50km for 50 years! How I saw in the first day of my fifties running the 50km Faultline Ultra!

I’ve been on a good running streak for over a year now (meaning no injuries, illness or troublesome hormones to slow me down – thanks to a mix of strength work, good luck and hormone replacement therapy!). When I saw that a new event was going to be held in the city where I live (The Faultline 50km Ultra – Shake and Bake), on the weekend of my 50th Birthday, that involved running 50km over the hills and trails of Wellington, it was an absolute ‘must do’. The only hitch was that the actual event was the day after my birthday, commencing at 5am, so there would no late night drinkies for me on my birthday – but given that I don’t drink much these days (due to my ageing body being pathetic at processing alcohol, and the simple fact that it’s not good for me!) that wasn’t a problem. So, I planned a lovely relaxed birthday, with the people I love, which involved an amazing breakfast with my immediate family, an afternoon tea with some very special friends and an early dinner (Italian – lots of pasta – carb loading to the max the night before a long run!) with my family.

The Training and my ‘Why’

Having the focus of training for a 50km run was so much better for my mental health than dwelling on turning 50 (which of course I still did dwell on a little bit – just not as much as I could have done!). Feeling physically fit and healthy as my 50th Birthday approached also helped me face this milestone age with positivity, as well as huge gratitude.

I started the running journey in my late thirties (having previously been an active walker, and ran in my youth for school cross country and athletics days, as well as spending hours at ballet, jazz and swimming classes growing up). I’d always been active, but running really became important to me as I approached the age of 40. My youngest child turned 4 a couple of months before my 40th Birthday and I found running was a flexible activity to fit around being a full time Mum to my three children (the other two were 8 and 10 at the time).

I saw my 40th Birthday in by running my first half marathon and continued the running journey from there and I am beyond grateful for embarking on the journey. Running has been hugely important to me, particularly for my mental health and well being. My Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease the same year I turned 40 and running gave me one thing I could control, in amongst the grief of slowly losing my Mum (she passed away when I was 47) and trying to be the best mum I could to my three children.

In the lead up to the big 50km on my 50th Birthday weekend I enjoyed some wonderful training runs, including running 30km along part of the stunning Abel Tasman National Park trail, participating in the Motatapu Trail Marathon event (blog post here!), from Wanaka to Arrowtown, running the Wellington WUU2K 42km course and doing the Remutaka rail trail – there and back (using the tunnels as a good opportunity to test my new head torch!).

I averaged 50km a week from January through to the event in mid April and was running more hills than I’ve ever ran in my life, with over 20,000m of elevation gain from January to end of March. I also stuck to a training plan provided by the wonderful of Eve, of Life in Motion Run Club – whose weekly workouts have been an important part of my running journey for a couple of years now.

I was feeling well prepared and amped for the event, picking up my bib at race rego a couple of days before hand.

Event day!

So, the first day of being a brand new 50 year old involved waking up at 3am to eat a solid breakfast, along with a double shot latte with soy milk, loading up my running vest with various mandatory kit, donning a head torch and waking hubby up at 4am to drop me off at the start point of the run (he very kindly volunteered to drop me off, knowing he could then enjoy returning to bed without having to worry about retrieving the car later in the day)!

At 5am a conga line of people wearing head torches set off for a warm up lap of Karori park (the grass field seen in the photo below) and up to the ‘Skyline’, from where we connected with the beautiful trails of the Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.

We snaked our way on two separate loops of the park, reaching the summit twice (the first time in darkness, so that I wasn’t even away we’d reached it, until on the second time we summited a marshal said, ‘Welcome back!’). Everyone ran in quiet harmony, mostly content to stay in the line, occasionally passing a runner, or pausing to allow someone else to pass, taking it in turns to keep the pace on the uphill switch back bends, where the only sound (other than the breathing of runners and their footfall on the trails) was that of the morepork (native owl), before the dawn chorus chimed in with the sunrise.

We crossed a swing bridge along the way, and everyone kept running, which caused a strange feeling on the legs with the counter bounces! The final descent down from the mountain bike park followed a trail that rose and fell with a continuous flow, like a small rollercoaster, giving the leg muscles a full workout, before reaching a wonderful aid station at the bottom – where I stopped a while to enjoy a breakfast, of sorts, and use the bathroom.

