UTA100 2025 — Can being slow mean more fun?!?

I’m aiming for a short race report. My running isn’t getting faster, maybe my typing speed can improve instead!

My ninth UTA100 was genuinely fun! I’m disappointed with my finish time, but not disappointed with my time out there. In the last two years I’ve re-evaluated why I am still racing, especially after my first-ever DNF last year. It’s tough to do hard things if you aren’t sure of your motivation.

My realisation – I love being in wild places, while exploring the mental challenge of racing. Most importantly being around like-minded people is motivating.

2025 UTA focus was staying out of the vortex of mental doom. I planned to put my ego aside and pull back on effort as soon as my tummy even considered its usual pyrotechnics. I would engage with runners and volunteers around me. And I would smile at Mum in the aid stations even if I was having a rough time. I can’t keep asking her to show up and then be miserable company!

Goals were achieved. While my ego doesn’t love that I ran my slowest time ever, I can honestly say I enjoyed the majority of the day.

Here’s a couple highlights from the day.

• Shuttle bus driver got lost going to start so Mum and I got extra 15 minutes hiding in warm bus. Winning!

• Hung out with friends Idette and Florian at the start. After racing overseas being ‘Nigel no friends’, it was fun to nervously joke about our wishful race plans and shuffle into the start chute together.

• Saw an amazing view of the ‘cloudfall’ over Narrowneck. Also got to fangirl cheer at Caitlin Fielder as she passed us like a rocket in the 50km.

• Shuffled along Narrowneck obsessively repeating ‘I love Narrowneck’. This is a lie, but A goal of the day was to be positive!

• Spent quality time with my friend Erika while we were stuck in the Duncans Pass traffic jam. Even had 2 gels while we chatted!

• Saw a cheery Tom Landon-Smith and his son on the clapsticks up on Ironpot. Celebrated that I had not been sick!

• Found multiple, very attractive French men along Green Gully. Sadly 1867 days of Duolingo French did not help me understand a word they were saying. Oh la la!

• Found two hilarious local guys who thought they knew me. They did not. They proceeded to tell me there was a local women run club full of ladies ‘my age’. Oooofff! Perhaps they were not that hilarious. Named them the ‘Dynamic Duo’ because I couldn’t remember their names even though they gallantly introduced themselves. They were on their second 100 ever and having a blast.

• (37km) Joined the Six Foot Track aid station party and smiled at Best Crew Ever, Toy Martin. Truthfully said I was having a great time!

• Found my friend Scotty for our annual UTA running catch up and we commiserated that we were too hot. A lovely Englishman told us he was hotter. He did look quite tomato-like!

• Had fun hamstring cramping up Nellie’s Glen. Made each step up more exciting. Would it result in stabbing pain or would it be smooth? Salt tablets were consumed. Dropped the ‘Dynamic Duo’… take that ‘young’ men!

• (56km) Aquatic Centre. Mum was on a huge poster! My Crew was model material. Took photo with poster. Got stuck into Cramp Stop spray with gusto.

• Crawled through a bunch of steps. Didn’t sit on any of them. ‘Dynamic Duo’ smoked past me but were very cheerful, so I forgave them.

• I was very happy to find the Sublime Point Rd. One half of ‘Dynamic Duo’ was experiencing his maiden ultra puke and was a little panicked. Reassured him.

• My amazing friends Pip, Karen, Tash and Pia appeared on the road, cheering for me. These madwomen had run, crewed and paced 100 miles the day before and still they were out there cheering my slow ass on! ‘Dynamic Duo’ were solidly impressed with my rockstar status with such a good fan club.

• (68km) Fairmont aid station. A kind volunteer held my 3 chips and 2 milk bottle lollies while I wrestled my way into damp sleeves and fluro superman cape.

• Yo-yo’d with Florian for the umpteenth time. He was so strong uphill and perfect to use as a carrot. Had fallen off nutrition wagon and the slog was getting a bit ugly. 3 chips in 3 hours wasn’t cutting it but the tummy tightrope was a delicate balancing act.

• (79km) Queen Vic Hospital. The abandoned psych ward aid station tested my cheery resolve. Smiled at Mum but did not exude peppy vibes.

• Shuffled down Kedumba and tried a gel. Pukey pukerson sadly came to play. But since this is a positive story, it only happened once. Water and one half of a ‘teeth’ lolly sustained the rest of the race.

• Crawled out of valley throwing a little bit of a pity party. Then I heard “Is that the one and only Brook?” My ‘Dynamic Duo’ were back in fine form! Very fun to try to hold onto them but eventually the elastic snapped.

• Slid along the mud towards cliff-top party sounds. Lady behind me commented surely the stairs are only a minute away because her watch said 100km. Had to disappoint her with the reality of at least another 15 minutes of slip and slide.

• Awesome finish! 100km is a long way. Mum and miler run crew buddies all showed up, which was ridiculous because it was the middle of the night. I’m so lucky. Mum has now spent more than a decade cheering me forward at ultras and I am truly grateful. The last photo is my reaction to the friend chat that I only have to do one more to get a plate. Too soon, too soon!