CRISPY WITH THE ROCK
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The smile before the storm. (Photo credit: Luke Jarmey.)
Stablemate Jenny “Tenacious T” Tilley hopped over to the Mother Continent to tackle the Ultra X Tanzania, comprising of a disconcerting 250 kilometres over five days—as she does.
Tilley was one of 99 ultra-mentalists who started the insane quest; 76 finished, and our lass placed 50th overall and 15th woman. Fandabidozi!
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Based around the foothills of Kilimanjaro, the tenacious one skipped through the mesmerising vistas of the national park and local nature reserves—including a trek halfway up the famous mountain—all while slathered in factor-50 for protection from the high sun and scorchio-rooney temperatures.
The Stable News-hound himself, Ally “the Chin” Smith, put down his chips and dip and pinned Tilley down for the goss:
Ally: How’s it going, Jenny? Only you (and 98 others, ha) could think it’s normal to run 50km a day for five days! How did it go?
Jenny: Overall, I thought it was a fantastic race: very well organised, and an incredible route through villages and rural Africa, with the chance to run to 3,000m up Mount Kilimanjaro. Ultra X did a fantastic job with the route, which was a combination of trail paths and technical terrain—and an opportunity to camp in a nature reserve.
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Ally: An adventure of a lifetime, I bet?
Jenny: It sure was, but it was a very tough and challenging race, with very steep ascents/descents, and a warm and humid environment. However, the people, and the general race support, were second to none. There were therapists and medical teams at hand throughout the race, even offering 15-minute massages every evening for the competitors. I would recommend this race or any of Ultra X races to anyone who wants to delve into ultras; it was great.
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Ally: Astounding … I am in complete awe of your achievement, Jenny. What’s next?
Jenny: That is a good question. I’d like to do my first 100-mile race maybe next year! But my immediate plan is to enjoy summer. 😊
Ally: Perfecto. Enjoying whatever “summer” we get sounds like a plan, and a wee hundo is well within your grasp. Catch you later.
Jenny: Cheers, Ally.
Meanwhile, in gangsta’s paradise, The Stablemaster was floating around the pool on a lilo, strawberry daiquiri in hand: “Simply epic from our girl Jenny … A multi-day smorgasbord of technical terrain and sensational savannahs. Jenny gets stronger as she goes through the stages. There’s simply no quit in her, and finishing a good ways up the field shows why she is the tenacious one.