S8E10 -- 2026 UM Australia Champions | Mark Thomson + Nat Dodd

We sit down with Ultraman Australia’s 2026 champions, Mark Thomson and Nat Dodd, to unpack how they manage 515 kilometers across three days in Noosa with calm pacing, tight recovery routines, and crews that never miss a beat.

Mark Thomson joins from New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula and breaks down how a first-time Ultraman athlete paces like a veteran: conservative swimming, steady biking by feel, and relentless fueling that protects day three. We talk crew roles, staying calm when the leaderboard is separated by seconds, and what it’s like to have a school community tracking you through a 515-kilometer endurance test. Then we get into the closer: his run plan and the mindset behind dropping a sub-7-hour double marathon after two days of racing.

Nat Dodd, also from New Zealand, shares the other side of the podium and the same core truth: execution beats drama. She explains the nutrition shift that finally solved race-day GI issues, her swim feeding routine with a paddler, and how her crew’s energy kept her from going dark. We also talk pacing discipline on the double marathon, her “lungefluencer” moment on course, workplace support, and what she’s considering next, from Ultraman New Zealand to a return to the Ironman World Championship.

Be sure to check out all the action from the YouTube Livestream.

If you’re into Ultraman, Ironman, long-distance triathlon training, endurance nutrition, or building a crew system that actually works, this one is packed with practical takeaways. Subscribe for more, share it with your training group, and leave a quick review if these champion-level lessons help you race smarter.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Hukuai Primary School
• No Code Events
• Pāuanui Trail Epic
• Blue Lake 24 hour Challenge
• UM New Zealand
• IM New Zealand
• Coast to Coast
• Taupo Marathon
• APAC Ingredients 

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Matt Kerr
• Carl Read
• Simon Cochrane
• Sara Ryan
• Douglas Clark
• Anthony Elder
• Marco Ullrich
• Nev Thomson
• Matt Iggulden
• Craig Thomson
• Ray Zahab
• Craig Jackson
• Chris Dodd
• Jeff Morris 
• Tim Franklin
• Anna Londill
• Brittney Litton
• Greg Fraine
• Roy Sparey
• Harriet Steele
• Dawn Jackson

Transcript

Mark Wins Ultraman Australia

Larry 0:35

Today I will speak with each of the chat if you want to learn more about them, their experiences, and how these two weeks are the top spots on the video. If you tuned into our UM live stream last weekend, you know we witnessed absolute history in Noosa. Today's guest didn't just survive one of the most brutal three-day 515-kilometer endurance tests on the planet. He completely conquered it. Stepping up to the Ultraman distance for the first time in his life, he paced himself like a seasoned veteran on day one and day two. And then on day three, he dropped a staggering sub-7 double marathon to leave the field in his dust. He is a primary school teacher, a blossoming multi-sport coach, and a race director. Joining us from the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand, the reigning Ultraman Australia 2026 champion. Please welcome to the show the man of the hour, Mark Thomson. Mark, welcome to the podcast.

Mark 1:43

Thank you for having me, Larry. Thank you for your very kind words.

Larry 1:47

Well, you you earned them this uh past weekend out there in Noosa. You were the one going around the course and laying down the 515 kilometers like a like a seasoned veteran. Um I'm sure that uh a lot of that comes from intensive training and the coaching that you got uh and your past experiences. So we want to talk about some of those things. But uh first of all, I'm looking at your background. I mentioned that you are a primary school teacher. Can you tell us where you are zooming in from?

Life As A Rural Teacher

Mark 2:20

Yeah, right. So I'm uh hidden away in the library at the moment of Hecawai Primary School. It's uh it's a small school. Um we have just over 50 students here, um, so three classrooms. Um I teach the year three and fours, so they're probably seven, eight, nine-year-olds, I guess. Um, and yeah, I'm lucky enough to call this place home. It's uh it's a very small, quiet, rural town. Um about I guess 10 minutes from Pawanui and Taidua, so not far to the beach. Um, and I actually live right next door to the school, so it's very handy for getting to and from work, um being able to sneak home quickly when you've got a long run to get in before dinner or something. So very handy. But uh no, it's a beautiful spot here, that's for sure.

Larry 3:09

Oh, it sounds wonderful. And and I know that the the students of your school were supporting you in the race. Um, I have a Facebook post here that I'd like to read to you. Um it says, we encourage our children to show our Totara values every day, but then some of us go ahead and exhibit it or exhibit them out there. The ultimate show of resilience and ambition, Mr. T only went and won Ultraman Australia this week. An epic effort spanning 515 kilometers. We just thought you'd finish it, Mark, not win it. Sending congratulations as an entire school, the kids were watching, and to say that it was inspiring doesn't quite cut it. What what does it mean to you to know that you know your your community, your school, uh we're supporting you and watching you through this?

Mark 4:00

Oh mate, it was uh yeah, very, very humbling. Um, I was getting lots of messages of support and little videos from uh from the kids over the three days. Uh yeah, it was just it was pretty special to be honest. Um, and then got back here first day back at work actually yesterday, so Monday here in New Zealand. Um, and there was a bunch of cards and they'd made little certificates for me. Um got up in in assembly and they they interviewed me as well. Uh so yeah, no, it was very, very special. Um I mean, yeah, I I like to try and lead by example, and I felt like we uh we did a good job of that. And uh it'd be nice if if some of that rubs off on them, that's for sure.

Larry 4:47

Um now you say you're in a small town, so you probably see these kids all the time, not just like at school during the day. You're you're like in their neighborhood, you're you go to the same grocery store. So you must you must be a big figure in their life.

Mark 5:02

Uh yeah, I guess so. I mean, that's one of the wonderful things about being a teacher is uh it actually I think catches kids a little bit unaware when they do see you in the supermarket. It's kind of like, what are you what are you doing here? Uh why why aren't you back in class? Um but no, it is nice. You do it's a small community, so everyone everyone knows everyone. And um, yeah, it's it's there's been a lot of pats on my back lately, which I'm I'm I sometimes feel a little bit awkward about, but uh it's it's definitely been nice.

Calm Mindset And Trusting The Coach

Mark 5:34

Yeah.

Larry 5:34

Yeah, I understand you're a bit more of a quiet, humble kind of guy. So winning a big race like this is gotta be a little shocking to you, I'm sure. Um, do you think that your home environment kind of helps to cultivate that quiet, unbreakable mental space so that when you're out training or you're out for like you know, 10 hours a day in a grueling race, like you're able to handle it better because you're used to a quieter kind of area and or what what does it do for you, do you think?

Mark 6:11

Um yeah, I think you're probably there's probably elements of that that are that are spot on, Larry. Um I don't know, I've always just liked to stay out of the limelight and let my kind of actions um speak for me. Um I'm very fortunate to have a pretty good relationship with my coach Maddie Kerr, who I'm sure we'll touch on a bit later. And uh and one of the reasons why I do um get on with him so well is I think uh uh him and I are quite similar in that regard. And um, it's always been one of the things, one of the sort of hallmarks of our relationship is that we don't necessarily have to communicate a lot, but um, we just get out there and do the work and stay consistent. And um, I guess that all came came into fruition over the weekend. Uh, we were able to stay calm and and just keep a lid on everything. And as you say, in endurance sport, that's that's a really important aspect. So that was the mantra going in to the weekend. Um, just be calm, consistent, and controlled. And yeah, sometimes it works, and luckily this weekend it didn't.

Larry 7:19

Well, I understand that Matt was a a teacher before he like was pro and and coaching as well. So, do you think that connection for you guys, like a similar similar attitude, or like is does that help?

Mark 7:34

He definitely uh understands, I guess, the demands of the job, um, because it is pretty all encompassing um teaching. Uh it's not a job that you can kind of just leave at the end of the day, you're always thinking about it. Um, and in a way getting into endurance sport has been a really nice way for me to just clear that headspace because you do get a lot of time to uh to think on your own. So yeah, I think definitely being a teacher is also uh it's been another element that Matt and I share and and and it works.

Larry 8:13

Well, uh one of the things that um happens when you are now uh an Ultraman champion is you have to start doing things like this podcast and maybe come out of your shell a little bit more. Has it set in for you yet that you're you're the champion of Ultraman Australia?

Mark 8:37

Uh it still sounds a little weird. Um, I think I've mentioned to you before, and I certainly was chatting about it at the finish line, that um very good mates with Carl Reed and Simon Cochran, who are both obviously absolute weapons and have won this event Carl twice in a row, and Simon just lit it on fire. So there were moments during some training that I was like, geez, could I even imagine to be kind of spoken about in the same circles as those two legends? Um, it's still a little bit like, well, I'm not sure if I belong there yet, but uh yeah, it's it's been nice, that's for sure. Uh to be able to finally win a race. I think I've got second at like it feels like every race I do, I'm coming second. So it's nice to win one. Yeah.

Larry 9:29

Yeah. Well, your name is now there on that uh on that line that says champions list with them. So uh get used to it. You earned it.

Mark 9:38

Uh thank you.

The Why Video And Racing Purpose

Larry 9:40

I I would like to take a moment just to play back your why video to you. I don't know if you've ever watched it again since you recorded it. Uh it's a shorter one, so I I'd like to have a little listen on that, and then uh we'll we'll talk about it on the other side.

