Butcher makes world champs team for Japan

By Gary Caffell Masterton endurance athlete Graeme Butcher has been selected in the New Zealand ultra-marathon team to compete at the World Cup at Laka Samoa, Japan at the end of June. His selection came after his second placing in the national ultra-marathon championship at Taupo in February when he completed the 100km in 9hrs 6mins. Also helping his cause was a third placing in a 50km off road race in Auckland in April. There he placed third in 3hrs 43mins. Butcher was first asked if he would be available for the World Cup team in February but wasn't certain if his performances were strong enough to merit his inclusion. So it was a tense wait until the team was announced , the tenseness compounded by the fact he had to continue with his training without talking up his chances because he might be overlooked. Butcher's training regime is mind boggling to those who don't understand the requirements of ultra-marathons. In April, for instance, he was covering 150kms a week and this month he has increased that distance to 200kms. Butcher said the key to training was finding the correct pace to run at, especially in his weekly long run of 60 to 65km done on Saturday mornings. The hardest part for the proven marathoner was learning to slow down so that he could comfortably last the distance of those longer essays. "Life is a lot different on the road after 60kms rather the 42kms of a marathon," Butcher said. "You have to work things out so that you are not too tired to train again the next day." Training though does not consist only of long slow runs. Twice a week Butcher does speed work, performing three 5km repetitions, each in about 20mins, on a Tuesday and a 15km time trial on Thursdays.There the aim is to finish in 60 to 62mins And he backs up his running with regular stretching sessions along with weight training when time allows. Butcher is unsure of what to expect in Japan..He knows the course is relatively flat and that up to 300 competitors from all over the globe will be taking part. His goal is to better his best time for the 100kms of 9hrs 6mins by going under 9hrs but he's making no predictions on a finishing place other than to say that placing in the top half of the field would be a bonus. He has though been delighted with the way his preparation has gone with his only hassles being the occasional blister. The full New Zealand squad for Japan is:- Men: Martin Luker (Christchurch), Jack Koenen (Auckland), Richard Were (Auckland), Graeme Butcher (Masterton). Women: Val Muskett (Gore), Carolynne Tassie (Auckland), Karen Neale (Blenheim).