1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason nine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,107 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zb. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:16,867 Speaker 2: An Auckland City Hospital. Doctor has achieved an incredible feat 4 00:00:16,947 --> 00:00:21,387 Speaker 2: by completing a self supported ultra marathon on all seven 5 00:00:21,467 --> 00:00:25,307 Speaker 2: continents in just one year. In twenty twenty four, doctor 6 00:00:25,347 --> 00:00:33,547 Speaker 2: Inneodomatty completed eight races in eight countries Australia, New Zealand, Namibia, Peru, Mongolia, Romania, 7 00:00:33,747 --> 00:00:38,827 Speaker 2: the United States and Antarctica, across all seven continents. Each 8 00:00:38,947 --> 00:00:43,387 Speaker 2: ultra marathon was around two hundred and fifty kilometers and 9 00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:48,427 Speaker 2: took five to six days to complete. Doctor Anyodomatty joins 10 00:00:48,507 --> 00:00:53,147 Speaker 2: US now, congratulations on this incredible, incredible feat. I guess 11 00:00:53,187 --> 00:00:56,747 Speaker 2: the obvious first question is why. 12 00:00:57,187 --> 00:00:59,947 Speaker 3: Ah, that's a very good question. It was a bit 13 00:00:59,947 --> 00:01:02,547 Speaker 3: of a combination of I was raising money for a 14 00:01:02,547 --> 00:01:06,107 Speaker 3: scholarship that we're starting to help with school kids to 15 00:01:06,107 --> 00:01:11,227 Speaker 3: get motivated to partake in sport and tertiary education. Then 16 00:01:11,827 --> 00:01:14,067 Speaker 3: the other reason why was I was turning fifty, so 17 00:01:14,107 --> 00:01:14,867 Speaker 3: I'm getting old. 18 00:01:16,307 --> 00:01:20,027 Speaker 2: What better way to celebrate bringing up a milestone birthday 19 00:01:20,107 --> 00:01:22,427 Speaker 2: like that than doing this. So let's talk about the 20 00:01:22,467 --> 00:01:25,867 Speaker 2: logistics of it. The scheduling of it. First of all, 21 00:01:26,547 --> 00:01:29,147 Speaker 2: did you I mean, were you? You were obviously confident 22 00:01:29,187 --> 00:01:31,427 Speaker 2: that you could fit them all into one calendar year, 23 00:01:31,747 --> 00:01:33,827 Speaker 2: but were there any logistical challenges? 24 00:01:34,907 --> 00:01:37,627 Speaker 3: It was a logistical nightmare, Like we actually managed to 25 00:01:37,627 --> 00:01:39,787 Speaker 3: get all races done in ten months in the end, 26 00:01:39,907 --> 00:01:44,827 Speaker 3: but people would cancel races, you know, and then would 27 00:01:44,867 --> 00:01:47,147 Speaker 3: have to find another race on another on the same 28 00:01:47,187 --> 00:01:51,067 Speaker 3: continent and try to work it with other ones occasionally, 29 00:01:51,147 --> 00:01:53,587 Speaker 3: like the worst I had was one rest I came 30 00:01:53,627 --> 00:01:55,747 Speaker 3: back from I literally got back to New zealand had 31 00:01:55,787 --> 00:01:59,147 Speaker 3: a day, had to repack all my gear, swap it out, 32 00:01:59,227 --> 00:02:01,307 Speaker 3: and was back on the plane again the next day. 33 00:02:01,387 --> 00:02:03,227 Speaker 3: So yeah, it was pretty tight. 34 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:06,707 Speaker 2: So I want to come back to the shedge. But 35 00:02:06,747 --> 00:02:10,227 Speaker 2: in terms of recovery, because how long would recovery for 36 00:02:10,307 --> 00:02:12,347 Speaker 2: one of these races normally be. I wouldn't imagine that 37 00:02:12,387 --> 00:02:15,347 Speaker 2: one day is the ideal recovery. What is the what 38 00:02:15,427 --> 00:02:17,627 Speaker 2: is the normal recovery time after one of these? 