A 100km Experiment by Jada Linstrom

I decided to run my first 100km for my 30th birthday. At first, I was hesitant—partly because I felt I might still be too young. My whole running journey has always been grounded in the belief that "I'm running today so I can still run when I'm 80." So the idea of pushing my body that far, this early, didn’t sit easily with me. It’s a big commitment, physically and mentally, and definitely not something to take lightly.

But after training consistently with Pierre for the past few years, I knew I had a solid foundation. That gave me the confidence to go for it—and so I entered MUT100. MUT is known for being brutal, with steep climbs and descents, but I didn’t overthink it. In my mind, any 100km would be hard. So if I was going to suffer, I figured I might as well suffer in one of my favorite mountain ranges.

Moving free 🏔️🦅 Credit: Ian Corless

Training started off well, and I was mentally locked in for race day. But everything changed when I left my full-time job to start my own business. At the same time, I was still studying psychology, and to top it off, I was travelling through Indonesia a month before MUT. I was operating at 160%. Unsurprisingly, my weekly mileage dropped drastically—I barely hit 30km a week.

In Indonesia, I had to run with rocks in my hands to keep dogs from chasing me, and I got sick during the trip too. It all added up. My body and mind were clearly telling me to calm the f… down. I had to reassess. This wasn’t going to be a race anymore—it was going to be an experiment. A chance to test whether this distance was something I even wanted to do again. And that mindset shift was powerful. It allowed me to focus on everything but competition—on the experience itself.

I was surprisingly relaxed at the start line—more relaxed than I’ve felt before any long run—and honestly, I couldn’t wait to spend the day in the Outeniqua mountains. Just me, my thoughts, the sound of the trails, new faces along the way, and the gift of movement. And that’s exactly what the day gave me.

I felt good from the start. Maybe a bit too good. I made a conscious effort to pace myself up the first big climb to Outeniqua Pass, snacking often to keep things steady. By the time I reached Herold’s Wine, though, I felt unexpectedly tired—and started to worry. But then I got the most amazing surprise: my uncle and aunt had come out to support me. That little boost meant everything and kept me going.

I realised I needed small things to look forward to—little markers to keep me excited. Next up was Dizzy Heights, one of my favourite parts of the route. There I got to see the fast 40km and 60km runners pass by. My dear friend Sam Reilly flew past me with such control and power. She gave me a hug and a kiss as she passed, and I couldn’t stop smiling for ages after that. Those small moments became my milestones.

Taking time to connect with fellow runners, we are all on our own journey, but that doesn't mean we can't share it with those around us.

The heat was a big issue for many runners, but it didn’t hit me as hard—maybe because I’d been sweating in the Indonesian heat for weeks before the race. What really got to me were the descents. After 70km, every downhill step was a fight. My quads were wrecked. In those last 30km, I stopped thinking about the distance ahead. I only focussed on the next kilometre. That mindset—just focus on what’s in front of you—carried me through to the end.

I went through every emotion during this race. It was wild to see how those feelings affected my body, my pace, and my mindset throughout the day. At times, it felt like an out-of-body experience—like I was observing myself from a distance. Moving through nature, dealing with those thoughts and emotions in real time, broke everything down to its most honest form. It reminded me how deeply we’re connected to our surroundings. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

So, my 100km experiment? A success. I’ll definitely be back. But for now, I’m soaking in the recovery and looking forward to an exciting cycling adventure ahead!

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