TO CREW OR NOT TO CREW

Shane deliriously thrilled with his progress at the 2021 Delirious W.E.S.T. Image: Claire O’Brien-Smith.

TO CREW OR NOT TO CREW Definately Crew

Having the right crew for an ultra can make the biggest difference to a runner’s performance, and sure, there are individuals who can successfully run a 100, even a 200 miler or more, without the aid of pacers or supporters at official aid stations or checkpoints. But there are also runners who bring to the table their biggest support people to help them get through the mileage. Kate Dzienis sat down with Shane Johnstone, who won the 2021 Delirious W.E.S.T 200 miler, and one of his support crew, Claire O’Brien-Smith, to talk about the vitals of getting through the distance and what it takes.

TWO-HUNDRED MILES. That converts to a lengthy and formidable 321.869km that takes more than a year to prepare for. That is usually reserved for seasoned trail runners who can not only operate on no or minimal sleep, but can accept the fact that their toenails will never look pretty in a pair of thongs – if they still have toenails attached, that is.

The Delirious W.E.S.T (Western Endurance Scenic Trail) is the southern hemisphere’s first point-to-point 200 miler, with the course stretching along the historic Bibbulmun Track from Northcliffe to Albany in Western Australia. Accomplished ultra runner Shane Johnstone from Caversham, WA has a strong background in long distance, including 1st Place Male at the 2019 West Macs Monster in the NT and an FKT that year too with the 130km Cape to Cape Track. So it was no surprise to his friends, family and colleagues when he decided to start training for the 2021 Delirious W.E.S.T (October 6-10) and put everything he’d learnt about running and long distance to good use.

Shane, who is also a member of the Australian Ultra Runners Association and race director for Transcend Ultra, suffers from a random illness (undiagnosed as yet) whereby in 2020 he presented to hospital with elevated traponin levels – this refers to a group of proteins that help regulate the contractions of the heart and skeletal muscles; high levels can indicate a problem with the heart and in turn, the potential for heart attack. He also suffers from iliac artery endo-fibrosis, a

condition that results in the reduction of blood flow to a lower extremity; in Shane’s case, his right leg. If he runs at a fast pace, the blood flow to his leg cuts off, so it’s actually easier for him to run endurance races rather than faster and shorter ones. “It appears my body is happy with that though, and I quite enjoy the longer “But if there’s anything I’ve learnt from ultra running, it’s to respect the distance, events too,” he explains. “But if there’s anything I’ve learnt from ultra running, it’s to respect and even if you look the goods on paper, the distance, and even if you look the it doesn’t necessarily translate to an goods on paper, it doesn’t necessarily automatic comfortable win. translate to an automatic comfortable win. “I had done some quality prep for Delirious so I was in good shape, and during the actual race I was really lucky with how my body responded. I continue to be amazed with how much the body can be challenged – anything can happen in that distance over trail with no to minimal sleep in challenging conditions. It’s a long way!

“I was certain I’d find my breaking point though. I think I was very close, but I feel I still crossed that finish line functioning way better than I could have ever imagined. We seriously underestimate ourselves as humans.

“Two-hundred milers can be super enjoyable if you’re out there taking your time, taking full advantage of the aid stations and getting sleep, but I think at the time, I was in the motion of pushing my body as hard as I could, and to do that for 55 hours took me to a whole new level mentally and physically – I was ready for it though, it was time for me to do that.

“Yes, my knees got sore, I was aching, and I got to that point where I couldn’t push myself, I had to rely on my crew to be that motivation; your brain starts taking shortcuts and there can be small hallucinations, so having support people to get you through that is essential, it’s critical.”

Claire O’Brien-Smith was one of four support members in Shane’s crew for the Delirious W.E.S.T, each partnering out to two groups of two for the best results to help get him to the finish.

A seasoned runner herself, Claire has a fair few successful events under her belt as well, including the 2021 Feral Pig 100km ultra where she secured 1st Female in 12:43:01, and the 2020 Margaret River 80km Ultra, winning that one in 9:14:38.

Her understanding of what it takes to successfully crew a runner definitely played a key role in Shane’s win.

Continued page 54

Pacers and crew members Claire O’Brien-Smith and Adam Rowe. Image: Adam Rowe.

Shane with his end time. Image: Supplied.

Running straight out of the chute at the start of his first 200 miler. Image: Amanda Bruce.

Continued page 46

Before they head off, it’s one last picture for participants Shane Johnstone, Kevin Matthews, Marty Kallane and Michael Barton. Image: Andrew Yeatman.

Finally at the finish line and talking to race director Shane Kaesler. Image: Adam Rowe. All smiles for Shane as pacer Nick takes a snapshot. Image: Nick Trebilcock.

“To have a crew that understands their runner’s most basic needs at the drop of a hat makes everything easier for everyone,” she says.

“It takes all the decision-making out of it. I mean, 200 miles is incredibly long and it’s exhausting, both mentally and physically, so you need a crew that knows your every need before you even ask for it.

“Our crew plan for Shane worked so well, I don’t think we could have perfected it any more than we had. Between the four of us, myself and my partner Lochy Jones were in one vehicle, and Nick Trebilcock and Adam Rowe were in another. Because Shane raced across three days, Nick and Adam took the first day as soon as they were allowed to pace him. Lochy and I took the second day, and then the boys took the third day. It worked so well, because we always had a driver and we always had a runner.

“The four of us, we’re all runners, could do any kilometres Shane needed us to do. Two teams of two worked a treat, we couldn’t have done it any better.”

When Shane would reach a checkpoint, there was always one pacer and one supporter ready to greet him, and everything was prepared before he even got there.

“We’d take out this massive bag full of his belongings, where everything was split into zip-lock bags, from clothes to all of his nutrition,” Claire reveals.

“We’d also take out of the car a medical bag just in case, but once Shane would get to the station, he’d get a fresh change of clothes, food, any medicines he needed – but he made no decisions. We wouldn’t give him any options, there were no decisions for him to make; he said at one stage he felt like a toddler, with all of us changing him or feeding him.

“But if that’s what it takes to get your runner to the finish line, then that’s what it takes.”

With no sleep and a full team of supporters who encouraged him every step of the way, Shane managed to secure a new course record time with 54:50:34 and claim 1st Male. He said without his crew, it wouldn’t have been possible.

“Very rarely will you see a solid performance without a solid team behind it,” he says.

“At times, the concept of running more was undesirable, but my crew kept me honest and stopped the train from derailing – it’s so true, that team work makes the dream work.”