Mark 9:55

Sure. My name is Mark. I am from Hekawai, the beautiful Coromandel peninsula of Alteroi, New Zealand. This is my Fano. Uh and I am coming over to NOSA to give Ultraman a crack in May. Um the reason why I'm doing this event, I actually don't know. Um, probably similar to quite a few of you right now, um, who are questioning your life decisions in regards to entering this race. Um but uh we're almost there, so uh the suffering can end shortly. Um I've never been to Noosa, but I'm looking forward to getting over to the West Island. Um word on the street is the weather over there is pretty good at this time of year compared to over here, so that'll be nice. And then um go and get it amongst some uh some theme parks down on the GC once the race is all done. So enjoy your last few weeks of training, legends, and uh we'll see you there. Kakiti Dion.

Larry 11:04

Do you remember that? Do you have you watched it back?

Mark 11:08

Uh I have watched it back. Um I was thinking I was one of the final athletes to submit it. Um and I do actually remember asking Jeff if I could get my partner to do it for me. Um but no, I thought I'd better better front up and do it. Um yeah.

Larry 11:24

No, I thought it was great. And and and the honesty in it of saying, you know, probably similar to quite a few of you, uh, questioning your life decisions um about entering the race. How do you feel about that now?

Mark 11:38

Yeah, well, actually, when I was just watching it now, um, and I heard myself say that, I I I think the reason why I responded in the way I did in regards to not really having a reason for a while is that there wasn't a definite point or a time where I was like, I'm I'm gonna do Ultraman. It's kind of probably just been an evolution of events that I've taken part in previously. Um and I'm kind of always just looking to push the boat out a little bit in in regards to what I do and to to find the limits of of where I'm at. And after having done a few different kinds of uh endurance events previously, Ultraman was one that I'd not done before and and had heard about it. Um and I really love the fact that it was kind of a small, you know, only a small field, pretty low-key, very kind of do-it-yourself kind of event. I really love that aspect about it. Uh and my it was my partner who's just said, look, you're not getting any younger, so let's let's just have a crack and go and do it. And uh here we are. Awesome.

Larry 12:44

Well, it's great to have that family support, and uh obviously the family is a big part of what you do. You got them even in your video. Um I I don't know a lot about the Australia New Zealand, you know, rivalry, but I think calling them the West Island, were you taking a dig at them there?

Mark 13:03

Oh 100%.

Larry 13:06

Well, you you conquered the West Island. Uh uh in fact, uh, you know, the New Zealand conquered it with uh winning on both the men's and the women's side.

Mark 13:16

Yeah, we we had a good good three days out at us Kiwis. It was uh yeah, kind of nice to just to let them know that um we'd come over and and taken their event out. It's good. Yes, again. I'm sure they'll uh I'm sure they'll be looking to get their own back in uh in Wanaka.

Larry 13:33

Yeah, yeah, and that's the thing is now uh it it's it's fitting that you and Nat Dodd would win because they're gonna be coming over to to the Eastern Island, I guess you would say, to uh put on their first UM New Zealand in December. Um so that's that's gonna be something exciting to look forward to as well.

Mark 13:52

Absolutely.

Day One Swim And Fast Bike

Larry 13:53

Well, let's let's get into your your three days of racing. You did the swim in a time of 30646. Um what was that as far as what you were aiming for?

Mark 14:06

Uh well, swimming is of the three disciplines, probably my least, uh, I would not say my least favorite, because I absolutely love swimming, actually. Um, but definitely the discipline that is my weakest. Um so if someone had told me on the beach that that morning before we got in uh that I could take a 306, I would have absolutely taken it. So um it was all about just staying in touch, not blowing up, because you know, you can't win the race in the swim, but you can definitely lose it. So again, just staying controlled, swimming within myself, but not um mucking around out there, um, knowing that there were going to be many people, a lot of Australians who just they're just always good swimmers, uh, will be getting out of the water in front of me, but not to panic because uh there's a there was a lot of kilometers in front of me after the swim. So yeah, other than copping a paddle in the face from uh from Sara, my partner, who was paddling next to me, uh the rest of it went as well.

Larry 15:09

Yeah, it's it's the thing about uh having couples you know crewing is uh that's sometimes uh that's good, sometimes uh could lead to bad.

Mark 15:20

Yeah, she was uh I think she was more worried about her beach landing in the kayak than anything else all weekend. Um, she literally spent weeks worrying about that, but uh she ended up doing a great job. And she even saw a turtle out there. So that was, I think, a bit of a highlight of her of her trip. Yeah.

Larry 15:37

Yeah. Um, so uh with the rest of day one, you went on to a 427-41 on the bike. That's nice and fast. Uh you were second fastest on the bike for a total time of 734 27 on day one, which had you in in third place, but there was less than four minutes between the top three men in the race. So that's like crazy close after all that distance. Um, you must have been in touch most of the course with the with the other two in front. How how did they unfold for you on the bike?

Mark 16:10

Yeah, so got out of the swim and I actually asked my crew not to tell me where I was. I didn't really want to know. I just wanted to get into my into my zone and just start riding um because I do love riding my bike and began picking off a few athletes and um yeah, actually saw the saw most of those two top guys for most of the day. Um we were never far apart, and there was on day one quite a lot of backwards and forwards little out and back sections. Um so you were able to keep anything. Yeah, see how they were looking, um, make sure you're looking really strong when you come past them. Yeah. Um and yeah, it was surprised, surprised that we were so close together still at the finish, because coming back into Noosa, um, it felt like every roundabout I was hitting traffic, but speaking to the other guys, it was exactly the same. Um, I mean, Noosa on a Saturday afternoon's pretty busy, but that's another thing that makes the race so cool and unique is that the courses are open and you've just got to deal with that. Um, yeah, there's no point getting upset or angry about it, it just is what it is, and it all worked out. We were pretty tight. Yeah.

Larry 17:20

Yeah. And and it didn't change much over day two because on day two, um, by the end of day two, you um Doug and Anthony were only five minutes and 58 seconds apart with only 40 seconds after 421 kilometers and 10k of swimming, only 40 seconds divided first and second, uh, which is even more crazy. Tell tell me how day two went for you and what did you think of that day two course?

Mark 17:53

Yeah, well, I actually I only just looked at the official results today, and I knew that I knew that Doug and I were close. Um I th I thought it was a couple of minutes. I didn't realize it was that close. Um yeah, but those two guys were such strong cyclists, uh, real absolute powerhouses on the bike. And so again, it was just about staying really steady, um, you know, trying not to ride too surgy. Um, my crew, which I'm sure we'll get to later, were just immaculate on on both all days. Um, but day two, they were just super dialed. So they were constantly giving me information because on day two I did want to know where everyone was. Um so they were feeding back to me where people were, and when I knew that the gaps weren't blowing up, it was it was reassuring that how I was writing was was how I wanted to write. I didn't want to because I for me day three was always gonna be my strength. Um and when I sat down before the event, I kind of had an idea of um if I could be 45 minutes uh within 45 minutes of the top, um I would take that. So yeah, being 40 seconds or 40 seconds. Yeah.

Larry 19:15

So what what was your strategy on on the bike? Were you just trying to keep it uh nice and steady? Um were there different strategies for when you got to the hilly regions? What what what did you do out there?

Mark 19:29

Uh pretty much just riding really steady. I'm I'm not a data guy. Um and Matt Kerr, my coach, I think he's he's uh it frustrates him, but I do not run or bike to power or heart rate anymore. Um I stopped doing that a couple of years ago and it's a hundred percent to feel. So I kind of have a reasonably good. I mean, when I'm training indoors on the bike on Zwift, I am riding to power, but out on the road it's it's it's to feel. Um so I kind of knew where riding for 280k's I could sustain. And and like everyone, you know, we're all trying to ride at a pace where we don't, you know, drift. Um there's no point in starting, you know, smacking out 40 kilometers an hour and then crawling home. So just staying steady, um, yeah, fueling lots, uh, getting eating lots. So that day three uh is you know is being fueled for on the bike. Um and so that went really well. And yeah, just ate a lot, drank a lot, rode pretty strong and got to the got to the Sunshine Coast. And I think every single one of us was hanging out to get to the Sunshine Coast because as soon as we turned left up the coast, we had that gorgeous tailwind and just silky smooth roads um for 30 Ks. So that was real fun. That was nice getting there. Yeah. Yeah.

Larry 20:59

What uh what about your nutrition strategy? Are you mostly on a on a liquid nutrition or were you taking in solids as well? And how often would you stop to take nutrition, or was it all on the quick handoffs?

Mark 21:12

Yeah, so I ran 100% on tailwind. Um, is how I feel. Um and yeah, so aiming to get through what I'm supposed to get through. Um, and my crew were taking care of that and ensuring that I was drinking enough. Right. Um yeah, and that was that was all on the go, so just no stopping, um which just makes it nice and easy. Um I think I did start having some ice cold Cokes and Coca-Cola in the drink bottles towards the end, which just changes the flavor, right? And uh that black gold you can't go wrong.

Larry 21:51

So As long as you're not starting too soon.

