60 km · Fiordland National Park, South-West South Island
In lieu of a poem this time, please accept this adaptation of the song "Distance" by Cake, which was stuck in my head for most of the run.
Anxiously perched at the starting line
Heart rate pumping and thumping in time
The countdown screams ONE, the airhorn goes hoot!
Hustling and bustling, we pour through the chute
We deftly manoeuvre, though careless of rank
Fuel burning fast on a far-too-full tank
Untamed and wild, we awe every turn
The lake, the mountains, the cliffs, the ferns
The Grunters fly up and then thunder back down
We're cheered along by the whole Te Anau town
The bush starts to thin, the ridgeline appears
If heights aren't your thing, it's time to face your fears
The moon has gone down and the sun has come up
Not long now till the winners take the cup
I'm still panting and heaving and clinging through turns
And thinking of anything but how, calves, burn
Cos I'm going the distance
Not going for speed
I'm not alone, not alone, not alone
In this time of need
Because I'm not racing, just pacing, and plodding the course
Fueled by tequila, a questionable source
We're going the distance
The support, Mum's pom poms, aid stations divine
I'm spurred on by vibes I cannot decline
Bowel-shaking switchbacks, that gnarly mid-course
Assail me, derail me, I pound with brute force
In my mind I am flying, enjoying the grade
I'm hoping in time that these memories won't fade
Cause I'm grinning, and singing, and loving the course
I'm hurting, legs screaming, flogging a dead horse
So thankful for the down after so much damn up
So thankful for the dual filling of my cup
I'm still striding and cruising and rounding the turns
And thinking of anything but how, quads, burn
Cos I did the distance
Not one for speed
Never felt alone, felt alone, felt alone
Had all I could need
Kepler was gruelling, and painful, and I'll be back of course
I'll fight harder, train better, get back on the horse
I'll be racing, and bolting, now I know the course
I'll be fighting and vibing and giving it full force
Watch had wrong distance
Two k more I need
So much damn distance
Oww! Oww!