MILLUM REMEMBERS WHY SHE RACES

Contributed by Jen Millum, AURA member & 1^st Female at Kep Ultra V2

Kep Ultra V2, 15 May 2021, Mundaring WA

I never go into any race with a detailed race plan. I have only one mission, and that is to have fun.

It was way back in February that lockdown happened, and Delirious W.E.S.T was postponed. I had been training, both physically and mentally for it since forever and was fully pumped to tackle it. I did not realise how much that postponement had actually affected me until I came to race KepV2. I had had zero motivation to race anything. My calf was playing up, and I was really enjoying my training. Why race?

When I arrived, the 1km walk in the dark to the start and then the very quiet send-off was unusual, but running with all my trail buddies, made me remember why I race.

Trail running and trail racing make me happy.

The darkness soon disappeared, and it was 4pm before I realised I’d been running all day. Yes, my calf played up for the full 10.5 hours and I was a tad frustrated by it, but the amazing volunteers, the fellow trail racers, and my daughter surprising me on course at the 15km ‘mountain’ climb to the finish made me realise I was extremely fortunate to be able to race KepV2 this past weekend and to have such amazing people in my life.

I felt fantastic when I finished.