Running all over the world (Ultras from the US to Europe and back to Australia)

A quick summary of 2011

2012-01-07T12:16:00.004+10:00

A long time between updates but with a new year upon us thought i should at least update the year 2011. 1,770 K's of races in 31 races including 23 Ultras and 2 Marathons and 2 wins, so pretty solid but nothing too spectacular, details here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmHlaBl11jzWdGtaV0w2R19DZlZlSm02QXJvMmtGN3c#gid=0
At this moment not quite sure of my plans, i know i have a trip to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon (89KM) but am still vaguely thinking about other international runs as well.
For the first time for a few years i am working virtually full time, as a meter reader, this means i spend 7 and a half hours a day walking between buildings reading meters with a little computer to record the readings, in all honesty that means i tend to not do a training run on days i'm working as i feel work is enough, maybe this will help me with multi day races as well, only time will tell.
As for this blog, i'm not promising more frequent updates, but i'd like to think i will do some race reports, we'll see !

Badwater as crew

2011-07-09T08:54:00.003+10:00

In what i can only claim to be a very spasmodic blog recently some people may have picked up that again this year i will be at Badwater, this time not running (if i'm honest probably the next time i put an application in for this race will be when there is an Aussie trying to beat my 3 finishes here or possibly many years on going for an age record - i'd have to be 75 so don't wait around to much for that one !).

Instead i am crewing Indian runner Arun Bhadwaj, he flew into Las Vegas last Monday (sure i lost him at the airport but i never claimed to be perfect), and since we have been doing some training in the heat (which isnt really that hot - high 90's low 100's, although at times quite humid as well as going through Walmart discussing the sorts of foods required and that work here.

I have had one race here, my third Running with the Devil 50 Miler , have to admit this was my worst run there, first 30 miles was fine, but from then on my stomach simply couldnt handle the Hammer Heed drink. At the half way mark i'd got through in just under 4 hours and had lost only 3 LBs so all was good, but with a half marathon to go was told i was dehydrated (this was determined by a race official giving me a drink that was apparently salt and sugar and tasted terrible, if i couldnt taste that i was dehydrated ????), so ended up sitting under a shelter drinking cranberry juice and pepsi cola and eating oranges and lollies for the best part of half an hour.

Finally i went off and struggled a bit as i had only filled my handheld with water (which is no use in a race of this sort), next aid station had another gel and filled the handheld with Pepsi Cola instead, was worried about using it as my main drink as i feared it could dehydrate me but had to chance it.

Last 5 miles or so were horrendous with alot of wind, and i could feel my calves tightening, cramped up shocking with half a mile to go and ultimately had to use a Hammer Gel i'd picked up on the road to get going again !!. Eventually ended up doing 9:31:41 for 12th place, not good at all, still sometimes these things just dont work !.

Only thankful i didn't end up doing the Badwater solo the week after, with Mt Whitney under snow (and needing climbing gear) and Anna Maria unable to arrive earlier (to crew me), i've got to put that ambition on the backboiler for the moment :-(

Now to put all my experience and knowledge of Badwater to good use to help Arun achieve his goals.

North Face 100 May 14-15 Blue Mountains

2011-05-19T11:31:00.010+10:00

A while since my last blog post and i was still getting up to date, but with a notable race last weekend thought i should update.

The North Face 100 is a 100K Trail race in the Blue Mountains, where every March i run the Six Foot Track Marathon to Jenolan Caves and a place i have spent many weeks hiking over the years ever since 1979 when i went with a week long hike from school (and spent the last 4 days hiking on a broken ankle unbeknownst to me !) and is one of a serious of races all over the world where North Face is the naming rights sponsor.

It is in it's fourth year and the field of 850 sells out way before entries close and i admit it was a race that i never had a great urge to enter, as simply i could a 50K or 50Mile race up at the Glasshouse Mountains only a 2 hour drive away rather 900K's away, as well with less than fond memories of incredibly cold and wet and snowy days spent there in winter never thought of it as having a climate ideal for me.

Anyway around Easter, a running friend offered me his number (one of the very few races where number transfers are allowed in Australia), and with no Badwater run for me this year (well the official race at least, i will be there crewing and am looking at doing a solo run beforehand but that's still to be finalised), i was very tempted by the challenge and eventually decided that this would be my year there.

I'd run a reasonable race (apart from running off course on the 5th lap :-)) at the 53.5KM Wildhorse Criterium so had 3 weeks without races in between, so after getting some back issues sorted got some significant training mileage in, with 230K's over 9 days of running, so that was good.

Sadly my Nike Free Run+ Shoes had finally fallen apart at that run, so i was looking at getting the new model of these for the race, and spent the next couple of weeks haunting the local Rebel Sports store (only way i was going to pay $160 for a pair of shoes was using a Rebel Gift Card i'd received for winning the Marysville Ultra Marathon, otherwise i'd pick up the same shoes when in the US for around $70 !), finally the Monday before the race the shoes arrived, so that was one part of the puzzle solved, only trained twice in them but they would be fine.

I'd be honest and say the other reason i'd been previously less than enthused about this race was the fact that there was so much mandatory equipment, i'd run with a similar level of equipment at the 3 Peaks race in Tasmania (that had even more gear requiring a sleeping bag, but did not need as much if any fluid to be carried) and i felt like i was carrying my whole house, at a guess this was around %10 of my body weight, i knew it was necessary but i didn't have to like it !.

Drove down on the Thursday, staying at Buladelah the Thursday night, certainly waking up to a cold, crisp day there i was worried that the Blue Mountains would be much cooler, still just as long as the rain stayed away !.

Got into my accommodation in Katoomba at lunch time Friday and it was as cold as i could remember, very thankful the apartment i had had heaters !, with a check in at 4 had plenty of time to have a rest and have a warm lunch and in theory i'd be early for the check in which i assumed would be pretty busy. Slightly lost on the way to the Leura Fairmont Resort but what a shock to arrive and see massive lines of people in the conference room where the number pick up and gear check were being held.

Join my queue and ultimately get signed in and pay for my number transfer and get my gear checked, have a chat with a few people but eventually back home at 6, 13 hours before race start. Cook some pasta, pack and repack and repack again my pack and in bed by nine with an alarm set for 4:30.

4:30, as i usual i wake a little before my alarm and it's freezing cold, i'd woken just after midnight and turned the heater off as it was too hot, didnt have that problem now :-).

Breakfast and i was off by 5:30, this time made it to Leura more directly and was happy to find there were still car spaces available.

Had a couple of drop bags, checkpoint 4 (which had my compulsory fleece and waterproof pants as well as a change of shoes and some spare food) and a drop bag with warm clothes and towel and sleeping bag for at race end, i rather doubted i would be heading anywhere post race.

Time for the pre race briefing, firstly from one of the aboriginals of the tribe that lived in the Blue Mountains first, complete with some native dancing and then from the race director with the sobering thought that of all the crowd in the hall it was likely 150 wouldn't finish (okay i admit i was thinking that unless the course was booby trapped and had snipers out waiting for me i wasnt going to be one of those 150 :-).

I found the wave starts a little strange as you could go into whatever you thought your time would be, from what i had seen of previous runners that i knew i was reasonably confident that if i got through the weather low 13 Hours was possible so went off with the Gun runners, including a large international contingent with Team Salomon runners such as race favourite Kilian Jornet (http://www.kilianjornet.com/), overall there were 75 or so international runners although the only one i knew being North Face Sponsored NZer Lisa Tamati who i'd had battled with at Badwater in 2008 and 2009.

Finally we were off, i'd thought long and hard about starting in tights but decided eventually that i'd be going to fast early on to be wearing more than my usual running shorts, nevertheless i did take one thermal top out the pack and put it underneath my short sleeved X-Bionic Fennec top, was a little worried my arms would be too cold, with only my gloves on my hands and also two buffs one on my head and one on my neck.

First mile or so was road and worryingly i was passed by a number of familiar faces, really couldnt get the muscles in the legs warm, funniest thing was being passed by Mal Gamble, we had a quick chat and then he fly by and turned a corner, next thing i see a number being blown along in the breeze and Mal chasing it, so i repassed him as he went the other way (made me glad i didnt use a triathlon belt for my number), but he was soon passing me again.

Off on to some trails and then more road and then finally it looked like the trail race proper had begun, as we headed onto thin trails with some ups and downs, was happy enough to let some people pass me as i was still finding my feet.

Now at least i knew where we were as i'd often hiked around Leura Falls and towards Katoomba, but being familiar with the course wasn't helping my running as after only a few steps i was beginning to feel my left knee, a problem i've had at last years Sydney Trailwalker but nowhere else, felt very tend as i thumped down what seemed endless steps, and not much better as i went up others. Still i'd found a group at around my pace and we were moving fairly well, and really enjoying sections that let us stretch our legs a bit more, enjoyed the boards near the Scenic Railway but then it was off onto the landslide and i was struggling there, with my big, clumsy feet not really being at there best on these more technical bits, was a relief to finally hit a dirt road and many cheering spectators including my injured mate Blue Dog (he provided the photo in that blog, looks awful sunny when you consider how rugged up i looked) . At that point was still trying to get warm so i had no intentions of spending large amounts of time at the first checkpoint, grabbed a muesli bar, but found it was rocklike in the cool conditions so gave up on that and had an Engura Gel washed down with raspberry endura.

Now we were on a dirt road and i found i could move fairly well, wasnt missing the steps at all, and by now i was even starting to get some feeling, so for a little while removed my gloves and let the sun soak into them.

Made it to Tarros Ladder and was very happy to see that the normal handholds had been replaced for the day by ladders, so much easier and enjoyed that section, enjoyed the more technical trail section after somewhat less. Still i was moving forward and that was the main goal, another quick stop at the next aid station and a fruit bun after my Endura Gel, and i was feeling pretty good, unfortunately i then reached the out and back section i'd read of and i found that totally demotivating, hard to explain but with thin trails and runners constantly coming towards me i just lost my mojo, possibly it was the fact i was seeing runners in front of me i expected to see behind and some behind me who i didn't expect to see but i struggled on that section, was very relieved to hit the turnaround and at least was entertained by an aboriginal playing "Clapsticks". Still the highlight of this section was hitting the real course again, now i felt i was going somewhere. Had lost quite a bit position wise here and struggled a little on the loose dirt on the single trails here but once off them was on road and made the most of that, particularly happy to reach the 50KM sign from then on it was less than half way.

Looking at the results i'd made it to the 54KM checkpoint in 7 and a half hours, hardly quick but at least the sun was still high in the sky (i had my mobile phone somewhere amongst my compulsory gear but couldn't imagine having to use it, as i'd have no signal on the Three network anyway). We had our gear check (only to check we had lights, i actually had my new 45 lumen headlamp, my favoured led torch and a second old everready headlamp so had 3), and then it was time to get some food into me, noodles and another fruit bun. Mel Parry was here (her partner Sean Greenhill was elsewhere following the leaders) and she gave me a hand getting food while i sat down, i made the decision at this point it was time to put on my running tights as i knew the next stop was Katoomba and warm and May are two words not used at the same time there. Heard a few people complaining that the mobile pizza van that was meant to be there hadn't made it, but considering i never carry money when i run (whether in training or racing) was no issue to me, found out later the road had been too rough for it to get there.

15 Minutes later i was off, refueled and refreshed, however it was a little depressing being passed by one bloke absolutely flying past, i assumed he was one of the running pairs as this checkpoint was the changeover point.

Ran through a few paddocks and finally past what seemed like deserted stables and onto Nellies Glen Road, now at least i was dead sure what was ahead of me, as of course Nellies Glen is where the steps go to at the start (rather lemming like nowadays) of the Six Foot Track Marathon.

Soon i head footsteps behind me and a familiar voice, Alison (Coolrunner "Eveready Bunny"), think she was a little bit surprised to see me at this point, but i'd seen her come into checkpoint 3 when i was leaving, so whilst normally i wouldn't be expecting her to pass me in a race (going by races such as Coast to Kosci and GNW100 Miler) but this wasn't normal times.

Normally i don't talk much when i'm running, okay sometimes i do talk a little in an attempt to intimidate runners who don't know me :-), but found chatting along the way made the long climb up the stairs go faster, certainly when we reached the top i had no ambition to start heading towards Jenolan Caves.

A few little paths and then we were on roads around Katoomba, sort of vaguely knew where i was but was thankful for the course marking to Checkpoint 4 at the Swimming Pool (complete with a 65KM sign), felt strange running into a building as a checkpoint but realised that it wouldnt be long till it would be truly cold outside. More noodles, another bun and some lollies, then it was time for my battle to fit my compulsory fluoro vest over both me and my pack (now i have a full set of fluoro vests, one with European Specifications bought for Transe Gaule, one with US specifications courtesy of a race sponsorship arranged by Matt Mundy for Badwater and now one with Aussie specifications - i'll either have to race everywhere or just get a job on a road gang or construction if i want to get full use from all of these :-)).

Eventually i headed off, apparently i'd been there 15 minutes, however just as i got to the road crossing i realised i'd forgot all about by drop bag and compulsory gear (fleece and waterproof pants), so back i went. Took a while to find my bag and then the problem of getting my fluoro top off and back on again, must have wasted 10 minutes there, and i'd also got a little cold, not sure why as i was indoors.

Finally off again, and onto some trails heading towards the oval and then Katoomba Falls, had memories of the carpark at Katoomba Falls the day before my first Six Foot Track (in 1992) when i brilliantly managed to lock my keys in my Holden Camira and had to wait in the cold for the NRMA to break in for me, it was getting cool now and although only just after 5 was begiing to get dark. Was enjoying the run along the cliff top (always love it there), but knew that soon the fun would be over and we'd dive into the valley.

Lots of tourists as usual at the Three Sisters, so we had a whole new audience to applaud us which is always good for the ego. Next it was down the Giant Stairway, was glad i had the headlamp as with the thin steps i was using my arms on both rails, love it here but as it was getting dark felt i was on my way down into the bowels of hell or something a little less dramatic, soon though i was on the valley floor and now i knew it was the time to make up some ground running along the road which best of all was mainly downhill, of course i knew that later this meant uphill as we did have to make it out of the valley floor.

Finally in the distance i saw a 5K marker, believe me i was hoping it wasn't the 70K Marker (i hadn't seen it, i'm assuming it was somewhere around Echo Point) and it was the 75K, at this point i had a couple of runners exuberantly passing me and saying only 25K's to go.

It was great running on the long 4WD track but thankfully being in the valley made it very cold meaning i didnt need to drink, i'd discovered 2 problems with running with the fluoro vest over everything, one shoulder strap kept on slipping of my shoulder which was simply annoying (and made me thankful i wasnt a girl, must be a problem they have all the time with dresses), and secondly if i was going to get my 500ml bottles of cytomax/accelerade mixture out i was going to have to stop and take the vest off as simply i couldnt reach in the side pockets of my pack because of the vest, so i was stuck with what i consider to be the most useless fluid for ultras, water in my camelbak bladder, i'd actually probably used a litre or so from there in the whole previous sections so had plenty in my 2 litre bladder.

Now we hit a creek crossing, a little frustrating as i'd done over 3/4 of the race without getting my feet wet, but i guess it's a case then of having faith in your socks and i did (my Drymax Maximum protection Trail socks had done just over 1,000K's since last August and they'd been through heaps of rivers and creeks, so i had no worries), was certainly entertained by some runners around me who got out plastic bags and carefully put them over their shoes, very strange, i'll even admit that whilst cold that water was very refreshing, not making me any colder than i already was.

I few uphill sections, where i caught some of the runners who'd passed me exuberantly earlier and then another creek crossing and again runners with plastic bags and various other attempts to keep their feet dry (in this races short history i know i've often thought disparagingly of it as the City to Surf of Aussie Ultras with a very long cutoff time - 28 Hours - for the 100K's and a big dnf rate simply because a large proportion of the field were runners who to my mind had achieved their goals at the City to Surf - the worlds biggest fun run 14ks from Sydney to Bondi Beach - and then decided they would try this as their next challenge - only logical explanation i could see for the sold out field of 850 for this race, i'm pretty sure there aren't that many "real" ultra runners in Australia going by entries in other race, still i take my hat of to them for attempting this and going out of their comfort zone, but i couldnt help but think all this as i was watched people desperately trying to keep their feet dry !!!).

Eventually we made it to a corner and out of the mist a bloke tells me 2K's to the checkpoint, i'm not a great judge of distance but i could see the cliffs still far away and as far as i could work out we still hadn't the 85K mark, a while later we did hit that 85K mark and a little later i'd hit the checkpoint.

Was fine when i got there, just cold but sat down with some noodles and couldn't stop my teeth chattering, obviously i was fine while moving but as soon as i stopped my body couldnt handle the cold, was glad to see my Melbourne Trailwalker mate and all round good guy Keith (Coolrunner Buzz Lightyear) working the aid station he remebered how bad i was in the cold at Trailwalker last year as we'd sat down with Bryan when he was looking at pulling out.

So he put me in front of the fire and i had two cups of coffee and then two cups of tea, with all that caffeine i don't think i was going to sleep any time soon !!, him and another checkpoint person helped me change into my spare thermal and compulsory fleece as well as a new buff and beanie, only problem was my spare gloves were in my drop bags at CP4 and the finish, so Keith lent my his pair as mine were no longer keeping my hands warm.

Finally 38 minutes later (and having something like 30 pass me in that time) i was off, was so glad to be running on a real road, although with lots of traffic to and from the checkpoint (and half the road blocked for us) was not enjoying the car headlights.
After a while i was off on to tracks and the undercliff track which i could vaguely remember walking years ago (in daylight), very slippery and muddy but by then i was not worried about keeping my new shoes clean !!.

At points i was quite glad my light wasnt showing how sheer the drop off was of some of the cliffs as i remembered but by now it was just a case of getting to the end as fast as possible (and whilst having no idea of the time - hopefully in the same day i started). One cameraman in the middle of nowhere and he tells us there's 4K's to go, seemed a little optimistic and sure enough a bit later i see the 95KM marker. From then on K Markers all the way to the finish, i could see lights in the distance but was pretty sure the Fairmont Resort was around a corner and out of site, eventually i come of the trails and am on the manicured lawns of the resort, just before the final corner i catch up with Natalie (Coolrunner Go Girl) obviously she'd passed me when i was having my cold issues at the checkpoint, she tells me to go on (which i did as i was sure that she would ultimately beat me having started in a later wave) and then the finish line.

Barbie going and lots of lights, i'd done 16:35L43, around 3.5 hours more than my guesstimate time and 231st of 501 finishers (looks like the race directors estimate of 150 was actually on the low side ??), but this was one one of those times where it didn't really matter, now i could get warm in a hot shower i hoped.

Grabbed a cup of coffee and lined up for my Belt buckle (only a bronze one, needed sub 14 for silver, but i felt like done more hard work for this one than i'd dnone for any of my Badwater ones) and a certificate which ahd to be made in front of me as the pre prepared one still had Brendans name on it.

Finally off to the shower and warm clothes, although with the caffeine in my system and probably being too tired to sleep simply a case of lying in the sleeping bag in the registration room, funny enough tiredness didn't hit me till around 2PM on the Sunday on the drive back, 200K's north of Sydney where i had a nap in a rest area and didn't wake till 3 hours later.

A really great course, a glorious place to run, but truly May is not the time for me to be there, not sure if i'll be back, certainly it worries me that i only have knee problems (left knee) on trail courses with lots of steps (or maybe my knee doesnt like Sydney ????? :-)), certainly a warmer time of year and i'd be back for sure trying for silver and possibly trying to cram everything into my camelbak, racing packs are just too big for me and i don't enjoy, certainly the fact that i am thinking of ideas to improve there may mean i'll return sometime. Still at present i think my mind is on a North American summer, after of course a good run on my home course in the Gold Coast 100

Finally an update

2011-03-25T17:16:00.004+10:00

I know those few followers out there must by now think i've disappeared and raced of into nowhere, not quite it pretty simple i'm been either running or training and there are times i'm simply not interested in writing about it, particularly at times when i don't consider my race performances have been good enough and that frankly has been the way it's been so far this year.

But on Sunday i do my 400th race at a Marathon or further (more precisely it'll be 142 Marathons and 258 Ultra Marathons), and if nothing else it will be a milestone for me certainly way back when i did my first 25 years ago the last thing i was thinking was i'd knock up those sort of numbers, i know at the rate this blog is going i'll be needing a ghostwriter if i'm ever to write a book of my experiences which i must admit at some point is tempting, after all i've probably run more race than most of the the blokes who have read those books and as for memorable and often funny experiences they are too numerous certainly as i read one of great heroe's Keith Richards Autobiography (5 days in and i've almost finished all 550 pages of it - a great read, i've no idea just how he manages to remember some of those times), i do get ideas on some of the times that happen in a running career, like him maybe i'll have to wait till i'm getting up towards 50 years in the game, but anyway back to the present, i'll give a quick synopsis of my running year so far - well at least the first three:

The year started with the Glasshouse Mountains Hares and Hounds Race, basically this was the beginning of the great deluge in South East Queensland and with parts of the course flooded the race was shortened to 50K's i think, knowing this would be a bog decided to head out in my my super heavy 2005 Model Nike Trail shoes (as in photo), way too heavy for me but were really what i needed on the day, felt that extra weight on the way back and ran pretty ordinarily, basically doing what i needed to to get through it, Anna Maria ran as well and towards the end took a wrong turn meaning i had to run much further on my way back (after i finished) as i promised to join her on the way back . Ultimately 7th of 35 finishers in 4:47:37 way behind the winning time of 3:52:31.

