Hi, I’m Becky.
I’m an athlete ambassador for Inline Nutrition, a middle-distance track runner transitioning
into longer road events, a mum to an almost one-year-old, Jack, and a Dunedin local.
A couple of weeks ago, I took on the Samla 100 — a 100km endurance race through the
desert in Doha, Qatar — and I wanted to share that experience.
The race consisted of:
● 3km ocean swim
● 21km run
● 22km mountain bike
● 4km kayak
● 22km mountain bike
● 28km desert run
Altogether, 100km of very unfamiliar territory for a track athlete.
The opportunity came about when my sister, who lives in the Middle East, reached out to the
organisers to see if I could get an invite. It was initially just a way for us to spend some
precious time together — something we don’t often get living on opposite sides of the world.
Months passed with no response, so we assumed it wasn’t happening. Then, just ten days
before race day, I received an email confirming I had a spot on the start line and asking for
my passport details.
Honestly, it felt a little bit like a scam. But after flights came through, I found myself boarding
a plane on the Tuesday for a Saturday race.
This event was completely outside my comfort zone. I’ve raced the 1500m since I was 12
years old, and the idea of a 100km multi-discipline race was daunting. My biggest concern,
though, was leaving my baby for the first time. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about —
Jack thrived at home with his dad and didn’t seem to miss me one bit.
To say I was unprepared is an understatement. But being a little naïve actually worked in my
favour. I was grateful just to be there, to experience something new, and to spend time with
my sister.
Race morning arrived quickly, bringing a mix of nerves and excitement for the unknown. This
blog isn’t long enough to walk you through every moment, so here’s a brief breakdown of
each stage.
Swim – 3km
This was the leg I was most nervous about, as I hadn’t raced open water in over 15 years.
Once I settled into the rhythm, though, I loved it. Watching the sun rise on the start line was
incredible, and I finished the swim in 52 minutes — much faster than I expected.
Run 1 – 21km
With 49km of running in total, this was definitely a runner’s race. I was grateful for all the
sand dune sessions I’d done at Tomahawk Beach as a teenager, and for my first coach, Jim,
who taught me how to move efficiently over soft sand. I completed this run in 1 hour 34
minutes.
Bike 1 – 22km
This leg was tough and took longer than anticipated. Much of the course was deep sand,
meaning frequent dismounting and running with the bike. Surprisingly, it felt a lot like running
with a pram — so it turns out motherhood had been preparing me after all. Time: 1 hour 30
minutes.
Kayak – 4km
This stage also took longer than expected, and I switched off mentally here. My quads and
adductors began cramping, so I leaned back, cruised, and focused on staying on course.
Time on the kayak was 51 minutes.
Bike 2 – 22km
After the slog on the way out, I wasn’t looking forward to this leg. Thankfully, the tailwind
was a saviour. I also skipped bike shorts, so getting off the bike to run through soft sand was
actually a welcome break. The return ride took 1 hour 24 minutes.
Run 2 – 28km
Getting back to running felt like coming home. I felt comfortable and in control, pacing the
entire race on intuition — fuelling and hydrating before I felt hungry or thirsty, and running at
a pace I knew I could sustain. This was my favourite part of the day. I caught six women
during this run, finishing 6th overall in the female field, and completed the final leg in 2 hours
13 minutes.
My total race time was just under nine hours.
This was such a cool experience, and one I’m incredibly grateful for. Nutrition and listening to
my body were critical in a race with so many moving parts. I had an amazing day out, and I’d
encourage anyone sitting on the fence about an unknown challenge to go for it. You won’t
regret it — you’ll learn, grow, and experience far more than you expect.
I’m already excited to return next year, better prepared and hopefully much quicker through
the transitions.