Mark 21:54

Yeah, I know, that's that's the that's the thing. But that's how we rolled all three days. Uh It's what works best for me. So yeah, that's how we did it.

Larry 22:03

And was there somebody on your crew that was responsible for tracking all the nutrition?

Mark 22:08

Yep. So we had one guy who was purely responsible for driving. Um, my partner Sarah, who was crew captain, she was the navigator. And then we had two others in the back of the car who their their job was yeah, nutrition. So there was a lot of uh a lot of notebooks being filled in, and they wanted to know when I'd been to the toilet and all of that drama. So yeah, really, yeah.

Day Two Tactics Fueling And Tailwind

Larry 22:33

Uh well, let's let's move on to the run day then. This is the day that you were looking forward to. Um, you you've paced yourself well, you've shown your patience in day one and day two, keeping keeping in the fold and and keeping even ahead of where you were hoping to be with your pacing. Um Marco to tore out at a four minute per kilometer pace. Uh, did you give any thought to him as you watched him run away?

Mark 23:02

Uh I thought good luck, mate, because uh he went out very hot, but um I could hear you guys chatting on the live stream. Um Simon was doing a fair bit of running with me early on, which was nice. He was lighting my way. Uh and um I heard you speak about Marco's marathon time, and I was thinking, okay, that's that's a solid marathon time, but a double marathon is is different. Um and I kind of by the time I got to see my crew at about six K's in, I think it is, um, I actually asked them what what kind of a gap do I have on this guy overall. Um and I think it it was big. So I knew my game, my goal was always to run around seven hours. Um, and I think if in order for him to beat me, he was gonna have to run four and a half. So I knew that was safe. Um and but it took me till the halfway point to catch him. So he he put in a solid first marathon. Um yeah, but once I passed him and no one had come through, and I was getting feedback from the crew that uh my my gap back to Doug was was slowly growing. I I kind of knew it was mine to lose at that stage. Um but we'd picked a pacing plan that wasn't ridiculous uh for me, um, and one that I felt like. But yeah, one that I knew that I could maintain. There was always going to be a little bit of drift, you know, um, after three days. But yeah, um, I keep looking at my watch and and the pace wasn't wasn't declining, you know. We were we were sort of 55 Ks deep and it was still sitting around that sort of 440, 445, which was where we were aiming. So it uh it all went really well. And I think a lot of that was was due to the fueling and the pacing on days one and two. Like there's no well, there was no point for me anyway. I'm not a big power guy, but I wanted to be standing on the start line on day three with enough in my legs to be able to run a seven-hour double marathon. That was the whole plan of the race. So I guess that's what guided days one and two, and then then fortunately day three went to plan. So here we are.

Larry 25:25

Yeah, and uh I understand that Maddie ran quite a bit of that with you.

Mark 25:30

He ran pretty much the whole thing, like obviously.

Larry 25:34

From where he was allowed to run.

Mark 25:36

Yeah, well, I don't know if he was yeah, from where he was allowed to run from the race, but we were getting I think his partner, his girlfriend, found out that he was uh running a lot further than what he was what he was meant to be, and uh he he might have been a bit in a trouble when he got home, but uh it was it was actually whilst I was on the massage table at the end of day two, um, and he mentioned to me that he'd be happy to run 80 odd Ks.

Tim 26:03

Right.

Mark 26:04

That was never the plan. The plan was maybe 20 at the back end.

Larry 26:08

Um wow, okay.

Mark 26:10

I kind of thought about it for five seconds and thought it would be good to have have someone there just to keep you accountable um and to carry all your stuff like it's a catered run. Um no need for any vests or anything, you just give it to Matt. So uh yeah, so he jumped in at as soon as he could and he just locked into a pace and all I had to do was follow him. Um yeah, it was it was it was really nice. It was I'm gonna remember that run for a long time. It was we didn't have to speak a lot together. Um but you can't help, you know, on the la on those last sort of three or four K's, you know, reflect on where we've come as a as a team, both Matt and I. Um and again, we didn't have to stay a lot, it was just a little fist pump, and it was enough to kind of acknowledge that you know we've we've come here and we've we've achieved what what we came here to do. Even though we didn't speak a lot about winning, um it was always a quiet little goal. Um, we were going to show up and give our best, and and I think we did that, and that's what I'm most proud of.

Larry 27:21

Yeah, well, it it really sounds like you and Matt designed a perfect race plan and then were able to follow it perfectly as well, which is the rarity in something that goes on for this long. Not only this long of a race, but this long of the training leading up to it, because so many, so many things go wrong in that you know, six months or a year going into it, because life and and you you were able to to put it together. And um, yeah, I I was astonished at the way that just came together for you. And it it looked so good. And and I did notice that that you and Maddie were not really talking so much while you were running together. Um but but you had that you had that sixth sense, I guess.

Mark 28:08

Yeah, I mean, I guess we're both kind of slightly introverted humans, and um, which is probably why triathlon's really good for us, because you spend a lot of time by yourself. Um but yeah, we just we kind of knew the plan. Um and yeah, we just sort of locked into it and there was no real need to speak. Um I mean, occasionally we'd have a bit of a chat about something that we saw funny happen on the road or whatever, but other than that, it was business, and uh yeah. Um yes, and we like there was even a point, I think there was like five K's to go, and geez, some unlucky young lady got knocked off her bike by a car in the in a at a set of traffic lights coming into Noosa, and and he took off to help her. And I started like I'm pretty sure the rule is you have to be with your pacer for the last for the last 10k. So I was more worried about getting in trouble, but um uh he just kind of sauntered on back up to me and and everything was good again. So it was a it was a really nice run. Um, and it was cool to be able to take him on a long run because the furthest he's ever done is 42.2. So it was uh a big T B for him as

Day Three Sub Seven Double Marathon

Mark 29:21

well.

Larry 29:21

Yeah. Um, well, let's let's take a look at that finish. Uh I have your finish from the the live stream as well. Let's take a look at that.

Tim 29:31

Let's welcome you on the beach, all the way from New Zealand, one of our first timers, brown champions. Welcome to the Ultimate family, Mr. Thompson. Well done, guys. Yeah, awesome. Well done. Unbelievable.

Larry 30:00

Oh, big hugs, sugar. That was a long hug. And there he is, your champion for 2026 UM Australia, Mark Thompson, out of New Zealand, another New Zealand champion. This could only lead the way to UM New Zealand. So so that's that's Sara, your your wife there at the finish line, you're giving the big hug with. Let's let's talk a little bit about her contribution to to the crew and and obviously to the training leading up to it and everything that counts when you're when you're at home and and needing that support.

Mark 30:45

Yeah, sure. I mean, yeah, where do I start with Sarah? She's uh she's an absolute rock star. She's relatively new to this uh this game. Um we've we've been together for maybe you know just over a year now, and but she's just jumped straight in and is is probably my biggest fan. And her the role she played over those three days, she was crew captain. Um she was navigator as well, which uh she was incredibly nervous about, but uh never put a foot wrong. Um, and as you mentioned before, you know, it's it's the at-home stuff, like the the training that it takes to participate in an event like this is pretty relentless and at times feels very, very selfish. Uh so she is the one that kind of knows what it was all like. Like uh it was about four weeks prior to the event. I had a really bad crash on out on the bike and took a bunch of skin off and got all knocked up. And I phoned her from the side of the road, and I was pretty upset because immediately you just think the worst, like, oh my goodness, this is how could this happen now? Um, we're gonna have you know, we're supposed to be going to Noosa in three weeks. Um so they go through all of that stuff with you, and and then I think it's well, I know it's harder being on the sidelines watching um than it is to be the athlete. Like being the athlete, you know how you're feeling, you're in control of that. Um, whereas they are just sitting there literally having to go through it all and then hope that it all goes well. So seeing her getting her to the finish line first, and I there's some great photos taken at the finish line of um of that yeah, emotion pouring out of me towards her. It was kind of like uh holy crap, we've we've actually done it. Like we because again, we didn't really talk a lot about winning this race, her and I. We kind of spoke a bit about coming over and wouldn't it be cool if we got to day three and my legs were feeling great and we were in the mix, but I guess part of me was a bit scared to talk about winning it. Um but no, it was it was I guess almost more relief getting to the finish and seeing her and just being like, thank you for everything you do, because yeah, it's it's huge.

Crew Dynamics And Partner Support

Larry 33:12

Yeah, yeah. Um, I I noticed that she was wearing a um no code uh hoodie there. And I no code events, and I I mentioned that you're you're doing some race directing as well in in the intro. So can you tell us what is no code events? And I I believe she's you and her do it together.

