Masterton endurance runner Graeme Butcher has been selected to represent New Zealand at the world ultramarathon championship to be held over 100km in Tarquinia, Italy on November 8.
It will be the second time
Butcher has competed in this event, having placed 12th in Japan in 8rs 55mins in 2005,
and it follows
his impressive efforts of last year when he was second at the national ultramarathon champs in Taupo and won a 100km race held in Christchurch.
Joining Butcher in the New Zealand line-up on this occasion will be Martin Lukes of Christchurch and Adrian Baillie of Queenstown and they have been given the target by the national hierarchy of placing in the top 10 of the team's section.
And that's a big ask when you consider that each participating country can select up to nine runners in their line-ups, the highest three placegetters in which will count towards the team's competition.
Butcher admits that it makes it tough on New Zealand in that whereas other countries can afford to have some of their runners "blow up" and withdraw, the Kiwi trio have to all make it to the finish line if their placings are to count.
A daunting prospect, especially when statistics show that races of this kind usually have a drop-out factor of 30 per cent.
Happily for Butcher though he has stayed injury free during a training programme which has seen him averaging 150kms in training for the last two months, a figure which will be increased to over 200km a week over the next two months.
"Injuries are always the big worry, it's a matter of understanding which aches or pains could develop into something worse," he said.
Butcher knows little about the type of course he will strike in Italy but anticipates it being flat with an uphill finish over the last few kilometres.
Weather conditions are expected to be cool.
As to having a finishing time in mind Butcher says that will largely depend on the course but is confident of beating the cut off time of 10hrs.
His personal best time for 100kms is the 8hrs 31mins he recorded when winning the national title in 2006.
