Ask anyone why they climb a mountain and they will reply ‘Because
it was there’. Now ask people why they would choose to run up and down a
walking track next a lake on Sydney’s Northern Beaches for 12 hours straight.
Most reply – ‘Because it was there’.
This past Saturday evening and Sunday morning I spent down at Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches of Sydney helping out a friend who was organising the 12 hour running event that was taking place. Now the rules for a 12 hour event are as it says on the packet – run as much as you can in 12 hours.
Due to the event taking place at night it is important to have some crew to assist and provide anything that was not provided by the official race organisers. Think eating potato chips, bananas, jelly sweets, sandwiches and just about anything else that you can think of in between.
It really astounded me to see how quickly some people headed off from the gun, but also how they all managed to keep going through the night with their spirits so high. Possibly the hardest time was at around 1am-3am when loads of crew mates were sleeping in tents and yet things had to continue for the runners.
It was so pleasing to see that some chaps from the US Navy turned out to run our humble event and they actually ended up coming third in the pairs competition. Good on them!!
The Narrabeen 12 hour race is something that I would recommend to any ultra-runner looking for something to do while in Sydney in January. A truly unique experience and one where you really see the human spirit coming out in spades. Made me really proud to be part of this group of people based in Sydney.
Running together (while fighting sleep demons through the night), stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
This past Saturday evening and Sunday morning I spent down at Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches of Sydney helping out a friend who was organising the 12 hour running event that was taking place. Now the rules for a 12 hour event are as it says on the packet – run as much as you can in 12 hours.
Due to the event taking place at night it is important to have some crew to assist and provide anything that was not provided by the official race organisers. Think eating potato chips, bananas, jelly sweets, sandwiches and just about anything else that you can think of in between.
It really astounded me to see how quickly some people headed off from the gun, but also how they all managed to keep going through the night with their spirits so high. Possibly the hardest time was at around 1am-3am when loads of crew mates were sleeping in tents and yet things had to continue for the runners.
It was so pleasing to see that some chaps from the US Navy turned out to run our humble event and they actually ended up coming third in the pairs competition. Good on them!!
The Narrabeen 12 hour race is something that I would recommend to any ultra-runner looking for something to do while in Sydney in January. A truly unique experience and one where you really see the human spirit coming out in spades. Made me really proud to be part of this group of people based in Sydney.
Running together (while fighting sleep demons through the night), stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller
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