Mark 33:33

We do, yeah. So no code events is um our events company. We have four specifically trail running events here on the Coromandel spread throughout the year. Um, and then the name No Code Events comes literally from my absolute love of Pearl Jam. Um and the firm one of the first gifts Sarah bought me was the the No Code album on vinyl. Um, and we were at the time trying to come up with a name for our events company. And I I've always wanted to to do things and create events that are low, you know, not a lot of fuss. Um, sort of take them back to when I was at school and you used to go to events just because they were awesome to do and they were wicked courses, and and it wasn't all about the fanfare and the fancy medals and all of that sort of stuff. Um kind of very similar to how old the ethos of Ultraman, right? It's just about the people and the and and the place that you're in. And no code kind of I guess encapsulates that in a way, and so that became the name. And we started with one event and two and three and four, and I'm constantly trying to come up with more and more, but it's it's it's quite busy. Uh I have an absolute newfound respect for all race directors um for any event because geez, it is so much easier turning up as an athlete um and participating than it is being the one putting the event on. So it's been really nice to sort of, I guess, give a little bit back. Um, we're a small community here, and it's great to provide opportunities for people to get out and be active. And um yeah, we're we're sort of dipping our toes in the tote in the coaching realm as well at the moment. So it's all very exciting and and nice to be able to use this uh event and this success that we've had in this event to to to to promote what we're about and and what we can provide people.

Larry 35:33

Yeah, that's not well, that sounds great. Yeah. And uh again, you said you're in the smaller, tighter community um for your events. Then are you drawing in people from further away for these then?

Mark 35:44

Yeah, yeah. Like in our previous event, we're getting people from as far as Wellington, which I mean for people around the world, that's probably not going to mean a lot. But um New Zealand's not a huge place, and there's not a lot of people that live here. But if someone's willing to drive 900 kilometers to do your event, you know you're doing something right.

Larry 35:59

So that sounds great, yeah.

Mark 36:00

Yeah, it's it's it's cool to be able to see that happening and and literally standing at the finish line as an as a event director is is as exciting as it is the athlete, just seeing people achieve things that that they've never done before, um, and being able to put your arm around them and welcome them home is pretty special.

Larry 36:20

So and I was looking on your website, I saw that one year races was basically pay what you want.

Mark 36:27

Yeah, so that's our next event. Um, you just yeah, pay whatever you want. It's a six and a 12-hour um endurance race, kind of based on, I guess, the backyard idea. It's about a 6k loop, and and people can come and do as as little or as much as they want. Um, they can run as a team or an individual. And uh there's another event over here in New Zealand. It's called the Blue Lake 24-hour challenge, which is held around um beautiful lake down in Rotarua. And um, I was lucky enough to do that a couple of years ago as an athlete, and I just fell in love with the format, and it was free to enter, but you can donate to the race. Yeah, so that was we totally copied their format um where we donate half of all of the money raised to uh a charity that looks after teen uh mental well-being, which is, I mean, across the world a pretty big thing at the moment. Um, so it's nice to be able to give a little bit back. And and yeah, just it's another event which is low fast, but massive, massive amounts taken out of it from the athletes. Um, we had people running, you know, turning up and running a 50k when they'd never even run 10 because all of that pressure is taken away from you. There's no number that you're trying to hit or time, you know. It's so yeah, that's coming up. So come on over, everyone.

Building No Code Trail Events

Larry 37:51

Yeah. Well, uh it sounds like with with your philosophy of you know how you're running your events, that it was just natural marriage for you then to to fall into the ultraman Ohana and and be a part of that. Tell me a little bit about what you knew going in and what you've taken away from the Ultraman experience.

Mark 38:14

Yeah, well to be honest, I didn't know a whole lot. I knew as much as what I chatted to Carl and Simon about. Um, obviously I knew the numbers, the distances of each day, but uh what I what I didn't expect was just the closeness and the real love that is shared between everyone, and it's what's what you get from it being such a tight, small um event. Like you literally you you feel really heard and and loved and and embraced by everyone there. You know, the moment you turn up, um, the event director knows you by name, they know all of your crew by name, and by the end of the three days, everyone knows everyone. Um, and it's it's it's something that I would encourage anyone who has the slightest uh desire to take part in endurance events to go and do because it's it's very special, it's it's nothing like Iron Man, um which in itself is a wonderful event as well. But this just kind of yeah, it's it's a beautiful event, and I can't wait to do another one.

Larry 39:24

Well, does that mean that you're gonna be signing up for a New Zealand one then in the future?

Mark 39:29

Oh yeah, we'll we'll see. Uh it would be nice to do one in one of that, but uh geez, that lake's gonna be chilly in December. I tell you that. It's not gonna be like Noosa in May.

Larry 39:39

Yeah, yeah. Um, well, we've had a chance to talk about your partner and and your coach. Tell us who else was on your crew.

Mark 39:47

Yeah, right. So uh my dad is uh he's an absolute legend. He we've been doing this for quite a while now. Um a lot of things that I just make up, I'd love to go and run this distance or or cycle this distance and and just go and do it by myself. Um, I'm not necessarily driven by doing events, um, more personal challenges, and he's always the first to put his hand up and say, Yep, I'm coming and I'm crewing. And geez, he stood on some dark corners in the middle of nowhere many, many times. Um, so he he just froths over it. Um, so he was there. Um, a good friend of mine, uh Matt Egledon as well, um, who has recently moved to Australia. He uh he came up to Noosa and um has also been uh one of Matt Kerr's athletes as well. So it was nice having someone in the crew who understands racing um and and and that side of it. And then my brother, who just absolutely bought the fizz, uh, he lives on the Gold Coast and I think is my biggest fan. Um so he was the driver and uh yeah, he uh he definitely added the the fun to the car, I think, because there might have been a few times where it got a little tense. Um but it's always nice to see that guy that just chills everything out, breaks the mood, and uh yeah, just just having your brother there's pretty pretty cool anyway. So that was our that was our crew for the four days.

Larry 41:16

And then is he the one that took you around to the amusement parks as well afterwards?

Mark 41:21

Yeah, so we shot down and spent some time on the Gold Coast, and uh it was nice to actually went out on for a bit of a run with him later in the week. Well, I was on the bike actually, following him running. Uh yeah, yeah, we went and hung out with them for a bit. So it was nice to have a bit of a holiday after after the event.

Larry 41:40

Yeah. Um, I know that during the race, you you also had some special shoe messages.

Mark 41:48

Yeah.

Larry 41:49

What where where did those come from? Who was inspiring you with the shoe messages?

Mark 41:53

Yeah, yeah. So I woke up on the morning um of the third day and went to grab my shoes and noticed that there was a whole lot of writing on them. Um and my brother actually, I think it was his idea after I'd gone to bed, because all of us Ultraman athletes are pretty boring. I think we're all in bed by about five o'clock. Uh had got all the kids, all my kids to write uh messages around the sides of the shoe. And, you know, despite the fact I couldn't actually read them on the run, um, I definitely looked down at them, you know, three or four times throughout that run, just uh, you know, when things were getting a little, a little tricky, um, to just kind of draw on that, um, on that love and knowing that they're all going to be at the finish line waiting. Um, so yeah, it was there was a nice little touch.

Larry 42:42

Yeah, yeah. It was a a a full family event for you, and that's that makes it really special, obviously. Um, you know, we were just talking about uh you were saying, you know, you would advise people to go ahead, take the plunge, do this uh sort of event.

Ultraman Ohana And Next Steps

Larry 42:58

But what would you tell someone who's maybe just you know a little too afraid to make that jump? Like, is there any advice? Now that you're the champion, you have to start giving advice to to other athletes. There's an Iron Man out there who's just like, I'm not sure I'm ready for this. What would you say?

Mark 43:15

Yeah, well, I mean, actually, it's funny you mentioned the the fear, because that's how I select my events um that I want to do. If something's making me feel a little bit scared and a little bit like, oh this is this might be a bit above me, then that's kind of what drives me. Um because you know, once you achieve that, then you know, you really open up your options. Um, I would just say go for it. Um, you get to go to bed at the end of every day. Like it's it is three days of racing, but it's there's also wonderful moments in between the racing, um, which is very different to let's say like running a mila where it's all spread across one big day. Um this is intense racing, but then really nice moments with your crew afterwards and resetting and restarting and going again. I say, yeah, I say have a crack, go for it. You were I don't know if anyone ever leaves Ultraman thinking, oh, that was a waste of time. Like um I know I've only done fine. All of the people that were in that room on that Tuesday uh at prize giving were absolutely buzzing. Um yeah, I'd I'd jump, I'd get over it, people.

Larry 44:31

Well, uh we we talked a little bit about this, but what's what's next for you? What what kind of races or adventures or just you know your own personal kind of things that you want to go out and do with your dad? What what what's on the horizon?

Mark 44:46

Yeah, well, I had I did have um another Milo locked in for December here in New Zealand um in Nelson um that I was gonna be running with my brother, but now that Wanaker is here and it falls on the same day actually in December, um Sarah and I were actually talking about it today. She's like, well, why not? So could could be an option. Um I definitely do want to do another one. Um there's another there's a 24-hour track race that I did last year in Australia that um I want to go and have another crack at. Um that was another one of those races that I got second at. So uh that was a different kind of challenge, that one. So I'd love to go and have another go at that. Um I think doing an event for the first time, you go in pretty naive and you learn a lot. Uh so it'll be nice to have another go at some of the things that I've only done once and try and hone the the art of racing for a long time. Yeah.

Larry 45:54

Well, have you have you looked at that Monica course? I hear that day two's uh looking challenging. Uh I'm sure you're filling out the Crown Range.

