Joanne Walker, an ultrarunner from New Zealand, is among more than 8,000 participants in Ultra-Trail Australia, the country's largest trail running event. The race, set in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, includes a 163km course with over 7,000 metres of elevation gain and loss. Walker describes the physical toll: 'The pain starts in your feet but before long it moves up to your knees and eventually you feel like you just can't move your legs any more.'
Men outnumber women four to one in the event, which is known for its extreme difficulty. Walker notes that after 30 hours without sleep, the mind can also falter. 'At one point, I did not even know where I was going; I was swerving all over the shop,' she says. Runners often seek reasons to quit; one told Walker he hoped to find someone near death to assist, giving him an excuse to stop.
Despite the suffering, participants have varied motivations. Many cite author Haruki Murakami's idea of running to 'acquire a void'. Walker echoes this: 'I think there is a really beautiful simplicity in that, everything just returns to absolute basics.' She adds that the race can trigger impostor syndrome when looking at the course map and elevation profile.
Walker's family provides crucial support. Her partner, Cam Pond, and children, Ben and Sidney, flew from New Zealand to assist. Pond monitors her GPS through the night. At aid stations, Ben gives her baked potatoes and chicken soup, while Sidney wipes her face with baby wipes. Walker compares the experience to a boxing match, with the trail landing 'a few punches'.
During a 24km stretch with Guardian Australia, Walker descends the 1,000 steps of the Grand Canyon track. She describes running as 'flatlining'—a break from life's constant demands. 'You can't think about all the bad things in the world... when everything hurts, and the only thing on your mind is getting to the top of the hill, or to the next aid station,' she says.
