From the crew’s perspective: Mullins

Contributed by Gary Mullins, NSW AURA Representative

SOUTHERN SYDNEY 24 HOUR ULTRA, SYDNEY (NSW), 11 June 2023

On Sunday, I embarked on an incredible adventure at Steve and Penny Redfern’s Southern Sydney Ultra. This event, now in its third year, was impressively organised and flawlessly executed. It’s safe to say that this will soon be recognised as one of the premier track ultras in Australia.

To be honest, it had been a good three years since I last participated in a track ultra. Not for any reason, it simply hadn’t been part of my coaching regimen. But last Sunday, I was there to support my friend Andy Heyden, who ran an impressive 77km in the 6hr race. I was also accompanied by Martin Smellie, a track star in his own right. Though he only ran one lappers, in a mind-boggling 0.47 seconds for 400 meters. Talk about speed! Martin has now shifted his focus to racing 5km and marathons and was helping in crewing Andy.

Martin’s comment during the race got me thinking about the unique nature of track ultras. In his best Kobe Bryant NBA voice, he exclaimed, ‘MAN, THIS IS A DIFFERENT BEAST, AIN’T IT?” And you know what? He was absolutely right. Track ultras are a whole different ball game, both mentally and physically. In the past, I’ve had people question why anyone would bother with such an endeavour—calling it stupid, boring or questioning why we would run in circles.

But let me tell you, it’s much more than that. Imagine spending 48, 24, 12, or even just 6 hours running 400-metre loops, seeing the same faces, enduring the cold night air at 2 degrees. It may seem monotonous and repetitive, but there’s a reason behind it all.

If you were to ask every single runner out there why they choose to undertake this challenge, you’d receive a plethora of unique answers. Each runner has their own personal journey, and their motivations are deeply personal. From the grueling training sessions to the race itself, they experience various stages of mental and physical challenges. They celebrate the moments when they feel invincible, pushing themselves to dig even deeper within their minds and bodies to uncover the reasons why they should keep going.

This applies to any ultra race, but in the realm of track ultras, it takes on a whole new level. Nothing changes. It’s the same loop, the same scenery, the same surface, and the same elevation. There’s nothing new to look forward to except a change of direction every four hours. That’s what makes it different. That’s why a track ultra is its own unique beast. It forces you to delve deeper within yourself, questioning and answering numerous introspective queries.

Track ultras challenge you on multiple levels. They demand so much from you that it almost seems ridiculous. Yet, it’s precisely this shared experience that makes the community that forms around these events so special. Over the weekend, individuals embraced their personal challenges, running one lap at a time, sharing the track with like-minded people. It’s important to note that they weren’t racing against each other; instead, they were sharing a personal journey of their own choosing.

Track ultras are undoubtedly tough, but they hold a certain allure. If you’ve never experienced one and you’re searching for a unique personal journey, you have a whole year to prepare yourself physically and mentally for this remarkable adventure.

Congratulations to everyone who competed over the weekend, and a special shout-out to Penny, Stephen, and all the volunteers who made this event so incredibly amazing. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated.

Pictured: Andy Heyden (bib 601) on the track at the 2023 Southern Sydney. Photograph – Supplied/FB.