CATEGORY 132 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST Alan: Tell me about this race coming up. John: It’s called UTA. Ultra Trail Australia. I’m doing the 100 kay. A: So the question is why? J: Well it’s interesting. I started doing a lot of running when I was doing a lot of climbing. Mountaineering. And it’s part of fitness. In 2018 I was trying to do more running. Keep fit. And got into purely just running and reading books on running. A: Have you done any ultras so far? J: A few in the 50/60 kay range. A: This is an important race. In the Blue Mountains? J: It’s hosted out of Katoomba and runs through the Blue Mountains. I’ve never been up there. A: Never been to the Blue Mountains? J: No. A: This is one way of seeing it. A: Sounds incredibly exciting. Can we talk about your training? How long have you been training for this race specifically? J: I don’t train for races specifically. I just basically train and then think it would be fun to do something like this. A: How many kays a week would you doing? J: Max kays I have done is 100 to 110. That’s my maximum. A fair few weeks ago. But I’ve tapered done from there. Normal weeks about 70/80 kays. A: How long would your long run be? J: Max about 30 kays. A: Where do you train? J: On “The Mountain.” A: Also known as Mt Wellington. So you’ve never done a race of this length? J: No. A: How is it going to be? J: Absolutely no idea. A: Do you think it will be painful? J: Oh yes. It’s guaranteed to be. A: How do cope with the pain? J: Basically go with it. I’ll confront it when I get there. A: Where are you going to find success on Saturday? J: Purely just doing it. A: This incredibly important race. It’s a big race for you. Have you spoken to your patients about it? J: With some of them. Some are into running. And then I talk to them but other people. No. It’s a hobby I enjoy at the moment. A: How are you feeling about this incredible adventure? How are you feeling? J: I don’t get too nervous about these things. A: Will you sleep well this week? J: Yah. I’ll be fine. A: Even though your running has come down a lot? You are doing a taper? J: Yes. I’ll probably go for a bit of a 5 kay run today and that’s it. Then nothing for four days? A: Apart from eating. J: Don’t eat more. Don’t eat less. Gotta treat it as normal as possible. A: Are you going up with anyone? J: I got a couple of friends I’m going with but because of the way they have changed the route you can’t have any support crew so I’ll say goodbye to them at the start and catch up again at the end. A: It’s nice to have someone there. John is remarkably casual about his coming ultramarathon. He looks fit, healthy and relaxed. I’m sure his hobby helps him do better dentistry. THE FULL COMPLEMENT Dr AlanCarlton shares a coffeewith… JohnChung My aim in this column is to understand the dental community. I want every section of the dental community illuminated. Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has a story worth hearing. I talk to a local dentist a fewdays before and after his big adventure. The Big Race was UTA100 Katoomba 1054 starters 986 finishers First runner 8:10 John’s time: 13:08 John’s position: 256 A: Congratulations. You did incredibly well. How sore were your legs? J: Tired. I just felt tired. A: How many days of not running. J: Four days before I ran again. A: What did you learn? J: My training was good. A: Your next ultramarathon what changes would you make? Changes to training, drinks, food, race plan. J: Nothing. Everything went well. A: How did you feel crossing the finish line? J: Felt good. A: After running 100 kays did you feel that’s it or I can do more? J: I felt like I could have run more. A: Any feedback from patients. J: It’s my hobby. Not something I’ve talked about. A: I would say finishing something so challenging makes you a better person and a better dentist. J: Ahhh. A: You are physically fit. That helps. Finishing gives you confidence. When working you will from time to time confront something difficult or challenging. Then you can think. I can do this. Begin with one step. A: Congratulations. Go well next big run. John has mixed with people who were all doing something positive and constructive.That’s good. He is going to relate better with his patients. He is going to give them better treatment. u
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