain. Unfortunately this first fall had really hurt me, I could feel my glute on every takeoff now. Fortunately only a few minutes later I was into the second checkpoint (the first one that crew could be at) and it was a relief of sorts to catch up with my crew. They were also in for a wild ride over the next 20 or so hours, with Anthony having his hands full capturing content and crewing me in and out of numerous checkpoints.

Having lost the two leaders as I refuelled in Checkpoint 2, I was now alone but could see the lights of the front runners occasionally flicker in the night sky as we scaled over 350 metres on technical terrain over the next few kilometres. I still felt well, in control and whilst painful my glute was manageable, in and out of the next checkpoint I was about 4 minutes behind second and was looking forward to the sun coming up as I quickly refuelled, checked in with my crew and headed towards Checkpoint 4. It was here I took an unfortunate fall again this time forwards. – I’d only minutes earlier taken a wrong turn not being able to see any markers at one of the junctions. Here I would have lost close to 10 minutes, and was trying not to let it bother me, when I fell hard forwards landing heavily on my chest, arms and knees – the pain was enough to stop me in my tracks for a minute as I reset then proceeded onwards towards the Checkpoint 4. This was the first Checkpoint in the daylight and I had a good debrief over a couple of minutes here with Anthony as he checked in on how I was before he sent me off with the words ‘now get back into your rhythm’. 

The next checkpoint was only 8 or 9 km away, and I had run 5km of this section on Thursday, so I felt really optimistic that I’d be able to finally get into a better rhythm as I headed towards Checkpoint 5. But I fell HARD. This one was very painful, I fell landing on my back and head, wedged in an uncomfortable position in so much pain that I couldn’t get up for what felt like an eternity but was likely a couple of minutes. I was so sore, but onwards I pushed slowly into checkpoint 5. We had a big reset here as I explained to Anthony what had happened and how bad I felt – Exactly what happened here was a blur but I remember changing my top which was torn and covered in blood and dirt, as Anthony checked out my head knock, back and left thumb and wiped blood and dirt off my arms and legs. We decided to tape over my left glove with an adhesive compression bandage because I was going to take my poles with me now, and this was the only way I could bear to use my left hand.

I honestly couldn’t think about the entire journey at this point – It hurt me so bad to run, that in the next section I ran-walked-rested manageable sections. Every 15 minutes or so I’d sit for a few moments to just keep myself physically and mentally in control. The pain was immense all over, but with these mini breaks and also moving forwards I was gradually feeling more and more in control. 

What seemed like ages later I rolled into HALFWAY Checkpoint 6. That last leg turned out to be the slowest I would move all day. I know lots happened in this checkpoint but I can’t really remember what. Somewhere on that last section I had pulled myself more and more into a positive mindset by focussing on fuelling, taking in the stunning scenery and thinking about not only how my crew was and what they’d be doing waiting around for me but also thinking about how Cheryl and Peter had got on in their brutal 20km race. The event for me had definitely gone from Compete to Complete.

Heading out from Checkpoint 6 and on towards 7 felt good. I moved through the challenging climbs and jungle sections as best as I could. Time was flying, I’d got myself into a great headspace. I was literally flicking between being conscious of each step, being aware of my 15 minute drink alert alarm, the next hill and the next hour with ease. So running into Checkpoint 7 now joined by the entire team of Cheryl and Peter who had been driven out on course to join me along with Anthony was unreal. I mean I was actually running pretty well again now, the pain manageable. It was a huge boost having Chez there running out to meet me and so it seemed I just flowed all the way from here until Checkpoint 9 taking a snapped pole and a few tough hills in my stride.

Despite being over 3 hours slower to this section than planned, the thought simply didn’t enter my mind, what I had overcome physically and mentally in the earlier hours of this day was making this so very rewarding now for me and my crew, heading out from the waterside at Prony up through the wind turbines taking in a stunning sunset was a section of the course I’ll always cherish, having the team drive past me on the road, drones above me, pack on loaded, sweating, burning, challenging, enjoying and growing. So good!

From Checkpoint 9 until the end there was no way to see the crew and so I set off with a huge hug from Chez and the team for the last 30 km push to home. Whilst I was sore and fatigued the team refuelled me and the hot soup here was just what I needed. It was at this point that I joined up with Jonathan Nicol – we ran the next two sections together, he showed me how he could ski down the slippery slopes in his running shoes and we talked in broken English about so many things. In the flats and hills I would pull away from him and on the downhills and technical sections he would pull away from me but mainly we stayed close together each letting out the occasional ultra talk (groans, shouts, swearing and just random shout outs of joy) reminding us that we actually were out in the middle of “The Great South” some 20 hours or so into a running race!

Finally I arrived at the last checkpoint – it was surreal – I asked to use a bathroom and was given a roll of toilet paper and pointed down a side trail to this open area where people had literally just been going to the toilet – in the grass and I was like, where am I? I decided I didn’t really need to go, called my crew just to tell them I was leaving the last checkpoint but that I’d be a while because completing this last uphill and downhill on really tricky terrain was really hurting my bruised and battered body. As I left the volunteers (Wine in hand) said there was an up and then a down and then I was at the finish – yeah right, so simple!

22.5 hours later (Some 6 hours slower than I’d planned) I crossed the finish line, completely empty, sore but immensely fulfilled with the warmest of hugs from my entire team. Whilst the day hadn’t gone to plan at all, I was so grateful that I had continued on through the pain to finish, this was the toughest run I’ve done and having my team there to help me through it was so appreciated and enjoyable.

Just like the drive home back to the hotel was full of surprises (random Riot Police Tank checkpoint stop – Pete being super friendly – fumbling for licence, me in the front seat covered in dirt holding a massive Pizza) the entire day was full of twists and turns and memorable moments. More than a week now, I’m running ok, but still have quite a few sore bits, including a small tear in my shoulder from one of the falls.

I’m grateful for everyone that was a part of this run with me in person at the event and following on from afar. I’ll definitely go back and run this again, it’s an epic course and I’d love to do it without all the falls and see what I could do. 

UTNC you are an EPIC! Well done, Bravo for putting on a unique event across multiple distances for all levels of trail runners. Ive no doubt more runners are going to come from abroad to test themselves in this unique and stunning environment. To my sponsors Lebent, FIXX, Aviano and the Stretch Lab – thank you for helping me share these journeys with trailers 🙂 from around the world. New Caledonia Tourism – Aircalin and UTNC thank you! Daniel-David and Bruno thank you. Team Salomon and “Nothing but Shorts” you rocked and thank you for the opportunity and of course Chez – out of your comfort zone you totally rocked the run and trip. Thanks team – see you on the one day soon