Mark 46:03

I think they go at the Crown Range, don't they? Like that's some serious climbing. Um but it would be a totally different challenge, which I think is what's cool about it. It's great that they've they've made the course different to what you would experience in Australia. Um, absolutely stunningly beautiful down there. It's a beautiful part of the of the country. Um so it would be would be lovely to compete. If not this year, definitely, it's definitely on the cards.

Larry 46:31

Yeah. Well, if you want to do it this year, you better get talking to Jeff right away because I know it's full and he's had people on the wait list for a while, and now people after the UM Australia have been already contacting him about New Zealand. So there's high demand there. Maybe you can pull the champion card on him. I don't know.

Mark 46:52

Yeah, we'll have to give him a call. I see there's a couple already that have uh that have we raced with last weekend have already chucked a an application in. So that's good though, that it's healthy and that the sport is growing. Um I think it's awesome.

Larry 47:05

Yeah, and and obviously uh the Kiwis need to defend the the titles right now. So uh congratulations to you and to Nat for for going over to Australia and and taking those titles. Um I'm speaking to her right after this in this episode. So uh we got both the champions on this episode. So thank you very much for taking the time to tell us about your race and your experiences and and what life is like in in your part of New Zealand. So thank you very much. I appreciate your time.

Mark 47:35

My pleasure, Larry. Thank you.

Larry 47:39

Don't you guys go anywhere? Like I just said, coming up in just a minute is my conversation with Nat Dodd, UM Australia's female champion for 2026. But first, I wanted to give you a quick sneak peek into the guest on my next episode, Ray's Day Hal. Ray is an explorer and ultramarathon. He first gained international recognition after running the entire length of the Sahara Desert, more than 7,500 kilometers in just over 100 days. Since then, he's completed expeditions across some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including speed record journeys to the South Court, winter crossings of Siberia Lake Baikal, solo runs through the Atacama Desert, and multiple Arctic expeditions only led across the This episode is the second of my beyond 515 series that reaches two others completed after events. Here's just a short sample of that upcoming episode. For people that are watching or listening, like you gotta go back and see how little you were able to take and survive on. Um I and I assume that comes from just years of experience. Um tell me a little bit more about that.

Ray Zahab 49:01

Yeah, so years of experience in knowing what we can get away with, and I've done a lot of desert stuff, really hot desert stuff with Stephano. So we both know each other really well. So the goal was to cross. I've crossed the Atacama Desert is one of the most difficult things I ever did, actually. In 2011, I started the furthest point north, and I went south 1200 kilometers, minimal resupply solo, middle of summer, very difficult navigation. You know, it was a really difficult desert to cross. Uh this is one of the driest desert. Driest place on Earth, and I crossed literally in Chile, I crossed literally two ground zero of the dry place on Earth. Like I was I was between the Andes and the coastals, like I was like in the valley, in the hottest place as well in the Atacama Desert. Like Atticama Desert proper, you know? So between those foothills and the end, so you're down right deep into the Atacama Desert. Now, that was 1200 kilometers. It took me roughly, I think it was 19 days to do the expedition.

Larry 50:03

And so and so if you want to hear more of these amazing stories that Ray shares, uh tune in to the next episode of 515 the Ultra Podcast. This would be a great time to remind you to follow the podcast so that you never miss an episode, and it's right there in your library. Alright, now let's get on to speaking to our second champion from UM Australia, the female champion for 2026.

Nat Dodd Arrives As Champion

Larry 50:38

My next guest recently finished the 2026 UM Australia race in a total time of 25, 16, 26, becoming the fifth fastest female to ever complete the event. She is a woman who regularly finishes her Iron Man races in the low 10-hour timeframe. And shortly before going to NUSA, she did her home race, Iron Man New Zealand, as a training day and placed second in her age group. Joining us from Blenheim, New Zealand, the 2026 UM Australia female champion, Nat Dodd. Hello, Nat. Welcome to the podcast. Hi Larry, how are you going? I'm doing well. So it's been about uh a week since you you raced in NUSA while we're recording this. Um how's it feel to be the 2026 UM champion?

Nat 51:32

Um, yeah, I don't know that it's actually sank in properly yet. I think being back home now, um, it'll probably sink in this week. And I've already warned the guys at work that I might have the uh the come down. So yeah, no, it's it's pretty cool though, like just thinking about it. Um and yeah, kind of what the last six months has been like to actually have finished it and be on the other side is yeah, quite interesting.

Expectations Pain And Post Race Blues

Larry 52:05

Yeah, and and that is a a real thing, the the depression that comes along with finishing one of these things. Um you've you've been aiming for this for your for the longest time, and then you finally finish it, and it's like it's a great high, and then it's like oh, it's just like a big gap in in what you're doing.

Nat 52:25

Yeah, yeah. Post-vice blues are definitely uh a thing. I'll be easy on myself this week and uh just just get through the week.

Mark 52:34

Yeah.

Larry 52:35

Well, uh, when we were looking at the why videos and and reading the information about why people are taking on the UM challenge, you said that you you love the challenge, the the training and seeing how far you can go on a day mentally and physically, and and that you love pain. Did UM Oz deliver for you on the pain and the and what you wanted to get out of it?

Nat 53:01

Um, it certainly delivered a challenge. Um, every day was a little bit different. I, to be totally honest, didn't go as dark as I expected to on any of the days, to be fair. Um and I don't know if that's just because I trained well or whether I think the whole having a crew jump along side you, um, particularly obviously on the bike and the the run. Uh it makes it hard to go dark, I think. Just having their energy. Um and I mean my crew were outstanding with their energy. So there definitely wasn't. I don't think they got out of the car once and were quiet. So it's really hard to go dark if if everyone's so buoyant around you. Um yeah, they were they were dancing up a storm. Yeah, yeah. Um so that definitely helped. But I mean it was a challenge, obviously, but it still was a challenge. And certainly, yeah, after day one, I I think I had a bit of dehydration from the swim, maybe. Um, and sat there that night kind of like, oh, have I gone too hard already?

Larry 54:18

Yeah, yeah, and it and it's not only your crew, it's all the other crews that you're going by as well that are lifting you up and giving you that extra energy.

Nat 54:26

Yeah, definitely. There's a team um that had I couldn't work out what was happening. I was biking up and I could see my crew car and they shot off, and then there were two people just stood on the side of the road. And as I got closer, they were like waving lollies at me. And um I was just looking at them really weirdly, like, why are these people? There must be someone right behind me. And so I kind of just looked at them, didn't say anything, and they're like, Do you not want them? And I was like, Oh, sorry, didn't realize you were talking to me. And um, I was like, Oh, well, yeah, I will take those lollies, thank you. But it turns out that their racer had asked for some mineral water, so the crow card shot off to get that and had left them on the side of the road, but obviously 220k, I think it was, or something. Uh, it just didn't make sense what was happening. And so yeah, I I felt really bad because I'd looked at them so weirdly.

Larry 55:26

Yeah, there's definitely some strange occurrences out there on the course. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Uh, I'm not sure if you you tuned in to the pre-race podcast that I did with Jeff and Tim, but we were saying that the female race was definitely going to be the one to watch because we felt that there were a number of you that had fast Iron Man times and who were serious about doing your best, not just getting it done. So um, can you share with us maybe some of your goals and how well you were able to meet those before like going into the race?

Nat 56:04

Yeah, I did actually um listen to some of that podcast. Yeah. And funnily enough, I my only goal to start the race was just to finish the three days. Um mainly because I had no idea how I was gonna react and um biking is not my strongest element, and so obviously, with it being you know, a lot of K's on the bike, um, and knowing that Brett and knowing that Brett and Anna were um uh powerhouses on the bike, I yeah, fully was just I just wanted to finish. Um so after listening to that um podcast and hearing Tim go, well, yeah, he's he's she's definitely gonna be at the top there fighting. And I was like, oh, oh, there is some expectation.

Larry 57:03

Yeah. Well, I think with your with your Iron Man results, you know, all kind of in the low tens, including at the World Championship, um, that there's got to be some expectation put on you based on those times.

Nat 57:16

Yeah, yeah. I I guess I always want the best from myself, and so that's what makes I guess that makes it easier to train as well, because I'm intrinsically motivated rather than extrinsically. So um does make that yeah, a bit easier. And sometimes I put the pressure on myself too much, but that's so yeah, that was my main goal. Um, I mean, for the I guess I had a time for the swim, like I wanted to do sub 315. Um, so yeah, I was stoked with this swim. Um and then yeah, the other two I didn't I didn't have goal times for them. Um but yeah, I I definitely completed my goal.

Nutrition Fixes And Swim Strategy

Larry 58:01

Yeah, most definitely. Well, I said in the introduction that you used your Iron Man New Zealand as as kind of a warm-up uh to give you a tough day to get through a training day. And and you said in, I think it was in a Facebook post that you feel like you finally had your nutrition sorted based on that day where you came second in your age group. Uh I think you said that you use precision uh nutrition. How did that nutrition plan work out for you on on the Ultraman? And did you go strictly liquid or were you putting in some some solid foods as well?

