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ANGLESEA SURF COAST CENTURY

Pushing myself to new limits, and exploring the vibrant trail running scene, with my attempt at the ‘feel good ultra’ – the Anglesea Surf Coast Century 50km trail run.

A male runner with race bib number 5081 running along a coastal trail with ocean and cliffs in the background.

I’ve been spending a fair part of this first year of retirement from pro cycling, trying to find new challenges and push myself in different ways. The rush, the commitment, the highs and lows of pro cycling have been an overwhelmingly major part of my life for so long, and once it was gone – it left a space that I really needed to fill. I think this is something common to a lot of ex-athletes, once your goals have been reached and you hang up your boots, how do you find challenge and fulfilment beyond your professional career?

A large group of people participating in a marathon on a sandy beach next to ocean waves, with cliffs and houses in the background.

For me, I’ve been exploring the idea of different ‘pelotons’ for a while now. I’ve loved delving into all different aspects of the cycling world and discovering new and thriving communities that I barely knew existed. But it’s not just cycling, it extends to other sports, and since retiring, I have discovered a love of running. It was something I had been exploring a little bit in the final couple of years of my career, where I was running for enjoyment and incorporating a bit of it into my training, especially in the off-season – but it was purely training. It was only in the last year of my career when I had a bit more time, that I started running just for enjoyment and checking out some of the incredible trails around Girona and Andorra, and I even entered a couple of trail runs over there, where trail running is phenomenally popular.

Group of runners participating in a 50-kilometer race on a beach at sunset.
A male trail runner with race bib 5081 running on a narrow dirt path through a forest with dense greenery.
Three male runners participate in a trail race through a wooded area, wearing race bibs and athletic gear.

Those experiences showed me how cool and inclusive the community was, and I loved that it was just slightly different to cycling. Even though it is physically similar, there’s more interaction with the participants, because when you’re running, you’re going that much slower, and sometimes stopping to climb over things, so you just have the chance to chat a bit more. It’s so inclusive and friendly yet still competitive – but in a different way to cycling. In running, you’re really just competing against yourself, trying to beat your own pb’s and setting your own challenges

Group of hikers walking on a dirt trail through a wooded hillside, with power lines running alongside the trail.
A group of four runners jogging on a beach near the ocean, wearing athletic gear, caps, and hydration packs.
Group of people participating in a running event on a beach, with orange cones lining the course and a backdrop of green trees and hills.

Fast forward to retirement, and now I’m a bit short on time, and live out in the country, so running has become a real go-to for me, because of the bang for your buck compared to cycling. I don’t always have time for long rides, but I can get a quick and good workout and still get the runners high that people talk about. On top of this, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy it. I haven’t done much competing in running events since being back in Australia, so me being me, I decided to venture into the world of trail running with a 50km challenge. The best place I could think of to tackle a challenge of this magnitude is the Anglesea Surf Coast Century – where at least I would have the benefit of spectacular scenery to the inevitable pain and suffering.

A person running on a gravel trail surrounded by green trees and grass, with a small bridge in the background.
A group of runners participating in a marathon on a dirt trail surrounded by tall grass and trees, with one runner in the foreground wearing sunglasses, a black cap, a yellow and black race bib, and athletic gear.

I was lucky to have the support of Bogong equipment in the event – they got me down there, and I just went in as a novice without expectation. I set myself the realistic goal of getting through it without walking. So I just chipped away and stayed focused, picking off people slowly as I went at my own pace. I chatted with a few people and got stuck behind others on some narrower trails, but that worked in my favour and just gave me a moment to slow down and take a breather. I had to adapt to some different things – fuelling was different, and I had to carry all of my own water and food – some things that are well-known to trail runners out there.

A person running on a dirt trail surrounded by trees, with houses and the ocean in the background.
A person hiking on a dirt trail surrounded by bushy trees under a clear blue sky.
A person wearing a backpack walking up a dirt hill on a rural trail with power lines and trees on either side, under a clear blue sky.

They call it the ‘feel good ultra’, and it was easy to see why. As I neared the halfway point of the race, I started to feel the pinch and wonder what I was doing out there. And just at that moment, I popped out on the coast just outside of Anglesea, and I saw the beautiful sight of the sun rising over the water, the waves crashing in along the Great Ocean Road, and it gave me such a boost that I managed to run the trails all the way back to Anglesea, and realise my goal of running the whole thing.

Male runner in athletic gear running on a dirt trail surrounded by green shrubbery, with the ocean and blue sky in the background.
A person running on a dirt trail surrounded by trees and shrubs, wearing running gear and a numbered bib, during daylight.
Person climbing up a grassy incline near water beneath a bridge.

Even though it was incredibly challenging, it was also exciting – I’ve done virtually all there is to do in road cycling, so getting out there and challenging myself to new things is the best way to stay motivated. And this challenge really set the bar high. It might sound easy as an ex-pro to run that kind of distance – but 50km is 50km no matter who you are, and I really felt every bit of it after the finish. I couldn’t walk one step more after sitting down at the finish line, and 48 hours later I was still hobbling around. I realised the extent of the damage I had done to my body, with more black toenails than not in the days after the event, and I kept asking myself WHY?

A male runner wearing a black cap, sunglasses, and a yellow and black running outfit crosses the finish line of a race, looking at his watch. Spectators and event banners line the sides of the grassy course on a sunny day.
A male marathon runner with bib number 5081 leaning forward while wearing a black cap, sunglasses, and a medal around his neck at the finish line of a race. There are event banners, staff, and spectators in the background.
A male marathon runner wearing a race bib number 5081, sunglasses, and athletic gear, standing in front of a blue finish line arch at a race event on a sunny day.

But the answer to that is an easy one now that the dust has settled – it’s all about finding a new challenge, and getting to experience the outcome – and after finishing my first 50km trail run in 4hrs33mins, I was happy.

Handwritten text that says 'Cheers! Mitch' in purple ink.

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