The following week was the first ever official Two Bays Trail Race

down on the Mornington Peninsula a race i'd done twice originally as a "Fatass" and one i'd been in the original event in 2005.

Only problem was that the floods meant that i had to leave home a day and a half late (and via the Newell) as the Pacific Hwy was cut after Ballina, ultimately we hit Melbourne late Friday night and come race day felt good early and was well placed at the 28KM Turnaround in 2:37:54 but after that simply felt the tiredness in my legs and dropped further and further behind to ultimately finish 28th of 99 finishers in 5:51:00 way behind the winner who did 4:48:15.

The following Sunday was the 50K's at Mansfield to Mt Buller , but with Lachlan Fraser's wedding the night before and finally arriving at Mansfield around 1AM and unable to find accommodation this was never going to be a fast one, ultimately a good solid training run, finishing in 5:19:42 for 10th of 17 with the winner doing 4:35:56

Not a great start but things were to improve !!!

and

A new year begins

2011-01-06T20:22:00.003+10:00

Again very slow between updates, but as i type i'm now trying to get a handle on my races in the coming year, certainly January will begin soon with Hares & Hounds (52KM), Two Bays Trail (56 KM) and Mansfield to Mt Buller (50 KM) the next three Sundays.
January 6th 1992 was the beginning of my Ultra Career so as i type i am now contemplating the start of my 20th year of Ultra running, feel i have achieved many things as a runner, but also know that i still have unachieved ambitions maybe this year i will achieve these, so this blog will continue so people can see where me and my Drymax Socks end up.
Look forward to more regular updates as the year progresses and my plans become more concrete.

As for 2010, i was ultimately pretty content with my year, 3 100+ Milers, One overall win (to keep up my streak of at least one a year since 1994), a sub 9 Hour 100KM, and back to sub 90 Minutes for the Half Marathon, biggest downside was no sub 3 Hour Marathon (meaning i haven't broken 3 Hours since 8th October 2006 something i intend to correct this year), another ordinary Six Foot Track Marathon run (looking to fix this one up for my 20th !) and no Trailwalker complete team win still (not in my plans this year).

Still quite sure i can achieve more at Badwater but it's the one race i seem to have problems that i have nowhere else and due to that fact struggle to work out what to do different, unlikely i'll apply this year, maybe something else if i want to head overseas, time will tell.

Coast to Kosci also remains a conundrum, 2010 had a perfect run during the daytime sections on day 1 and after eating well at night and being paced by Anna Maria throughout that night was well ahead of my 2009 split, but again problems with my inability to perform well in cold weather, once night was over (and the coldest part in theory gone), simply couldnt get my legs supple again and couldn't run, so unlike 2009 when i was like a new man when the sun arose, i instead walked and struggled to run from Jindabyne onwards ultimately resulting in a time 90 minutes slower. This year will try some new tactics but realistically none of us will know whether they work until 11 months time.

Great North Walk 100 Miler 13/14 November

2010-11-19T11:51:00.008+10:00

After injury and illness in September, i'd decided that October was going to be the big comeback month with at least a marathon each weekend, with the aim to be back in really good running shape for Coast to Kosci in November. Being 25th on the waitlist for the Great North Walk 100 Miler (which i'd done in 2008), didn't really give serious consideration to the fact i may end up doing it, but late in October (with the 46 KM Bribie Beach Bash and Melbourne and Toowoomba Marathons under the belt) was offered a start.

The next day i was off to Lamington National Park to mark the course for the "Lamington Classic" and simply to check the course was runnable as storms the previous fortnight made it debatable in my mind, so i told the race organiser i was off bush for a few days (and 3 days of running 44K's of trails should make up my mind as to whether my mind was really into a trail run at that time). Ultimately the answer was yes so i had an extra long Ultra now to finish off a very patchy 2010, no horrifically bad performances but no real highlights either (and until the week previous not one solo win, had one at least on race per year since 1994 and was desperate to keep that streak up, guess at best i could count my Sydney Trailwalker mixed team win).

Knew this was one race i had to get really organised for as Checkpoints are around 20 miles apart and there are plenty of maps and descriptions to carry as well as fluids and various compulsory gear. Also whilst i'd done it two years previously i'd actually forgotten how i'd got my car from the start to the finish over 100 Miles away !!.

So firstly a note on Coolrunning to see how that could be achieved and i was offered accommodation and a lift to and from the race from a couple of coolrunners who knew me better than i knew them to be honest, so a very big thanks to Graham and Jo as that worked out perfectly.

After checking out parts of the course into and out of Checkpoint 4 (Yarramalong) and most importantly to me going over the 2010 deviation (due to Cyprus Rust disease we weren't able to use one part of the course this year), ended up doing 20 odd K's the day before (thankfully fish and chips from the Yarramalong General store kept me well fuelled !), which personally i thought ideal, after all i'd spent the previous day driving 600K's in the car and really do need to run (or at least walk) every day.

Found my way to Avoca Beach to my accommodation and with a very steep walkway down to the house felt like i was moving enough stuff out the car to stay permanently as i needed to fix up my dropbags beforehand as this would be a very early start.

Thankfully fellow ultra runner Kevin "Brick" Heaton had already arrived so at least now i was assured of having my normal camelbak, i hadn't seen it since Trailwalker (where i hadn't used it but had accidentally left it with our crew) and as late as the day before was organising getting it from my Trailwalker Team Mate Paul to Kevin as i really wasnt anxious for a drive into Sydney.

To be honest i hadn't used it since the Glasshouse 100 Miler in September 09, as i much prefer using the handheld bottles but with extra gear would need it this time, had an older one just in case but this was much better in terms of number of pockets and having used it in this event previously had been worried about not having it. Beautiful lasagna and a beer and a lot of chatting about running (maybe i needed an interpreter with all being English Expats !).

Having to leave at 4:30 meant i'd be settiny my alarm for 3:30 and then i realised i had no idea how to on the new phone.

After 15 minutes of fiddling with the phone decided i needed a shower and half an hour later my alarm was set, shame it was to wake me in less than 5 hours.

Typically woke up a couple of minutes before my alarm and headed down to breakfast (my usual 6 Vita Brits, muesli, yogurt and banana, only missing fruit salad), and soon the rest were up as well.
Reasonably full car but worked out it was only 50 minutes to the start line and we were there by 5, plenty of familiar faces as we checked in and handed in our drop backs (and had our pre race photos taken).
Of note it was interesting to see Hardrock finishers, Andy Hewitt and Phil Murphy who had already run from the actual start of the trail at Newcastle 30K's away with the aim of breaking the record for the entire course to Sydney, apparently held by race favourite Andrew Vize, as well as the only person to have finished all 6 GNW 100 Milers Wayne "Blue Dog" Gregory.
We then had the race briefing and finally (and not a minute too soon i'm useless at waiting and had pretty much been ready to run from the time i woke) we were off.
Was already warm and seemed it would be humid, so minimal gear, old faithful Lululemon top, Nike Dryfit shorts and headband with the Nike Free Run+'s and Drymax Maximum protection Trail running socks on the feet, as well as the Camelbak with required equipment to weigh me down :-).
Supposedly we were to run with the traffic along the road early on, but with massive tip trucks on their way backwards and forwards seemingly totally disregarding us, this was pretty nerve wracking and i was quite relieved to finally make it onto a trail. Easy early on as we headed underneath the freeway and towards Heatons Gap but even at this early point some runners were making navigational errors with one pair running towards me before we'd even made the road. On reaching the road it was great to see some of the crews and spectators but knew from then on it was going to be a hard slog.
Up numerous wooden steps and then it was very rainforest like, was in a group of 4 or so and already at this early stage the humidity was kicking in savagely. any thoughts i may have had of ever doing the Brazil 135 Mile race were eveaporation away rapidly, only wish my sweat was.
At one point to the shock of Glenn Lockwood (who knows my lack of navigational ability very well) i ended up in front of our group as we got a little lost, only o then lead them astray and head back to the back of our pack, finally after what seemed like hours (but couldn't have been), we were on the escarpment with views of the Hunter Valley, soon we would be hitting Checkpoint 1.
Although only 26K's away it had taken 4 hours to get there and i was keen to drink and eat as much as possible, every drop bag had a bottle of Gatorade as well as a GU and fruit bar and Clif Bar and a scoop of either Cytomax or Accelerade so that i would have only need water in my camelbak bladder but have a real useful sportsdrink in my handheld.
Skolled my bottle of Gatorade as well as had some of the Powerade supplied and some orange pieces and water melon, too early for me to eat too much yet.
Was gone within around ten minutes and running with another bloke (i'm useless at names he'll know who he was), for a while it was easy 4WD track running but ultimately we made it to Barrabas camp area and back onto the thinner trails again, i was feeling good but the humidity was drenching me and i was worried about chafing in the inner thighs, hadn't felt those sort of conditions since the Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells section of Badwater 2008, i'd have to keep an eye on that, was regretting i didnt have my Diaper Cream in the Camelbak (hoped i did at least have it in a drop bag).
Knew there was some running along the fence line and a gate, and possibly the funniest thing was me opening the gate and holding it for the next fellow along (only a minute away) as i accidentally let get go of it and it swung towards him (swear i didnt know him well enough for it to be some dirty race tactic), was surprised to see Rachel Waugh also at this point (her husband David was far in front battling for the lead i assumed), eventually i hit Congewai Road, will admit the puddles in the paddocks left by recent heavy rain looked so refreshing and tempting but also knew that soon i could stop and replenish at Checkpoint 2.
A number of runners on the road certainly livened me up, was happy for myself to see Blue Dog, but knew that he must be doing it hard (and injuries catching up with him) for me to see him this early.
Tookn at seat at CP 2 Congewai School and ate as much as i could as well as grabbing a fresh supply of S! Caps, i'd been through my first 10 in only 55 odd K's, was definitely feeling the heat, as well i put on my legionaires cap to replace my headband otherwise i'd be burnt to a crisp.
Ran with Gordie another localish runner for a while as we found our way through the paddocks and unfortunately couldn't avoid getting our feet wet crossing the dam, by now i was sweating profusely and had my shorts tucked in the waistband to avoid excessive rubbing, only wish i'd brought a pair of speedos to wear instead (as i'd carried the whole way in 2008).
From then it was up and more up, caught up with some runners and was passed by others was really looking forward to the unmanned drink stop at the top.
I'd pushed myself hard and almost up really felt my heart beating very rapidly so decided next chance i had i'd stop and sit and simply get some deep breaths in, next big tree with a root formation seemed ideal and sat there for a few minutes gathering my thoughts and relaxing, until the next runners came along.
Finally made it to the unmanned stop (which was manned by race director Dave Byrnes), and having a chat with him (between large intakes of water), heard that Blue Dog had rang to say he'd pull out here, very sad but for once he was doing the right thing by his body.
From then on it was relatively easy and a nice trail follow with even some shade, soon i was with another Coolrunning mate and we ran together, good idea as i always find the track into the Basin (CP3) confusing.
We were going the correct way (as evidenced by the faster runners coming towards us) when our biggest problem hit, a massive tree across the track, i tried above he tried below and ultimately that was the way to go, worrying at this point though as we knew we would encounter it in the dark on the way back.
Ultimately we would encounter one more fallen tree before the checkpoint but it was relatively easy although with tired legs the climb seemed much harder.
Finally we made it to CP3, Michael Lovric (a multiple finisher and Australian representative) was there and happily played waiter to me, a day of humidity and total sweat meant my top was now soaked beyond redemption and with evening setting in i was beginning to feel the chill, very thankful he offered me a long sleeve t shirt. Now it was the time i would struggle, on with the reflective vest and headlamp and also time to put on the Buff, still very warm but with the setting sun hidden from where we were cold could be an issue for me.
Spent a deal of time there, but though it was well spent having soup and fruit salad, knew soon it would be pitch black so headed off eventually, managed to go off track somewhere between 1 and 2 fallen trees as i was very close to the creek and could see runners above me, thankfully saw Rachel and she directed me up the track, was dreading that big fallen tree but as luck would have it reached it concurrently with some people going the other way, still a pain but between us we worked it out.
Now i was on trails i hadnt seen since 2008, was a little lost in one section and expected to see Paul Every (who'd reached CP3 not far behind) and asked him about the smallish snake at my feet, however it wasn't, possibly better it was one of the local runners who had done this section in the dark in training.
Finally we hit the road and i well and truly knew where i was having been there the day before, however i also knew we had 12 K's till checkpoint 4. In 2008 myself and Michael had absolutely flown his stretch loving the road but this time it was run, walk up minor incline, maybe run, maybe walk and so on, eventually hit Yarramalong a little after 11 (17 hours in !). Knew i had no intention of dropping to a 100K finish but nevertheless really spent too long at that checkpoint eating, drinking and even for 15 minutes laying down on a campbed, was what i needed at the time.
Eventually i headed off, knew this next section perfectly so that i wouldn't have any temptation to pull the pin.
Michael was pacing another runner and they passed me just of Bumble Hill road as we hit the track claiming that his was the 9.5 Hour train, wasnt interested at that point i had to make my own pace, probably making up ground when daylight came.
As i staggered towards the top of the hill i could see two headlights in front of me, i was a little mystified as they appeared to be going of track and once i made the top i could see it was Glenn (and his pacer TW teammate Keith Hong), they appeared to be heading off into the paddocks rather than on the road and then the detour, i yelled out to them and shone my torch and appeared to get a reaction as they turned around, so thought they were right.
Going down along the road to the new turn i could see them again out in the paddock, somehow they were still lost, again shone a torch at them, wasn't really sure if they had replied (and by then my voice was soft with tiredness - not normally megaphone me) but doubted they could go too wrong from there.
Finally made the deviation and headed off to where i'd been on the Friday, certainly no need for the unmanned water stop, it was still very warm and humid (and not a bit refreshing) but i wasnt drinking as much now, as i reached there was passed by another runner with pacer, really hoped it was Glenn but on speaking to them found they had seen them so at least they were back on track.
Managed to get the feet wet again at Ourimbah Creek and despite everything my feet were beginning to feel a bit tender, i'm guessing the heat of the day had swollen them and now they were relatively soft, next part to me was a mystery i had maps i had directions but somewhere something didn't feel right, followed the road for a long way and stopped at intervals to see if farm names matched up with it, at one point even sat down on the side of the road on an abandoned plastic chair near some roadworks, oddly enough when there a car came by but going by the speed it appeared to be going wasnt game to pop up and ask for directions.
By now it was almost getting lighter and i saw the Somersby forest sign that at least appeared to jel with my instructions but this is where i do get confused as it seemed very familiar as though i'd been along it an hour or two previously, maybe i did stuff up somewhere my mind was beyond solving that puzzle.
Finally Somersby school, a real toilet, food, drink, toast with vegemite (normally i love multigrain bread but with that level of tiredeness i've never struggled to eat toast so badly before), off with the lights and also the T shirt simplest idea now was to run the rest of the way in the reflective vest.
An "Up N Go" and a quick read of the instructions and i was off, had vague memories of being really refreshed running this section in 2008, but between chafing and tender feet doubted i'd be going that sort of speed again.
Maybe i'm a rubbish judge of distance but at one point (before the water storage area) i thought i'd gone too far or missed a turn, thankfully within
5 minutes i'd run into antoher run who assured me i was on course. Over Mooneny Mooney Creek and all was beginning to feel good, so nice to not have to cling to rocks and slippery trails and soon i was at the last checkpoint.
One last chance to put my feet up and get my thoughts together, looked like this time i wouldnt be seeing too many other runners so had to keep my wits about me.
Within a K saw a lady sitting not wanting to go on, didnt really have much persuasion left in me so was thankful she had another runner with her, from then on it was sandstone rocks and more sandstone rocks, passed two more runners and then almost immediately took a wrong turn as i tried to make sense of directions about waterfalls (the brain was struggling by now, worse than my body !), finally made it to the unmanned water drop where i drank copiously as well as filling up everything i had, this was going to be a long, hot, dry last 15K's. As usual never quite sure of my navigation so kept on stopping at corners as they all looked the same to me, could feel i was melting away (and probably being roasted to a crisp) in my plastic reflective vest but by now i had one thought only get to the finish line and i could stop, nothing simpler !.
Finally i crossed the Patonga Beach road had very fond memories of this sections and was simply letting my body take over as it knew there was not long to go. With a mile or so to go i ran out of water and cytomax, talk about perfect timing, downhill then the beach and i could stop.
Finally 32 hours and 8 minutes on, i arrived at the finish line, kissed the GNW sign marker and essentially just stopped on the spot.
Feet were sorer than i can ever remember but strangely unblistered just cut on top from them swelling may have taken a few minutes for me to take the shoes and socks off but then it was in for a dip, relieved and very happy.
If i'm honest in ultra race number 249 this was my hardest, after all in Badwater and Coast to Kosci we are on roads and never far from our crews here we are on trails seemingly miles from civilization and carrying all we need for miles, tough incredibly tough, may have only been 13th but i was first of the interstate runners and at times in deep thoughts out there reckoned we should have had three divisions: Runners with pacers, runners who'd trained on the trail and the rest of us, tender feet, raw chafed inner thighs and bloodied lower back from camelbak bouncing but all was well with me, 4 weeks to get my body back into one piece for Coast to Kosci :-)

Australian 100KM Championships 13th June

2010-10-15T18:39:00.003+10:00

Was great to have a fortnight between events (although i ended up aging a year in that time :-)), but now it was back to the serious stuff, my local race The Gold Coast 100, which is also the Australian Championships.

Myself and Anna Maria and trained quite regularly here and by now she was feeling as at home as i was (she was doing the 50).

After shockers here the last 3 years i had one goal and that was to get back under 9 hours, only one house guest this year, Malcolm Gamble, so not quite the usual houseful of runners but was hoping we'd all have an early finish.

Had been a little worried about just what would happen at our start finish line as being a long weekend there was "Green Day Out" festival as well as some marching band parade as well as some charity walk with our Mayor Ron Clarke, Kurrawa was going to be a happening place !!.

With the 50K also being an Australian Championship (due to the cancellation of the Canberra Marathon with 50K), there were some strong runners out there, Dean Cook, Andrew Lee, Kerrie Bremner, Chris Hill, Brendan Davies as well as Susannah (also doing Badwater) and Malcolm, knew i just had to run my own race and hopefully pick up a placing before it was over.

Started the first lap with my Lululemon top and buff and gloves and was feeling good, thankfully not too many people around too.

Now it was getting crowded at Kurrawa but with 4:03 for the split knew i had a decent time in front of me, so it was off with the top and gloves and buff and on with the headband. Always find that 3rd lap bit of a nothing lap but no choice but do it by now the other competitors were familiar and i could judge whether they were making ground on me or i on them.

Still not much time to worry about that as Wednesday it was off to Los Angeles and my third Badwater.

Noosa Half Marathon 23rd May

2010-10-15T17:36:00.002+10:00

On Friday Anna Maria had flown in but going Montreal to Vancouver to Sydney to Brisbane had missed a connecting flight in Sydney (hardly surprising i've never found Sydney a good place to fly into and would always prefer to drive there).
So instead of picking her up around lunchtime picked her up around 3 by which time the weather had deteriorated, was looking like we'd have a wet weekend in Noosa.
Saturday the weather had cleared and we had a good drive north stopping in to see Bill and Jane Thompson on the way (Anna Maria had seen me eat Custard Apples on skype but had never had one herself, a new treat).
Time to pick up our race packs and then find our accommodation in Noosaville, went for a walk that evening trying to work out how far we'd need to walk to the start the next morning, but with my debatable sense of direction never found it in the dark !!.
Come race morning it was coolish and clear, pretty ideal for that sort of shortish event, pretty much my goal being to do under 90 minutes not having done that in my two last year (first time in over 20 years not a streak i was happy to break).
With around 1,200 runners was finding it hard to get a comfortable pace with room but was content to find gaps when possible and was through the first half in a consistent time, know that i could keep that up pretty easily for the second lap.
Nice course but by now i just wanted to get it finished, the odd familiar face but for the most part half marathoners are a different breed and i don't do that many nowadays so just kept on running hard to see the clock just tick over 88 minutes with a better chip time of 1:27:55 and ultimately 106th place, not quite what i used to be able to do but good enough i knew at least i still had some speed.
Anna Maria set out with a goal of sub 1:50 and her chip time of 1:49:59 showed she knew exactly what she was doing !!!.

Glasshouse 50K's 16th May

2010-10-15T17:25:00.002+10:00

In the week between races i'd finally started organising my US trip so i had plenty of things to take my mind of my next race, 50K's at Glasshouse.
Led the first 10K's or so and was very sad to see dead on the side of the road the massive python that i had encountered a number of times over the years, at a guess it was so big it had been run over as it was stretched across the road, probably 6 or so metres long i'm not a good judge.
I had a lady right on my tail, she wasn't a familiar face but Glasshouse does seem to bring out the best of the lady runners so i was happy to let her take over pacewise. Heading down the powerlines was interesting as usual and i knew by then i had some other runners making ground on me, still made it to checkpoint 8 in second place but was overtaken in the 8A loop, was feeling really good but just didn't have another gear, by then i was seeing many of the 50 Mile competitors (despite that being my pet distance i'm simply not interested in a 3AM start !!).
Was passed by another runner on Cooks Hill but felt good and despite passing no one ended up doing 4:44:28 for 5th of 45 probably my best time over that distance there.
Pretty flat after one tough marathon and two ultras the previous weeks so was very much looking forward to Anna Maria joining me from Montreal the next week as well as the Half we were both to do at Noosa the following Sunday would be great to finish a race in only 90 minutes !!.

