26/10/2026
2nd Age Group 🥈
Cappadocia Ultra Trail — 38km | 2nd Age Group
The goal was simple: top 3 and under 3 hours.
It didn't quite go to plan.
This year's course slightly longer and a little different from last year's, and I hadnt changed my gpx file and was surprised by that one. I felt good early and was actually sitting in 1st place in my age group with around 1.5km to go.
Then I blew up.
The last ~8km was a proper lesson in pacing, fuelling, knowing when to hold back and learning to update my course file. By the time I reached the finish, the sub-3 goal was gone and I crossed in 3:21, but still managed 2nd in my age group.
Obviously I'm happy with another podium, but I'm more interested in what I got wrong than the medal. I've been blowing up after 30k this season, even thoughh I've spent some time working on durability. Goes to show as we age, strength is such an important factor and never neglect it. not like in your 20s and 30s when you dont need to focus on it as much.
This race I almost nailed my nutrition, well I thought I had until I got light headed and realised I had an extra gel on me when I was meant to have zero remaining. oops. at one point I must have hit my alarm and not followed with eating my gel. too focused on the trail.
That's racing.
You don't learn much from the races where everything goes perfectly. The useful stuff comes from working out why you faded, what you could have done differently, and how you make sure it doesn't happen next time.
Another race, another lesson.
2nd AG • 38km • 3:21 • ~1,150m elevation
