At 13 years old, Kimberley香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 know I would be the youngest of all time, but I knew I would be one of the younger people to finish,香蕉视频直播� 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 he香蕉视频直播檚 done some 香蕉视频直播渟horter香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淗e wanted to do it and I kind of made a deal with him where, 香蕉视频直播榟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 I香蕉视频直播檒l put you in,香蕉视频直播� and he did, so I registered him a little bit later. I probably only registered him about maybe three weeks ago. So I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 really say no because he put in the time and I had no doubt that he香蕉视频直播檇 be able to finish it.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 progressively tried to go faster and faster,香蕉视频直播� he explained. 香蕉视频直播淪o when it香蕉视频直播檚 the Black Spur day, you know how fast you香蕉视频直播檙e going to be on the first two legs, but the third one香蕉视频直播檚 always 香蕉视频直播� you never know.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淥nce you香蕉视频直播檙e at the aid station on the third leg you kind of feel like you香蕉视频直播檙e almost back, but you aren香蕉视频直播檛,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just one step after another, you keep going and thinking of the feeling of finishing.香蕉视频直播�
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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 they香蕉视频直播檇 switch it up.
香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� Jeff said. 香蕉视频直播淚t was really neat to get all that support and encouragement on the trail, it was quite special.香蕉视频直播�
Jeff said his son香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚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 香蕉视频直播榟ey buddy you go first and that way everyone can see you coming down the mountain.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a big accomplishment for anybody, so just coming down the ski hill there, you just don香蕉视频直播檛 want to slow down, you want to finish,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎t that point you香蕉视频直播檝e been running for over nine hours and you want to just lay down.
香蕉视频直播淚 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, I香蕉视频直播檝e done an ultra marathon 香蕉视频直播� yeah.香蕉视频直播�
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 he香蕉视频直播檒l spend time mountain biking, snowboarding and, of course, trail running.
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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