39 00:02:18,507 --> 00:02:22,147 Speaker 3: Really realistically normally after a big race like that was 40 00:02:22,187 --> 00:02:25,667 Speaker 3: the amount of you know, of course you play. I 41 00:02:25,667 --> 00:02:27,267 Speaker 3: guess for one a bit of term, you're looking at 42 00:02:27,307 --> 00:02:32,107 Speaker 3: about three months, I guess. So you know, turning around 43 00:02:32,147 --> 00:02:34,347 Speaker 3: and having like two weeks to be start and as 44 00:02:34,347 --> 00:02:36,907 Speaker 3: we're traveling between. It's not the best ma. 45 00:02:37,187 --> 00:02:40,067 Speaker 2: It's not, but obviously you you factored all that in 46 00:02:40,267 --> 00:02:43,547 Speaker 2: the the one in Antarctica. I think I read that 47 00:02:43,547 --> 00:02:46,507 Speaker 2: that only happens every every other year. So if you 48 00:02:46,507 --> 00:02:47,867 Speaker 2: didn't do it this year, you would have had to wait 49 00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:48,507 Speaker 2: for a couple of years. 50 00:02:48,547 --> 00:02:49,747 Speaker 1: Is that right? Yeah? 51 00:02:49,907 --> 00:02:51,987 Speaker 3: Correct, it was the big one. You know. It's like 52 00:02:52,067 --> 00:02:54,387 Speaker 3: if I, if I messed up at a race this 53 00:02:54,547 --> 00:02:56,467 Speaker 3: year and couldn't finish it, then I had to wait 54 00:02:56,507 --> 00:02:57,907 Speaker 3: like another two years. 55 00:02:59,067 --> 00:03:01,347 Speaker 2: When you look back, which one was the hardest? 56 00:03:02,307 --> 00:03:06,907 Speaker 3: Oh, I think the one in Libya and Africa. Unfortunately, 57 00:03:06,907 --> 00:03:09,147 Speaker 3: in the first race of New Zealand, I caught COVID 58 00:03:09,187 --> 00:03:11,907 Speaker 3: on the last day and so I sort of turned 59 00:03:11,907 --> 00:03:14,067 Speaker 3: around in the movie are and it got up to like, 60 00:03:14,107 --> 00:03:17,307 Speaker 3: you know, fifty degrees in the heat. So I was 61 00:03:17,347 --> 00:03:21,227 Speaker 3: pretty suffering. So that was probably the biggest physical toll. 62 00:03:21,787 --> 00:03:24,827 Speaker 2: Because I guess across the continents, depending on the time 63 00:03:24,827 --> 00:03:26,467 Speaker 2: of year and all that sort of thing, you came 64 00:03:26,547 --> 00:03:31,347 Speaker 2: up against different different weather, different climatic sort of conditions. 65 00:03:31,347 --> 00:03:33,107 Speaker 2: Do you prefer the heat, do you like it when 66 00:03:33,107 --> 00:03:34,547 Speaker 2: it's a bit cooler. What's your preference? 67 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:38,107 Speaker 3: No, I I like the cold. I loved Antarctica. You know, 68 00:03:38,587 --> 00:03:41,347 Speaker 3: only in Antarctica is made for like short, stocky people 69 00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:45,307 Speaker 3: like myself. You know, it's cold, the wind outing or 70 00:03:45,347 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: the really sney you know, runner athlete, all that will 71 00:03:49,227 --> 00:03:51,227 Speaker 3: get going around, so it works in our favor. 72 00:03:51,987 --> 00:03:54,987 Speaker 2: So these are self supported ultra marathon. So were you 73 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:57,347 Speaker 2: basically buy yourself the whole time? 74 00:03:58,787 --> 00:04:01,147 Speaker 3: I read a lot from myself, but the self supporter 75 00:04:01,267 --> 00:04:03,747 Speaker 3: side comes into like you have to carry everything you 76 00:04:03,827 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 3: need on you in your back for the six day, 77 00:04:06,627 --> 00:04:09,787 Speaker 3: so all your food, your sleeping bag, everything like that, 78 00:04:10,267 --> 00:04:13,587 Speaker 3: and they just provides you overnight with ten ten water allowance. 