‘Herdy’s is about being there, having fun’

Contributed by Julia Mackay-Koelen, AURA Member (Stirling, WA)

HERDY’S FRONTYARD ULTRA, HERDSMAN LAKE (WESTERN AUSTRALIA),

18-20 March 2022

My plan going into every event run is to ‘finish with no new injuries’. Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra two weeks ago presented a unique challenge – what was ‘finish’? I was also recovering from a ‘hip thing’ (MRI, sports doctor, physio, etc) and hadn’t run for three weeks so I had no idea how my hip was going to behave or if it would play up like various other body parts do from time to time.

I’m not usually a fan of laps but wanted to try the Herdy’s format after a bad case of bed bugs forced me to withdraw from Birdy’s Backyard Ultra when I couldn’t get back to Perth in time. I signed up with one of my running wives – Kylie – and we had our minds set on at ‘least one lap, try for two and it will be a miracle if we make three.’

Arriving at the Herdy’s village was glorious and I love that feeling of being part of something special (similar to Lighthorse Ultra) however Kylie and I couldn’t help but notice all the marquees, couches, tables, etc. when we only had our little trolley – our reality was that we were there for a very short but fun time and definitively not a long time. Some of the set ups were magnificent and fit the bill for a classic Taj-ma-hutchie!

I am a tortoise runner (pole pole – Swahili for slowly-slowly is my running mantra) and it usually takes me at least 5kms to find my feet, warm up my legs and work out how to breathe, but Kylie and I knew we would have to leg it for the first lap. We started at the back so that the stampede of what seemed like a thousand runners could take off and we, well, legged it as much as possible. The weather was perfect, the brilliant drummers at the start line and the support from folk along the roadside and other runners was fantastic. Coming along the spooky part I worried that I wasn’t going to make the lap so Kylie graciously told me to ‘rack off’ (she said it much more nicely) and I legged it a bit more to get in the first lap. Kylie made it too.

The second lap was awesome – I found my legs, could breathe properly, ran most of the way and came in with a whopping 10 mins to spare. Grabbed some lollies and a lady in a marquee next to me very graciously lent me her phone charger. I didn’t see Kylie but knew she was around somewhere. Soundtrack. These Boots Are Made For Walking. That meant it was almost time for the next lap. And off for the third lap. Stampede in front.

I am used to being Tailend Charlie so it was no deal being at the back. It was actually quite lovely seeing all the runners in front snaking around the path but as it got a bit darker other snakes came to mind and the words of one of my colleagues held heavy in my head: ‘The tiger snakes come out at dusk, Julia.’

Oh stop it. But I felt okay – until I didn’t. My hip started to feel a bit tight so I slowed down and just counted steps of eight (a trick I learnt while trekking in Nepal) until I felt I could speed up a bit. Then I realised I needed the porta loo. Why is it that when I run, other, ahem, things happen? Seriously. This body of mine is not always my friend. The porta loo stop cost me precious minutes which I tried to make up for but the hip tightened again. Dammit. The ‘spooky bit’ was even spookier (winding double and single tracks amongst marsh-like trees), and I was all by myself. I didn’t want to stop and put on my head torch so I used what knowledge I had of the track and kept going at a slow shuffle. No new injuries, Julia.

I saw the end point and also saw that everyone had left which was a bit sad as I knew I hadn’t made the third lap, but there was Kylie welcoming me over the finish line thingy which was the best sight ever. I shuffled to the bell and rang that gong! Fist pump from race director Shaun Kaesler and I got my well-deserved DNF fork trophy. Elated. Finished a great night off with a cup of tea at Kylie’s house.

I would love to have stayed longer but working Saturday and Sunday was a bummer – next time I will take the weekend off work! Wait, did I say next time? I said I would never do it again, but I have learned not to say this anymore as the lure of a great event, a wonderful village/community atmosphere and another goal (maybe four or even five next time) will have me heading back again. Herdy’s is not about how far, it’s about being there, doing it and having a bloody great time. Thank you to Shaun, all the organisers and magnificent vollies for a fantastic event.

Julia Mackay-Koelen takes a selfie at the start line of Herdy’s with her running ‘wife’ Kylie Sherwin. Photograph – Julia Mackay-Koelen.