Nat 58:38

Yeah, so interestingly, um I'm in New Zealand. I actually came away from that race going, wow, I am not as fit as I thought I was. Um so I was actually like a little bit down about the race, and and just I was a little bit down about racing and training in general. Um, I just wasn't enjoying it at that point for some reason. Um and it's weird because kind of my numbers, like when I talked to my coach, were kind of like, oh, you know, sub 10 could be on. But it was also like I asked the question, I was like, do we think I'm fit? Which should have been an indication that I probably wasn't in the right headspace for trying to go sub 10 anyway. Um, but yeah, yeah, yeah, race week always chucks in different headspaces, I guess. So yeah, I actually came away from that race going, oh, that wasn't good. I don't know. Um, and the only good thing I took out of it was the nutrition, was I'd gone probably the four races before that. Um I'd always had to stop on the run to go for number two. And sometimes it was urgent, sometimes it was just build up, but there was clearly something not working for me. And uh, and you know, because I'd seen all these people trying precision and talking about it. So I thought, well, you know, I'll give it a go and see what happens because at this point I tried so many other options. So um did a few months training on it and I was feeling way better at the end of my six-hour bikes. I didn't feel as as tired or as like lackluster as I had done previously. So I was like, well, this is a good sign. And and then if I was running off the bike, I was doing that comfortably, and there were no issues, and my long runs, there were no issues. So yeah, I am in New Zealand was the first proper race with the nutrition under race scenario. And yeah, just awesome, like stoked with it. Um, so that was the big positive that I pulled out of New Zealand was that I've got my nutrition sorted now. And that's you know, in the back of your head when you're running a marathon, you don't want it there sitting, oh you're gonna need the toilet soon. And yeah, having to like mad dash to the toilet. Um whilst I was concerned about how I felt about racing at the point, I knew I got my nutrition sorted.

Larry 1:01:29

And and nutrition's a big part of Ultraman, a big part. So having should have given you some good confidence.

Nat 1:01:37

Yeah, yeah. And I I did know that once I got to Ultraman, it would be fine because it was a new event, which always helps, you know, fresh things are always good, and knowing that it was a new challenge for me. Um, it was definitely gonna help. And then um, and just having a week with like a few of your best mates.

Mark 1:02:00

Yeah.

Nat 1:02:01

I mean, yeah, yeah, I had to do like, you know, eight to ten hours of exercise a day to achieve that, but it's still you know a week away.

Larry 1:02:12

Well, let's let's jump ahead here and and start talking some of the numbers that you were able to produce at NUSA. You were third out of the water under three hours, so you definitely beat that goal of 315 in a time of 257.02. Being third out of the water, what must have been making you feel pretty happy. And um I know you had your husband as your paddler. You wanted to help him get out of the water a little bit quicker. Tell us about your swim.

Nat 1:02:40

Obviously, in New Zealand, like the water temperature, the highest it gets during summer is 19. Um, or where I am anyway. So when we first stepped into the water, I'd obviously gone out for a little swim the day before, but when we first stepped into the water um on Sunday morning, it was like, oh, this is toasty. I like this. Um I don't do well with the cold at all. So um, yeah, real stoked when I walked into the water and it was so warm. Um and there weren't really any big waves either. It was pretty calm.

Mark 1:03:17

It was a new stay out there, yeah.

Nat 1:03:20

Yeah, and like having talked to CJ afterwards, he was like, man, you got the flattest day out there, which I knew swimming as well. Like one leg out was super easy, coming back, a little bit of like wind chop, maybe, but nothing really. And then the second leg out towards the sun was an interesting one because there was no visual point on the land you could aim for, you're just looking straight at the sun. So definitely trusting that Chris was taking me to the right place. Um, which is also a new new thing for me as well. Like in all my other races, obviously, Iron Man 70.3, you've always got a you know, a boy that you're aiming for, so you're constantly looking forward. So for this, it was more of like just looking sideways all the time. I mean, I occasionally look forward, but you're really just trusting that that peddler is taking you the way you need to go.

Larry 1:04:17

Did did the two of you have a chance to train together, or was it just the day of we talked about it several times during the build-up.

Nat 1:04:27

Um, but uh he was doing coast to coast as well, so he was doing his own training.

Mark 1:04:32

Okay.

Nat 1:04:33

Um and then yeah, it just it just never eventuated. Um but I was happy that, you know, I think he was probably more stressed about it than I was. Um he doesn't want to make you swim longer. Yeah, he definitely didn't want to make me swim longer because it when he was out there, we got to the 8k mark. And uh I said, How are you feeling? I don't know what I also want to see how he was, and he was like, I'm so cold. And uh I was like, Oh really? I'm roasting in here. Like I could definitely do with taking this wetsuit off. Um so I was like, Oh, I better swim a bit faster and try and get him home quicker. So that definitely helps, yeah. Um but no, it's good. And um, we'd come up with a game plan of feeding every time I went around the boy closest to the beach. So you know, every 2k have a feed. Um and so I had like I think I had three 500ml flasks on the kayak, so I just made sure to kind of get half of those down um each time, and then either a couple of lollies or a gel. Um and that worked perfectly. And I think I took I was probably taking like I don't know, 30 seconds, 45 seconds to feed and then off again.

Mark 1:06:04

Yeah.

Nat 1:06:04

Um felt pretty comfortable with the swim like and but comfortable and I could push myself and I wasn't maxing out. So um yeah, real stoked with that. Um I always get a bit of a niggly rest around about seven, eight K, and it came in as normal. So it's just about concentrating on alleviating the that as much as possible. Um and I did ask Chris a couple of times, I was like, oh, how far whereabouts in the field are we sitting? Um, which obviously for like the first 4Ks, uh yeah, first 4K was kind of easier to work out. And then after that, there was just a sea of bodies, and you didn't know who was where or what. So um I knew it was quite high up, but um, yeah, certainly to come out in third was yeah, better than I expected, and sub three was fantastic. So yeah.

Bike Days Recovery And Crew Energy

Larry 1:07:02

Yeah.

unknown 1:07:02

Yeah.

Larry 1:07:03

And then you you got out on the the bike for day one, whipped around that 145k, and finished the day at 8014 for seventh place on the day. And you had Anna Longdale right there with you with uh less than seven minutes behind you. So at the end of day one, um, how are you feeling about your goals for the day and what was your recuperation plan? And how are you thinking about setting out on day two?

Nat 1:07:34

Yeah, so um as I said, I knew I remember from Iron Man, I I always come out to swim in front of Anna, and then I just see this like like bullet fly past me. And I always look for the names on the bites, and I recognize that, and I know I've seen Anna go past several times, so um fully knew that I was gonna be hunted down by Anna and Brett. Um I didn't really know how far behind they were, but I just was expecting it to happen. So um it was quite good because I could kind of expecting it to happen, I could just focus on what I was doing. Um and I do love the hills, so um, yeah, a few hills in the course is always good. Just made sure I was fueling on the bike properly. Um, and I did chuck in uh I mainly do fluid in uh gels or chews, but for those pretty much once I go over three hours, I start to chuck in solids as well. So peanut butter sandwiches. They're my go-to. So we'd come up with a game plan that when I finished each day, there was gonna be a recovery smoothie ready um at the finish line. And um the day one I'd requested so many good chips. So we just made sure we had um those ready, um, and then make sure I got the massage done um pretty quick as well. So kind of not mess around too much at the finish line, just feed, eat, um, feed and eat, it's the same thing. Uh hydrate and then um get the massage done and get back. Um and we were very lucky um that Dawn, so CJ's wife, um, came over as well and she just cooked our meals for us in the evenings.

Mark 1:09:38

Oh, yeah.

Nat 1:09:39

So we'd get back to the apartment and she was already cooking up dinner. Um so very, very lucky to have that.

Larry 1:09:47

Um that that's a that's that could be a big advantage because a lot of the times, you know, the crew are the only people there with the racer, and you all have to deal with that. What let's go get food after the day's race. So that yeah, that's a good advantage.

Nat 1:10:03

Yeah, it was amazing because I fully was expecting to just get back and start, you know, cooking dinner. And um, she was like, No, no, I'm gonna come and I'll cook you dinners. So that was awesome and definitely helped everyone. And then yeah, once I got back to the apartment, um just made sure I stretched and um if I had any nibbles, get the massage gun or the ball into them. Um, I was pretty good after day one though, in terms of like body-wise, I felt good. Um, as I said, I felt a bit drowsy and like I had a headache um from about halfway through the bike, couldn't shift it. Um so I was just hydrating as much as I could um that evening and uh yeah, took some panadol, I think, when I went to bed and kind of just like right, hopefully in the morning I wake up and the headache's gone. Um and yeah, woke up next morning and felt really good, headache gone. I was like, thanks. I've uh I've sorted that one, so that's good. Um I think it was just dehydration from the swim. Um I think it's just warmer in the water than I expected, and that's probably why.

Larry 1:11:22

Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah. And so were you checking in with your your coach at the end of each day as well? I understand you have a coach with a pretty good resume. Maybe you can tell us a little bit about who your coach is and what the plan was that uh you two worked out.

