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From Coast to Kosci: Steve Cunningham’s Epic 240km Ultramarathon Challenge

Published: 28 Dec 2023

What Is the Coast to Kosci Ultramarathon?

Coast to Kosci is a 240km ultramarathon that starts on the beach at Two Fold Bay near Eden – and if the weather is kind, includes summiting Mount Kosciusko before finishing at Charlottes Pass.

Steve’s Coast to Kosci Experience

In the early dawn light of Friday 1 December 2023 our Clinical Director Steve Cunningham set off on this event. He was one of only 51 – a very select group of runners.

Over the next 36 hours he would be tested physically and mentally to a degree that he had never experienced before.

In many ways Steve had been training for his whole life for this event.  Multiple Ironman races in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, multi-day multi-sport events in Australia and Asia, ultramarathons of up to 163km in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.  But this event with the elevation, change in weather and sheer distance was epic.

How many times did Steve run up and down this hill? Those who follow him on Strava will know, but it’s definitely in the hundreds, probably in the thousands.

Steve was supported by long time friends and family.  He had a pacer run with him from 8.30pm on Friday night until he finally finished at Charlottes Pass at 8pm on Saturday.  He ran and walked for the first 180k, after that it was very much about just getting it done.

The goal was to help him consume 400 calories every hour.  If that sounds like alot, it is.  But after the first 45k Steve’s crew was leap frogging him by driving about 5k and prepping food and drink and gear, handing it over, doing what needed to be done and then doing it all again.  And again.

It’s all about the feet.  Steve will lose 6 toenails in the coming days.  This could be done better, but the near constant rain and resultant water crossings did not make this easier.

What We Learnt from Coast to Kosci

• preparation is everything, but these sorts of distances make avoiding injury in training and during the race just about impossible.  A great physio team (thank you Steph, Travis, Julia, and Zena) meant that Steve got to the start line relatively fit
• don’t eat out in the days before an event like this.  Pre-race nutrition should not include anything new or unknown.  Steve suffered from an upset tummy through the entire race – probably from a  meal the night before.  Note – don’t do that again
• don’t use a ute as the support vehicle (unless you have no choice).  Climbing in and out of the tub to access gear – in the rain – was not fun for the crew and not very practical.  It also meant that we probably didn’t offer him some food options that he would have been able to tolerate. We looked on with envy at the crew with vans and neat drawers all labelled
• Deb is a type of dehydrated potato.  When served with lots of butter it is very appealing (so we are told)
• remember to bring food for the crew.  No more probably needs to be said about this
• 226k is very far, and 5000+m of elevation is alot

The Finish Line

Steve didn’t get to summit Kosciusko – there was a lightning storm and runners were prevented from proceeding, for safety reasons.  The eight who went through before the storm experienced some crazy weather.  Some of us are hoping that this doesn’t mean he will want to go again.  Steve did finish the event officially at Charlotte’s Pass – because that was as far as the race organisers would permit him to go.

Why did he do it?  He has previously been quoted as saying “because I like to run”.  This is something more though.  Happy to hear your thoughts on what that might be.