Tarawera 102 2025 DNF

A DNF

When all the training in the world doesn’t guarantee a good race.

But first…Let's go back to how it started in 2024

I was really keen to have another crack at TUM102 after my 2024 attempt. Although I had a decent result in ‘24 where I made the top 10 (7th male) I didn’t really feel like I’d conquered the race. Two things in particular were drawing me back:

1. The course in 2024 was a modified out and back version but for 2025 it was going back to a point to point and I loved the idea of that.

2. In 2024 I spent a lot of time walking and jogging very slowly over the last 30km. I wanted to go back and run fast.

   
   

On top of those two things - this race is a great excuse for me to see my family and hometown.

Omanu Beach with Mount Maunganui in the distance

Training block - The marathon doesn’t owe you anything.

When I plan for an A race I invariably aim to hit around 200 km or 15-20 hours per week. I know I won’t achieve that for 8-10 weeks straight but that’s what I consider the ideal week in a big block. Looking at my Strava for the build to Tarawera I did average well over 160 km per week with a couple of 190 km weeks and 1 week at 200 kms.

A block like that creates pressure, both externally and internally. For both it comes in much the same way, “All that effort can’t go to waste!”. A sense of deserving to get something back from the work put in. 

I had so many messages of support in the lead in. More than I’ve ever had before. It was really nice. In the aftermath of what I consider a failure, I don’t feel like I have let anyone down but I do feel we should all be a bit disappointed. But as Peter Bromka says:  “The marathon doesn’t owe you anything”.

Fueling focus, Carb cycling and ketosis:

I have experimented a lot over the last 6-12 months with low carb diet variations. Initially going full keto in the second half of 2024 I found that it just didn’t work for me as I was not able to run at high intensity. I have also heard it said that keto can speed up recovery but that was not the case for me either.

So after not having the energy to run well at the Melbourne half marathon in 2024 I ended my hard keto experiment, moving to a more cyclical approach and it has worked really well for me. At a high level my approach involves going low carb from Sunday afternoon through to Wednesday morning. Then from around lunch on Wednesday, reintroducing carbs, all the way through to Sunday morning.

There is plenty of recent research suggesting that carbs before, during and directly after intense exercise aids performance in the next intense workout. Similarly these studies support the idea that being low carb but eating carbs just prior to and during short intense exercise isn't enough to fuel it effectively. My perception supports both of these theories. Now this isn’t a research article but here is one good link to some research. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4008807)

So I’m a yes for carbs and a yes for ketones.

I have trained my body to use ketones now with some of my most enjoyable long runs over the past 6 months being fueled by a caffeine/ketone combo and not much else. Anything up to 3 hrs feels amazing. This is definitely something I will continue with into the future.

Switch keto salts

In terms of products I have graduated from MCT oil to BHP salts ( Switch is my brand of choice). And also Ketone IQ which is a stronger diol form. 

In the lead up to Tarawera I focused a lot on my fueling. Combining high carb, ketones, bcaas and electrolytes. My nutrition was really dialled in and I was very happy with how it came together on race day.

Pre race I followed a fairly standard carb load extended out to 3 days but on race morning I opted for bcaas, electrolytes, 120 gms of carbs in gels, 20 gms of caffeine and 1 ketone IQ as breakfast instead of my usual rice.

The race:

Startline

We got to the start precinct with about 25 minutes to go. I would normally consider this enough time but it wasn’t the case on this day. If you are reading as research for your own attempt, I suggest you get there extra early, 45 minutes would be safe. For 2025 at least the issue was the classic not enough portaloos. Long queues of up over 100 people waiting and less than 10 minutes until the start can not be disputed. Events do love to put this back on the runners but really it wouldn’t happen if they had more portaloos or better signage or assigned someone as a toilet marshall.

Shirts optional

I was actually ok with it, I found a bush to wee behind and planned to hit the toilet at one of the checkpoints. That ended up being Outlet at the 27k mark. As I had hoped, it was a very quick pit stop, definitely no queue, then back on the trail.

