At 13 years old, KimberleyB次元官网网址檚 own Ben Taylor-Vallance is the youngest-ever finisher of the Black Spur Ultra 54-kilometre race, which was held at Kimberley Alpine Resort from Aug. 26 to 27.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know I would be the youngest of all time, but I knew I would be one of the younger people to finish,B次元官网网址� Taylor-Vallance told the Bulletin.

He has been into running for about two years now, first starting out alongside his dad, a long-time runner himself. This was his first ultra marathon, but he said heB次元官网网址檚 done some B次元官网网址渟horterB次元官网网址� 20-km runs, and is on a cross country team.

His dad, Jeff Vallance, said that at first he was hesitant to sign his son up for the gruelling 54-km trail run.

B次元官网网址淗e wanted to do it and I kind of made a deal with him where, B次元官网网址榟ey if you get up with me and get out and put in the time and practise on the different legs of the race then IB次元官网网址檒l put you in,B次元官网网址� and he did, so I registered him a little bit later. I probably only registered him about maybe three weeks ago. So I couldnB次元官网网址檛 really say no because he put in the time and I had no doubt that heB次元官网网址檇 be able to finish it.B次元官网网址�

Taylor-Vallance prepared for the race for about a year, running the individual legs at least once or twice a week, getting to the point where he was very familiar with the trails.

B次元官网网址淚 progressively tried to go faster and faster,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淪o when itB次元官网网址檚 the Black Spur day, you know how fast youB次元官网网址檙e going to be on the first two legs, but the third oneB次元官网网址檚 always B次元官网网址� you never know.B次元官网网址�

He said the first two legs of the race went fairly well, conditions were good and he did the first leg in around two hours, 20 minutes and the second in just over three. The third leg, he said, is when fatigue really starts to set in.

B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檙e at the aid station on the third leg you kind of feel like youB次元官网网址檙e almost back, but you arenB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just one step after another, you keep going and thinking of the feeling of finishing.B次元官网网址�

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Jeff, who also ran the 54 km, added that there were times on the trail when one of them would be struggling and the other would set the pace, and then theyB次元官网网址檇 switch it up.

B次元官网网址淭he ultra marathon group, everybody that does it is super, super supportive and everybody that would run along with us or run by us, they would ask him how old he was and they would just be blown away,B次元官网网址� Jeff said. B次元官网网址淚t was really neat to get all that support and encouragement on the trail, it was quite special.B次元官网网址�

Jeff said his sonB次元官网网址檚 grandparents came to town just in time to see him run down the last stretch of the race, and his mom, brother and sister were there to cheer him on as well.

B次元官网网址淚t was kind of funny, when we were coming up to the finish, when you approach the bridge of the ski hill, I told him B次元官网网址榟ey buddy you go first and that way everyone can see you coming down the mountain.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 had this that we would cross the finish line together, but he went in front of me and he totally took off and he finished about a minute ahead of me. So much for that vision of running across the line together,B次元官网网址� he added with a big laugh.

After taking a few days to rest his very sore legs, Taylor-Vallance said looking back on the experience feels pretty great.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big accomplishment for anybody, so just coming down the ski hill there, you just donB次元官网网址檛 want to slow down, you want to finish,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎t that point youB次元官网网址檝e been running for over nine hours and you want to just lay down.

B次元官网网址淚 just felt super accomplished. I had a small interview and they told me I was the youngest to ever do it, I was very happy with myself knowing that. Like, IB次元官网网址檝e done an ultra marathon B次元官网网址� yeah.B次元官网网址�

Taylor-Vallance, who was born and raised in Kimberley, added he has no further big races planned but plans to sign up for Black Spur again next year. In the meantime heB次元官网网址檒l spend time mountain biking, snowboarding and, of course, trail running.

paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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