Source : ABC NEWS
Ultra-marathoners from all over Australia will converge on the Northern Territory’s Larapinta Trail in the west MacDonnell/Tjoritja National Park from Friday.
Organisers of the West Macs Monster, which is held annually on the third weekend in May, say they are gearing up for the event’s biggest field across four races.
Event director and 231-kilometre race record holder, Simon Duke, said the race had been going from strength to strength since it was first held in 2019.
“It’s our biggest year ever,”
Mr Duke said.
“We have over 500 runners across all distances.”
The 2024 event brought an economic boost to Alice Springs.
“Last year it was $1.2 million and this year we should exceed that,” Mr Duke said.
Runners compete in last year’s event. (Supplied: Oliver Eclipse)
The races are the Sonder Monster (231km), Ellery Monster (128km), Standley Monster (65km) and the ABC Alice Springs Simpson Monster (25km).
A non-podium 25km race and a 5km fun run are also slated for the weekend.
This year 22 competitors are lining up for the 231km race, which starts 9am Friday at the base of the majestic Mt Sonder, the NT’s fourth highest peak.
“Half that start won’t finish,” Mr Duke said.
“The longer the distance the more likely things can go wrong; blisters, dehydration or any kind of joint pain.”
Ready to run
First-time competitor and Alice Springs resident, Lachie Donchi, is one of the 22 runners hoping to complete the race within the 60 hour cut -off time.
Lachie Donchi will compete in his first Sonder Monster race. (ABC News: Victoria Ellis)
He said he had wanted to compete in the West Macs Monster since he took up the sport about three years ago.
“I’d say it takes a certain type of person and there’s a whole bunch of legends that have done it before,” Mr Donchi said.
“[I’m] privileged to be able to take it on and looking forward to the adventure.“
He said the Larapinta Trail was very technical and rocky.
“So this is a next step up and I’m certainly looking forward to it,” he said.
“[If you] Compare it to trail running in Victoria or the southern states, it’s nothing like it.
“You’re almost kicking rocks every second step.
“There’s not really a part of the trail where you can let your guard down.”
Queen of the Larapinta Trail
Ultra-marathoner Liz Woodgate loves firsts, possibly as much as she loves the “brutally beautiful” Larapinta Trail.
Liz Woodgate, a legend of the Larapinta Trail, returns to the West Macs Monster as a race director. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
“The absolute remoteness and the opportunity to be in that environment — I don’t think you would experience anywhere else in the world,” she said.
“There are stages on the trail where you are immersed in so much bird life and others in the valleys where its peaceful and serene.”
In 2021, she was the first and only female to have won the 231-kilometre Sonder Monster.
Last year, she was the first woman to set the record of an “out and back”, which involved running the length of the trail and then doing it again, in under six days.
“Nobody can take the firsts away from you,” Ms Woodgate said.
“A younger, faster person can beat the time, but no-one can take the first.”
Her achievements have earned her the title Queen of the Larapinta Trail.
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“It’s an inside joke,” Ms Woodgate said.
Alice Springs women’s social trail running group coordinator, Morgana Garland-Fernandez, said she did not think anyone had traversed the Larapinta Trail as many times as Ms Woodgate had.
She coined Ms Woodgate’s title.
“It’s a very well-deserved title as there’s no competition,” Ms Garland-Fernandez said.
‘High-five the volunteers’
Ms Woodgate has returned to this year’s event as a race director.
Competitors set off on a 25km event in 2023. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
“Coming back as a volunteer and as a race director, it’s just my way of giving back and saying thank you to all the people who’ve given up time for me as a competitor in the in the past three times that I’ve run the race,” she said.
She said newcomers to the Sonder Monster should not ignore any problems and address them as soon as they arise.
“Don’t be surprised as to how slow you’ll be moving and enjoy the journey,”
she said.
“And high-five the volunteers,” she said.
Ms Woodgate said she couldn’t describe the joy of arriving at an aid station and seeing the volunteers who were often out there for as long as the competitors.
“They will bend over backwards for you,” she said.
“They cannot do enough for you.
“They will fill up your hydration pack, make you a toasted sandwich at any time of the day or night.”
