If You Want Something Done, You Ask a Busy Person - Sia Kindberg & Surf Coast Century 2024
“If you want something done, you ask a busy person” - well, isn’t this true!?
This year, I had just finished my Ice Ultra 230km race in the Arctic, and almost immediately, I began training for The Track 520km, a desert race from Alice Springs to Uluru. Training for The Track is pushing my project management skills to their limits, especially as a single working full-time mom with no family support in Australia. But, as always, I thrive on the problem-solving challenges that come with these races.
So, when six runners approached me to coach them for the Surf Coast Century in Anglesea this September, I knew it would add yet another task to my already jam-packed schedule. As a Project Consultant, I’m used to juggling multiple projects daily. My approach is always rooted in curiosity: "How can I do this? Why isn’t this working? How can we make it better?" And as a passionate trail and ultra runner, I couldn’t turn away from the opportunity to share the beauty of trail and ultra running with others.
The race day was a crisp September morning in Anglesea, and the rugged coastline along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road glistened in the early dawn light. The Surf Coast Century 2024 was just hours away, and you could feel the anticipation in the air as runners gathered at the start line. Among them was a group of first-time ultra marathoners, all wearing wide smiles with a mix of nerves and excitement. They had been preparing for this moment for months under my guidance.
I stood tall, my hair pulled back in a ponytail, scanning the 100km runners standing beside me. I knew exactly what they were feeling - I had been in their shoes. I had completed both the 50km and 100km versions of this race before. But this time, the joy came not from running the race myself, but from coaching others through their first ultra.
For 10 months, I had poured my heart and soul into preparing this group. They came to me with dreams of completing the beautiful yet grueling Surf Coast trail, and I turned those dreams into detailed training plans. Long runs, hill repeats, strength sessions, fuelling, mental toughness drills - I covered it all. And now, standing at the starting line, I was so proud of them for showing up fully committed.
“You’ve put in the work,” I told them. “Trust your training, trust your body, and most importantly, enjoy the journey out there. Just standing at this start line makes you a winner already.”
The group had 2x distinct teams: the 50km runners, who would take on the coastal sections with its sweeping views of the ocean and rolling hills, and the 100km runners, who were in for an all-day battle against the elements, the terrain, and their own limits.
As the race began, I ran alongside the 100km runners for a while, reminding them to pace themselves. I was also running the first leg of the 100km relay, so I had my own race to focus on, but I managed to reach the first checkpoint before my group of runners. I checked on them, offering support before rushing off to assist the 50km runners on another part of the course.
The 50km Runners
The 50km runners started strong. They were familiar with many of these trails, which helped them stay confident. But half-way through the race, the hills became steeper, and fatigue began to set in. One of the runners, a confident road runner, started to feel the strain of the trail sapping her energy. I reminded her, “This is trail running. It’s okay to walk the hills. And don’t forget to enjoy the scenery.”
When they crossed the finish line, their arms raised in triumph, I greeted them with the words, “Congratulations! You are now official trail and ultra runners. Welcome to the tribe!”
The 100km Runners
Meanwhile, the 100km group had a much longer and tougher day ahead. By the 50km mark, I made sure they were well-fed and refuelled for the next brutal half of the race. As the terrain grew more challenging and isolation set in, I could see them grappling with their limits.
I checked in on them periodically and noticed that their pace mirrored mine, which gave me pause. Panic set in briefly - why were they running at my pace? Then I realized: they weren’t running to win; they were running to finish. I had drilled into them the importance of loving the trail and pacing themselves. “No one cares if you finish in 12 or 16 hours,” I reminded them. “Most people can’t even comprehend running that distance. You’re out here because you love this.”
By the time they reached the 78km mark at Moggs Creek checkpoint, nestled in the forest, their legs were cramping, blisters had formed, and emotional lows had set in. This checkpoint would make or break them. This is where the mental game of ultra running comes in, and I hoped I had prepared them enough for this moment.
I met them with calm positivity. "It’s just a long day out on the trail," I reminded them as I helped them with their headtorches, ensuring they were warm and well-fed for the night section.
Once the last 100km runner left the checkpoint, I rushed back to join my relay team, managing to cross the finish line as a team with just 30 seconds to spare. My team, Team Bogong - four women I had met through my love of trail running - finished in under 12 hours. Trail running has a special way of turning strangers into lifelong friends.
But there was no rest yet. I quickly headed back to the 85km mark to check on my 100km runners. By the time they reached the final stretch, I missed them at the 90km mark but stayed for a bit to cheer on the other runners, even hearing a woman tearfully thank me, saying, “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Finishing the 100km
The 100km runners approached the finish line guided by the glow of the lights and the distant sound of cheering. I stood at the end, clapping and ringing the cowbell, beaming with pride. They had done it - conquered not only the rugged trail but their own doubts and fears.
“I knew you could do it!” I shouted, my voice thick with emotion. This wasn’t just about finishing a race. It was about proving to themselves that they were capable of anything.
The Day After
The next morning, over breakfast, I asked one of the runners how he felt after completing the race. His response was a reminder of why I introduce people to trail and ultra running year after year: “Out there, I was 100% behind myself. I learned to encourage and speak kindly to myself.”
I smiled, knowing that for them, the Surf Coast Century 2024 wasn’t just a race. It was a journey - one that I had the honor of guiding them through. As they began planning future races and adventures, I knew that this finish line was only the beginning.
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