Mt Difficulty Ascent ‘running’ races

Cromwell, 8th June 2019

For full detail on this great event >> Mt Difficulty Ascent Running Races

Well done to Leith athletes competing in the aptly named Mt. Difficulty marathon in central otago on Saturday. Steve Tripp smashed it coming first in his age group and taking 30mins of his PB. Steve’s time was 6hrs 11mins and finished 10th overall. Harry James also ran the marathon finishing in 6hrs 39mins finishing 11th in age group and 15th overall. Jonah Belk also ran in the 25km race and came first in the open male age group in a time of 3.09.40 finishing 2nd overall!!  Steven Morrison did the flatter Half-Marathon (solo category) in 1:31:30 finishing first overall.

Below is Harry James’s wonderful introspective view of the Mt Difficulty Race where he tackled the 44km Mountain Marathon.

My Experience of the Mt Difficulty Ascent by Harry James

Saturday 8 June 2019

The race briefing was in the wine-making facility at the foot of the hill where the wine tasting room for Mt. Difficulty winery appeared atop. Concrete floors supported aluminium-looking fermentation silo’s a table on the right for checking in with race officials, and a table on the left for getting gear checked. This year I knew that I wanted to do my best in the 44km mountain marathon; last year I wasn’t expecting to run until an hour or so before the 25km mountain race. I was nervous. There were a few familiar faces and talking with my friend and two other friends helped settle my nerves. My friend and I checked-in right before the race briefing began. The race director and main sponsor (Mt Difficulty Winery), representative, talked about the race, described the course, and warned of the forecasted inclement weather – snow, wind, wet, and generally unpleasant conditions. I was keen to head straight to my friend’s place to eat, have a chat, and get ready for bed.  

I woke around 5:00AM but got out of bed around 5:15AM. The wind was slamming into the windows and forcing water-drops against the glass, the bed was nice but I wanted to run, and run fast. I was talking with other runners during the race briefing, and I mentioned that I wanted to win the race, this was after mentioning that I wanted to do my best and run fast. Although, I didn’t hesitate from engaging in pre-race banter, and it would turn out to be just that about 22km into the race.   We began the race a bit late, not all runners had their transponders, but those who did have their transponders wanted to get moving so they walked to the race start on the road. The race director was quick to herd the other runners into the starting position and proceeded to the race countdown faster than a countdown in common-second time.   We ran along a road turn left onto trail and began the run. At the first juncture, some fast runners took a wrong turn, but I think two of those fast runners still won their races – they were still fast. Thankfully, and experienced runner encouraged those that weren’t quite as fast to trust them and go right at the juncture which felt right for me.  

The first climb was a good warm-up for the two crawling climbs that were yet to come, but the cross-wind was racing across the direction I wanted to race in. I adjusted my posture and watched a fellow runner get closer to the ground and drive her hands into her quads to power her way up the hill. I decided I should model my movements to theirs, and I stayed with that runner after the first crawl-climb along the water-race and then along the ridge (my favourite part of the race) and then we parted – they went right back to the finish and I went left to head towards the second bigger, crawl-climb to the top of Mt Difficulty.   It was warmer than expected, muggy, unusual Central Otago Weather; after, climbing above the thyme, matakauri, and schist slope, it cleared, and the goat tracks turned into open tussock and Spaniard fields with a walkable/hike-able gradient. The sun popped over the Pisa Range and was welcome energy to the cooler, familiar, sharp Central Otago air that I missed. Around this time other runners were beginning to pass me, and I learnt my first lesson of this race: poles would have been a good choice to have had – I didn’t listen to two people’s advice.   Then, I started to get light-headed as I climbed higher towards the summit, the views were incredible and I was dissociating from monitoring my pace, food and fluid intake, to thinking about a song, family and friends, work, and actually making sure that I would finish the race. I realised that I wasn’t going to win at this point. I had to finish the race.  

After reaching the snow-line near the summit, I was surprised that there wasn’t much snow. Good for running and also good for running with sun-glasses. But the views were incredible: to my left, the Kawarau River, Cromwell and Bannockburn, Lake Dunstan, and Northburn; in front of me was Nokomai, I think; and, to my right was Mt Rosa, Gibbston, and in the Distance, maybe Skippers.    A nice view to distract myself from the cramp I was experiencing, and a fellow runner/friend reminded me of the surrounding beauty after the race which took the focus of my own pain. Another lesson I feel.    From then on it was a rolling 4wd track, a climb, and a longer descent, back to the wine-making facility for the three options available (chips, pizza, beer/fizzy), a real treat; and, a reception from the race director and chats with fellow runners, friends, and my dad.    It was hard to accept that I wasn’t going to win. Despite having to reappraise ambitious goals before the race to new goals during the race (i.e., realistically set my goals), I was really pleased with how I coped with working through cramp around 26km into the race. I talked myself into walking well, then jogging well, then running well; my negative thoughts/talk were reframed into positive thoughts/talk and I reminded myself of what I wanted to do rather than what I did not want to do.   

In sum, there were: many lessons learnt, laughs had with friends before, during, and after the race, dramatic weather that complemented the terrain, enthusiastic race organisers/volunteers, a rainbow, a river, scrubs/ prickles and thyme, a mountain among mountains and a lake, other people wahooing like Chris does, and the opportunity to run. A grounding experience.   Thank you for reading.