LIGHTHORSE ULTRA RUN FOR MILLUM’S RAF PILOT GRANDAD

Contributed by Jen Millum
Jen raced at the Lighthorse 12hr Ultra on April 28 and won second overall & second female.

Shaun Kaesler’s reputation for directing unique, out-of-the-ordinary races was the main drawcard for me entering the Lighthorse 12hr Ultra last month in Perth. I had no idea how I’d cope or what the 2.5kms loops of the course would do to my mind, and so it intrigued me.

In the few days prior to race day, my grandad aged 95 took a turn for the worse. He was an RAF pilot in WWII and I decided that this race was for him. I dedicated my Lighthorse run to him. He was such an amazing, strong man loved by so many.

I had no real race plan except that I wanted to keep running for as long as I could (which I managed), and to keep Margie Hadley’s lapping of me down to under 5 laps (she lapped me 5x at Larkhill Ultra). The lapping plan clearly didn’t work though. Margie is an amazingultra-runner! She bounced passed me over and over and over again and every time she did, we laughed. She was so lovely about it and continued to encourage me to keep going.

I began my race with Rockstar and Shitbury, however a recent injury reared its ugly head at the 15kms mark and I never saw them again. They disappeared into the night together. Well, that was until I lapped them! It was hilarious. The aid station was packed and the boys were walking (hand-in-hand apparently). I felt like the entire world was screaming for me as I ‘chicked’ them!

You know, the ultra-running community is such an awesome one. Running in an area foreign to me, in the dark, with people I barely know, sometimes on my own, never did I feel scared; except when a tiger snake slithered across my path! I couldn’t have run away anyway, I was too bloody exhausted!

The Lighthorse 12hr Ultra is a mentally and physically tough race with race director Shaun pushing us runners to do ‘just one more…’ and believing that we can.

I loved the fact the aide station had so many people; there was even décor with a sofas and a piano. I loved the distraction and challenge of finding real horseshoes that had been scattered throughout the course, and the changing direction every three hours as well as the intense crowds. I actually loved all the crap Shaun gave me as I came through and mostly, I loved the comradery amongst the runners!

Pictured: Jen Millum racing at Lighthorse 12hr Ultra. Photograph – Shannon Dale.