79 00:04:15,067 --> 00:04:17,227 Speaker 3: I've got a really weird running style, so nobody sort 80 00:04:17,227 --> 00:04:19,787 Speaker 3: of runs with me for long, so that's quite good. 81 00:04:20,187 --> 00:04:22,427 Speaker 2: What's weird about your running style? 82 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:25,547 Speaker 3: Oh, I've got really short legs, and I think I 83 00:04:25,707 --> 00:04:27,867 Speaker 3: run as fast as some people walk at times, and 84 00:04:27,987 --> 00:04:29,427 Speaker 3: the big, tall, lanky people. 85 00:04:30,907 --> 00:04:34,027 Speaker 2: So actually for these, for these races, you're probably taking 86 00:04:34,147 --> 00:04:36,347 Speaker 2: you know, twice as many steps as somebody else is 87 00:04:36,427 --> 00:04:36,707 Speaker 2: doing it. 88 00:04:37,667 --> 00:04:40,587 Speaker 3: Probably, you know, I probably weighed twice as much as 89 00:04:40,627 --> 00:04:42,787 Speaker 3: some of them, as well, but it's all good. It 90 00:04:42,867 --> 00:04:44,347 Speaker 3: happens with the endurance side of it. 91 00:04:44,827 --> 00:04:47,267 Speaker 2: So how do you split it up? Any do you across? 92 00:04:47,387 --> 00:04:51,267 Speaker 2: Do you divide the kilometers evenly across the days? Are 93 00:04:51,307 --> 00:04:53,027 Speaker 2: there certain days you run more k? How does it? 94 00:04:53,067 --> 00:04:53,787 Speaker 2: How does it work? 95 00:04:54,867 --> 00:04:57,427 Speaker 3: So typically they run about on the same format, so 96 00:04:57,467 --> 00:05:01,267 Speaker 3: you run roughly marathon a day, and there's a time 97 00:05:01,427 --> 00:05:03,867 Speaker 3: cut off that you have to make, and then they 98 00:05:03,947 --> 00:05:06,107 Speaker 3: totally have a long stage where they sort of double 99 00:05:06,147 --> 00:05:08,027 Speaker 3: it up, so you might be running eighty to one 100 00:05:08,107 --> 00:05:11,987 Speaker 3: hundred k's and that can go overnight. If you're quick enough, 101 00:05:12,067 --> 00:05:14,547 Speaker 3: you almost get a whole day off before the final 102 00:05:14,627 --> 00:05:17,107 Speaker 3: sort of sprint days to finish. 103 00:05:17,147 --> 00:05:20,107 Speaker 2: And in terms of sleep, how many hours of sleep 104 00:05:20,107 --> 00:05:21,827 Speaker 2: are you're getting per night on average? 105 00:05:22,387 --> 00:05:24,027 Speaker 3: Well, I think I'll probably get more than when I'm 106 00:05:24,027 --> 00:05:27,907 Speaker 3: working as an emergency tells the truth? You know, before 107 00:05:27,947 --> 00:05:30,667 Speaker 3: you've got to do, is you wake up for a run, 108 00:05:30,867 --> 00:05:32,627 Speaker 3: eat and have a bit of a sleep. No, I 109 00:05:32,707 --> 00:05:34,427 Speaker 3: sleep quite well, intense I love it. 110 00:05:34,867 --> 00:05:37,707 Speaker 2: I imagine after doing the case during a day, it 111 00:05:37,707 --> 00:05:41,187 Speaker 2: wouldn't take much to nod off in a race of 112 00:05:41,227 --> 00:05:43,707 Speaker 2: this length, in a two hundred and fifty kilometer run, 113 00:05:44,387 --> 00:05:46,947 Speaker 2: which are typically the hardest kilometers. 114 00:05:47,987 --> 00:05:51,347 Speaker 3: Well, I think the early days and that's when most 115 00:05:51,387 --> 00:05:55,387 Speaker 3: people will or quit because you haven't really invested much. 116 00:05:55,427 --> 00:05:57,747 Speaker 3: And every time you start a new race, it's like 117 00:05:57,867 --> 00:06:02,107 Speaker 3: your body hurts. And then come about day three, my 118 00:06:02,187 --> 00:06:04,107 Speaker 3: brain just tells the body to shut up and get 119 00:06:04,107 --> 00:06:08,187 Speaker 3: on with it. So I usual to get better as 120 00:06:08,227 --> 00:06:09,067 Speaker 3: the days go on. 121 00:06:09,187 --> 00:06:13,347 Speaker 2: So how did you get the ultra marathon bug. 122 00:06:15,067 --> 00:06:16,987 Speaker 3: It was a little bit through my dad, really, Like 123 00:06:17,067 --> 00:06:20,907 Speaker 3: I sort of I hurt my back quite barely in 124 00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:24,267 Speaker 3: my thirties through work looking on the chop, the service 125 00:06:24,267 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 3: and the and then just sort of gradually got into running. 