DELXC 6 Hour Trail run 8th May 2010

2010-10-15T17:04:00.002+10:00

After Mount Mee, definitely felt like i needed to rest to recover with only a 6 day break before this event (which last year was in September - sadly there are often too many events on at the same time particularly in May !), but on the Friday my plans for the rest of the year had been thrown out the window with an offer of a late start at Badwater.
So went there with quite a few things on my mind (not of least the free post run beer :-)).
With the race now on a Saturday the plan had been to drive up after doing some work, but i was later than planned and by the time i hit Cunninghams Gap it was pitch black and for the life of me i couldn't find where the turn off to "Raleigh Park" was so i ended up staying in a cabin at Warwick.
In the morning it was cool and crisp but was very thankful for the latish start as that gave it a bit of time to warm up.
The course was the same 6.2K's as last year (i'd originally thought it was 6.5 but apparently there were modifications both times) and i was looking forward to being back out there.
Quite a few familiar faces and i decided the best option was to go hard from the offset and try to burn them off after a lap or so, probably not the smartest thing to do as at least 3 of us went around in 30 minutes or so and i knew i couldn't keep that up so eased back.
Next few laps went nicely but i seemed flat and by lap 7 was struggling i'd worked out i was in third place (and after being lapped by the eventual winner) knew that was as good as it was going to get, just a case of hanging in.
Sounds easy but by lap 9 i was actually cramping up on the steep hill in the back half and actually went backwards to make my way back, not really sure why i was cramping had had plenty of fluids as well as GU and S! Caps. Just got through the 9th lap before the 6 Hour Cutoff and knew that at least i could equal last years distance, used a stick to get me up that last hill (as worried by the cramping) and finally made it in 6:36:10 around half an hour slower than last year and a lap behind the winner, still that would have to do.
A few beers and all was forgotten, ended up sleeping indoors in the sleeping bag and the next day helping to put down the tarpaulins etc, felt like i was the circus leaving town !!.
Having won the spot prize of a start next year know where i'll be in 2011, just hope i'm in better shape for it, because not only is it a unique event on our calendar but also one of the most enjoyable, only wish for the sake of the great organisers that more were in it.
Sooner or later i'll make it back there for a training run !!

And now for something completely different

2010-07-11T03:23:00.003+10:00

My next race was to be the following Saturday, but the day before my normal ordered world was changed with an offer of a late entry at Badwater (http://www.badwater.com/), part of me really wanted to stick to the schedule i had planned (with Transe Gaule in August), but part of me also wanted to go as this meant that i now had the opportunity to do my three in a row there an ambition i'd had since finishing last year. Ultimately that is where i am presently, as i type i'm in Las Vegas and later today drive out to Stovepipe Wells, i hope to do some on the the spot updates from there.

Mount Mee Marathon May 2 2010

2010-06-03T21:32:00.002+10:00

Finally it was May and i was due to run a marathon so it was off to Mount Mee, this year the "downhill course" to Dayboro.
Up at 3AM as i was planning to leave the car at Dayboro to get a lift to the start i did at least get that part right.
This was the scene of last years slowest (and only 4 Hour) marathon so i knew this wasn't going to be an easy one and definitely not a PB although in theory should have been the reverse.
Took off well, in dull morning light and as usual coolish conditions and typically here wanted to take the lead, had it for around 4K's and was then challenged by a girl, no idea of her credentials (can't say i do too many races as short as a marathon nowadays !) but was keen to push her and also another bloke hopefully breaking them on the upcoming steep hills.
Didn't quite work that way so thought i'd better stick to my own raceplan rather than trying to run someone elses race so let them (and another fellow) scoot ahead frankly planning to pick up the pieces as the course got the better of them later, wasnt to realise until post race that the girl was a 2:40 Marathoner Roxie Schmidt and one bloke a relay team ! .
Lot's of good downhill but still plenty of uphill and i passed the half in 1:49 hardly world shattering but a big improvement on the other direction.
Had seen glimpses of at least one of the runners in front at various points but Roxie had well and truly flown away, though still had designs on at least being first male.
After finally getting off the trail and onto real roads was told that the next fellow was only 5 minutes ahead and that certainly gave me a boost, but around 35K's in was told by the race director to move to the other side of the road from then onwards and admit i took my mind off the job momentarily just doesnt feel right running with the traffic as opposed to against me and i'm quite convinced that the next runner saw that mental weakness and swooped.
Suddenly i had someone to chase but for once that failed to move me quicker and whilst we were now on roads and heading mainly downwards i just couldn't close the gap ultimately finishing in 3:32:34 4th solo of 33 with Roxie winning in 3:09:50.
Good solid run but already i was having thoughts of my next race, trying to defend my title at next Saturdays DELXC 6 Hour Trail run

Gibraltar Washpool World Heritage Trail 54KM April 18 2010

2010-06-03T21:07:00.003+10:00

After an early flight back to the Gold Coast it was now time to grab the tent, grab more gear and hop into the car and go for a 4 hour drive to Gibraltar Range National Park between Grafton and Glen Innes. With Trailwalker on the Friday i always knew this was going to be a tough ask but also remembered just how good this area was when last i hiked it so thought it was worthwhile.
After the Trailwalker frustrations a long drive and another race sounded like the perfect remedy so off i went, finally putting the tent up in the dark (after first going into Washpool NP across the road and seeing the most lyrebirds i have ever seen !). Was happy to see plenty of familiar faces around the campsite and get stuck into some pasta before an early night.
A bit of rain overnight and a little cold but still pleasant weather but simply my tired legs didn't want to be there the first 5 miles or so and it was only once we'd crossed the highway into Washpool (where i'd mistakenly been the night before) and finally i felt i was getting somewhere.
Was getting cool and drizzling more and was very happy to see ANZAC biscuits at the next manned checkpoint (thanks Jane).
Once back into the Gibraltar Park started catching up with some other runners and making up good ground whilst eventually finishing way behind the incomparable David Waugh (with 4:33:10) was content enough with 6th place in 5:46:18 just hope i can do it with fresh legs next year.
As for the drive home (after much socialising as the rest of the field of 24 came in) best said it was long !!!

Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker April 16 2010

2010-06-03T20:15:00.006+10:00

With possibly no overseas races this year i had slightly different goals this year and the Melbourne Trailwalker was probably the one race to the forefront.
With 5 previous starts (for 3 frustrating podium placings) my ambition was simply to finally win one and then i could retire gracefully from team races, not so much because i didn't enjoy them (which i do) but simply because i find them so hard to exert control over, i can run as well as i can but can't do anything about the whole team getting through and there is nothing to me more frustrating than spending a couple of hours walking during a race as team mates have bad patches.
So in short a win in a race of over 700 teams (admittedly with a "pointy end" of around 20 teams) always seemed the appropriate swansong.
Our team had one change forced upon it in February with Michael Lovric being unable to run due to National World 24 Hour race commitments, but we had picked up a worthy replacement in Bryan Ackerly a member of 2008's winning team and teammate in 2007.
I flew down to Melbourne on the Wednesday afternoon looking to have a rest before the race on Friday but all came apart that night when reading emails before heading to bed found that team organiser Rob Hall with injuries sustained 2 weeks prior was a very unlikely starter.
To be honest i unravelled somewhat as i tried to find a worth last minute replacement eventually relying on Facebook and when confirmed that Rob would not be running (15 hours before race start !!!) was fortunate to get Sydney based Keith Hong.
Come race day we had a team kitted in matching uniforms and looking fit and by 20K's we were in the lead, from then on until over half way we ticked along perfectly running easily and steadily and i admit i was feeling confident particularly as i had been running at a very conservative pace and really hadnt needed to worry much about food intake.
Then my least favourite part of the course, the Warburton Rail Trail and Bryan was beginning to have reflux problems (a problem he's had little success with in other events after a certain distance).
Once we hit the school checkpoint we had lost lots of ground and with a bit of waiting necessary i decided it was time for some sandwiches and more food wanting to use this as my last fuel stop with less than 30K's to go.
We now had a new bit of course and looking around at times could see the next 2 teams not far behind, Bryan was gamely hanging on but trying to solve his problem by picking up speed to get the race over and done with as soon as possible was always going to be a risky gambit.
Ultimately around 87K's in he slowed to barely a walk and Mal stayed with him as me and Keith (beginning to feel the oncoming cold dusk) kept on moving steadily.
This was a long section without crew access and it wasnt till 90K's in that we reached our crew vehicle and all getting cold sat in the front of the car.
Bryan was looking deathly pale and shivering and wisely decided that his race was won, we'd spent 20 minutes at the car and two teams had passed us, as far as i was concerned there was only one aim, get across the finish line first and as far in front of those teams as possible.
The last checkpoint was around 94K's and we were around 8 minutes behind those teams by then as we had ran maniacally downhill once the decision had been made, either we'd get there real fast or else end up real injured !.
By now it was pitch black (later in the year than last year when we finished in daylight) and probably my greatest weakness running on trails by headlight but adrenalin was pumping through and we took the others before the summit of Mt Little Joe and crossed the line in 12:24:16 at least 5 minutes in front of the next team. I'd be pushing to actually call this a win but i was rapt to actually be first across the line and i think it's very possible this may still be my last Trailwalker, unless made an offer i "can't refuse", overall a bit of an empty feeling but i was very thankful that Saturday morning i'd be back home and heading off for a 54KM race, maybe that would bring greater joy.

No, i'm not lost in the middle of some mad run !!!

2010-04-12T16:08:00.009+10:00

I'm sure there are casual readers of this blog who having not seen any action for months think that i must have finally gone for one big run and bitten off more than i could chew, the answer is no.

It's simple, sometimes i enjoy writing race reports but sometimes i don't - and to be honest i don't enjoy writing about myself - and for the last few months that's been the case, however i've had a number of emails so i thought i should bring my running up to date.

Firstly 2010 has not been a great year firstly healthwise and then racewise.
After a great Christmas spent with Anna Maria, i started the year with a mouth ulcer on my tongue, once it got to the point that i was taking 2 hours to eat a meal i decided that i needed to see a doctor as i also was very lethargic (basically being exhausted by 4PM every day).

The doctor reckoned Bonjel would fix my ulcer and that it wasn't an issue but did send me off for a myriad of blood tests, but i was soon down to the point of only being able to eat baby food (and only the stuff for 1 to 6 month olds - the others were too lumpy for me !), so got some special "pharmacists only" stuff from the local chemist.

So my first race for the year was meant to be The Hares and Hounds 55K's at Woodford in the Glasshouse Mountains (link here: http://runtrails.org/articles/?p=1017 ), and i was not going to miss this as this would also be Anna Maria's first Ultra (she'd had a hard learning curve arriving on Christmas Eve from -20 Degree temperatures in Montreal to find a steamy Queensland Christmas).

Results for me are best summed up as this, 9th place (33 starters) in 5:31:03 against a winning time of 4:14:48. I was actually reasonably happy, couldn't push myself as i simply couldn't get in enough calories from baby food pre race and was unable to eat during the race, so cruised through the the first 40K's and then just did what i needed to finish once i'd run out of energy.

Another week or so and finally i was back on track ulcerwise, but no closer to a conclusion regarding the lethargy as the test results came back with nothing of note (other than an abnormally high level of potassium which apparently shouldn't affect me).

Two weeks later it was Mansfield to Buller (link here: http://www.aura.asn.au/MansfieldToBuller.html ), and i was pretty sure i was back in shape, but ultimately not one of my better results there 8th of 23 in 4:58:37 way behind the winner in 4:11:22. Not sure what went wrong, felt good, ran reasonably but wearing a new pair of Nike Lunaracer II's (purchased the Tuesday prior) i seemed to feel strain on the right inside foot, probably the arch, when going steep uphill which caused me to ease back at times. Haven't had that problem since with those shoes so can't explain it at all.

Having driven south i decided to go home via the Blue Mountains and run a "Fatass" run on the Australia Day Tuesday, The Glenbrook Fatathon.
(link here: http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=25924 )

Around 43K's (and a little more for me with a wrong turn towards the end), good run but no idea whether i ran well or not felt really good but was i fast ??, although was amazed to see so many starters for a non official run.

The week after was my shortest race of the year, Mt Glorious 32KM

(link here: http://runtrails.org/articles/?page_id=255 ).

With pouring rain the night before i knew this one would be interesting as the early stages turn easily to mud, ultimately i did run well, at least until half way back when i took a wrong turn which cost me around 20 minutes, probably made the race distance more to my liking but did nothing for my results (finishing 16th of 65 starters in a time of 3:52:29 with the winner doing 2:58:44). Probably my best run for the year up to that point, only have myself to blame for my navigation. Strange thing is that post race i just couldn't get enough Cola no idea if that was why i woke up that night and i had a shocking toothache.

When i'd been to the doctor earlier in the year he'd said that possibly it was a dental problem but having had enough of dentists way back when i broke my jaw (in June 1989) i wasn't keen on going down that path, but this time i had no choice as otherwise i was going to be living on painkillers (and booze :-( ).

Ultimately it was found to be my upper right wisdom tooth and i was slotted in for an operation on the Friday.

Not great timing as in previous years i'd done the Caboolture 12 Hour Race (link here: http://www.aura.asn.au/CabooltureHV.html ) which meant that i would be running less than 30 Hours after the operation.

Ultimately i downgraded myself to the 50K event and running very cautiously ended up second of five in 4:39:13, almost a lap behind the winner with 4:33:51.

Quite possibly i was almost relieved to not win this as many people in the longer events had passed 50K's in way faster times so it would have have been very much a "Claytons" victory but let it never be said i don't run to win, so there was disappointment as well !.

The week after was Maroondah Dam Trail Run (link here: http://www.aura.asn.au/AURADamTrailRun.html ). Having run all 14 of these i'd be honest and say this was one of my worst results (in figures 12th of 54 starters in 5:53:35 against a winning time of 4:41:26) but moreso by the way i ran, managed to cramp around 35K's in and from them on it was a steady diet of S! Caps and other salt tablets and basically waiting to cramp.

Can't quite put my finger on it but my body was hurting, i know i was a couple of kilos under normal race weight after the problems earlier in the year but simply i was giving my body commands and it just wasn't responding correctly.

The next few weeks were spent ostensibly resting and simply having a holiday in Montreal, but the reality was i was enjoying temperatures of -4 to -8 and rugged up appropriately found i was getting in some great mileage and was having a good time with Anna Maria's running group (http://www.phoenixrunners.ca/)

Returned to Australia a few days before the Six Foot Track Marathon (link here: http://www.sixfoot.com/ ) and felt i was in great shape, though possibly jetlagged.

This is always one of my goal events and i was looking forward to running a good one (after last years PW in my 18th there), started well and once we'd hit the Pluviometer (26KM and the end of the long climb) was feeling very strong and finishing it off well. Simple the wheels fell off, i ran one of two ways, either very well or cramping and hobbling, quite possibly the most frustrating part being the downhill section from Caves House Rd, usually my favourite part where i can usually expect to pass numerous runners, believe me this time i knew how those runners in previous years felt.

So obviously my body still wasn't quite right finishing 107th of 821 starters in my 3rd worst time of 4:38:42 way behind the winner with 3:20:49, basically my race year was going nowhere fast !.

The week after was Red Rocks to Coffs Harbour (link here: http://www.aura.asn.au/WaterWorld_RR2CH.html ) and basically i was just looking for redemption from the previous week.

Didn't start well, missing the start by a couple of minutes but ultimately i finally ran a decent race coming 4th of 37 in a time of 4:06:55 with the winner doing 3:37:48. (pictured below with Peter Gray quite possibly the only Aussies with more ultras than i, this being his 250th)

Finally i was back in some sort of shape, for the first time in years i had a couple of blisters only myself to blame as i was wearing my 2006 Model ASICS DS Racers for the first time in two years, obviously my feet have grown (back in 2006 i was only size 12 now 13), but that hadn't really affected my race other than making me run rather gingerly on the headlands and roads at times.

Two weeks to the next race the Inaugural Wild Horse Criterim (link here: http://www.wildhorsecriterium.com/ ) and i thought that finally in 2010 i was ready and fresh for a good one. Best summed up as 3 good laps (lap being 10.7 K's), one night one (so did as best as i could manage) and one rubbish one.

Very happy until around 3 laps started to feel an upset stomach and made use of the portaloos but was feeling no better and was often reduced to walking hunched over, was very thankful for Coca Cola at the halfway checkpoint as many loud burps later i was beginning to feel better, no more Endura for me after that i stuck to Coke and came home well.

Ultimately 5th of 15 in 5:16:10 way behind Don Wallace in 4:04:40, great runner though that Don is i'd have to class being lapped by him just short of 3.5 laps as one of my career lowpoints my aim all along was to not let him lap me and for me to be hobbling at that point as he flew past was incredibly demoralising.

That was just over a week ago, since then i've churned out the K's (170 for a 5 day training week) and am now in taper mode for Melbourne Trailwalker, after being second complete team across the line last year (and my third placing in 5 TW events), this is my big chance of a win, details are here http://www2.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/Melbourne/team/361 and race updates will be here on Friday: http://www2.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/VIC/results

A Good Year

2009-12-20T16:51:00.004+10:00

Sitting here still owing 2 race reports to my blog (Badwater and my last event Coast to Kosci), the long runs demand long reports and sometimes i have no interest in writing them, hopefully soon.

Anyway my results are on the above link, my shortest year race wise since 2005 with only 1991K's but with no Trans Gaule or Deutschlandlandlauf that was to be expected. Essentially ran without injury right up until the last 6 weeks when back problems sent me backwards, and it became a race against time to be ready for Coast to Kosci, but overall a good year.

Marysville Marathon (and 45K Ultra) 8th November

2009-11-15T21:48:00.004+10:00

After the 4 Peaks i had decided to stay in Bright an extra couple of days and do a couple more mountains, first of all Mount Bogong (Victorias Highest Peak and probably my favourite trail run up Staircase Spur) and the next day Mount Porepunkah which had been day 1 the previous 9 times i raced here and deserved a 10th outing

from me.

In theory i was either going to be superfit for my next race or worn out, as it turned out i was somewhere in between. Running (maybe that's an overstatement - walking quickly might be more accurate) a steep uphill 0n Porepunkah i disturbed one rock and the one behind it crashed onto my left ankle, nothing much but i seemed to get an immediate bruise and bit of a "sting" from it, not enough to worry me at the time but just enough to remember it and two days later begin to feel it when do two laps of the Tan (at the Monthly Victorian Road Runners Tan Time Trial, that would make this twice here this year probably more than when i was living in Melbourne !!).

With a 9AM start it meant we virtually had a sleep in before Marysville, i was driving my car giving Robert Boyce a lift as had plans o drive straight back to the Gold Coast from there (and Robert to get a lift home), with the shorter races not on till much later was somewhat shocked to find large crowds at the registration area (whilst there were only 90 in the marathon there were 2,000 pre entered in the other events and ultimately another thousand entered on the day).

Still got my number and ankle chip quickly and still had an hour before race time, walked over to the start area (a few hundred metres from the finish) and had a chat with a number of familiar faces as we waited for the race briefing.

Lachlan (who was not only Race Director and inspiration behind the event was also competing in it) gave the race briefing but when asked about how we would do the extra 2.8K's to complete the Ultra came up with, what seemed to me, a vague "it will be obvious when you get there", certainly the rest of the course sounded good but i now had lingering doubts about the Ultra.

Soon we were off, with the race started by a set of Bells, one of two sets that were all of remained of Lachlans' Marysville House, and was comfortably away on a good road, settled somewhere in the top dozen and still continuing my chat from the Tan with Steven Barker (we'd ran together most of those 8K's to finish in around 35:10 the previous day where i just outsprinted him at the end), with the obvious leader Traralgon Harrier John MacKenzie (a 2:30 Marathoner) leading a pack of 3, and more surprisingly a runner with a running stroller (and child) making good time a couple of places in front of me. Also saw early starter, walker, Brian Glover coming towards me, we had a good 11K before the turnaround, only problem i had was having to stop at the first drink station as the Sports Drink was at the back (water in front).

Once we turned i lost Steve and was making ground on the two in front and feeling good, was definitely going to be a warm day so it was best to make use of the easy running on the road whilst i could as apparently the course would get harder.

8K's on the return and we then turned onto an unsealed road, a bit like the Melbourne Marathon a month back i ended up running straight into a herd of Half Marathoners but with a much smaller field this wasnt a great problem, soon the unsealed road had deteriorated into a road with large rocks and my ankle wasnt really appreciating this, nevertheless i was beginning to make good ground, last drink stop before the other runners turned and it was too crowded to make the effort to get a drink so i was relying on our turnaround not being too far after. Can't say it was that far away, but with heat and no shade i was beginning to struggle and really look forward for the turnaround and was relieved to get there, was soon back to the drink station and had a much easier go at getting a drink as well as now passing the runner with the stroller (hardly a bit of road for a stroller so he was doing it hard).

By now i was regularly passing the runners in the Half and getting a good pace going was just looking forward to getting of the rocky road and soon enough we were, grabbed a GU although at that point didnt see the drink station just needed something and then it was a run towards the oval where we would finish complete with steep downhill section.