Nat 1:11:39

Uh yeah, so my coach is Greg Fraing, um, so from New Zealand, ex-Commonwealth Games cyclist and Olympic cyclist. Um and yeah, we I've been working with Greg since about 2017. Um, so almost 10 years now. Um, but we've got a good system. Um but yeah, the nutrition was the main one and just that recovery process and what that looked like. So that was our big focus um for the week. So yeah, that was I didn't check in with him each night. I think he know he knows that I'll reach out if I I need to talk to him, and he he's always there on the end of the phone if I need him. So it's quite good that I can do that. Um but I quite often, and I kind of sit this in my post race post, I get overwhelmed sometimes with like socials.

Mark 1:12:36

Yeah.

Nat 1:12:36

And so um, and quite often I won't realize I'm doing it, but I'll just leave my phone somewhere and forget about it. Um yeah, so um yeah, I try to, you know, I try and reply to people and and comment and stuff, but sometimes it just gets a bit much and I'll just go quiet for a bit. Yeah.

Larry 1:12:59

So you you deserve that in the middle of your race, that's fair. Yeah, yeah. Well, so for your day two, you biked on 917.09, um, which put you into eighth place overall. Um, was there anything about day two that stuck out for you?

Nat 1:13:22

There were a couple of things that happened. Um I we got to the first 90k, and I was like, I stopped to have my peanut butter sandwich. I was like, guys, guys, we're a third of the way already. And they were like, Yeah, yeah, you've still got 180 to go. But um, no, I was I was stoked. That first 90 went so fast. Um and I kind of knew that that would happen because it's a new place, new, you know, you're riding through new areas, um, and it does help with keeping you fresh. Um, but it was I'd just overtaken a couple of lads, and and then I was like, no, it's it's 90k, it's three hours, like this is it's feed time. And then did the the loop and uh Chris and the kids were there in the standing on the gravel pitch here with me on, so it was quite cool to see them because um yeah, because they weren't technically the crew, they couldn't actually come on the side of the road. So um, but it was nice that they could be there and watch, and I could hear them yelling, so that was cool. Um and then the crew had worked out that I probably hadn't drank quite enough um just after that lap. And so they pulled me over and uh I stopped and I was like, What's up? And they're like, You haven't drank enough, you need to drink more. Like, take this bottle, make sure this is drink, and I was like, Cool. And so I tried to inhale some salmon again chips at this point, and inhale is what I did, and I think it went down the wrong hole, and so I had this coughing fit on the side of the road, and I stood there and I'm like trying to cough this chip out, and then I'm like, I need to get going, I need to get going, and and CJ's just like it's okay, you've got time. And I was like, No, I haven't. And just choking on this chip, and uh um, and then even once I rode off, I was still like coughing my way up the little hill just afterwards, and yeah, but that was um quite funny because we're trying to be so efficient with our like little feed stops, and then of course I had a choking fit, so that was um pretty entertaining. Um and then yeah, once we got onto that David Low Way back into town, a bit of tailwind and a little bit of rain, um, but well it wasn't cold, so it didn't bother me at all, and just kind of carry on. And yeah, uh the once we got onto David Low Way, I was waiting for my last um uh because I had a bit of musashi in my bottle, and I was like asking for the last bit to get me through the last 30ks, and they kept kind of they'd drive ahead, stop, and then once I got close, they'd move again. And in my head, I'm like, why do you keep driving off? I want my bottle. And then it turns out that CJ wasn't happy with any of the stops um in terms of safety, so he just kept moving until he was happy with one.

Mark 1:16:32

Yeah, yeah.

Nat 1:16:33

And in my head, I'm just focused on this musashi bottle that I want, and he kept moving, and I'm like, what are you doing? Um, but yeah, so once I got that last Musashi bottle, I was pretty um happy and just yeah, drilled it the way home. And uh I actually weirdly felt stronger at the end of day two than I did at the end of day one. Um so yeah, that was not dehydrated this time. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So no, start with day two.

Larry 1:17:06

Yeah.

Run Strategy And The Lungefluencer

Larry 1:17:07

All right. Well, at the end of day two, um the the leaders in the in the women's side of the race got even tighter together. Uh Anna Longdill, Britney Litton had a like a tear of a day for day two, and yourself were you were all within five minutes and 21 seconds for the start of day three. Now you've had some great running times. I saw that you won the top 0 marathon in a 305, you've had a half marathon at 124. Um, were you confident that you had put yourself in the position to to run this race to the finish line and and and get first place? Or were you still of the mind of I want to get it done? Where where were you? How had your time or how had your mind um maybe process things over the first two days and and set you up for day three?

Nat 1:17:58

Yeah, um, yeah, it was definitely tied at the top there. Um and what I was trying to do was not get sucked into running someone else's race, I guess.

Mark 1:18:14

Yeah.

Nat 1:18:14

So I I knew what I trained for, and I knew that if I did what I trained for, that's I would be able to achieve what I wanted. Um I wasn't sure, you know, Strava is great or bad sometimes. Um and completely honestly, I had maybe four just but yeah, probably four weeks out from the race. Um I'd seen some of Brit's training days, and I was like, uh yeah, that's not what my training looks like. Um maybe I haven't done enough. I'm definitely not gonna be fast enough. Um so I had that had been a bit of a mental battle going, wow, Britt's absolutely smashing her training, and um it's gonna be awesome to watch what she does in front of me. Um yeah, so I I expected her to run off the front um and and potentially not see her for the day, to be honest. Um, I know that she obviously picked up a bit of a knee niggle as well. So um I knew that was factored, and I made tried to make sure that on the night before the run I was focusing on what I needed to do, and I needed to run 530s, and that was all I needed to do to have a pretty solid race. Um so yeah, that was what I set out to do. Um, and we talked about it quite a bit um in the crew, was like how how easy that first part of the day should feel, and it should feel like I'm jogging. And yeah, so I sit off and I looked down and I was like, 515, slow down. And um yeah, so I I did actually run the first 5k um a little bit faster than I was going to, but it still felt very easy, and so I I didn't panic too much. Um and it was funny because CJ had said to me, um, if we pick you up at that 5k mark and it's sub 2230, there'll be problems. Like he gave me the stern word. Um, so that was pretty funny, and so I was like really watching that I didn't get there before uh 2230. Um but uh yeah, so got in, got that first 5k out of the way, and then um I'd said to Roy, so Roy was the only one pacing me. Um and uh I'd he'd said to me, Oh, you know, when do you want me to jump in? And I said, Look, I I really want to do at least a marathon on my own. Um, and I'd probably want to do like 50 on my own before kind of um before like using you. Um and that was kind of before CJ had said, oh look, there's sections where you're gonna want him to join you for a 2 or 3K and like do the loop and stuff. Um, so it's good to have people for those sections. I was like, yep, cool, okay. So I just trusted his, you know, having done it twice already, he knows what he's talking about. So I was like trusting his judgment. I think I went through the half, yeah, through the half marathon point. And uh yeah, it felt pretty crazy. Um and then through that half marathon point was alongside the motorway, and it was pretty flat and tedious.

Mark 1:22:02

Right.

Nat 1:22:04

And we came into the housing estate and I yelled at them out the window. I was like, uh, Roy, I'm gonna use you on that motorway bit next time because that was boring. Um so yeah, he definitely knew I wanted him on that bit on the way back. Yeah.

Larry 1:22:21

Let's let's take a look at your your first marathon. Um you you clocked in around 3 50. I I was trying to do the math off the splits from the from the timing. But um I we do have a clip from from the live stream that I I want to play for you.

Tim 1:22:38

All right, ladies and gentlemen, here we have our leading two females on course. We have Brittany Lytton and Nat Dodd running pretty well side by side. Oh my goodness. All weekend. It was our first female cyclist. You're turning around the corner. On the rest, right? You know the way.

Larry 1:23:22

Well, that for people that are just listening on the podcast, you you missed uh the visual there of the lunge fluencer. Uh on social media, you've been using this lunge fluencer, and you did you did a lunge right there at the turnaround point, and describe what happened for the people that's just listening on the podcast.

Nat 1:23:45

Um yeah, so I forgot to tell Roy that I was going to do that lunch, and he almost tripped over me, which I didn't even know this had happened until someone had sent it to me that night and was like, what an epic lunch, but you almost took out Roy. And and then I saw it and I was like, Roy, why didn't you say anything? He's like, ah, it's fine. I jumped.

Mark 1:24:13

Yeah.

Nat 1:24:14

So yeah, I had no idea that he was there. Oh, I knew he was there, sorry. I didn't tell him what I was gonna do.

Larry 1:24:20

Um yeah, so it was pretty funny. Um where does this lunge fluencer come from? How did this start and why are you why are you doing this?

Nat 1:24:32

Honestly, I'm not sure how it started. I think one day at a presentation, it might have been in the Topo Marathon. I won when I won, and I'd just come down the stairs, and and my friend Jana was taking a photo and I lunged for the photo.

Larry 1:24:49

Oh, yeah.

Nat 1:24:50

And and someone was like, Oh, I love your the lunge with the photo or whatever. And so then I did it another time, another presentation, and then it somehow has evolved into this thing where I just lunge mid-race. Um, and yeah. And so I decided to just make it a hashtag, and I see I'm the only one that uses it, but it sounds great.