126 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:31,507 Speaker 3: And my dad was always into like running. So one day, 127 00:06:31,627 --> 00:06:34,747 Speaker 3: you know, the priceless earthquakes, he signed me up or 128 00:06:34,747 --> 00:06:36,747 Speaker 3: he told people I was going to run ultra marathon 129 00:06:36,827 --> 00:06:39,627 Speaker 3: to raise money for charity. And that was the first 130 00:06:39,627 --> 00:06:41,307 Speaker 3: one and it sort of just took off from there. 131 00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:44,307 Speaker 2: And because I guess people get the running bug, right, 132 00:06:44,307 --> 00:06:46,987 Speaker 2: they do and they run. They might run a ten k, 133 00:06:47,067 --> 00:06:49,307 Speaker 2: they might run a half marathon, they might run marathons. 134 00:06:49,507 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 2: The ultra marathon just seems to me to be an 135 00:06:51,667 --> 00:06:54,947 Speaker 2: entirely different commitment all together. And where do you train, 136 00:06:55,787 --> 00:06:57,827 Speaker 2: Did you manage to train at all? Or was it 137 00:06:57,907 --> 00:06:58,987 Speaker 2: just race to race to race? 138 00:06:59,867 --> 00:07:03,227 Speaker 3: Yes, my training was actually done in twenty twenty three. 139 00:07:03,267 --> 00:07:05,827 Speaker 3: I guess I spent a lot of time in the 140 00:07:05,907 --> 00:07:09,067 Speaker 3: gym some what it's on purposes and muscle and running 141 00:07:09,147 --> 00:07:12,147 Speaker 3: long back to back runs on the weekends, or you know, 142 00:07:12,227 --> 00:07:14,507 Speaker 3: I could get off work and then last year you're 143 00:07:14,547 --> 00:07:18,187 Speaker 3: really just recovery between races. You don't really need to 144 00:07:18,267 --> 00:07:22,107 Speaker 3: train if you're doing that many runs, You're just trying 145 00:07:22,147 --> 00:07:24,787 Speaker 3: to rebuild enough to get back into the next one. 146 00:07:25,467 --> 00:07:28,147 Speaker 2: Where does your mind go during these runs? Do you 147 00:07:28,267 --> 00:07:30,387 Speaker 2: solve the problems of the world? Do you do you 148 00:07:30,507 --> 00:07:32,747 Speaker 2: do you play music? Where does your mind go during 149 00:07:32,827 --> 00:07:33,627 Speaker 2: these races? 150 00:07:33,987 --> 00:07:36,667 Speaker 3: But yeah, sometimes I have little epiphanies and sort of 151 00:07:36,827 --> 00:07:39,587 Speaker 3: I have to quickly think about jotting them down about 152 00:07:39,627 --> 00:07:42,307 Speaker 3: you know, fixing the healthcare system, things like that. But 153 00:07:43,787 --> 00:07:46,427 Speaker 3: mostly I don't listen to music. I like to switch off. 154 00:07:47,307 --> 00:07:51,227 Speaker 3: I get sort of bombarded with you know, questions and 155 00:07:51,827 --> 00:07:54,027 Speaker 3: all that sort of stuff every day all the time. 156 00:07:54,067 --> 00:07:55,867 Speaker 3: So I like to switch off and go to my 157 00:07:55,907 --> 00:07:58,347 Speaker 3: own little space and maybe have a bit of a 158 00:07:58,427 --> 00:08:00,907 Speaker 3: chat with some of the other runners. And you know, 159 00:08:01,027 --> 00:08:03,067 Speaker 3: learn about why they're doing it as well, and that 160 00:08:03,147 --> 00:08:07,507 Speaker 