By now it was very hot and with the bushland decimated by the fires there was no shade to be found, best thing was the sight of the creek as we ran along, i had no idea where we were heading next as i knew that although we would be passing the finishing line we still had at least 10K's to go.

We were sent along the road towards Steavensons Falls and again i was confronted by a herd of runners, the 3 & 10K events, thankfully with witches hats in the middle of the road i simply stuck to the wrong side of the road with no one returning yet i had a very comfortable run.

I'm sure years ago i'd been to Steavensons Falls but with a totally different landscape now nothing was familiar and every time we went around a corner i was dismayed to see still more runners ahead, reached a drink station where i was informed they were out of water but had sports drink (what a relief!, other way round and that would have been a disaster in my eyes) and still we kept on going, soon we could see the beautiful, refreshing falls in front of us and so knew where we were headed (only wish it was possible to run under them !!), now it was just a case of heading back, thankfully mostly downhill, i'd seen the leaders in the marathon and also had a good idea now of who was around me, so it was a case of run as hard as possible then see what was needed to make it an Ultra.

As we hit the oval i was passed by a runner who i was pretty sure was in the marathon but with only a few hundred metres to go didnt want to take him on as i knew i still had 3 or so K's to go and conserving what little energy i had for that was my plan.

Ultimately i crossed the line in 3:24:59 or thereabouts by the clock (which doesnt seem to agree with my chip time of 3:25:14), far from fast but when you consider John won in 3:02 (A PW for him) you can see this was no ordinary Marathon !!!.

The question then was where do i go for the Ultra ???, and that i asked and the officials didn't know, i thought i should at least have a drink while someone found out but even that was thwarted as they were just getting water in (hot weather and the bigger than expected on the day crowds made organisation very difficult), eventually speaking to Brett Saxon (who was there as photographer rather than runner and who took most of the above photos, thanks) i was told to continue out so decided the logical thing to do was simply add on the 3K run although in theory that made the 45KM Ultra long, so it was back up the hill to Kevin Cassidy's turnaround and i then found a new lease of life as tried to chase down Trailwalker Team Mate Robert Hall who was finishing the marathon (after winning the 50KM Upstream Challenge the day before !!).

As i reached the oval it was announced that Malcolm Gamble had just crossed the line to win the Ultra, so a few muffled curses and i crossed the line in 3:47 and went straight over to the timekeepers to lodge a protest.

Spoke to Mal straight after and seeing that he'd run two minutes slower than me in the marathon and been given a totally different extra run to me decided i was the winner, even more curiously Robert then finished his Ultra by running laps measured by his Garmin until he had 45K's up, so ultimately as first 3 had all done different courses after the marathon.

Despite the very strange finish after the Marathon (and i have yet to find official times for the Ultra in theory it really shouldn't exist on the records ???, but yes i will take the win), this was a great run and a triumph in terms of support for Marysville and congratulations to Lachlan and all his team, will definitely try to make it back next year.

Certainly one of the hardest marathons i've ever done made harder by the weather conditions, ultimately not making it home until Monday evening (was worried by reports of flooding on the Mid North Coast of NSW but thankfully rivers had subsided over my next day of driving), and as i type still troubled by the bruised ankle, still got to commit to my next start.

Mount Buffalo Day 4 November 3

2009-11-03T15:28:00.004+10:00

After 3 days in the 30s i knew that the fine hot weather would eventually end and sure enough during the night i heard the gentle pitter patter of rain on my corrugated iron cabin roof, definitely not as hard as some i have experienced here over the years but finally the meteorologists were right !.

Woke in the morning to find it a little cold with some drizzle but really there wouldn't be too big an issue here as this is the easiest of the four runs (in my opinion), although the question was would i take my non compulsory rain jacket or just get it sent to the top ??.

Ultimately decided i'd send up the camelbak with my gloves, jacket and bandanna and travel light, had time to check out yesterdays results (2:16, not flash but around what i was expecting), and also noticed i'd just sneaked into the first page of the results (right at the bottom in 25th place !).

Plenty of time to hang around and chat at the start and also have a toilet break, but by the time i was ready to go the guns were leaving last thing i wanted was to be in a group where the other members left me looking like i was nailed to the floor !!.

Did eventually leave before Twitey but was expecting him to pass me before the next intersection and sure enough that was he case as well as another runner, although at least i caught up with some walkers.

Bit of running and more walking and a constant though light drizzle, meant that by the time i hit the exposed face of Mackeys i was beginning to feel the cold, passed a number of walkers as i zig zagged across the bare face and was looking forward to getting off the rocks and heading back into the bush.

Finally reached there and it was getting seriously colder so once i hit the very runnable last 2K's i took off and did as close as i could to a sprint !!.

Finally reached the steps of the Chalet but my cold addled brain meant that i actually went the wrong side of the tape to the finish line (a tape was dividing the BBQ queue from the finishing line), somewhere between 90 and 100 minutes off hand.

After a chat with a few people i headed off to find my camelbak and warmer clothes really needed the gloves, and not having brought any money with me decided i was best to head back as the weather was deteriorating almost sleeting.

Thankfully this only lasted a couple of K's and by Mackeys there was a bright sun and warmer conditions so i relaxed and took pictures.

Very vague on results, but i know Dave Osmond was overall winner and Hanny Alston First female (and i think second overall), two very prestigous names to add to the perpetual trophy.

Thoroughly enjoyed my weekend and will have to make it back sooner than another 10 years, big thanks to Reg and Elaine and all the helpers, as for me i'm thinking of making Mt Bogong my 5th peak tomorrow dependent on the weather before i head south for Sundays Marysville Marathon.

Mount Hotham Day 3 November 2

2009-11-02T16:31:00.005+10:00

Arriving at Tavare Park this morning found yesterdays time was 1:46, another so/so time, still Mount Hotham promised to be much more runnable and i was looking forward to the extra distance.
Nice easy start along the Ovens River but soon we'd hit the trailhead and was rapidly passing early walkers, was happy to spot 25 time Four Peak Veteran Peter Le Busque just in front of me (having started 5 minutes? earlier) as i knew he was always good to follow though not as fast as when i was last here, actually passed him on a downhill stretch just before Washington Creek (complete with bridge i can remember unsteadily using a log in the old days !).
Here was my first navigational mistake, having immediately passed some walkers after crossing the bridge i then had the trail (on the sharp right by a walker coming the other way) and led us all into a dead end, barely lost any distance but it meant Peter was back in front again.
From then on it was up and up and i continued walking at essentially the same pace as Peter in front, we kept on passing more and more walkers and even the odd runner (i'd been passed by two runners in the first section and was hoping that not many more would though i knew my old sparring partner Twitey would be an issue later).
A few nice runnable sections but then Bon Accord Spur got it's revenge, steep and relentless uphill i was sweating heavily and on really steep parts was putting my hands on my knees would the spur ever end and we finally hit the Razorback ???.

Finally we hit the intersection and i knocked back the offer of a lolly as i simply didn't have the energy. Unfortunately at this point Twitey caught up to me and we both pushed hard along the Razorback but eventually he broke away from me (as had Peter), and i finally made Diamantina Hut.

After 10 slices of orange and some water i did what i consider to be the finish of this run i headed off to the summit of Mount Hotham.

I then headed back (as usual one of only two to do so), which is the reason for so many pictures on this blog entry, was feeling really good so my uphill times may well be far from crash hot but i'm definitely in good shape, now if only we could race down.

Was glad to make it back to Harrietville and the Ovens River as it was still 35 in the Ovens Valley, apparently a change is coming through tonight.

Mount Feathertop Day 2 November 1

2009-11-01T14:24:00.002+10:00

Got to Harrietville a little later than i did the start yesterday, new that was best or me as waiting is not my strongest suit.
Gave me a chance to talk with few mates and also check yesterdays results, can't say i was too rapt with 1:16 when the winning time by Dave Osmond was 54 minutes and i was barely in the top 30, but i think that sums me up as a mountain runner sure i run mountains but it's like my golf i do play golf but if you then looked at Tiger Woods play you'd find it hard to believe we were doing the same thing and that's a bit like me against real "mountain runners" The Dave Osmond, Robin Rishworth, Greg Mandiles etc of the running world, if i ever need an ego check a race against mountain runners on mountains is ideal!.

Still the course was marginally different than my previous 9 years and in theory that should have been a help as we had an extra K or so to run along the road to the start as we were now starting in Tavare Park to avoid traffic congestion around the camping area.

Set off with Traralgon Harriers Richard Comber and Kathryn (who has run in the World Mountain running Championships), and was happy to let her go and run with Richard but once we hit the trails he was too good.

Strangely seemed a little less runnable than some years (i've probably been up Feathertop a couple of dozen times in all one of my favourite mountains), and seemed to take a long time to work up the speed to pass the walkers.

I was regularly passed by some of the faster runners and was happy to finally make it to Federation and be greeted by a perfect sunny day for the final assault on the top. Was surprised to find my old sparring partner Ian Twite in front of me, obviously i didnt recognise him as he passed me (giving me a 5 minute start !), and kept chasing him but ultimately unable to run him down, again vague with time something under 2 hours but that was about it !!.
Was thankful for jacket, gloves and bandanna at top although i admit eating snow was very thirst quenching as well great when leaning on knees getting it.
Now at least it was time for my fun part, the run down.
Tonight it's the Pasta Party and tomorrow Mount Hotham at least the runs are getting longer with Hotham being 15K's nowadays (and as usual i'll be the solo runner on the way back).
Very hot here as i type (i've been told 35), time to enjoy the Ovens River.

Mystic Mountain Day 1 October 31

2009-10-31T12:41:00.004+10:00

Finally after 10 years i'd made i back to the Bright Alpine Climb (4 Peaks Race), and today was to be my mystery run, in previous years we'd done Mount Porepunkah, but now we had a uphill/downhill race at Mystic Mountain.

By memory this would be really steep, and the beginning confirmed my suspicions with a short flat bit then straight up !.

Eventually hit the top after a number of false summits (surprisingly with artificial grass where they launch paragliders - which is not the top !)and then downhill at the start very steeply then really beautiful downhill running, really enjoyed that as i had plenty left, was almost a shame when i hit the finish line.

Looking forward to being a tourist today and unfortunately i have no idea of my race time but will admit i'm in way better shape than i usually was after Porepunkah - bring on my old favourite Mount Feathertop tomorrow !

Lamington Classic 24 & 25th October

2009-10-28T15:22:00.004+10:00

Having been sick with a cold for the week following the Melbourne Marathon i'd pretty much been forced to rest and freshen up for this race.
At a distance of only 21.8K's each day it wasn't ever going to be a race i was going to excel at, so essentially i was going to make it a long training weekend running back to the start after racing each day.
Thing most in my favour was simply local knowledge, i'd probably run the total course a couple of dozen times over the years, even when i was in my 20's and spending a week or two on holidays up the Coast i'd inevitably spent one day there each trip, by now i pretty much knew the course backwards.

I arrived at Canungra at 8AM for day one from O'Reillys to Binna Burra but first of all it was the longer pre race event known as organising runners and lifts to the start line.
Firstly we were given our race numbers, mine was number 14 apparently our ranking as we had to start in groups of 10, rather surprisingly last years winner Peter Hall was ranked behind me so a little unsure how these actually worked !!!.
After a 50 minute drive (with 3 passengers as most people were running only one way and staying at Binna Burra) it was almost time for race start although at least i'd be waiting 3 minutes for the first 10 to head off.
I handed my camelbak in to get it taken to the other end (containing some food and clothes for the run back) and decided to just take my handheld and also wear a newish Headband (an orange "Foxtel" one that i'd been given by Brett Saxon with the warning "they are a little tight so put the logo around the back" i was to find soon just how correct that was !).
Took a while to get a rhythm going but seemed to soon cruising along, only then to be passed by Peter Hall (and another very strangely ranked runner Michael Page) from the group behind.
Soon i was running again against my own group and was passed by one runner and then repassed him on the steeper downhill sections, then Arnstein Prytz passed me i then thought i'd have someone to pace well against, but by then we hit the hard rocky section (as hard to run as i've ever experienced it due to lack of rain) and i fell behind rather frustratingly. With 5.8K's (by track signs) finally got going nicely and was content how i got home, even did 4 minutes faster than last year, probably helped by the warm conditions (as opposed to last years too cold conditions), although only in 19th place.
Tasty sandwiches and fruit (and a light beer) was enough to set me up for the run back (and having drank my whole 600ML of Sports Drink filled up with water), and also replaced a safety pin on the infamous Nike Free 4.0's .
Started slowly and wasn't really feeling that well, it then dawned upon me sure enough i had a headache, maybe that headband was too tight ???. Was happy just to make it back but around Mt Merino noticed it was getting very dark towards O'Reillys and soon thunderclaps proved the weather was deteriorating, ending up running hard the last 7.8K's just in time for lightning and heavy rain as i got back to the car.

Day 2 was much more relaxed as i could have a sleep in and then have the easy 45 Minute drive to Binna Burra for the 9AM start.
A few less starters so we split up into two groups (there had been earlier starts at 8:30) and i was happy to start in the first group and drop to the back of the pack. From then on it was the typical 5K's to get into a rhythm and then a struggle on the rocky section and then fly home passing many of the 8:30 starters and thankfully not being passed by the next group, personally i do find this as a much more runnable (and quicker) direction but was only 3 minutes slower than the previous day (with 44K's more in my legs !!) to finish in 11th place (and 11minutes faster than last year).
Pretty happy with that and curiously i finished 14th over all the same as my race ranking, so just under 4 Hours for a solid trail 44K's showed i was in good shape.
Still i had to make it back and again it was a casual 3 Hour run, if nothing else it'll be good training for this weekends Four Peaks in Bright (where finally i'll run my 10th, a task that's been 21 years in the making !!), assuming i have internet access i hope to update the blog after each day there.

Melbourne Marathon 11th October 2009

2009-10-20T18:47:00.004+10:00

With my 24th successive Melbourne Marathon my next race i was stuck with a strange quandary simply i had no idea what sort of shape i was in for a race of that distance.
The previous weekend had been spent bushwalking on Fraser Island and whilst that showed my fitness it was hardly speedwork, i guess in all honesty my most recent speedwork had been doing the Warwick Half Marathon back in May !!.

At least the forecast was good, looked as though Melbourne was putting on good weather for the race, so at least it wasnt going to be a case of re acclimatizing.
I was staying with Robert and family at Chirnside Park so it was to be an early start with apparently no parking at the MCG and with a 7AM race start this (with daylight saving) seemed like a real early 6AM and meant i was up very early.
Ultimately as we drove past the MCG we saw that the car park was open so were actually there over an hour early, meaning there was even time for a high priced coffee from the vendors setting up stall.
Dropped my gear off at the Spartans Tent and decided with the slightly cool weather i'd stick to the Yellow Buff Bandanna rather than my headband.
It was then a 10 minute walk to the start and time to catch up with a few mates, a few nerves (as usual) but essentially i was going to have to run this one by ear.
For a race with over 4,000 starters was pretty happy to make it over the start line in 10 seconds or so but then found the next few K's to be simply a case of finding a bit of room to run and get a good stride going.
Once we'd headed off StKilda Road decided it was time to finally use a drink stop, but the crowds meant i took the easy option in Aughtie Drive and just grabbed a waterbag, not a great waterbag user but have more or less worked them out by now.
I hadn't taken much notice of the webpostings about the course changes (well i was hardly going to get lost in a field that size), but it was soon evident we'd be spending more time in Albert Park, not ideal but still the scene of my first Sub 3 back in 1991 so hardly too much of a drama, this also meant i got an idea where other runners were in relation to me.
Finally i was getting some good running room and getting a good pace up but could see the Sub 3 Bus was well in front so i was still going to keep improving if i was to get the result i dreamed of.
After what seemed to be just running loops we were then back out onto Fitzroy St and then down to Beaconsfield Parade now we were getting somewhere, and i was beginning to make up ground on some familiar faces, chatted with one fellow just before half way and i'd apparently made up 5 minutes since Albert Park however the split was 90.5 Minutes so i'd have to do what i've never done before and negative split.
Heading towards Elwood was feeling good but was bemused by the fact they sent us around the Elwood Life Saving Club carpark just to get some extra distance in !!!, still a little further on and a 180 degree turn and we were heading home.
Once i hit Fitzroy St i did my maths and wondered just how we were going to make extra distance up, by now my bandanna was being used as a headband only, sun was out and it was a glorious day, just wondered where the hell we were going !!!.
Once we got towards Aughtie Drive i was in for a shock a herd of half marathon (and i think also) 10K runners, not a few but hundreds, frankly i thought this sort of stupidity in race organisation had died out in the 90's when the last few K's of the Gold Coast Marathon would bring you upon a wall of 10K walkers oblivious to everyone around them so absorbed they'd usually be in conversation !!!.
Less said about from there and along St Kilda Road the better, i spent most of my time cursing inwardly and i'm sure if there were photographers about there would have been steam coming out of my ears, from being near 3 hours i was rapidly self destructing, plenty of energy but nowhere to move as i sprinted between runners often sideways, when would they be out the way ???, finally we went under the Arts Centre and back now on the Tan section we got our split, way too late to make up all the ground i lost but i certainly ran hard just to get the frustration out of my system !!!.
Down Domain Road and soon again back amongst the other events, more frustration, from then on it was sprint look for a gap and so on, no way of getting a good rhythm and very frustrating, eventually onto the MCG but even there we were running in big herds certainly i vented my annoyance by taking in the longest outside course and ducking in sharply when sent into finishing lanes, not a good way to end (and a time of 3:05:27 and 261 according to the Herald Sun two days later, still cant get the website to work for official online results ???).
Not sure what to say about this one, was pleased how i'd run myself into a position for a good time after an ordinary start but frankly once we hit the other runners at 31 K's that was about it, couldnt get a clear run and to some degree self destructed with frustration, think i've still got a fast marathon in me this year but not sure what that'll be (Marysville logically but not sure what the first time course will be like), having spent most of the next week in bed with a cold Toowoomba was ruled out, so we'll see what happens.

DELXC 6 Hour Trail Race 27th September

2009-10-08T16:39:00.004+10:00

After Glasshouse i'd taken it easy with plans to essentially do one race per fortnight, so with that in mind i entered a trail run based on a 6.5K trail just out of Warwick. I'd seen this advertised on Coolrunning.com.au when i'd got back from the US and after checking that it was actually going ahead reckoned it was the sort of timed race i'd be way more suited to than on a track.
With the AFL Grand Final the day before decided the best option was to drive (around 2 Hours) and camp the night before giving me plenty of time for a walk of the course the next morning with a relatively late 9AM start.
With a "cockatoo alarm clock" at 5:30 or so getting up in plenty of time was never going to be an issue !, so after breakfast i walked a lap of the course and was pleasantly surprised, essentially runnable the whole way with enough ups and downs to keep it interesting.
Not a large field in the solo race (8 runners) as well as a similar number in the teams including many familiar faces, but 2 weeks after Glasshouse and being a new event this was to be expected, i'd love to see this grow in later years.
It was still pretty crisp at 9 so i had the gloves and Buff Bandanna on, but had a bag with headbands and also GU and drink in the feeding area so that i could do any changes and toss off clothes when necessary.
Wasn't quite sure who was in each race but certainly Michael Page (in a team with Peter Hall) took off and i was pretty certain he wasn't a solo which was a relief, only one runner in the solo backing after Glasshouse, Rodney Ladyman and he was essentially using it for training for a 190K race in two weeks time.
Definitely found the course was as runnable as it seemed, however a cool breeze meant the back half was quite cold (to me at least) so the Buff and Gloves were going to stay on a little longer.
They were still setting up aid stations on our first lap, but really i wasnt needing a drink for only 6.5K's, once that was over i'd worked out that the only section worth walking was the only road section less than 500 Metres into the course, very steep and then really good runnable stuff so not worth the extra effort required to run. Was passed by a number of fresh team runners but was keeping up a very comfortable pace although at a guess was third of the solo runners.
Next lap was a little faster and i was beginning to work up a good rhythm only downside being i'd get warm the first half and think of removing my gloves and then cool down the windier second half !.
Third lap was my fastest (by around a minute) and i was making rough calculations of the distance i'd be looking to cover, i certainly had my eyes on 60K, as that would be relatively easy on a quarter mile track but definitely a challenge on trails.
By now i was leading the solos and also seeing less of the teams, although they often gave me something to chase.
Three more laps and finally i was ready to take the gloves off and swap headband for buff and it was getting warmer, there was a aid station (with electrolyte drink, water and fruit) around half way but by now i was appreciating another water stop around a mile further on (after some solid uphills), by now it was time to get a GU out as well.
Was now beginning to pass many of the solo runners so was feeling very confident although was disheartened whenever i got "windburn" from a team runner passing me !.
By lap 8 found the electrolyte drink wasn't quite doing the job, so got out my bottle of Gatorade and had half as well as washing down another GU. By this point i'd also gone through 8 Succeed Capsules, the ups and downs and not totally flat trails were gradually taking a toll on my legs but nevertheless i was still doing 40 minute laps so it appeared the wheels wouldn't fall off.
After 9 laps i new i had 60K's in the bag and it was just a case of how far, although i admit i wasn't quite sure how we were going to end as unlike a track race we could hardly stop in the middle of nowhere and get an exact distance. By my calculation i'd done just over 63K's when time was apparently up (not having a watch wasn't definitive but had a rough idea what the time was), and wasn't sure what to do, did slow down a little (and get a stone out of my shoe - the only problem with my Holey Frees being that there are plenty of spots for stones to get in), and cruised in to find i'd a total time of 6:07:48, first of the solo runners by quite a distance.
Pretty happy with that, i've done worse distances on ovals, so this definitely suited me and to top it off there was prize money and free beer (provided by local Microbrewery sponsors Bru4U), what more could i want.
As i rather superstitiously hadn't put the tent down pre race (after Mt Disappointment and the post race medical problems i'll never put at tent down until i'm sure i don't need it post race), meant i could actually stay around and have a number of beers (and some great spaghetti bolognese) and have a good long chat with the race organisers and helpers and then head back home the next morning.

