UTCT Race Reflections - The end of huge year

Staying calm inside the madness

UTCT was epic—three days of racing, brutal trails, and incredible memories. The whole weekend was special, from tuning into the live broadcast to watching friends and teammates tackle their races, then finally getting my chance to toe the line on Sunday. Racing last did have its disadvantages. While everyone else was out there giving it their all or supporting, I had to hold back, save my energy, and try to relax—a tough ask when you’re itching to get involved.

When race day finally rolled around, I was relieved. Even though I’d told myself this was a bit more lowkey in the scheme of things, that’s not how it felt leading up to the start. I felt the pressure—not just from the technical trails but from wanting to finish the year strong. But when race morning finally came around, I was able to remind myself: There’s nothing left to do but trust the training and race. This mantra always helps me relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Getting underway the course didn’t disappoint—Cape Town’s trails delivered on their reputation for heat, climbs, and technical terrain. I settled into a nice rhythm on the first climb, Platteklip Gorge, and over the top of Table Mountain, running with Bastian Perez. I was enjoying myself at that point, soaking in the views and getting into a good rhythm.

By the first aid station at 13 km, with a narrow lead, I told myself it was time to pick it up, especially with the gnarliest descent of the course—Nursery Ravine—up next. Somehow, I made it through that section relatively unscathed, hitting my stride on the contour trail toward UCT (University of Cape Town). But as the sun climbed higher, so did the challenges. The heat was taking a toll, the rock hopping was starting to sap my legs, and the first signs of cramp started to creep in.

Seeing my adidas TERREX support crew—Julia, Babs, and Sanny—gave me a much-needed boost. Their energy kept me going, but the exposed climb to Blockhouse quickly brought me back to reality. The cramp hit hard on that climb, and I knew I had to be smart. The final 8km were rocky, undulating, and required full focus.

As I started the descent to the finish, it finally felt like I could let go a little. Raising that finish banner was a massive relief. It felt good to cross the line, knowing I’d left it all out there and finished in one piece. It was in the back of my mind that an injury at this race would be a shitty way to start NZ Summer.

Celebration and Reflection

Having my adidas TERREX teammates at the finish made the moment even more special. We celebrated together, then turned our attention to supporting other teammates who had amazing performances over the weekend. The adidas South Africa team capped it all off with an incredible after-party, featuring a Braai, plenty of food, drinks, and even an ice cream machine. It was a proper send-off to an unforgettable year.

Before the race, I’d considered squeezing in one more event—the Kepler Challenge back home in New Zealand. But after UTCT, I am making the call to end the season here. It will be sad to miss Kepler and the amazing trail and organising committee but my body needs rest, and my mind is ready to focus on what really matters: heading home, spending time with Michelle, and letting the next phase of training come naturally.

Time to get home.

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