8-week coaching effect: 102km complete.

Tarawera Ultra (Feb’26) - 102km mountain run … This was the furthest I had ever run…

Tough, rain-soaked conditions — but we had a plan, and I was able to put it into practice

This was the furthest I had ever run, and with eight weeks to go I approached Action Potential for help. I had some consistent training behind me, but I needed structure, specific sessions, and guidance around nutrition to give myself the best chance of performing well.

Those final eight weeks brought plenty of change — more structured distance and terrain work mixed with effort sessions, plus important adjustments to my nutrition. It wasn’t always easy, but I embraced the process and committed fully to the advice and structure. The improvements came quickly. We could both see the difference in my training data, and we did everything possible in a short space of time. Together, we also built a clear race strategy: hike the hills with purpose, fuel consistently, start conservatively, and aim to move through the field as the race unfolded.

At 7:00am in Kawerau, the race began in the rain — and that became a major factor. The course heads out along the Tarawera Trail, around the lake, across the road at Okataina Lodge, back into the bush, up to Millar Road, through the Redwoods, and finishes in Rotorua. The first 45km were wet but reasonably runnable, though muddy in places. My nutrition plan — a set combination of fluids and solids — worked well throughout the day.

After the third aid station, the rain returned and the steep descents became increasingly muddy and technical. By 57km my shoes were full of mud, so I changed them at my drop bag and hiked the tougher sections as planned. I steadily moved through the field up to around 85km, just as we had discussed. The strategy was working, and I felt strong.

A special way to finish…

The final 9km brought darkness and more rain, but with 7km to go my sister and brother-in-law joined me, and for the last 2km the kids ran with me as well. It was a special way to finish.

Out of 938 runners, I placed 6th in my age group and 39th female overall.

I truly wouldn’t have achieved that result without Russell’s guidance, structure, and expertise.