Glasshouse 100 Miler September 12/13

2009-09-23T11:26:00.009+10:00

With this year being the 20th Anniversary of the Glasshouse Trail runs (the first ever Australian Trail 100 Miler was held here in 1996 and my first in 1998, but shorter races had been held earlier), i was really wanting to do the 100 Miles there for the first time since 2005.

With a good 2.5 weeks since my return to Australia i'd had plenty of time to acclimatise and get back to something akin to normal (after all 3 weeks between races is a luxury i don't normally give myself), on the Friday i'd seen some of the course on the traditional pre race tour (which i was only able to make it for the last half), and funny enough by now there were many familiar bits, although i'm convinced that all 5 100 Milers i've done here have had different courses, but at least there were many bits i felt quite a home.

With a forecast for warm weather i'd made the decision to wear my race number on my shorts as then i wouldn't be wasting time changing numbers when i inevitably changed tops. For the first time here i had drop bags many of them had shoes as i wasn't convinced that the Nike Free 4.0's would survive another race this long (i'd had that same thought at last years GNW 100 Miler).

As well as various tops (singlet for the heat of the day, thermal top for nightfall etc), as well as cans of baked beans and similar luxuries in case i tired of the magnificent banquet that is the checkpoints at this event).

With a 5:30 start i was glad to find i didnt need my headlight to start with (though carried it throughout in my camelbak - just in case !), but with a 10K loop before heading back to the start decided the best way to start was with my other thermal top on over my long sleeved "Badwater Running Shirt" and only carrying my handheld before picking up my camelbak as well as wearing my gloves.

A record field of 35 headed off and those numbers were inflated even more by having the 100K runners with us, was almost surreal a Glasshouse start surrounded by runners so used am i to running by myself here and occasionally seeing another runner.

Ran very comfortable and was feeling good, perfect way to ease into the long day ahead, at the first checkpoint i picked up my camelbak and threw off my thermal top, it was getting warmer and i quickly put my gloves in my bag.

Next loop brings you up to the Mount Beerburrum lookout and this makes it much easier to work out where you stand in the field, i had pretty much the people in front of me that i expected (and again was camelbakless for a couple of K's as we simply went up and then down the lookout track).

Now it was time to just set the mind on the long run, as we would now be heading out onto the "real" course, first checkpoint and i couldn't resist a chocolate brownie a bit of sweet food was exactly what i needed as soon we would be heading to my least favourite part "The Powerlines", thankfully this was dry this year as when muddy the downhill section always feels like a greasy accident waiting to happen, still i this was one place where i'd use my non handheld holding hand to give me a better balance, some people are able to go down here like mountain goats unfortunately i'm not one of them and always lose time here, although was glad i had someone to chase with Terry just away in the distance throughout.

Strangest sight had to be an abandoned car half way down the hill, made me very thankful when i was on foot and this was reinforced when i saw a 4wd pulling another one out of a bog near the bottom, certainly not my idea of a fun Saturday morning. From them on it was a case of dodging around big puddles and the seemingly endless climb from the floor (with more downhills just to frustrate me when i was thinking i was reaching the end). One of the biggest goannas i've ever seen moved rapidly out the way in one section, i was just happy that with my flailing arms coming down it didn't mistake me for a tree.

Finally i made it out of there and it was more very familiar sections as i made it to checkpoint 8, now it was easy running time, off with the long sleeve shirt and camelbak and back to the singlet and handheld, as i was changing (and eating - what a banquet), Deb Nicholl doing the 100K came through she had already finished the first loop and was looking in great shape, continuing on an incredible run of form at Glasshouse the last year.

Always find 8A an easy run but maybe the loop was longer than previously as everytime i got to what i thought was a turn i found i had further to go, nevertheless i was in good shape and feeling confident out there. Back to the checkpoint and another feast (and drink some more Coke) and off on loop 8B certainly early on a chance for a breather before trying to make some ground up on the really runnable bits. By the time i'd finished this loop i'd seen Bill Thompson starting his 8A loop, so knowing his timing i guessed i was at least 4 hours under cutoff time, strangely reassuring !.

Another good feed at CP8 (loved those sandwiches) and as i left Terry caught back up with me, from then on we ran together but not together so to speak (he was often just in front of me or vice versa but never far away), at one point he stopped and pointed out a very thin and smallish snake, we both assume it was actually a legless lizard, much better to see that than some red belly black snake or similar (which ive seen in other years).

Enjoyed this section of the run although at times i felt i was adrift in sand, but soon we were at Checkpoint 7, quick drink and again dropped the camelbak and headed out for out 5K loop (in the early days this loop was run at night and always felt so much longer) .

Had some orange slices and some salted potatoes the days heat was taking it's toll a little and i'd already consumed 8 Succeed Capsules, much better to be safe as i had less than fond memories of horrific cramping in previous years.

We headed off and was thoroughly enjoying this stretch as i knew in a few hours it would be dark so was trying to get as much done as possible in daylight.

Checkpoint 6 again had a great array of goodies, so had a good feed and headed off again, just behind Terry, soon i came to the hardest part of this section although i must admit i was surprised to see Terry having a lie down stretching preparing for this (i always find stretching much harder on my body than running), we took off together and i was pushing hard as i really wanted to finish this part by dusk, the Frees were doing what they do best which is thump the heel down on the top of a downhill section and stick like glue perfect for here.

Was rapt to hit the dirt road and was soon at Checkpoint 5, was very happy with this as we were in before nightfall, perfectly timed as well as i had another thermal top and my back up torch in my dropbag here.

Had hot pasties and soup as once the sun was down it was noticeably warmer and also had a quick chat with Wayne Gregory (Blue Dog), who i was very surprised to see in a camp stretcher he'd had osteitis pubis problems, obviously seeing me made him head off quickly as they both disappeared into the darkening night.

From now on i knew it would simply be an issue of how well i could run in the dark, i'm fine on roads but give me a headlight (and in this case also a torch) and i'm next too useless, having to walk as i simply fall over anything that's marginally non flat.

Wayne and Terry flew out out of view but i simply kept to my game plan of just going smoothly and not breaking my neck somewhere on the dark trails, also meant i was passed by a 100K finisher but frankly i was dying to get to base and then onto the bike/walking path which i know backwards night time or not.
Finally made it and had a cup of soup and a good meal as i knew this was going to be my hard part although a number of people suggested i leave earlier.

Finally i was off and i was surprised to see Robert Hall early on the trail, had thoughts of reeling him after but thought he'd be way ahead, certainly his first 100 miler was causing him problems he hadn't experienced before. Flew through the bike/walking path and then onto Moffats Rd, this was all good stuff to me as it was the eastern section i feared in terms of time.
Headed onto the trails and for the life i me i could work out whether i headed straight ahead or took an early turn as i could see no arrows, that was to be my sole navigational mistake as i decided to back track and take a right hand turn eventually turning back again and bumping into Rob.
The original way was correct so i had wasted a couple of miles which was not making me happy still the Bruce Highway was close by so things were looking good.
Navigational errors are one thing, but being stuck in the mud !!! is something else, misjudged where it was dry near the Highway and after 6 foot steps i was bogged, panic set in a little and i tried to move backwards, but two footsteps seemed to take an eternity and i knew Rob was not far behind so i waited and got him to give me a hand out, first i had to get out of my shoes and stand by the side in my Drymax Trail Socks (i know i'm biased but these are the best trails socks i've ever had for a while there i thought i'd have to complete the race in them !), before i pulled my shoes out and put them on, suddenly my lightweight Frees were many kilos heavier.
Was quite happy to go under the highway through the creek as at least it meant my shoes got a wash, but was very worried that wet gloves and wet feet may have meant hypothermic issues soon, so was very happy to hit the next checkpoint where i got stuck into soup.
Off with the camelbak again as i went up to Wild Horse Mountain and back, now it was just a case of getting through the rest of the run and maybe a sub 24 Hour.
A little disheartening to see the leaders coming towards me, but still i knew i had this thing beat and it was just a case of being able to retain enough heat.
Next aid station was rapt to find a fire going as well as hot soup and i toasted myself, will admit i was not happy to be passed by Alun and then Dom with pacers (freely admit i don't believe in pacers except in cases where crew is compulsory - fires me up no end but usually the fact the runners are being paced means i don't catch them to get my revenge !!!), and was warm (and fired up !!) for something like 8K's shame the last 2 K's i was freezing again.
No question i simply had to thaw out again and that i did, probably wasted time but for mine it was well spent as i headed off for the other lap, again was good for 8K's and then the cold set in, no choice again but to cook by the fire and eat hot stuff as i knew now the worst was over and i was having dreams of Moffats Rd.
On the way back i saw Bill and Nick and calculated that sub 24 was still possible.

Last checkpoint i made sure that i had lots of warm food and now it was a case of get through the trails and sprint once i hit Moffats Rd as after all the legs were still very fresh after my easy night of walking.
Was very careful dodging my bog spot and once i hit Moffats road it was pretty simple run like a sprinter, ultimately i finished in 23:45:21.
My 5th finish from 5 starts in the 100 Miler and my second fastest time although ultimately in 13th place, as far as i was concerned i'd set out to do what i wanted to.
Looking back over a week later, i'm convinced this is one race i'll never run to my true ability, firstly me and the Powerlines is never a good mix but probably more importantly i'm a useless runner at night i actually need longer or tougher courses so that i have more of the next day to make up for those failings.

Still this one was for Uncle Cyril, who had passed away 2 days previous, a great bloke, a great fan and a great friend (i was wearing a black armband in his memory but long sleeve shirts tended to negate that), whilst he wasn't a runner he had done way more tough stuff than me as he defended our country against the invaders at Milne Bay in PNG during World War II, as well as a great sportsman keeping a scratch handicap for over half a century.

Badwater Interview on Channel 7 Brisbane June 2009

2009-08-27T13:58:00.004+10:00

Now that i'm back in Australia i've finally had a chance to see my Channel 7 Video. I do cringe about the inaccuracies (there are a number starting with my age and going right through my employment status and the time i was hoping to do and various other things), however at least the pictures look good, don't know if it's just me but i hate my voice on TV !

A big thanks to Darren Curtis and all at Channel 7 Brisbane for at least giving Ultra Marathon running a TV presence and letting me tell my story

Bulldog 50K Trail Run 22nd August 2009

2009-08-26T09:21:00.004+10:00

With two weeks between races some people may have suspected that I was rested and fresh for the last race of my American Campaign the Bulldog 50KM Ultra at Malibu Creek State Park.
That was the theory but the fact was since Mt Disappointment i'd spent 9 days in Montreal, now I was told to expect cold weather and that i'd need to wear layers (rather difficult as i'd mailed a lot of clothes back home by now), what I come upon was a heat wave, whilst temperatures were only in the low 90's (30's ?), incredible humidity meant it felt way over 100 and pollens in the air gave me more problems than i've ever had before. Starting with a sore throat and escalating to sneezing coughing and seemingly a full blown cold. Not to say I didn't have fun in Montreal, went as far as Ottawa and the ski resort of Mount Morin (blessedly cooler on my last full day) as well as exploring the Old City and Olympic stadium as well as other trips shown around by Anna Maria (who i'd shown my sort of local place the Californian Central Coast to).
What it did mean though was I landed back in LA on the Wednesday, with a very sore throat and nose and sinuses blocked something shocking, it may not have been an actual cold but I was washed out so much that a 50K run 3 days later sounded like very wishful thinking.
At least back in LA (actually Calabasas only 3 miles from the race and 30 odd miles from LA City along the Ventura Freeway), it was consistently a dry heat, so maybe I could get my act back together in time. Wednesday was essentially a write off as I was jet lagged (getting out of bed at 3AM Canadian time – Midnight LA time) didn't help and by the time I got to my motel all I could do was sleep (and sneeze and cough).
Come Thursday I was freshened up and did the tourist thing going to Beverly Hills and Hollywood (and misplacing the car – all the backstreets of Hollywood look the same !), and exposure to sun and heat seemed to be doing the trick.
Friday I decided the best way to work out where I was running was to actually run to where the race would be, so I did and then ran a couple of easy nearby trails before heading back home, a good solid 2.5 Hour hitout and after a quick dip in the pool I was feeling reading for the next day.
I'd woken at 4:30 so that as usual I'd have breakfast (not my usual cereal but by now i'd grown begrudgingly used to American Cereals), but originally the plan had been to drive to the start, however a very mild morning made me decide that a better option would be to run there as the 3 mile run would be a perfect warm up as the first half loop seemed to be mainly uphill.
Arrived with a good half hour to spare, certainly the mild morning had potential to become a very hot day, just thankful we were only talking 50K's.
Large number of starters, the race itself was sold out but I assumed with a 25K (one loop as opposed to our 2 loops) our field would be noticeably smaller but with our race starting an hour earlier we appeared to have pretty impressive numbers (I was t find later that there were 185 Competitors Huge by Australian Standards).
With warmer weather it was time to retire the Buff Bandanna and go back to my old faithful red headband, so it was AURA singlet and my Nike shorts to complete my genuine summer ensemble as well as my Handheld with a couple of GU's and some S Caps.
Obviously I'd been here too long as I was starting to see the odd familiar face, including Deb the lady who had sorted me out in First Aid last time (was happy to see her at the start just did'nt want to see her post race again :-) ).
Soon we were off, local Guillermo was leading the way (race director Nancy had said early on that he was the man to follow as he did all his training here), and despite it initially being flat I could see quite decent hills ahead.
I'd settled in to a good comfortable pace but once we got into the hills I decided walking was the way to go as runners around me were not getting much further away and if I read the race notes correctly the first half was uphill the second half mainly downhill. First drink station soon appeared and all I really needed was a couple of cups of Gatorade was feeling good, from then on it was becoming hard work, clouds or smog were trying to hide incredible views but eventually I worked out I was looking at the Pacific Ocean and towards Catalina Island. After many ups finally some downhill and I cut lose for a while was chased by one fellow and we were having our own little war as we passed numerous runners, wasn't really sure whether this was good for me, but testosterone got the best of me.
Finally after a Brindabella like downhill section I felt the sciatic nerve giving problems, this could be interesting, after all I hadn't come all this way for a dud performance in one of my shorter runs, the next section was flatter and did my back more harm than good particularly on a creek crossing where I was desperate to keep my shoes dry (with a flight back in only two days), finally we finished our loop and if I heard correctly I think I was 18th.
Wasn't really looking forward to this second loop and I now new what was ahead of me and with the sciatica (or back or whatever) on bit of a razors edge I knew i'd have to run (and walk) a little smart.
By now I was in a pretty \familiar group and we'd been chatting for a while which at least took my mind of my pain, but I was also starting to get into my S Caps and handheld of Accelerade, so before the big climb filled the bottle and also had a biscuit and a hammer gel.
Walking wasn't losing me ground but it was tiring me as it seems to take more out than free flowing running on the flat so I was just making sure I had something left for the downhill by this point.
From the ego's point of view I was starting to enjoy the race as I was beginning to overtake the slower 25K runners and passing quantities of runners is always good. Next Aid Station I saw Deb helping out, we had a quick chat and I was off, didn't want her to see me looking pained again.
Finally i'd made it to the top and after a few hard rocky sections the beautiful downhill trails, now the question was whether I could hold my body together. Ultimately all was good and I chased down a number of the runners i'd been bunched with at the start of the second loop, but just in the distance was a fellow in a red singlet, just teasingly always the same distance ahead.
We were now back to the flat, thankfully the creek crossing seemed easier than previously, and I was soon at the last aid station, I knew I wasn't carrying much liquid but decided that instead of wasting time filling the bottle i'd just have a couple of cups of Gatorade as well as a couple of orange slices.
Really i'm not sure whether that was the correct strategy as towards the end I had my one gulp of remaining drink and then had a very hot uncovered section, seemingly going forever as we looped the carpark to the finish line. Ultimately I finished 17th in 4:58, to be second in my age group (sure enough the fellow in the red singlet just out of reach was also in my age group !!).
Now it was time to rehydrate and have pizza, as thankfully this was supplied.
After eating and drinking and receiving my trophy an hour or so had passed and it hit me I still had to get home, just thankful that I was offered a lift at that point I was still very flat (not as flat as the next day when I accidentally did a 8 hour hike through the Santa Monica Mountains but that's another story !).
By the time this tale is up on my blog i'll be back in Australia, i've typed this whilst recharging the laptop at LAX but with no internet access can't put online till i'm back home.

Mt Disappointment 50 Miler 8th August 2009

2009-08-20T05:48:00.001+10:00

After last weeks trail run I was looking forward to a tougher course and a longer distance, as I felt that was really what I needed to get the best out of me.
As it happened there were two Californian Options the Headlands Hundred Miler
(and 50 Miler) just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin or the Mt Disappointment 50 Miler (and 50K) in Angeles Forest near LA. I was pretty convinced that a 100 miler so close to Badwater was going to be way less fun than a 50 Miler and I guess ego dictated I did the event where the 50 Miler was the major event.
As it worked out this was a good idea, as our road trip had continued another week and from the Castro Valley had gone down Freeway 101 and to places such as “The Pinnacles” (a US National Monument and very much like the Australian outback and having a fantastic hike requiring a torchlit walk through an underground cave) and Paso Robles before hitting the coast again and San Simeon and then Morro Bay, meaning we could hit LA via Highway 1 (culminating with a magnificent rising full moon over Malibu) and spend a couple days at my favourite South Bay places before dropping my travelling companion off at LAX on the Friday.
Reading Fridays emails it appeared the simplest way to get to the race start was simply to camp there, so with tent and sleeping bag I was fully prepared although frankly I was relying totally on my sat nav as I had no idea where I was heading.
After a beautiful drive up (would have been magnificent views except for the fog !), came upon Mount Wilson apparently home to numerous astronomy telescopes and huge power poles (and strange considering all the electricity etc around us no mobile phone reception), eventually quite a number of us made it there (although only three of us pitched tent, essentially the camping area was rocky car park) and we met the race director and got our race numbers and goodie bags.
Having brought food up with me I had no problems dinner wise but with no choice but a sloping campsite I did wonder just how I was going to sleep without rolling out (as the above picture shows at least my tent was sloping away from the cliff face !).

Good nights sleep except for the fact it had become really windy around 1 and later had got really cold, but was awaken by traffic controllers directing parking at 5:30AM. Bagels for breakfast (left overs from the previous days Hermosa Beach breakfast) and I then headed out, definitely cool so I decided to start in Moeben Sleeves with my Lululemon top as well as gloves and the Buff Bandanna.
Ultimately decided i'd be using my camelbak but instead of using the bladder would have both handhelds in it (as well as a myriad of energy food and clothing options).
Caught up with my Badwater Crew Matt and his girlfriend before race start and had our pictures taken and bit of a chat, I was my usual nervy self pre race especially on seeing it was a race with 100 odd starters (as well as another 150 in the 50K), a massive field to me.

A talk from race director Gary and then he called the Military (both serving and ex) Personnel up to lead the countdown (including former Marine Matt) to race start.
Apparently our first 5 Miles (all downhill) was now going to be road rather than trail as the RD had not been able to obtain a permit, no difference to me and to be honest a relief as a fast downhill trail start is not my specialty.

Had a chat as I ran with a few of the locals but I was really more focussed on getting to the trail section, absolute feast at the first aid station at Red Box, but at this point hadn't even given my bottles (filled with Accelerade) a thought was quite content just to use what was supplied.
By now the cold morning had warmed a little but I thought gloves were still the way to go as we finally made it onto some very nice trails. Was moving along nicely and enjoying some great views in this section and was soon at the next aid station (shortcut canyon) where I appeared to have my own cheer squad (not sure who was calling out to me by name was concentrating to much on getting up the hill).
Again a feast and I decided a Hammer Gel would top off real food quite well and also that I should finally drag one handheld out of the backpack as we were told it would be 7 miles to the next aid and noticeably warmer.

Lots of runners around me as at this point both races were still as one and really I had no idea who was in which, so every runner was a potential opponent.
Whilst the course was now getting harder i'll admit it was going by quickly as we got incredible views, the towering “Gotham City” of Los Angeles only 20 odd miles away looked incredibly different to the scenery around me but the view was so clear you could almost reach out and touch it !.

Spent quite a bit of time with another runner who'd done this before and he gave me a better idea of what the course ahead would be like. Another aid station and it was definitely getting warmer, was finally getting into my fluids and eventually decided Moeben sleeves and gloves were no longer needed, was actually beginning to work up a sweat.

