🔦 When Ultras Don’t Go to Plan

Greg Jenkins is no stranger to either success or adversity in ultra-distance running. He ran a very good UTA100 in May 2024 writing an excellent race report for us. But he really had to tough it out in the Kosci Miler in November 2024, enduring stomach issues, a fall that injured his shoulder, a two-hour electrical storm delay, and more than 12 hours of torrential rain. He finished the Kosci race in good spirits having enjoyed the whole experience, so when he made the call to voluntarily withdraw from the UTA miler I was thinking the worst – broken ankle? knee blown up? What could have stopped him?

His honest, detailed account of this year’s UTA Miler is a powerful reminder that even the strongest runners face moments when things unravel — and that mindset, more than anything, is what gets tested.

Greg didn’t finish the race. But he did something just as valuable — he took the time to reflect, process, and share his experience so others can learn from it. From the outside, this might look like a DNF. But from within, it’s the kind of report that can shape better runners, better preparation, and better self-awareness.

Thanks, Greg, for the courage to tell this story. There’s a lot to take away — about fuelling, pacing, crewing, and above all, the mental game.

Race Plan

The aim was to start around mid pack or top 2/3 of the field. There is a long single track section through Grand Canyon after only about 1km, so I didn’t want to be caught at the back of the field. I wanted to stay comfortable through to the Hydro checkpoint (47km) and reset/discuss with crew, then manage the short section to Narrow Neck checkpoint (crew again) then the aim was to have no crew until the Aquatic Centre checkpoint at 117km.

If feeling good the aim was to stay solid on Narrow Neck and use drop bags at both of the Six Foot Track checkpoints. The aim then was to have a short sleep at the Aquatic Centre and to start using a pacer from there.

Fuelling: Aiming for 50-50g carbs per hour using a mix of Tailwind, gels and real food at the aid stations.

I had requested that my crew does not report on anything to do with race position / age group position until reaching the Aquatic Centre. Then I could decide how to pace the rest of the course based on that information.

Race Day

Up at 2:20am, taped feet, did not realise could have taken finish line bag to the start. Wore rain jacket and thermal top + yellow beanie and bucket hat, bus from Fairmont at 3:30am. Temp about 10 degreesC. Prior to start I packed the extra clothing layers into my race vest. Feeling confident at the start, feeling ready to race. I ate half a Maurten bar just prior to start.

Start to Perry’s – 16.7km

Comfortable first km before the single track down into Grand Canyon. As expected the next 5km or so was stairs and single track, happy with the group I was moving with. Back out onto the single track along the cliff top, taking my time here before getting onto the road section. I picked up a few places on the downhill road, feeling good and running comfortably.

Perrys to Fortress – 27.5km

Filled bottles, 2 Tailwind and 1 Koda for the next section. Felt good all through this section, enjoyed the climb. Was feeling efficient and keeping on top of fuelling. Legs felt strong at the top of the climb. Nice to get to the top of Lockley’s. Passed a couple of people on the way to Mt Hay Rd then steady progress on the road, was a bit longer than I thought and quite undulating, jogged all of it except the steeper sections.

Fortress Ridge to Hydro – 47.1km

This is a long section of the course, almost 20km to the Hydro Majestic. It was a new section for me, and I was expecting it to be slow and tough going. Refilled my bottles, 2 Tailwind & 1 Koda. The Fortress Ridge section was ok mostly runnable trail and single track. There was a rocky descent to the first turnaround. I was feeling very comfortable. Bruce’s walk was slow and the climb was pretty hard work, ropes, ladders mud etc. Nice to get out onto runnable trail at the top. Ran strongly into the Hydro checkpoint feeling really good to have this section done and looking forward to seeing crew.

Hydro to Narrowneck – 54.9km

Had some noodles. Dry socks, shirt and new hat. Crew coming to next CP so did not not to carry much. Moved nicely through this section, enjoyed the track from top of Nellie’s to Katoomba.

Narrowneck to Medlow Gap – 70.1km

Nice to see crew again, restocked to get through to the Six Foot Track checkpoint where my drop bag would be waiting. Picked up my Petzl Nao headlight. Had some more noodles. I left the checkppint feeling good and planning to run a solid section out along the Narrow Neck ridge line. I was moving comfortably, jogging a lot of the hills, keeping my heart rate in zone 2 and fuelling regularly. I arrived at Duncans pass having passed a few people and feeling good. I took my time down Duncans, and enjoyed the single trail down to Medlow. Had a sit by the fire, ate some noodles and chips, refilled my bottles, got my night gear sorted, Hi Vis, Petzl Nao headlight. Left the checkpoint as it was getting dark.

