The Black Spur Ultra race, presented by Sinister Sports, is coming back to Kimberley for the sixth time on August 21 to 22, 2021. The race has runs of 54 and 108 kilometres, done solo or in relays.

Paddy Humenny of Kimberley has been involved with the Black Spur since its inception, from three different perspectives: a participant, a volunteer and a sponsor.

He had already been running ultras B次元官网网址� generally speaking any race over a marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres B次元官网网址� for a while before Bryan Gallant, owner of Sinister Sports, chose Kimberley as the home for the Black Spur, so Humenny got on board very early.

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Before running ultras, Humenny was an ultra endurance mountain biker, up until about 2012, when he started crewing for friends who were getting into endurance running. He quickly fell in love with the scene and in 2013 trained for an 80 miler called the Canadian Death Race. The first Black Spur wasnB次元官网网址檛 too long after that and itB次元官网网址檚 just snowballed from there.

He explained that he enjoys running and found he was quite good at it. As a self employed man who owns an outdoor supply store, he loves getting out into the backcountry but doesnB次元官网网址檛 always have the necessary time to do so. Endurance running has become a way that he can get out and do an excursion in a single day that would take an average backpacker three or four.

Humenny agreed that these ultra races are certainly not for everyone, but the Black Spur offers a few ways for people interested in pushing themselves to get into ultra racing without doing the full 108 km solo run.

The Black Spur in particular thrives on participants who join up as relay teams, allowing the runners to attack a stretch and then rest while their teammate takes over.

Asked to described what motivates someone to put their bodies and minds through something as intense as an Ultra, Humenny had many thoughts.

B次元官网网址淯ltras are kind of like life in a day,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to go through bad spells, youB次元官网网址檙e going to go through great highs, youB次元官网网址檙e going to see people that are struggling, you might struggle yourself and thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be perseverance within that too.B次元官网网址�

While running up and down a mountain, over rocks and roots, pushing yourself to the very limit, Humenny said you go through the entire gamut of human emotion and while the course is long, the biggest distance in a 54 or 108 kilometre race is the B次元官网网址渟ix inches between your ears.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be highs and lows,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople talk about runner high, like in a marathon where you get to that point where everything feels effortless, your mind is zen because youB次元官网网址檙e just focused on one task, youB次元官网网址檙e just out there running.

B次元官网网址淭rail running is the same way. When youB次元官网网址檙e out in the mountains if youB次元官网网址檙e in a good mindset and youB次元官网网址檙e staying hydrated and on top of your nutrition, generally your mind is in a happy place, itB次元官网网址檚 when you start getting tired, maybe a little dehydrated, maybe a little fatigued that the brain worms as we call it work their way in.B次元官网网址�

He said that while ultras donB次元官网网址檛 necessarily attract one specific type of person, competitors are likely very strong willed, strong in the mind, a little stubborn and perhaps a little quirky.

There are some who are extremely competitive and want to set the best time for the rest of the group, there are others for whom it is a purely personal battle. Humenny, for example, said he tends to be more on the competitive side, but what blows him away are those who B次元官网网址渃lose out the course.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e chasing time limits, theyB次元官网网址檙e chasing the cutoffs, theyB次元官网网址檙e out there the longest, theyB次元官网网址檙e ultimately going the slowest but theyB次元官网网址檙e also going through all of those experiences.B次元官网网址�

Intentions going in are important, Humenny said. If youB次元官网网址檙e in it to try and impress other people, youB次元官网网址檙e probably doing it for the wrong reasons, and youB次元官网网址檙e more likely to struggle than succeed.

B次元官网网址淭hat struggle isnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily defined by a result, you could be first place and not necessarily be strong mentally and you could be last and come out of it so well that the rest of your life is changed because youB次元官网网址檝e realized you can really do anything that you put your mind to.B次元官网网址�

Following the race, itB次元官网网址檚 easy to tell whoB次元官网网址檚 participated. Look for those who appear extremely fit, but are walking like theyB次元官网网址檝e aged 40 or 50 years. Humenny said that after an effort like that your body takes a day or two to come down from the experience, and itB次元官网网址檚 usually accompanied by swollen muscles, sore bones, blisters and chaffing.

After the comedown from the runners high, almost like an addiction, thereB次元官网网址檚 a period of crash, and then youB次元官网网址檙e left thinking B次元官网网址渨hatB次元官网网址檚 next.B次元官网网址�

paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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