Definitely getting warmer now and I was beginning to feel as though this would be a very tough workout so soon after Badwater as simply you can't tell just how well your body can handle heat so soon after an event such as that.
We soon hit the checkpoint that differentiated between the two distances, now there was only one way to go and I would be committed to completing the 50 Miler.
For a while we were now protected from the heat by lovely sheltered gullies, but soon I caught up with another runner who had done this before and gave details of what was ahead including the fact we would repeat some of this section on a 2 mile loop after the 28 mile aid station. It was soon after this that one of the leading runners suddenly popped out from off this loop and lead us the last mile into that aid station, apparently he wasn't even top 15 so it gave me a better idea of my standing at this point and a good reality check.
After a quick drink and fill up of my handheld it was off on the two mile loop, at least I now had a good idea just where I was going !.
Once returned we were told that the next section would not only be long but also essentially unshaded and hard so I filled both handhelds, and also adjusted my bandanna to make it more headband like as I knew i'd be sweating heavily soon.
A good section for me as I could see runners quite a way in front and could gauge that I was making good ground on them, however the heat was beginning to take its toll. Eventually we reached a turn which directed us to the next aid station manned by search and rescue, this one was a welcome relief but due to constraints in actually getting to it was not as well stocked and I was a little unhappy to find that only iced water was available (whilst water may be an acceptable beverage in the first 10 miles or so of an Ultra personally I find that after that it is way more of a danger than a help as it doesn't have the extra nutrients required and essentially is a waste of stomach space and a risk of hypnotraenia), in need of some fluids I reluctantly filled both bottles and headed off as I wasn't really sure just how far to the next real aid station.
Thankfully the next aid station at around 41 miles was only a couple of miles away so I tossed the remaining water from my bottles over my head and also made sure I had a lot of “real” sports fluids as well as Mountain Dew and Coke as well as a good feed on cakes and hammer gel, interesting warning sign as I left which mentioned that bears had been sighted in the last few days where we were now heading.
The next section appeared to be downhill so I was hoping to make up some ground on this part before the long haul uphill. Caught up with the fellow wearing the “San Diego Bad Rats” T Shirt who I had chatted with early on and I found that he had been to Australia and had been involved in the 2001 Trans Australia Race (as well as having “barhopped” with Aussie Multi Day legend – and now politician – Pat Farmer). We had quite a good chat which helped keep my mind off the long stretches of rough rocks that we crossed on river bed crossings, these were unpleasantly unexpected and I was finding these hard on my body.
Eventually I made it to the last checkpoint, this was the same one that we had seperated from the 50K runners previously and was a very long 2900 feet height gain over 4.5 Miles, this was definitely going to be tough.
Refueled but not really refreshed I headed onwards, I calculated that walking was pretty much the only option now as I didn't have enough left in me to run uphill.
At least we got to see heaps of runners as we were now catching up with the slower participants in the 50K's and certainly some of them looked quite distressed. By now I was pushing hard and breathing very heavily and probably due to this my sports drink was no longer really effective, instead of my body soaking it up I simply felt as though it was just sitting on my gut (I still blame the iced water section around 38 miles), so I decided that i'd risk dehydration and give up on the fluid intake and simply just look real bad at the finish line.
The last section seemed endless and by now I was feeling quite nauseous from the gut problems basically my main goal was to finish, at least now I had people to pass as many of the 50K's (I assumed) were now really suffering. Finally I could see some of the Mt Wilson Towers and my only navigational error an extra 100 metres towards the road, forgetting what colour marking tape I was meant to be following, with less than a mile to go.
Having sorted that out it was now simply a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and not cramping up (not having fluid that last section was always going to be a balancing act), finally over the line in 9:44 and 15th place, not to bad at all, although probably a little slower than my original aim.
My specialty of looking rubbish at finish lines certainly came to the fore and I was directed to the medical section where I was given soup and chips and soft drink, but typically for me I then had issues with getting too cold, so ended up under blankets shivering, don't really remember much of this (except for the kindliness of the medical stuff and also the fact they arranged a massage for me) as I was shocked to find 2 hours had passed when I returned to my car. A long day, now it was time for the post race feast of pizza, sandwiches and soft drink before the drive back down the mountain and accommodation somewhere (really wished I had left the tent up), but a very worthwhile one I was very glad I had done this race and look forward to doing it again some other trip.

Skyline 50K 2nd August 2009

2009-08-10T14:38:00.003+10:00

After having done the Skyline 50K at Lake Chabot in the Castro Valley (not far from San Francisco near Oakland) last year i had been in a quandary as to whether i'd do this event again, i'd already entered the SF Marathon the week before and the Mt Disappointment 50 Miler the week after so really questioned whether three successive weeks so closely after Badwater was going to work. Ultimately i decided (one day before online entries closed) that i really needed a trail run before the 50 Miler as after all i wasn't travelling with my falling apart destructing Nike Frees.

During the week i'd been having a great road trip down the Californian central coast, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and areas down to Big Sur, heaps of hiking as well as a bike ride from Monterey down past Sand City (one of my favourite places) so was either going to be ultra fit or worn out. Had made a motel at Monterey our base for 3 days and returned at dusk on the Friday, not quite sure what the problem was (microwaved soup or microwaved pasta ??? or the fact i'd got very cold before my return - always a problem warm days and always out just that little too long and then i feel the cold), long story short went to bed at 9 and at 10 the next morning i was told horror stories by my travelling companion of me doing "Exorcist style" projectile vomitting, couldnt remember anything at all but vomit covered shoes and very sore carpet burnt knees (from trying to make my way to the bathroom) gave evidence of the night i'd had.
Ultimately i turned our 11AM checkout to a midday checkout (takes that little more to return from the dead), but the thought of a 100 Mile drive to the race area was my idea of hell. Ultimately we made it to Lake Chabot, first thing i needed to remember was "where is it ??", so satisfied (and still braindead and weak) checked into a nearby hotel, my biggest wish being a good nights sleep and to wake up in the morning feeling "normal".
Ultimately i did wake feeling normal, and things fell into place, leaving at just after 6 (continental breakfast wasn't supposed to start till 6 but we got some early things) was at the race area by 6:15, plenty of time to pick up my number and check out the weather as i was planning to wear my AURA singlet (as well as gloves and Buff Bandanna) and only carry one handheld.
Pleasant conditions at race start, off hand in the 60's and pretty clear but as we moved out of the flat ideal running conditions towards the hills before Grass Valley i found it was getting quite foggy and the cold was biting into me.
Real good trails, nothing too thin and technical (an issue for me in my Badwater ASICS DS Trainers) but i was beginning to feel that cold, so had minimal liquid at the first aid station (think the handheld was going to last the whole way on the one fill), bit of a downhill into the valley and then some steep uphill towards Boort Meadow, a few runners in front of me but ultimately i was holding my ground well.
A very nice run down to Big Bear but then a long haul up to Skyline Gate, main issue being the many cattle on the track (i like steaks but being surrounded by them can be worrying). Once at the top we had done the hardest parts but in some instances downhills are harder and this was one of them, by now at least i was regularly passing runners (including the second place lady who'd already fallen twice), so adrenaline was kicking in and finally i was getting warm as we got out of the fog of the highest sections.
Incredibly well stocked aid stations S Caps, Mini Brownies, Fruit and plenty of other goodies as well as coke, mountain dew and sports drink just had to make sure i didnt waste time chosing.
Back towards Bort Meadow and it was just like a day on Aussie trails as we were surrounded by Gum Trees, had chatted with a few runners as i went along even finding a fellow a minute slower than me at SF Marathon, and just like last year was just picking out people in front and then "nailing" them.
Once past Honker Bay (maybe named after all the geese there ??), it was an easy couple of miles alog mainly sealed tracks and plenty of opportunities to run down people, although hindered slightly by the number of people now having a day out (very popular area as evidenced the day before).
Ultimately i ended up 12th in 4:40:49 shaving 9 minutes of last years time (although missing out on an age group placing by less than a minute - could see two runners turn just in front of me).
Pretty happy with that, no effects from the previous day and now i could enjoy the BBQ.

San Francisco Marathon 26th July 2009

2009-08-10T14:05:00.004+10:00

After running Badwater everything you do after seems a little bit of a let down and although i loved visiting San Diego i'd be honest and say that the thing i needed most was another race.
I'd entered the San Francisco Marathon a number of weeks after getting my Badwater start when i learnt that a Canadian friend was going to do it and i'd immediately thought "Road Trip" as with a race near LA on the eighth of August it meant i could rediscover some of my favourite parts of the Californian Central Coast.
After driving from San Diego the climate of San Francisco came as a rather unpleasant shock with fog rolling in at 2PM when i arrived (it was 80 degrees at San Jose shortly before and to come to less than 60 was not good at all !).
Think the rest of Thursday was spent wondering "why am i doing this ???", Friday was a little better but come Saturday morning i thought i should bite the bullet and do a 90 minute run in race gear (AURA singlet, shorts, gloves and Buff Bandanna), well to be honest it wasn't that bad although by my watch it dipped to 53 degrees by 9AM.

With a 5:30 start (so not to interfere with traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge), i left my hotel around 4:45 wrapped up like i was heading to the arctic (the yellow man - the infamous yellow tracksuit pants and yellow Melbourne Marathon windcheater).
I still hadn't put my racechip on and it still remained a mystery - essentially an orange band aid ??? - and was keen to get official help.
One less than pleasant surprise was that my timingchip didnt have a sticky part (like it should have) so that i'd have to put it under my shoe laces and hope it stayed on.
By now it was race start time, but thankfully the field of 5,000 was sent off in seperate waves and being in wave 1 i found it very easy to make my way to the front.
Before the race i was confident i'd cruise around the course in around 3:20 to 3:30 i just couldnt believe that 10 days after Badwater i'd have anything better than that in me.
Initially i was in front of the 3 Hour pace group but they breezed past at Cressy Field, now i was wondering just what i was capable of, finally up to the Golden Gate Bridge although cold and foggy above it was better than i'd anticipated and i was feeling comfortable, was shocked to hear an Aussie voice, a girl from Dubbo, just before the Marin turnaround but also a bit worried when she said she was in the second wave !!.
Think that spurred me on a little, once off the the bridge we had plenty of very easily runnable parkland (although i'd have loved more of the Presidio), and we were soon near the half marathon finish, bit confusing there as they sent one way and us another and a time clock (1:34 ?) seemed to be before half way. Still i was enjoying the scenery and also happy to be holding my ground against other runners.
At around 13.5 Miles i was surprised to see a sign "Beer ahead" but then realised this was the local Hash House Harriers Stand and there was actually beer, couldn't resist a drop although a little earlier than i'd normally like, it was a pleasant change from the tiny cups of Cytomax supplied so far (nevertheless still in a tiny cup - what are they cardboard medicine glasses ???).
For a moment or two regretted my drink as it bubbled in my stomach but from then on set out with renewed vigour, from then on it was the non tourist part of the course as we made our way through a factory area, mile markers seemingly making the course longer and longer, just thankful for the many posters with questions and answers along the course to take my mind off of this section.
Finally we were coming towards the port, and therefore the end, a couple of sharp turns (and one real good band) and we were passing the football ? stadium, now the end was in sight. Time to put in a little harder as i had no clue of the time i was doing, the odd high 5 i accepted but now it was time to finish it off.
With 200 yards or so to go i was gathered in by another runner so with nothing to lose it was a sprint finish now that i could see we'd be in in under 3:15, for the record just beat him and by the clock did 3:13:08, much better than i anticipated although the fact the gloves were still needed showed i was right in my clothes selection.
In short great, picturesque course for around 15 miles, very mundane next 4 miles and then the finish, probably as big a field as i really like i'm definitely not interested in fields of 20,000 and above.
As for my Canadian friend, i did see her come in (around 20 minutes later than planned), but lost her on the way through medals and goodies ultimately 3 hours later i was to find she spent much time in first aid on a drip, definetely not as good a day as mine.

A race update

2009-08-02T10:47:00.002+10:00

Apologies to all my readers, i've just been having more a holiday than a running trip the last couple of weeks. The Badwater report is slowly being written on my laptop and since then last Sundays San Francisco Marathon has been run and happily finished in 3:13 (and i owe another race report), since then i've been enjoying the sea and the fog of the Californian Central Coast.
Today i am in Oakland and the Castro Valley as tomorrow is the Skyline 50K Trail race that i did last year. Up until last night i was convinced i would run a really good race, but last night in Monterey i appear to have had food poisoning, in short i can recall nothing between eating at 8PM and 10AM this morning, but my travelling companion has given me a very graphic and scary description of the night, not sure if it was the soup (that she had as well and also felt a little queasy last night) or the pasta that she had only a spoonfull of. So folks don't expect too great a time tomorrow from me, still trust me i'll finish.

Less than a week until Badwater

2009-07-09T02:42:00.004+10:00

Thought i'd better update this blog, as whilst many people have been following my tour of the US on Facebook (and by now must be sick and tired of pictures from all over the place), i realise my blog readers may think i've just disappeared off into the desert. So whilst i'm watching the online coverage of the Ashes cricket (very disappointed it's not available as online radio as far as i can work out :-( ), probably a good time to update.

Spent the remaining week in Las Vegas, and had a ball as a tourist without ever actually going near "The Strip", an afternoon in Boulder City, another at Hoover Dam and a day in Red Rock Canyon (think the very best of the Australian outback but close to civilsation sums it up), hence the eclectic pictures above.
Running hasn't been forgotten either, been doing some by myself during the day (or in the case of Red Rock - hiking for 5 hours) and when there has been a meetup group run i've joined them of either a morning or an evening, infamously running approx 9 miles each way on Thursday to then join in on an 8 mile group run ( a marathon of sorts), followed up by 8 miles the next morning in Red Rock, so training is going good.
I needed to head back to Los Angeles over the weekend as by now my magnetic race numbers were ready (pictures above - they look great)

and i also had some other things to pick up. Went for a 5 mile run on Saturday morning in Boulder City as being July 4 (Independence Day in the US), there was to be a street parade called the Damboree (Boulder City is where construction for Hoover Dam was done and nearest town), lots of floats and dancing girls and beauty queens and all that you expect in an American Parade but the highlight has to be the last half which is essentially a massive water pistol fight, what more could you want on a 90 degree (it was relatively cool that day) day.
Great fun and plenty of time to get back to the Fiesta and clean up before the drive to LA.
Staying near Redondo Beach Pier had one great advantage this time, i could actually park the car whilst others roamed for miles trying to find one precious spot as Saturday night was the July 4 Fireworks (only one picture as my batteries were flat after all the pictures of the mornings festivities, but they were actually really good, way better than than the Morro Bay "bangs in the distance" in 2007).

Did find LA a bit of a shock to the system, i was by now used to temperatures over 100 (38C) and to find days of low 70's (20 odd C) was a shock, truthfully i was worried about getting derailed by a cold. Still at least it meant i got some of my favourite runs in, The Strand (Redondo out to Dockweiler Beach) and also out the other way to Palos Verdes with it's magnificent cliff top views.

By Tuesday everything was sorted, so now i'm back in Las Vegas, not quite as warm as i'd hoped (estimated high today is only 101), but 4 days here (and a few runs with the group as well as some middle of day ones by myself) and i'll be as ready as possible to hit Furnace Creek on Saturday (and possibly unable to update this blog until post race :-( )

Running With The Devil 50 Miler June 27th

2009-06-30T16:57:00.004+10:00

After a number of runs during the week and much time spent outdoors (was very thankful i'd found a running group in Henderson on the internet before leaving as it meant i could find places to run much easier as well as really enjoying being with them), it was finally time for race number pick up time for my 50 Miler at Lake Mead "Running with The Devil".
Hadn't been to Boulder City before or the Hacienda Hotel/Casino where the race numbers were to be given out as well as our goody bags (Great T Shirts !), was early so that i could have bit of a look around the area as well, but come pick up time me and a number of others seemed to wander all over the place before actually finding the right room (sometimes it doesn't pay to be early).
I had numerous questions for Joyce the race organiser, as everything seemed to be marginally different to Australian Races, particularly the timing chips held on by little plastic strips ???, eventually she also convinced me to buy a 24 OZ (and i'm no good at fluid conversions other than litres to gallons) bottle rather than using my 20 OZ UD Handheld.
Was too early to see see my Badwater crew Steve and Matt, who were coming for the marathon, so decided to have Walmart Macaroni Cheese as my pre race carbo load.
Early morning start (seemed to be sleeping in more than usual whilst in the US), meant i was up at 5 and by 6 was at Lake Mead for the weigh in.
Mystified by the scales, surely i wasn't 15? LB's ??? (70Kilos), still not a big issue as these same ones would be used when weighed later.
Decided i'd put the camelbak and also the 24OZ Bottle in the drop bag as well as numerous other bits and pieces so i'd have them if required at 16.5 Miles and 33.5 Miles.
Not sure exactly of the number of starters, at a guess 30, massive by Aussie standards (and with timing chips !), i was pretty much outfitted in all clothes bought this week, new REI Long Sleeve Top, New Nike Shorts, New ASICS DS Trainers, Drymax Ultra Heat Socks that i'd run in only that week only old stuff was the Legionnaires Cap bought for Badwater last year (and falling to bits, now needing a safety pin to hold the veil on), a bandanna from Badwater around my wrist (with plans to use as an ice bandana later and also my Trailwalker Buff Bandana around my neck (with same idea in mind). Had a GU in the handheld pocket and another one in my shorts as well as 8 S Caps (more of these in the drop bag).
Finally the waiting was over and we were off, i probably lead the first few steps but was very happy to relinquish the lead to other runners who may have known where we were going. Not sure of the temperature but at Boulder City at 6 it was 85, so i'm guessing a few degrees warmer.
A few undulations but was feeling very comfortable had quite a long chat with Brian from New Jersey (doing his second 50 Miler), was quite content just to run my own race with two leaders in the distance, so had settled very comfortably into 5th Place, although was disconcerted as two 10K runners flew past.
Had no idea where we were going but had great views of the lake and also of steep canyons by the side, was almost 9 Miles in and feeling like a local when i spotted Running Club Member Peggy driving along (thanks for that middle photo), spotting a familiar face is always good and i probably picked up a little pace. By now i had passed 2 aid stations and by number 3 was ready for a top up, the Heed they supplied thankfully tasted exactly the same as the one i'd been training with, also decided it was time for a couple of S Caps. Another pleasant surprise at the next aid station was seeing another runner from our group, Richard, with camera (thanks for the other pictures, the top one i took today looking toward Lake Mead).
After 15 Miles i'd worked my way into 3rd place, and at 16.5K, decided it was worth getting another stash of S Caps out (i'd had 4, i had two other bags of 8 in the drop bag), other than that i saw no point in changing.
A Cinnamon Apple Hammer Gel and a banana and i was off reinvigorated, giving chase to the second placed runner (first was out of sight), winding road with many up and downhills and it was getting warm, as well i had to keep on reminding myself to run on the side of the road as on the way out we had traffic going the same direction as us. By the next aid station i was in second place and just hoping to spot the leader (i was to find later this was last years winner Dan Kuch). Eventually saw him coming towards me still 1.5 Miles from the turnaround so i'd have been 3 miles behind !!.
Got to the turnaround and was 154 LB's, i'd lost 2LBs (i think), quite happy with that as i knew i hadn't hydrated fully on the way out, knew what i needed to do.
Ate a bit and instantly regretted having pretzels, suddenly my mouth was dry, at least that forced me to drink more.
Was happy to see the next runner a good mile and a half from me, so it was a case now of giving chase.
From then on it was getting hotter, initially used the buff as the ice bandanna but found it was a little tight so next aid station used the "real" bandana, was finding my usual Handheld still had quite enough fluid (usually a little left at each aid station), so there were to be no dramatic changes when i reached my drop bag, just a quick toss of the buff into the bag.
The odd Hammer E Cap (i'm guessing similar to S Caps) and bits of banana were my usual aid station food now, was feeling strong but was looking as though the only way i'd catch the winner was if he really fell apart (and anything can happen over this distance), by now i was around 12 Miles in front of the last runners.
By 35 Miles we were also getting Pepsi Cola at aid stations, a very pleasant change, although i was filling the bottle with Heed and ice each time.
Finally we hit the Marathon Turnaround, Matt was just arriving as i was leaving and as yet i hadn't spotted Steve. With the Marathon field now in sight (they started 3 Hours later at 10), i had a new spring in my step as i had plenty of people to chase, but my calves were now starting to feel a little tight so wasn't getting carried away.
Saw Steve soon after and then resumed my chase, was certainly putting away cola at the aid stations and fresh ice bandanas each time, it was getting hot (apparently between 110 and 116 ??). Decided that walking was the best option on some of the steeper hills as i knew there were plenty of downhills ahead to make up ground, by now there were marathon signs, half marathon signs and distance out signs so i had plenty of stuff to read to take my mind off it.
Last aid station and i was feeling it, i knew i wasn't going to win but also knew there was no point easing back as i wasn't going to look behind me, it was now a case of finishing and making sure i didn't damage myself for Badwater. Could see the finish line 1.5 Miles out and that energised me for one last burst, finally finishing in 7:47:40.
I'd suggested i'd be happy with 8 Hours, so whilst between 30 and 50 minutes slower than my usual time over the distance i was pretty rapt, time for a rest and more fluid and maybe yoghurt !.
Writing this a couple of days post race, i can say that after 3 hours resting i was finally back in shape to walk to the car, after that i joined Steve and Matt and their partners for the Buffett Dinner at the Hacienda (had been so tempted by the Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood Gig at the MGM, but ultimately decided my body wouldn't handle along time sitting or standing and a big crowd could have been an issue.
Next morning i was fine (as i fine as i could be after listening to Richmond being throttled by StKilda via internet radio), a lazy morning by the pool was in order.

