KOBER’S 1ST 100 MILER AND SHE SECURES A 1ST PLACE FINISH

Contributed by Jutta Kober, 1st Female at Feral Pig Ultra 100 Miler

Feral Pig Ultra 100 Miles, 6-7 November 2021, Kalamunda WA

The Feral Pig Ultra is run on the beautiful Bibbulmun Track which runs from Perth to Albany over close to 1000km. The various distances of the Feral Pig Ultra begin at different locations but no matter where the start-line is, they all finish at the ‘Feral Pig village’ at Perth Hills Discovery Centre near Mundaring Weir in the Perth hills.

After checking in on Friday evening, 45 of us crazies were bundled into a bus and taken two hours south to North Bannister where we were unloaded in the middle of nowhere. After a pre-race motivational ritual, off we went at the stroke of midnight.

The first section is very runnable until the climb up Mount Cooke at around 30km and I settled into a nice rhythm. The climb to Mount Cooke was fun and thanks to a night recce I didn’t get lost. My expectations of beautiful views and a sunrise at the summit were disappointed, however, as it was still completely black when I got there. Not even the stars were visible with the cloud cover. A fun and technical descent and another flat section brought me to Sullivan Rock aid station at 41km.

The next section to Brookton Hwy was again mostly familiar with the steep, technical climbs to Mount Vincent and Mount Cuthbert and the gradual descent to Canning River. From there the kilometres ticked slowly by until Brookton Hwy aid station at 73km. It was so awesome to be greeted by friends and aid station volunteers who made sure I was looked after.

The next section to Mount Dale was mentally and physically hard. The day warmed up with the heat reflecting off the ground. I struggled with nutrition and my body felt fatigued. Apart from the normal muscle aches I also had a bruised back and ribs from my running vest, which had started at around 25km and was gradually getting worse and made running painful.

Nevertheless, I made it to Mount Dale aid station at 86km where the lovely volunteers fed me boiled potatoes and roast veggies. The next section starts with a long descent, which should have been fun and easy in theory. With nearly 90km on my legs and an unhappy quad I struggled to run. A constant stream of 50km runners was passing me now and I felt a little jealous of their fresh, nimble legs. A steep climb out of the valley and a couple of kilometres of undulating trail led to Beraking aid station at 97km.

I came into Beraking feeling a little sorry for myself and a reality check was needed. I was sore but still doing well overall, and I was slightly ahead of my race plan. To take back some control I messaged my partner and asked him to bring my spare running vest to Discovery Centre where he was going to pace me for the final 38km leg. Hopefully a change of vest would help with the back and rib pain.

Next stop was Allen Road Bridge aid station at 110km. I was welcomed by more friends, who took good care of me and sent me off on the final leg to Discovery Centre. This leg was brutal. So hilly and technical and slow going. Somewhere just after Helena Hut I stopped to get my head torch and hi-vis vest out in preparation for sunset. It was a little cooler now too and I felt I could eat more. Some energy started coming back as I ran the final few kilometres into Discovery Centre aid station at 126km.

Here I had a longer stop to reset for the final 38km. I ate noodles and potatoes, taped a small blister on my foot and changed shoes and my running vest.

Getting off the chair to leave was a real struggle as the sweet temptation of sleep and a DNF was very strong. But I hadn’t come this far to just give up. With my partner now pacing me for the last 38km we headed off, now in my second night of running. To my surprise I felt much better with the new vest and shoes and pacer for company. I even could run a little easier now and things were looking up.

At Camel Farm aid station (137km) the volunteers fed me and sent me off to Kalamunda for the turn-around. This leg was tough with steep, technical climbs and lots of stairs. I kept tripping over rocks in my fatigued state and I just wanted to sleep. At the same time I was determined to keep moving as I wanted to not just finish my first 100 miler but really push myself and give it my best. I was always sure I’d ‘race’ this event, not against anyone else, but against myself and against the clock. These thoughts kept me moving on despite the fatigue. With the constant positive support and slight pushing from my pacer I made it into Kalamunda aid station at 144km.

The volunteers there fed me spicy pumpkin soup, roast potatoes, wrapped me in a blanket, and even had a heater. It was delicious and warm. After eating and refilling my water we headed off again, knowing we’re on the home stretch now. The section back to the Camel Farm was still tough but after the delicious food I felt better. I had to stop a few times on the rocky sections as my legs felt wobbly, and I really had no confidence in my coordination at this point. My poles helped prevent a few falls. The fatigue was very real now.

Somewhere along the way back towards Camel Farm a sub-30 hour finish seemed almost within reach, so my pacer decided that this should be my aim. I was dubious but decided to go with it. Somehow having this goal gave me renewed energy and I managed a fair bit of shuffle running mixed with lots of walking. We were in and out of Camel Farm aid station without stopping.

The last section is more runnable, and we made good time, arriving at Mundaring Weir just around sunrise. Unfortunately, the weir gate was still closed, so around we went, down the stairs, over the bridge and back up the stairs. What torture!

A few more kilometres and I could see the finish gantry. Everyone was cheering as I ran through the finish. I had made it! I finished my first 100 miler and not only had beaten my time goal with a sub-30 hour finish, but I also snagged first place.

Pictured: Jutta Kober making her way through the 100 mile distance at the 2021 Feral Pig Ultra. Photograph – Astrid Volzke.