We then made our way up ‘Salvation’ trail, which winds up through regenerating bush, to Wrights Hill and around the outside of the Zealandia nature reserve, past the Brooklyn wind turbine, following the ‘Barking Emu’ trail and onto Waimapihi, one of the jewels in Wellington’s trail crown. 

It was a mild day, but a light misty drizzle set in around mid-morning and I was appreciative of my light weight rain coat. I run up along the trails of this area often and on a clear day the views are absolutely incredible – but unfortunately there wasn’t much to see on the day of the event.

I was running strong at this point, happy with my pace and not feeling too fatigued, but aware of a slight niggle in my left hip – (I’m forever doing work on my left IT band / hip flexor / glute strengthening – but after a certain about of rolling trails I often get a little flare up on that side).

After around 30km I reached Aro Valley and the course started to dip in and out of the city suburbs, winding through town belt trails, where cheerful traffic control people cheered us on as we crossed a couple of roads, before ducking back onto the trails of the city to sea walkway, across the Berhampore golf course and up to Mt Albert, where we then followed the beautiful southern walkway past the zoo and all the way to Mount Victoria. With around 15km to go, as I descended through the golf course, I started to get really noticeable pain in my left hip – it was painful to bend my left knee and I compensated by leaning on my right and trying to stick a straightened left leg out. I was frustrated as my energy levels were good, but the pain slowed me down and meant I couldn’t run full pelt on any descents.

Along with the descents there were still plenty of of small climbs and steps, especially along the macrocarpa and pine trails of Mount Victoria. Where other people moaned at more ‘up’ and steps, I was happy, as I felt no pain going up and could pick up some pace. Finally I descended (painfully) to the waterfront and made my way along the final 2km of flat pavement (which felt hard on the body after all the lush trails!), passing people out enjoying their Sunday stroll, with my eyes fixed firmly ahead and my mind looking forward to reaching the finish line at Odlins Plaza in the city centre.

I’d let hubby know that I was ahead of schedule, originally thinking I’d finish between 6 and a half to seven hours, but was looking to come in under the 6 and half hours. As I reached the finish line shoot I was looking out for him, and our daughter’s Sophie and Alice, and heard them calling my name (they’d parked up and ran to finish line to see me cross just in time!). I was so happy to see them all and gave them a huge hug, along with a couple of lovely people from the Wellington running community.

I donned my ‘Race T-shirt’ and went to celebrate my finish with a lovely lunch and a bottle of bubbles at the nearby ‘St John’s Bar’, along with my family and a close friend who kindly came to cheer me over the finish line. I was on a post race high and the tiredness of getting up at 3am didn’t hit me till much later in the evening – but first I had another friend’s 50th dinner to attend! So, a quick shower and off out to dinner we went!

The day following the race I hobbled down the stairs tentatively, had a gentle walk on the flat and did so many stretches! I was conscious of wanting to ease out the creases as I had another exciting journey coming up… two days after the run I boarded the first of three planes to take me all the way to the UK, on the other side of the world, to see my wonderful sister, dear Dad and extended family. My heart was so full, immensely grateful for the loving friends and family I have in my life, all the wonderful experiences I’ve had in my fifty years of life, and the ability to enjoy life to the full in the present time – every day is such a blessing.

Special thanks to:

My husband, Dan, who often offers to drop me off places for a run, or picks me up when I’ve run a long way from home and ran out of steam or am suffering an injury! He always encourages me and never makes me feel guilty for taking the time to get out and explore the trails (he also makes sure I’m safe – asking where I’m going and sometimes tracking me when I’ve headed into more remote areas). He’s always there to give me a hug at the finish line and celebrate.

Eve, of Life in Motion Run Club Coaching. I followed her training plan for the 50km event, along with the amazing workouts she provides, and felt thoroughly prepared for this event.

Fibi, of Zerotwenty2 SportsCo, who keeps me stocked up with ‘Tailwind’ to fuel my long runs and help with recovery, ‘Lily Trotter’ compression socks, and T8 running shorts.

Wildthings NZ – New Zealand’s trail running community – for inspirational trails, that kept my training fresh, motivational challenges and a community of trail loving people that continually inspire and amaze me with their adventures.