Really good race, a big thanks to Joyce and her helpers, personally i think it was the perfect Badwater leadup positioned perfectly datewise before, i did see a number of Badwater starters but apparently many opted for the Marathon, i guess time will tell just who was right.

Before and after !

2009-06-25T08:35:00.003+10:00

You can tell when it's getting near race time, i start losing hair (obviously it's the stress :-)), it took me a while to adjust to the beardless look but now no hair and no mo i think i'll be looking at mirrors in shock for a while yet !!

Greetings from Las Vegas

2009-06-24T06:56:00.004+10:00

Having just returned from a 2 Hour run in what various temperature guages here show as being somewhere between 105 and 108 degrees (ie low 40's), thought it was a good time to update the blog with a race coming up this Saturday.
3 Days in LA seemed to be enough to get my body clock back into normal time and each day i'd head off for a 2 hour run and because of my inimitable ability to lose myself it would end up being a 3 Hour run (it's fine knowing the names of streets the problem is sometimes i had no idea which way i should actually head).
Whilst i could quite happily live in the "South Bay" area of LA have to say that the weather this time was rather disappointing, it was actually cooler than back home and despite annoying winds 2 of the 3 days the smog simply didn't lift.
I actually ended up with a sore throat from it, which really wasn't what i was looking for. Friday Night at least was time for some fun of the musical variety.
Shari had a gig with her other band "Blues Bettie" www.bluesbettie.com, and were the first support act for guitarist Eric Sardinas at The Coach House (www.thecoachhouse.com) at San Juan Capistrano, a good hours drive away and ultimately meaning a very late night. Great night and the place was packed, seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere but i guess that way there are no neighbours to complain about the noise !!!.
Shari, as usual, was great and her band of 8 horns (there were trumpets and various other wind instruments i couldn't name) really worked well together although i was hanging out unsuccessfully for an original song rather than all covers, still an hour later and i was wanting more.
Ended up next to relatives of the next act Brenda Harp and was having a chat with them for a bit, Brenda too was good, only Blues singer i've ever known to be accompanied by a violinist, few covers (including a U2 song) and some original material.
Next on was the main act Eric Sardinas, pretty straight forward him doing guitars and vocals, a bass and a drummer, good performer and really good guitarist but as tends to be the case with singer/guitarists did tend to get get carried away with guitar solos at times.
By the time this was finished it was 1AM, so didn't make it back till the Beach till 2, hardly ideal for the long drive to Las Vegas.
In short, as anyone having read this blog previously would know i really don't like Las Vegas it's just too over the top for me, however thankfully i'm staying out of town in Henderson (20 miles away ??), a place made for running with heaps of tracks, and also Sloan Canyon walking distance away. Having planned a little ahead i've also found myself a running group, so can do my main heat training in the middle of the day and then join them for an hour run of an evening (or Sunday morning as was the case this week - where those pictures are taken).
All is good so far trainingwise especially now the weather is heating up for Saturdays Running with the Devil 50 Miler.

Time to be a nomad now !

2009-06-16T19:27:00.002+10:00

Tomorrow i fly off to the US for Badwater.
Above is the race number signs i'll have this year (a change from my graffiti type ones last year :-)), thanks to Drymax Socks (http://www.drymaxsocks.com/index.php )
Actually it's more like a long solo running tour (freely admit it's not the same without Trans France or Germany this year).
I've got a week of acclimatization around Las Vegas and then the
Running With The Devil 50 Miler (http://www.calicoracing.com/)on June 27,
it's then 2 weeks to Badwater, just how i spend that depends really how well i feel i've acclimatized after that race.
A week and a bit after Badwater i'm doing the San Francisco Marathon (http://www.runsfm.com/) on July 26, i may possibly do the Skyline 50K (http://www.skyline50k.us/)the week after (really enjoyed it last year just not sure where i'll be), but i'll be back in LA for the Mt Disappointment 50 Miler
(http://www.mtdisappointment50k.com/index.shtml) the week after.
The Bulldog 50K(http://www.trailrunevents.com/bd/index.htm)on 22nd August will round off my trip as i manage to squeeze in one last race before i return.
I'm hoping to keep the blog fairly up to date, and will probably have extra non running posts simply so i know where i am when looking at photos later.

Of course all that, in theory, means i should be in good shape for the Glasshouse 100Miler when i return, time will tell i guess.

Mini Kokoda 29KM 14th June (was it a race or a long training run ???)

2009-06-15T12:57:00.003+10:00

Having not been able to go to the chiropractor during the course of the week (he was on holidays), i hadn't done much training as i still had back problems after last weeks fall. I'd decided that seeing i'd see him the following Monday i was better off simply doing the only race available this weekend. The 29KM Mini Kokoda at Numinbah Valley, bit of a nothing distance for me but as someone who's done much training here (usually from Binna Burra to Springbrook on the only tracks i know), was interested to see what other tracks were available out here, for training later in the year.
Every time i'd gone for a short run during the week, the body didn't seem quite right so it wasn't until Friday arvo that i finally bit the bullet and put my entry in.
Waking on Sunday morning at 5 i was glad to find it wasn't quite as bitingly cold (yep i must be getting soft - back in the days in Melbourne our Gold Coast cold snapped would have been looked upon as quite mild) as the previous few days, but i'll admit that i struggled to get out the door by 6 after breakfast and a read, sometimes these shorter distances just don't inspire me.
Arrived at Numinbah with 15 minutes to spare but was shocked to see a paddock with over 100 cars parked, being the training run for the Kokoda Challenge next month there were hundreds of people there.
Ultimately this meant the start was delayed (i assume not having a watch with me) as i queued for quite a while to get my timing chip (another surprise), even saw the odd Ultra runner, John Lindsay (nowadays a grey nomad) and Nic & Mallani Maloney, as well as Ultra Legend Don Wallace there as a pace leader.

Decided i'd stick with the Buff Bandanna and keep the headband in the back pocket of the Tri Top as it was still pretty cool, with water carrying compulsory decided i'd take the handheld with fruit cup cordial mix, all being well 600Mls would be quite sufficient for 29K's.

Ended up leaving with the second group of runners to set off, in theory a good idea to start at the front but was soon dodging the people from the first group, will admit i was finding this frustrating but realised this run was more for the people training for the actual event (and in teams) rather than us individuals wanting a fast hitout, so just put up with it.

Finally some good downhills gave me some space and i took off, shame i hadn't looked at the course map the day before, as i came to a T Junction and looked for orange tape and headed right, surprisingly people free early on, with one runner at my heels, after a couple of creek crossings he said to me that we were accidentally on the second loop but may as well continue and restart. I had a vague recollection of 7 creek crossings at the race briefing but having not looked at the course didn't realise we only covered them in one of the loops.

Ultimately we took about 80 minutes to get back to the start line, at least now we were going to have a good long run undindered by teams of walkers. Was chatting with my fellow navigationally challenged runner for ages but have to admit i still don't know his name, just that he's done the Kokoda Challenge before.

Finally made it to Checkpoint 1 just as they were packing up, actually had Don Wallace coming back towards us by that point we were that far behind, after a while going up the steep hills towards Pollys Kitchen i finally started to run into teams of walkers and also to get a number of people running towards me, i've never seen so many walking poles in my life, it was reminiscent of hiking in Europe, certainly all these people were keeping me on my toes as i ran as acrobatically as possible to dodge the logjam of people in front of me, thankful for wearing the old Nike Free's but also wondering with all the creek crossings whether finally this may be there last stand.

Finally made it to Polly's Kitchen, by that point i'd only drunk half my bottle so didn't bother about enquiring about a top up, something i'd begin to regret later.

Was amazed to see just how many were still making there way down as i was heading up, definitely a very hard track to run on and a tough course i was certainly beginning to feel that extra loop in my legs. By now i was out of fluid and was thinking i'd get some at the next checkpoint however was directed to the nearest tap which i couldn't find, so decided i'd take a drink from a creek later on.

Ran/walked with Brisbane runner "Radar" for a while as the trail here really left no passing possibilities and decided i was better off saving myself for the parts i knew well.

Finally back to the road and a wider track from then on just kept passing people, my biggest worry being weather my waterlogged shoes would actually hold together until the finish line.

Typically i never did have a drink crossing creeks, was usually approaching them and i'd look bemusedly at people trying to get across without getting their feet wet as i just charged through enjoying splashing through the water (if ever people wanted evidence that Ultra runners really don't grow up they've only got to watch me the 45 year old little boy !).

Caught up with John Lindsay and his Kokoda Team on the uphill stretch after the creeks, finally somewhere that i could make intelligent comments about navigation and where we were with regards to the finish line. Chatted for a while but decided i'd better finish this thing off as soon as possible, was definitely feeling thirsty and fatigued as my run now would be closer to marathon length, much longer than planned.

As usual i enjoyed passing people, seeing that Peter Hall had introduced me at the start as an Ultra runner gracing this event last thing i wanted was alot of non ultra runners beating me (no idea if any people had recognised me from the interview on the previous Mondays Channel 7 news but part of me just didn't want people being able to say "i saw that bloke from the news today i beat him !").

Finally finished in 5:15:11, way behind Don Wallace in 2:45 and way behind any time i should have run, take that first loop 80 minutes off and even then 3:55 was nothing crash hot, i'd certainly paid for running that extra distance, although 72nd place of 469 actually doesn't sound that horrific.

Interestingly after post race Hamburger and a chat with a few others the cold really got to me, ended up needing to turn the heater up to full blast on the drive back, obviously i'm ready now for the heat of a US summer, now only a couple of days away.

Gold Coast 100KM June 7, 2009 (National 100 KM Championships)

2009-06-11T18:23:00.009+10:00

After what seemed like a long layoff since my last race (a whole two weeks, admittedly with some pretty heavy training mileage), it was time for the Gold Coast 100KM race, always an important one to me firstly because it's the national championships, but also it's always around my birthday date so always a chance to give myself a present money can't buy.
This years race would actually be one day after my birthday, so would be my first run as a 45 Year old, maybe an indication of the rest of my year if a good one, maybe something to improve on if i wasn't happy with my performance.
Having the 12.5KM turnaround just down the road from home it meant i'd run laps of this course countless times (as well as in last Decembers' Kurrawa to Duranbah 50K), so not only knew the course intimately but also knew that it could be very hard mentally as at times you'd spend time dodging tourists and cyclists and families out for the day, not to mention the inherent boredom of a lap course, Laps 2 & 3 would also be the testing ones.
I ended up with a number of runners staying with me in the "Kelvintorium" (as it was dubbed last year when i had 6 running guests), but with the World Championships in only a couple of weeks time the field was not looking as full and neither was my house with only 3, Lachlan Fraser, Michael Lovric and Malcolm Gamble, nevertheless we would go on to make over %20 of the field.
A big issue was always going to be the weather, the storms had settled down since the big waves etc, but still we'd been getting heavy rain at least daily, often with dark clouds coming out of the blue, so imagined at some point rain would be an issue, temperature wise though it was looking perfect.
Arrived at Kurrawa at 5:15, plenty of time to get sorted and it was looking a really good day, only 18 Starters in the main event, but cloudless skies meant it looked that once the sun rose we'd get some beautiful conditions.
Pretty easy to see the main contenders, Jackie Fairweather seemingly a certainty for first woman and to my mind a big chance overall and Terrence Bell a big chance as top male, with Wollongong runner Tim McKenzie also in the mix, although i wondered whether inexperience (third Ultra start), may count against him, i was certainly there somewhere but really my goal was to run sub 9 and maybe PB if all went well.

Cool to start so started in the Lululemon top (it's probably done enough race K's now to run by itself), Buff Bandanna and gloves, with the theory i'd ditch them after one lap. 1:49:55 the first lap, within 5 minutes of the leaders and feeling very comfortable, decided the gloves and top were no longer needed, but discovered i'd left my headband at the drop esky at the turnaround so kept the Buff on. Pretty much running dressed exactly as i train now (not always with the buff though) and couldn't help but feel at home and comfortable.
Did the headband change at 37.5K's and also decided that instead of taking a big swig from my Gatorade bottle i'd carry it till i'd emptied it, at this point i'd just been passed by Jackie, but i was feeling good, however once out of the tunnel that is Jefferson Lane i noticed big black clouds, to me that 3rd or 4th lap was going to be real wet.
Best said i'm not a weather guru, within 5K's it was raining heavily, was just hoping i wasn't going to pay the price for running topless as the rain was a little cold, best thing being that recently these sort of storms had been short and sharp.
Sure enough we only got 5K's worth of rain and it had actually done us all a favour getting people of our paths as they scampered for shelter.
As i approached the turn around it was as though the rain had brought on a urge for a toilet break, so with two toilets just behind the turnpoint decided i'd just keep on going. This was to be my mistake, with only one toilet (not a block) i noticed someone approaching them so sprinted, not a good idea on wet Kurrawa Park grass as i found that when i tried to stop i had no brakes and ended up flat on my back, right on the tailbone, not good.
Did what i needed to do and headed back off, was still in good shape time wise, just under 4 Hours (and only 2 minutes slower than my winning time at the 50K and within 20 minutes of the leaders), if this fine weather kept up i was thinking i could make up good time, but was wondering just what affect my fall would ultimately have.
It winded me a little but all seemed fine, but by 60K's i was beginning to feel back spasms, at 54K's i'd managed to drop a GU when getting my Succeed Caps out, so knew i had this awaiting me (with luck) on my return, made it through to the turnaround but was now feeling the odd sharper pain radiating out of my hip.
I discovered a new way of opening Gu's, my dropped one evidently had been run over by a car (i was using the road not the beachfront path) and it had split in the corner, i'd barely lost any and just got gravel off the corner.
Certainly that 3rd lap hadn't been good to me and i turned in 6:23:30, almost 50 Minutes behind the leaders now, it was now a case of just holding it together.
got through the next lap a little warily as did ocassionally feel the odd sharp However coming to the 79K mark the wheels fell off, back spasm also went right down my right leg and i simply couldn't move, Struggled through to the 80K aid station and had a banana and creamed rice and for a little while could run, but reaching the Goodwin Tce aid station was back in pain. Thankfully Brett Saxon was there and knows massage, maybe it helped although any casual passersby may have thought Gordon Ramsay had arrived early the langauage that came out of my mouth as i got that massage (if it hurts it is usually means it'll do you good ????), Tamyka gave me some Nurofen as well, but it was to no avail, after being almost 3K's in front of Mal Gamble at the 75KM turn he passed me around 83K's and powered up the hill to Burleigh Heads and disappeared into the distance.
Had a couple of spasmodically pain free running moments and made the 87.5K turn thinking i may be able to hold the run together for a while. That lasted till around Tallebudgera Creek (91K) but from then on i was struggling to do much more than walk, was absolute hell coming down the steps from North Burleigh and very relieved to hit the 95K aid station and have a banana. Forced myself to run as i was positive Milov's footsteps would appear soon, and ultimately made it in for 5th (a few minutes behind Martin Edwards, who i'd passed coming out of 75KM and had then repassed me when i was on road and him on track - and four minutes in front of Milov).
Disappointed with 9:19:46 as it meant i was almost a minute per K behind the winners, but this just had to be one race i simply survived and i did.
Still back problems this week (and my chiropractor not back till next Monday), so have taken it easy, however with the 29KM "Mini Kokoda" in the Numinbah Valley on Sunday i will have one last hit out before heading of to LA on Wednesday.

Warwick Half Marathon 23rd May

2009-06-03T18:25:00.003+10:00

With 10 inches or so of rain in the week between Glasshouse and Warwick, i had done minimal training, in theory a good idea for this my shortest event for the year, however the little training i had done had worried me as my calf rather than improving was getting worse. I have a fair idea of the exercises from when i'd been to the physio with issues in late 2005, but basically once running and trying to go faster than usual i was feeling pretty lame, although pre entered i was tempted to give this one a miss.
Ultimately Friday lunchtime i decided i'd book accommodation down at the local boarding school and drive down, i'd run a little (and been side tracked by the huge surf brought in by the storms) and felt the calf was less sensitive than it had been.
Arrived down in the dark, was a little worried to find the Condamine River (pictured) was over the road, possibly our course would be modified this year ???.
Was great to catch up with some friends for dinner, although the less said about the service the better, one positive feature of this meal, it was icy cold so when i ordered i mentioned i'd have a nip of Bundy, to my surprise that was supplied gratis, maybe i should have quit while i was ahead.
Absolute saga finding my accommodation as i'd been giving a key which said "Roberts House", a number of buildings there and none lit up !!, so it was door to door and fit the key, unfortunately they were all keyed alike so it was a case of finding a dormitory with mattresses and blankets etc in it !!.
Eevntually Michael Schultz (another Brisbane runner, he'd given me the key at dinner) turned up and we made our way to the correct building (which actually wasn't Roberts House !), heaps of room and good, cheap place to spend the night.
Throughout the night i'd heard rain, so got up with trepidation, definitely looked pretty bleak, still we wouldn't be out there too long.
Off to the start and caught up with lots of familar faces, decided to wear my gloves, but thought that anything more than a singlet in a half was really whimping it, though i did decide the Buff Bandanna was the way to go again.
Drizzle at the start and our course avoided flooding but more or less the usual, ran with Ultra Runner Martin Schott for a while but he was moving too well for me, the calf simply wasn't warming up and because of this just couldn't get a good pace going.
Rain would come and go, but was actually good conditions, finally 13K's in i seemed to find a rhythm and enjoying the undulations started passing runners although by now Martin was a dozen or so in front in the distance.
Put together a good last 8K's, although i was shocked to see previous winner Peter Hall catch up with me (he should have been far ahead), we had a quick chat (him saying that he was finding it as hard to run 5 minute K's as to run 3.5 minute K's, neither i which i could relate to if honest !!) and then he took off, i wasn't chasing him down !!.
Ultimately Martin was crossing the finish line as i turned the corner a couple of places in front with Peter in between us.
Later i was to find i'd done one of my slowest ever times 1:33:08 for 51st place (54th place was a spot prize, i was definitely there sometime in the last couple of K's), not happy but really not to unhappy the calf was in one piece and i'd had a good solid hitout, two week break and then for my local favourite the Gold Coast 100 KM.

Glasshouse 50K's 17th May

2009-06-03T18:00:00.002+10:00

With a field of close to 50 in the 50K event at Glasshouse i was almost destined to feel crowded after the previous weeks run.
Whilst i really think 50 Miles is my best distance, starting a race at 3AM and needing a headlight the first few hours just doesn't do it for me, so was happy to front up at 6AM for the 50K's, still meant an early start seeing that i like my breakfast at least 2 Hours before.
Once the sun was up, it was looking a great day, no strong winds like last year, just a nice still day with a prospect of warmth later.
Michael Page and Keith McKay took off fast and i was quite content just to follow, leaving the others behind, after a few K's i ran with them for a bit, but at this point was trying to get a good rhythm going and they were just a little faster than i was comfortable with. I was a little worried about my calf, stupidly on the Friday i'd done a session of hills around Elanora and around 3 Hours in decided i'd do one more, not a good idea as i was a little fatigued and it seemed just one hill too many, so was deliberately taking it easy.
Different course this year as i was surprised to see the lead two (as well as numerous 50 Milers) coming back towards me when i was approaching the first manned checkpoint. Ann Raftery and Di Schott were there and had beautiful chocolate slices, not really a distance requiring food but those things are irresistible !, turned around and then i could place where the next two runners were. All was good until then as the trails were relatively good underfoot but it was soon to change with the dreaded "Powerlines", Ian had found a new track onto them so that we would be having trail bike issues and ultimately this was an easier course but seemingly went on for ever, it seemed much longer. I was now beginning to have problems as i was needing to use the legs (and hence putting pressure on the calf) to go up and down dried mudslides, definitely not having fun, was passed by Arnstein and Ross the next two runners who were doing it much easier.
Finally off the Powerlines and the strained muscles (calf muscles connected to hamstrings ultimately to stomach) meant i wasn't feeling great at all, at least i knew exactly what was ahead of me. Ran down from checkpoint 8, and saw a number of the 50 Milers coming back towards me, quick chat and off, by now i realised i really needed to empty my stomach, so headed off trail as i was approaching a group walking the course as Kokoda Training, did what i needed to do and felt so much better for it, maybe now i could make up some ground. Loop 8A, seemed longer to me, but simple fact was i had no one within sight so possibly wasn't running that hard, back up to the Checkpoint and then a loop of 8B and that damned hill, best part downhill to the Checkpoint again.
By now was in good shape and i picked up Arnstein and Ross between there and the next checkpoint, and kept on passing people in other events, certainly keeping me motivated. Ultimately i was just over 4 minutes behind second placed Keith in 5:02:44 but a long way behind Michael. Pretty happy with the run, but wary of the calf, a dip in the Woodford Pool at the end pretty much being the equivalent of icing it.
Lots of socialising post race as i knew there would be many people i wouldn't see again till September.

Bananacoast Coast Ultra (Coffs to Grafton) 10th May 2009

2009-05-13T15:40:00.007+10:00

Rather than write a race report i feel better putting in this race report from Race Director Steel Beveridge:
"
BANANACOAST ULTRAMARATHONS, 2009.

It has been said that it only takes one starter to make an event and two to make a race. On Sunday the Bananacoast Ultramarathons went one better with three starters. The equal smallest field to contest the event still managed to provide a slice of history as the three runners set and reset goals on the Orara Way to Grafton.

Or more accurately for two of the protagonists on the journey to Lanitza.