 Flat and fast 

Again, for anyone reading this in research for your own race..the first KMs from Firmin field to Outlet are flat and fast. Road shoes would be a good choice, although maybe not ones with a big cut out in the bottom to catch rocks. The surface is a mixture of gravel, grass and dirt.

Photo credit: Paul Charteris

I ran the first section in and around the lead female pack. The pace was decent, for me it was a controlled, conservative effort. I wanted to hit Fenton Mill in under 3 hours 30 minutes which I did. I ran with Ruth for a bit of this… although it was more a case of her catching and passing over a few ks. Beth had flown out of the blocks and put a couple of minutes into the other females. It was a gap I’m sure Ruth didn’t want to let get too large. She did have a bit of an issue at Outlet where she was looking for a drop bag that didn’t exist (no drop bags for us at that point). I made my toilet stop there and didn’t see her again as she charged on up the course.

Where it went wrong:

On the Friday before the race I weighed in at 73 kgs. I didn't get to see my post race weight but it was humid and I was sweating a lot from early on. I started to get the same kind of muscle cramp in my stomach as 2024 after about 40k. This time though I was ready to up my electrolyte dosage. By adding an extra 250 mg of sodium to drinks and taking a couple of salt tablets as well, I had that pain under control. Overall by 40 km in I was feeling fatigue in various places but nothing too concerning. 

I noticed something different not long after Fenton Mill. A more specific and “new” pain when lifting my right leg. I hoped it was a temporary pain and kept pushing on. Unfortunately it didn’t pass and continued to be triggered going up and down. By the time I reached Okataina I was worried, but seeing my family gave me the boost I needed. I layered on some Magnesium spray, reloaded my fuel and kicked on.

Could I have taken some ibuprofen or paracetamol at this point?  Maybe…But I didn't.

Unfortunately I was too tight in too many directions and it caught up with me by the way of a locked hip. The section between Okatiana and Millar is single track and rutty. It was not what I needed and I could not run without some severe pain. Could I have battled on and finished after getting through to Millar? Absolutely. Would that have given me any joy? Absolutely not. Simple decision. Time for an early mark.

A note here on my mental state. I haven't felt this clear of mind throughout an ultra before. I have to credit and highly recommend ketones for this.

I'd like to DNF please

Checking in

DNF'ing at 73 km in a 100km race is harder than you'd think. I got to Miller aid station and said “I'd like to DNF please but then I want to walk down the road to meet my family”

The volunteers then tried to help me keep going…suggesting deep heat, the medic, a sit down.. and then finally that I could try and walk for a bit and if I still wanted to stop just let a marshall know. So I ended up not officially DNF’ing there, walking the k or so down the road until I came across my sister in law Jo and brother Richard. I said to them “great, you guys are here to pick me up.” Fortunately there was a marshall there as well so I was able to get them to call in my drop out. Race over. 

Post race blues:

In this week post race I am really struggling with the “what does it mean?” and “what do I do now?”. I go from wanting to pack in running all together to wanting to sign up for another shot at TUM102 in 2026. Today I woke up motivated to run, I hope that holds for a while. I’ll take another couple of days before getting back to it but with the chance to race a fast 50k just around the corner I’m sure I’ll be feeling that runners high again in no time at all.

Congratulations and Thanks 

A massive congratulations to all the runners out there at Tarawera in 2025. Some amazing times at the front but even more amazing are the people who finish hunched over and broken to sneak inside the time limits. Everyone who gets on to the start line deserves their kudos.

Thanks to everyone who has shared words of encouragement, both before and after the race. It really has meant a lot to have so much support. And finally thanks to my family in Tauranga for supporting me on the day. Mum, Dad, Rich, Jo, Cath and Jay..it was great to have you there out on course.

Andy

PS. please hit me up if you are thinking about doing the race and have questions.