Medlow Gap to Foggy Knob – 77.6km

Starting to struggle a bit through this section, still moving pretty well, but looking forward to getting into Foggy. I was counting the kms to the checkpoint near the end of the section. Had a sit by the fire. Ate more noodles and chips and refilled bottles.

Foggy Knob to Six Foot Track 1 – 91.2km

Enjoyed the run to Iron Pot ridge and the climb went well. Had a significant fall on the ridge return, hit my head and banged my knee, damaged my glasses. I regrouped and pushed on, the downhill went well, although I started moving very slowly through the next section to Six Foot. By the time I got to the road section I was struggling to get above a walk and felt like I had no energy. I had a short sit on the side of the road a couple of times. I struggled into the Six Foot Track checkpoint, which had a really good vibe, but I was not feeling great. I grabbed my dropbag and did a restock and repack. Spoke to my crew on the phone. They decided to come out to the checkpoint and catch me on the way back. I had a caffeine gel some coke, noodles etc. I had in my mind that the next 16km was going to be difficult.

Six Foot Track 1 to Six Foot Track 2 – 107.2km

I started this section with a walk jog and was moving ok, but could not find the energy to sustain more than a walk after the first 3k or so. I had tried caffeine, food, coke and music, but couldn’t find a way to get moving better than I was, At this point my mindset became very negative. The longer this section went on the more convinced I became that I should withdraw when I got back to the checkpoint. I rang the crew a couple of km’s out from the checkpoint to let them know of the plan. They were not very supportive and said we would discuss it when I arrived and that Harley would be pacing for me during the next section. I kept moving as efficiently as possible but it was slow going. I was not tired, my legs were good, my right foot needed re-taping, but I had no energy at all and I had lost the will to continue.

After much heated discussions with my crew who thought I should continue, I made the decision to withdraw.

What went well?
  • Very happy with the race up until Medlow Gap. I came into the Hydo ahead of planned time and feeling good.
  • Crew very well organised.
  • No gear issues.
  • 20 min fuelling strategy with alarm on watch went well
  • Loaded the course map onto my watch, that was good also
What did not go well?
  • I think my mindset was not right. I needed clear priorities from the start so that if the race falls apart there is a fallback position, in retrospect I was not mentally clear about that.
  • Here are my three potential race scenarios:
    • Race A: things mostly go something like the plan
    • Race B: things deviate substantially from the plan but recalibration is feasible
    • Race C: everything falls apart and the goal is simple to finish at any cost
  • For the first time in a miler I did not start with Race C in the back of my mind, so when things completely fell apart it was not clear what to do next.
  • Taping of my right foot was not ok – should have rectified it when it started to hurt
Why did things fall apart?
  • I had never gone out at this pace in a 100k or miler before. Usually I start very slow, am very patient, and work my way into the race, I decided to be more confident this time!
  • I think my pacing was ok, maybe I went a fraction hard on Narrow Neck plateau but I always felt controlled.
  • I was not disciplined with my mind, usually in the good sections I try to stay calm and focussed and not get too buoyant, that was not the case today.
  • I think I underfuelled. Possibly underestimated the fuel cost of the Grose Valley climb and moving a bit faster than I normally would in the first half of a miler. Although fuelling every 20min I think my carb intake was not high enough – It was probably less than 50g/hr
  • I think a ran out of fuel and then did not have mindset to work through that and reset my race

    It has been difficult coming to terms with what happened in this race, in some ways this is the race I needed to have so I could learn some important lessons, however it is extremely disappointing to have withdrawn under these circumstances. I feel like I let myself down and I let my crew down.
Lessons
  • Have a clear focussed mindset from the start and be prepared to deal with the worst of contingencies
  • Begin the race with the very clear goal to finish no matter what
  • Staying calm and focussed through the good sections of the race means there is a better chance of staying calm and focussed through the bad sections
  • Practice increased fuelling + hydration
  • Unless injured, instruct the crew to give the final orders in terms of continue or withdraw, they are well placed to judge whether I can complete another section

Race reflections – 3 weeks post race

I am still reflecting on my race, and think there were definitely some fuelling and pacing issues. I think most of what went wrong though was in my head. I got caught looking at pace on my watch at around 70-80k which I never do in long races and became fixated on it instead of not worrying about pace or time and focussing on patiently moving through the course.


Emotionally I did not do well. I do a lot of mindfulness practice, part of which is about observing and noticing emotions and feelings but not getting too immersed in them. This is not what happened in the race, I got very immersed in feeling great, and of course when the crash came I crashed hard. I had lots of tools in my mental toolbox but could not find any of them, I think because the crash in mindset happened so dramatically and unexpectedly that i did not know how to respond.

This is a really good lesson for me. I know that I have the physical capabilities but mindset can never be taken for granted, these long races will find your weakest point and exploit it.