Larry 1:25:16

That's awesome. Yeah, you gotta have your own hashtag. I love it. Yeah, yeah. Uh well, right after that clip, um, we didn't run it long enough. Uh, you got a shout out from the team at APAC Ingredients, and and I understand that's where you work. Um, what what what does APAC do and what do you do there? And and who was watching from there?

Nat 1:25:38

Yeah, so um I'm the operations manager and we source raw materials for pet food manufacturers here in New Zealand, and then we also um make organ powders um that we sell into the US. Um so yeah, uh I used to work in a bike shop and run a tourism business, so this has been a massive change for me. Um almost almost two years ago now. Um but yeah, these guys are awesome. So I've got um uh Sam and Vincent are my bosses, and it's just the three of us, and then we've got a couple of um directors as well that come in and work as well. Um but yeah, so they were watching for the live stream all weekend, and um so it was awesome. Vincent was sending me videos of him and the family watching it on day one and day two, and they all involved like the wife and the kids as well. So um pretty awesome the support I've got from these guys, and um the flexibility to train and work has been unreal. And I'm very grateful to them for what they do. It makes doing these things a lot easier when your workplace is on board with it.

Larry 1:27:01

Well, I'm glad they were able to tune into the live stream and and see that action. Um, you know, that was that was the purpose behind it, is for all those people that hear about these things that you do and they think you're crazy, but they don't have any understanding of what it actually is. Now they get a chance to see it.

Nat 1:27:19

Yeah, definitely. Yeah, yeah. I'm not sure how how good they were at work on Monday, but unless they got to watch race, that was cool. Yeah.

Work Support And Crew Lessons

Larry 1:27:30

Well, finishing up the numbers, uh, you finished the double marathon in 757 33, so sub-eight hours. Spectacular. And your race, as we mentioned earlier, was a 251626. And that puts you in fourth place overall. Um those those final numbers, uh they don't come without your crew helping you out along the way. And one of the other things that you mentioned was Was that one of your whys was to beat Craig's time? And and Craig's best time at the Ultraman was 262409. So you did that. How much were you rubbing that in?

Nat 1:28:15

Oh I tried not to rub it in too much because obviously he was um pretty important to the race too, uh, along with um Rory and Harry and Dawn and Chris. So yeah, definitely a big unit. And um I think I said in my post uh the speech, um I thought I knew these guys pretty well already, but this week has just absolutely solidified that. And um yeah, I'm crowing for Roy in Ultraman New Zealand in December. Um and hopefully for Harry as well.

Larry 1:28:57

Yeah, that's that was a question I was going to ask you. You you had two people on your crew, Roy and Harriet, who are going to do Ultraman New Zealand. So how do you decide which one you crew for?

Nat 1:29:10

Uh, they might do a uh ring toss or something, yeah. Oh coin toss, see who, see what I get. Um but no, I think um there's a couple of other people uh when I was talking to them uh IM New Zealand, we were talking about it, and there's a couple of others there that are gonna come down and help as well. So I'd say we'll be one big unit, and yeah, but yeah, I'll probably be on Roy's team and then I'll be cheering on Harry as well.

Larry 1:29:40

Now go going back to Craig for a second, because he had done the race twice before, were there any specific tips that he gave you about the NUSA course that maybe you hadn't thought of with your coach or that you you know couldn't find in the the racing handbooks and stuff online?

Nat 1:30:00

It was all the little, it's all the little things. So, you know, kind of what what happens each morning, and then like for the bike to lead out, he was like, the years I've done it, it's gone real hard at the start, and then it'll ease off once the car drops out. And um, he did say it's one year obviously he was with Simon, um, and so they absolutely blasted that start, um, and he was just hanging on. But he said, just be prepared, it could go quite fast at the start, depending on the car. Um, and then just like the little little even the hills and things on the bike course, he's like big hill coming up, you know, or left turn coming up, like he had remembered so much of it. Um so just all those little things, and then the end of day, you know, he was like, Realistically, if you're gonna do medical massage talk, it's gonna take you an hour. Um, so you know, factor that into what you're preparing for that hour and bits and pieces like that. Um and then for him and like the team car, you know, he knew how he wanted that car set up for the best for it to work the best. Um so yeah, all those inside things definitely do make a difference. And it meant that I just didn't even need to worry about crew, like he really did captain it. Um so that was awesome. Um, but it was also good as well. He he, whilst he would give his opinion on what I needed to do, if I said to him, like on the run, for example, I I had a bit of um, well, that's right, on the morning of the run, I had I have had food on me, I would have projectile vomited, but I had nothing in, so it was just this horrible, like dry reaching when I first woke up. And I was like, oh, this is not a good start to the morning. Um, and so I was obviously real reluctant to put gels and stuff in straight away. So for the first hour, I just went water only. Um and that was my that's normally my plan anyway. I normally don't put anything in for the first hour. Um But he was like, sure do you want to put gel in? Sure, you don't want to put gel in. I was like, nope, like I'm good. I just need to let my tummy settle and get into it. So he was really good on that as well. Like he respects when I said, no, I'm not doing that.

unknown 1:32:43

Right.

Nat 1:32:43

So that was it was it just like perfect team dynamics, really. Um and their dancing was just on point. Gotta keep the spirits up.

What Comes Next And Final Thanks

Larry 1:32:57

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Well, what's what's gonna be next for you? Uh I I know you did like a 220-kilometer gravel race to also warm up for this. Um, maybe some more gravel racing. You organize some cycle across yourself where you live. What's what's coming up? Maybe a UM New Zealand? What's what's in the future for Matt God?

Nat 1:33:20

Yeah, um, I won an entry just before we came over. I won an entry to a 24-hour running relay. Um so that's in four weeks' time. So I'm hoping by that. Yes, hopefully the body feels alright at the moment. Um, obviously, I'm not definitely won't be running this week. Yeah, so that's a 5k loop in a forest in Christchurch, and there's me and one other person in a team at the moment. Um so we've worked out we could do 120k each. But we'll see. I might try and get some others in the team as well just to make it not quite so big. Um, but yeah, it's just a bit of fun because some friends organise it and they're doing it as a fundraiser for their um their cause. So um yeah, that was why I ended up with the free entry. So I'm keen to to see that through. Um, even if I walk, that's fine. But yes, our cyclocross season is coming up that starts in three weeks' time. We're pretty much set up for it. I've just got to, you know, get everyone entered and do the socials for that and um sponsors and bits and pieces, so that'll keep me busy through winter. Um and then in terms of like races past that, I'm undecided at this stage. It feels like Ultraman was a good distance for me. Like I really enjoyed the longer stuff. I thought Iron Man was good for me, but maybe Ultraman's even better. Um but yeah, certainly there'll be some big there'll be missions with the guys that I ride with around here, um, and probably some tramping and that sort of stuff. Um but yeah, I'll just wait. I don't want to just enter a race for entering it at the moment, so I've got to be invested in it. Um and that comes back from that whole with Iron Man, I just wasn't sure that I was in the right headspace for it. So I don't want to just enter something for the sake of entering and then not actually enjoy it and be able to give it what I want.

Larry 1:35:36

So yeah, who who knows. And are you looking at going back to the Iron Man World Championships again?

Nat 1:35:47

Um, I reckon one day I probably will. Um my bank balance needs to recover slightly.

Tim 1:35:54

Yeah.

Nat 1:35:55

It's um yeah, for amateurs, it's yeah, it's so expensive to do these things. And um and like Charlie, um, my stepdaughter, she's into gymnastics now. So that's the other thing to juggle this winter, is she's I think she's got four or five competitions. Yeah. Traveling so yeah, yeah. I think in June I've got three three weekends in a row in Christchurch. So um yeah, and that's a kind of four to five hour drive for us. So um, yeah, it's it'll be a busy winter, even if I'm not racing and stuff, but yeah, um, I'd love to go back to Kona now that I've got my nutrition sorted. Um, I just stopped twice in Kona. So, you know, that um that 10 hour could be pretty close without those stops, to be honest. So yeah, it would be good to go back and give it a second go at some point. So yeah, we'll see.

Larry 1:36:58

Yeah. Well, you know, uh between you and Mark Thompson, New Zealand absolutely dominated the the Ultraman Australia this year. So great job out there by you, Kiwis. And uh I guess that explains why you guys deserve your own race now.

Nat 1:37:18

Yeah, I mean, everyone did a fantastic job that weekend, but yeah, it's pretty cool to see the Kiwis on top. And um, yeah, as I said in my speech, like real impressed with all the ladies out there as well. And um yeah, it's pretty cool to be racing alongside Anna and Britta. Anna and Brittan. Anna and Brittany. Um yeah, so that was um an epic weekend, really.

Mark 1:37:44

Yeah. Yeah.

Larry 1:37:46

All right. Well, thanks for sharing your your insights and stories from the weekend and telling us about how you were able to get to the top of the podium in the women's race. I appreciate your time and uh have fun in the crewing side of this when you get there in December.

Nat 1:38:03

Awesome. Thanks so much, Larry, and um thanks to you for the live streaming and that and uh the dream team as well for putting an epic event on that was pretty unreal. Yeah. Excellent. All right, good luck.

Mary Jo 1:38:16

Thanks. Hey, if you liked what you heard today, please telephone, turn, subscribe, or everyone got more podcasts.