3: sort of helps with other things I'm trying to organize. Yeah, 161 00:08:07,547 --> 00:08:10,667 Speaker 3: it's sort of sometimes I'll run in case whatever. You 162 00:08:10,667 --> 00:08:12,787 Speaker 3: don't even know it because you've just switched the brain off. 163 00:08:13,387 --> 00:08:19,507 Speaker 2: Incredible, incredible. So what does twenty twenty five hold for you? 164 00:08:19,627 --> 00:08:21,507 Speaker 3: Well, at the moment, I think now that all the 165 00:08:21,507 --> 00:08:23,507 Speaker 3: big races are over, my body is sort of in 166 00:08:23,547 --> 00:08:25,907 Speaker 3: that it sore and it's wanting to recover a bit. 167 00:08:27,387 --> 00:08:29,147 Speaker 3: It's going to be a busy start of the year 168 00:08:29,187 --> 00:08:31,907 Speaker 3: because I'm getting married and I've got one more race 169 00:08:31,947 --> 00:08:34,187 Speaker 3: to do to try to set another record, and then 170 00:08:35,147 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 3: hopefully the second half of the year will just be 171 00:08:38,187 --> 00:08:39,147 Speaker 3: lounging around it. 172 00:08:39,707 --> 00:08:41,587 Speaker 2: Well, you've earned it. What's the what's the race you 173 00:08:41,627 --> 00:08:43,427 Speaker 2: have to do to and what's the record that you're 174 00:08:43,427 --> 00:08:45,267 Speaker 2: looking to set with us next one? 175 00:08:46,027 --> 00:08:49,427 Speaker 3: Oh well, there's a four deserts race series run by 176 00:08:49,547 --> 00:08:53,387 Speaker 3: Racing the Planet, and so I was the first New 177 00:08:53,467 --> 00:08:56,107 Speaker 3: Zealander and so far the ownly New Zealanders do all 178 00:08:56,147 --> 00:08:59,067 Speaker 3: four in a year of those. But if I finished 179 00:08:59,107 --> 00:09:03,747 Speaker 3: the next race in March is a group of us. 180 00:09:03,787 --> 00:09:05,467 Speaker 3: There's a few of us that if we all finish, 181 00:09:05,507 --> 00:09:08,747 Speaker 3: will be the first to do it twice, and that 182 00:09:08,867 --> 00:09:09,027 Speaker 3: is that. 183 00:09:09,147 --> 00:09:12,907 Speaker 2: One amazing and then marriage It'll be a breeze after 184 00:09:12,947 --> 00:09:13,267 Speaker 2: all of this. 185 00:09:15,427 --> 00:09:17,467 Speaker 3: I've been told that I have on s screen to 186 00:09:17,507 --> 00:09:19,747 Speaker 3: the shop at the winning of a bird face I'm 187 00:09:19,747 --> 00:09:20,187 Speaker 3: in trouble. 188 00:09:20,267 --> 00:09:22,187 Speaker 2: You will be in trouble. That's very good advice from 189 00:09:22,187 --> 00:09:24,587 Speaker 2: whoever gave that to you. And he's been such a 190 00:09:24,747 --> 00:09:27,067 Speaker 2: such a delight chatting to you, mate. Congratulations on this 191 00:09:27,187 --> 00:09:31,987 Speaker 2: incredible feat of mind over matter and of physical resilience. Mate, 192 00:09:32,027 --> 00:09:34,427 Speaker 2: just terrific. It's been been awesome to get the chance 193 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:34,947 Speaker 2: to chat to you. 194 00:09:35,747 --> 00:09:37,787 Speaker 3: Thank you very much and you have a good new year. 195 00:09:37,867 --> 00:09:40,347 Speaker 2: You have a good new year too, any here, doctor 196 00:09:40,467 --> 00:09:44,307 Speaker 2: Enniodo Matti. There eight races and eight countries, and not 197 00:09:44,387 --> 00:09:49,547 Speaker 2: just races, ultra marathons self supported on all seven continents 198 00:09:49,587 --> 00:09:51,147 Speaker 2: in just one year. Remarkable. 199 00:09:51,707 --> 00:09:54,867 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 200 00:09:54,987 --> 00:09:58,387 Speaker 1: to News Talks' b Weekends from midday or follow the 201 00:09:58,427 --> 00:09:59,867 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.