Only one runner, the indomitable Kelvin Marshall, made it all the way to the Crown Hotel finish line. Finishing his 218th Ultramarathon Marshall established his dominance early, charging ahead from the start to leave the other runners, Rodney Ladyman from Brisbane and Bruce Webber from Coffs Harbour to keep each other company. For Marshall it was his sixth finish in the Bananacoast event and his fifth victory. He now has the distinction of having been the winner the only time the race was held on an out-and-back course and the only time only one runner made the entire 83 kilometres journey.

His time of 7 hours 17 minutes 35 seconds was a virtuoso performance. He only realized that his rivals were no longer pursuing him when Rodney Ladyman caught up to him riding in his car. Marshall was already in South Grafton by that time.

Apart from the satisfaction of the victory, somewhat muted by the lack of others to share the podium, the Gold Coast resident was pleased with the training effect of the run as he prepares for a second tilt at the Badwater 135 miles race across Death Valley in the U.S.A. later in our winter but in their summer.

Both of the other runners were also looking for the added spice of competition as they prepared for longer races later this year so were quite content with their efforts on the day. Ladyman reached the Lanitza service station in 6.27.00 while Webber made it there in 6.48.19. The pair had run together for the first 40kms before Webber backed off the pace to save himself for another day. Ladyman will line up, once again with Marshall, in the more popular Glasshouse Mountains Ultramarathons next weekend."

End of quote

Will admit it was a strange win, the fact was when i arrived at the start and found that Rodney and Bruce were to be my only two protagonists i knew i was in a hiding to nothing situation, basically i was a certainty on form (Rodney had been 29 minutes behind me last start at Mt Mee and is probably a better trail rather than road runner and Bruce had finished over 2 hours behind me here last year) so a win was expected by all and if i didn't win i'd struggle to live it down, however the fact is a 50 Mile race (and this is something between 82 and 84K's) is a hard love and nothing is certain until you cross that finish line there's a helluva lot can go wrong in between.
So basically i ignored the numbers and stuck to my race plan, simply trying to run the others off their legs early, pretty much that was how it panned out, certainly i did make one early error, getting a 250ML bottle of cordial at my first drink stop forgot just how hard that climb out of Coffs was and definitely was feeling in need of more fluid. Made up for that the next time by having my whole bottle of Gatorade and i think that evened things out. Early on questioned my decision not to wear gloves, i'd fronted up to the start line in running singlet but wisely had decided to change into the Lululemon Bike Top (it must be approaching 5000K's itself now) and now with pockets to carry stuff had added a couple of Gu's and a small NZ Muesli Bar (From Kepler Challenge), as well as carrying my headband and starting in my Buff Bandanna, however for some reason hadn't given the gloves a thought as i'd easily have enough pockets.
Once up the hill and going through the Orara Valley it was biting cold, but thankfully my fingers, whilst numb, weren't going pale yellow so maybe not as bad as they get, nevertheless was very happy to start feeling my fingers around 30K's in.
Only incident on the road was a cattle dog wanting to show me who was boss (as is usually the way with me and aggressive dogs i can snarl and stare with the best of them and was quite happy to show i was the alpha male), around 40K's in, had a similar incident in 1999 however i doubt that dog would still be around !!.
I did manage to scare myself once though, deciding a steepish hill was a good chance to walk and have my muesli bar i accidentally glanced behind (who knows the last time i looked behind me in a race it's not in my race psychology) and saw someone running, basically bolted the next couple of K's, didn't seem logical but i wasn't taking chances. When next i saw Steel (crewing for me at that point), i told him this and he said it was Lyn taking her turn doing a training run in all honesty i didn't look behind me long enough to recognise anyone all i saw was someone running so my survival instinct kicked in !. Who know's that may have helped my time, especially considering i finished faster than in 1999 when i did 7:23 the only other time i've done this race in this direction (for mine 20 minutes slower than the mostly downhill version to Coffs).
One thing having supplied all my food and drink this was a time i could actually work out what had got me through a race, the following:
In total had 4 litres of Gatorade (3 Blue Raspberry, 1 Lemon/Lime), 250ml's of a raspberry cordial mixture, 2 bananas, one Endura Bar, one "Naked" muesli bar as well as 6 Succeed Caps, to me that seemed pretty right for future races around that distance and i will keep in mind particularly when thinking of this years Gold Coast 100K.

Interesting timewise now that i've done this event 6 times:
5/5/1996 Coffs to Halfway to Grafton and Back (floods causing course to be changed):
6 Hours 50 Minutes (1st of 4 Starters)
10/5/1998 Grafton to Coffs: 6:58:16 (1st of 6 Starters)
9/5/1999 Coffs to Grafton: 7:23 (1st of 6 Starters)
23/5/2004 Grafton to Coffs: 7:31:20 (3rd of 8 Starters with Dave Criniti doing 5:54:16 for the second fastest time ever)
11/5/2008 Grafton to Coffs: 7:14:09 1st of 6 Starters
So definitely satisfied with my time, i guess the real shame is the small fields this race attracts, the only road 50 Miler in Australia and even better with a point to point course, surely the ideal setting for this type of race, i'd just love to see more than a handful out there, can't thank Steel enough for keeping this race going.

Of course the other thing this means i can run the rest of the year without worrying about keeping my streak intact, at least one race win a year every year since 1994, definitely always a relief to get that out of the way, usually i feel i run better after that's done, so bring on Glasshouse 50K's next Sunday.

Mount Mee Classic 26th April 2009

2009-05-01T19:34:00.004+10:00

Obviously the previous weeks beach race had taken more out of me than i realised. Certainly the camber of those beaches had meant my hips and back were badly out of whack so i had booked in to the chiropractor on Wednesday, essentially my only training until visiting him was walking as running wasn't an option.
Fixed up i did a relatively easy 30K's on the Thursday as well as a short run on the Friday, so effectively was tapering for Mount Mee.
Whilst i was far from excited that this race was now effectively a marathon (being that distance) and seemingly a shoo in for a new Marathon PW, i could fully understand the organisers reasonings as i'd done this race three times previously on three different 50K courses (for two wins) with field sizes of 6, 10 and 5, so for it to continue bigger numbers really were needed and being a really beautiful place to run it would have been sad to see another race bite the dust.
With a 6AM start i was in bit of a quandary, really no accommodation close by everything seemed at least a 30 minute drive away, so i was probably better having a short sleep at home at setting the alarm for 3 and after having my usual breakfast driving the 100 minutes or so straight there.
Didn't even need the alarm, went to bed after the AFL telecast and with a nice cool night had a really good deep sleep waking at 2:40 quite refreshed, for mine it's the quality of the sleep rather than the quantity that makes the differences (probably explains my occasionally less than great state of mind after night upon night of humidity, sleep long enough then but quality wise is rubbish).
Made it to Dayboro at 5, just in time to see the organisers vehicles starting to unload, so checked in and had a lie down in the car for a bit.
Ultimately 25 starters, a big improvement, lot's of the usual suspects Bruce, Tamyka, Adrian, Rod, Alun amongst them. A few i recognised by sight but couldn't put names to and also suspected were fast at that distance.
A few words from the organiser and we were off, took the lead early, after all it was a road and i always like to run off a few nerves first. Lead for the first 2.5K's but could here footsteps and definitely not interested in taking people on at the non business end of the race, so happily let them take the lead, a man and a woman (Jeff Rudd and Glenda Banaghan i was to find out later), ran comfortably behind them and was overtaken by another bloke, at this point was in a quandary as whether to give fight as the course so far was nowhere near as hard as i'd imagined (and still a bitumen road), ultimately decided i'd run my own race and save myself for the harder parts supposedly ahead.
At the 12.5K checkpoint i was joined by another runner and also saw this wasn't just another marathon we were looking at a dirt road seemingly going up and up infinitely, this was a time to get back into ultra tactics and forget this was a marathon. Walked and ran this, with the other fellow just a little in front doing exactly the same, knew it wasn't helping my time but was confident this strategy would pay dividends. Was passed easily by Adrian Pearce (winner here the year i didn't win), a very good runner on his day, so wasn't going to give chase at this point, just had thoughts of revenge in the back half.
Hit the half way point in a little under two hours, refilled my handheld (my 600 mls of fruit cup cordial, endura mix had lasted that far quite easily with two drink stops in between) and took off, soon a turn, for a little while wasn't dead sure i'd taken the correct turn as i just couldn't remember whether i'd seen an arrow or not (typical me in race mode, will follow an arrow and then question whether i saw it till i see another indicator), thankfully was soon to see a K Marker, thankfully after the 500 odd metre climb from 13 to 21K's it looked like we were having a 500 metre drop, at this point i dropped the other runner and every time i turned a corner expected to see Adrian but not such sighting.
28K's and a checkpoint, thought it was time for a couple of Succeed Capsules, whilst fiddling around there was passed by Tressa Lindenberg, as well as being told my time, my mind definitely wasn't in a good spot, 4 Hours looked about as good as i could achieve and as for being passed (and by a woman at that - excuse the sexism but all is fair in wars such as any race that i contest !!).
Another uphill climb and both Tressa and the fellow i'd passed on the downhill had got away, not sure if i was just mentally down but the last drink didn't seem to be sitting "quite right" on the stomach either, interesting.
From then on ran reasonably but definitely not at my peak, finally made it to the next checkpoint and found it to be a 700 Metre out and back, didn't actually dawn on me at first as i saw two of the marathon runners coming towards me and i said great run thinking they were running back to the start (nevertheless it was still a worthy comment as they were well in front of me).
By now i knew where i was as this was part of last years course, not sure whether that made me happy or not as i knew alot of this was still a tough bugger.
At least now i had 10K runners to chase and pass and did find a new lease of life, towards the 41K mark i was reduced to walking up a hill but noticed the fellow in the front was doing the same, strange but true it looked as though i'd be trying to outwalk a competitor to the finish line, didn't actually pan out that way though.
Got one last effort out of my weary legs and passed him and then essentially ran like hell all the way to the finish line just in case i'd spurred him in.
Less said about the time the better 4:00:50 a Marathon PW by 9 minutes, although i finished in 7th place only 18 minutes behind the winner, definitely mixed emotions.
Confident i'd made the right shoe decision the ancient safety pinned Nike 4.0's (had been a toss up with the Lunarlites, just didn't fancy their lack of achilles protection if the trails got rough), and confident i'd done the right thing using trail Ultra tactics as opposed to my usual road marathon tactics (which are to run as fast as possible the first 20 miles and just see how well i hold on, reckon i'd have been lying on the side of the dirt road somewhere past half way if i'd have tried that), but not impressed with having a 4 against a marathon time.
Still sometimes a need a kick, good training so far this week and maybe i can put together a decent run at Coffs to Grafton on May 10 at least i'll be back to my pet distance.

Red Rock to Coffs Jetty

2009-04-22T17:32:00.005+10:00

Having run from Currumbin Creek to Surfers Paradise and back via the beach on the Thursday (approx 30K's ?, with Burleigh & North Burleigh Headlands the only non sand sections), i reckoned i was in pretty good shape for Red Rocks to Coffs.
Having successfully completed the training run in my old Nike Free 3.0's reckon i had the shoe issue pretty sorted although a couple of holes in them meant that i was sure to let some sand in.
Come Friday night there was plenty of lightning and thunder on the Coast but barely any rain had no idea what it may have been 300K's further south, but on wakening the next day to find a very windy day (with a wind from the south) had the feeling i'd be experiencing similar the next day, unfortunately that did prove to be the case.
With an April event this year (a little later than usual and out of daylight saving), it meant we got daylight for the start, very pleasant but with the headwind as predicted it just meant we could see the sand being blown about further ahead.
A still largish field of 43 surprised me somewhat as this was really one of those weekends for Ultra runners, with a choice of this or the Coburg 24 Hours or the Canberra Marathon and 50K events, having done all 3 last year not exactly an option this time so i'd chosen the easiest to get to.
Many familiar faces including Steve Sayers who would certainly have to be favourite having won twice here before (and second his other start), but looking around was not really sure if there were any i'd be able to pace off of.
This became evident early on with Steve in the distance and then essentially two lots of two runners in front of me and then a gap after, this could well be a solo run i feared (interesting thought considering my navigational ability on some of those headlands).
Early on i was trying to keep my feet dry, but the camber of the beach and the unpredictable nature of the waves meant that i'd soon given that idea up, salt water was hardly going to kill me.
Couple of beaches solo, but made a mess of the the headland before Woolgoolga Beach as i found Bomber Hutchison coming towards the next beach entry from the other direction, saying he'd made up 500 metres on me. Talked for a little but was soon by myself again, was now starting to catch the early starters unfortunately only whilst on the beach.
Was certainly begin to feel the affect of the soft sand on the calves and hips and also cramping a little so had a couple of Succeed Capsules, was glad to see coke at the next aid station and had a couple of cups of it as the sportsdrink didn't seem to be quite doing the job.
Was beginning to see people out on the beach now so knew it was more civilised hours now but if i was honest really wasn't sure which beach and headland was which.
Even had the odd dog join me (note to self people don't have a problem with me calling dark coloured dogs "Snowball" but get less than happy looks when i call light coloured ones "Blackie").
Not sure which headland it was but after following bunting for a while had no idea where to head so followed a track thinking it would lead down, only problem being that i seemed to be getting higher above the beach, ultimately reaching an exposed cliff face with plaques in memorial to people who had died there, evidently this wasn't the way to go !!, so backward turn and more wasted time.
I'd love to know just how much time i wasted on headlands but i suppose this is one of the challenges of this race, certainly finding a set of steps boarded off from pedestrians (at Sapphire?) meant i was thoroughly confused, i had vague ideas that i'd experienced the same last year and had simply climbed over and used them, but seemed much more tired and proned to cramping this time and had thoughts of being just stuck on top, so with a seemingly fresh landslide fenced off nearby decided i'd find another way around. Interesting sums it up, muddy trail and then a little swim (at least i picked up a golf ball) and i'd reached the base of those steps.
Frustration had got me a bit fired up by that point so took off with new determination, by the time i reached Park Beach was busy avoiding casual strollers but was finally getting my best pace up with the finish in sight.
What more can i say finally made it in 4:31:37 for sixth place, my slowest performance in three starts there (4:13:12 for sixth in 2007 and 3:53:02 for 6th last year), only consistency being the placing as the weather conditions and state of the beaches meant every race was virtually totally different to the other, so honestly not unhappy with the time except for the fact it looks bad for that short distance.
Was glad for the warmish water at sea although my tired body struggled with a strong undertow so wasn't quite as carefree in the post race swim !!!.
Long time till the next runner and then over the next few hours the rest of the field made it in, coffee and great homemade sandwiches and cakes making the wait very easy to bear as well as good conversation with runners i don't often see.
Big thanks to Steel and all the aid station people, this run is definitely one of those little gems.

Frankston to Portsea 55KM

2009-04-07T16:46:00.007+10:00

After having had a reasonably easy week after Trailwalker, thought i'd better get some of my usual high mileage in again whilst on holidays.
After waking up with a sore neck on Thursday (that "LA Freeway neck" seems to be a twice yearly occurrence for me unfortunately) i ran 100 minutes that night mostly around Lillydale Lake although spent a little time lost as i tried to find my way back to a bike path from between houses in the dark.
The next morning my chiropractor rang me back and slotted in appointment for that afternoon, that being the case i could go for a long run beforehand.
Starting in still warmish weather black clouds rolled in and before i was back thunder and lightning were about everywhere and i'd had a good drenching, was alarmed to find i'd been out 3 hours and it was now 11:58 i was going to be late for my 1PM appointment, very quick shower (and quickly manhandling the dog back outside - don't think he liked the thunder), knew it was just a case of how late i'd be for my appointment, ultimately the answer being half an hour.
Much better after that i ate cheap food (food discounted after the lunch hour rush) at the 1 Queens Road Food Court whilst waiting for the rain to clear, eventually it did and i decided this would be the ideal chance for a quick drive down to Elsternwick to see what had become of my old house.
Pretty simple really, my old 15 Square home with massive pine out the front had become a huge 40 Square McMansion complete with swimming pool and minimal yard, quite staggering, still they'd paid what i considered over the odds for it so of course could do whatever they liked.
Popped in and said gidday to some neighbours and more relaxed now was ready for my next race.
Being the first Saturday of the Month it was Tan Time Trial time for the Victorian Road Runners and Robert was running that Saturday morning, ultimately i ran one warm up lap, then the 8K race itself in 33:56 and then a warm down lap before heading off for a little jog with the Nike Run For The Kids Team at Fed Square (and Easter Egg hunt). So in total i'd done a little over a half marathon (and 8K of that at full pace) the day before a run over what (to me) was virtually a sprint distance Ultra, possibly not my greatest move.
Lazy afternoon, at least Richmond gave a reasonable account of themselves against Geelong, much better than the shocker the week prior.
With daylight saving ending on race day it was early to bed and an alarm set for 5, obviously i had slept too well during the week (the lack of humidity a godsend for sleeping) and was awake at 4 and showing no signs of getting back to sleep, so an early 7 Vita Brits etc, and Robert and i were off by 5:20 or so meaning that with new tollways we were at race start around 6AM, an hour earlier.
With the end of daylight saving we'd definitely also got an end of the summery conditions, and there was a decent chill whipping off the bay.
Time for a stroll down to McDonalds for a cuppa (and a toilet stop with the public conveniences being renovated), and also the shock that Dimmeys was no longer on the Highway (and even bigger shock was to follow on reading that their Department Store in Swan Street Richmond had closed the day before - this was Melbourne but not as i remembered it).
A number of runners used the facilities there, definitely a change from the regular crowd i can imagine coming through the store early on a Sunday morning and then it was back to where Kevin Cassidy was still busily signing in runners (almost a record field with 43 Starters).
I'd finally decided i'd wear the bike top and keep my buff bandanna on my head as well as wearing gloves, with the trademark headband in the top pocket (as well as 3 GU's and a muesli bar) for when it got warmer later.
A little after 7 we were off, comfortable pace and reasonable, though cool, conditions. Settled into a good pace and for a while ran with local Mike Wheatley, a former winner here and just out training locally today, we had a good chat and time went fast before he turned off.
I had a number of runners in front of me including my Trailwalker Teammates Michael Lovric and Rob Hall, our TW opposition Rohan Day, and around 8 others from what i could work out, definitely had a bit of work ahead of me.
Had a fill up of Rob's Powerade/Endura Mix (Mal who had crewed at TW was crewing for Rob again and generally lending a hand to all), and i was a a little worried as the clouds darkened and the rain started to get heavier. By now i'd passed the ultra consistent walker Bryan Glover (starting an hour ? early), just before the Freeway overpass, and could no see Michael as well as two Peninsula Road Runner Runners.
Just before we hit the beach road i was a little surprised to catch up with Lachlan Fraser, possibly the lack of training after his Marysville bushfire problems was doing his running harm.
From then on i was following Michael and the Peninsula Runners, another half a bottle of sports drink was needed again just before Rosebud and thankfully the sun emerged again.
Eventually beat them off and on the longer stretches heading towards Blairgowrie could see Rohan in his distinctive red board shorts and Rob in his long 2XU socks bit frustrating but i really had no more speed.
Just before Sorrento got my second bottle of Staminade (so approx 1.8 Litres of fluid would last me 55K's - it was that sort of temperature !) from Malcolm Gamble as well as a couple of lollies.
Typical me with lollies they lasted for ages and seemed to expend more energy than they produced. Still moving well but making no ground on the leaders, then i saw the Chris McTaggart struggling (virtually on the footpath) and then the Japanese runner with a back pack on the other side of the road (i will always run into traffic, if worst comes to worst i'm quite sure that on my deathbed my dying words would be the number plate of the car that came towards me and hit me and put me there).
Piece of Fruit cake from Malcolm seemed a good idea, but my energy wasted chewing (and virtually choking) said otherwise (cake's usually the easiest thing to eat).
For the first time i was struggling as i went up the Sorrento Hill to the shopping centre, so got a GU out on an uphill stretch and washed that down with my Staminade, thankfully that was enough for me to pass him on the next hill
From then on it was a case of just block out everything, don't look behind, don't feel any pain (was beginning to feel the infamous neck), and just get there.
Finally i was there in 4:32, close to a 7 minute PB, frustratingly within 9 minutes of 2nd to 4th places.
Overall a good run, about as good as i can do on the shorter stuff at present and on this hilly course no great complaints.
As i type this i'm back from a 22 Hour (plus 3 Hour sleep in back of car just outside Grafton) drive, already focussed on the next starts and what i can do to improve (some people would say "have a shave", others don't run 70 odd K's in the 2 days preceding), whatever it is i'm pretty content, bring on Red Rocks to Coffs in two weeks time !!!.

A week of interesting training

2009-04-04T17:11:00.002+10:00

Having spent the week in my old hometown of Melbourne, i've had some interesting between Ultra runs.
After 33KM's at Humevale on the Sunday, fronted up and did the 5KM with the Gunn Runners (along Beaconsfield Parade) as Albert Park was still in Grand Prix Mode, finishing second in a bit over 20 minutes (no exact time as this pc has no pdf reader), reasonably content with that.
After a number of glorious days in the mid 20's to low 30's (32 degrees on Thursday), did 100 minutes of running at Lillydale Lake, very comfortable but not timing nightfall to well (rather dark as i tried to find my way out of a housing estate and back to my parked car).
Thursday morning i'd woken with a very sore neck (the really bad sort of neck i get about twice a year), so had booked an appointment for Friday with my old Chiropractor Andrea Bisaz.
3 Hour run yesterday to Ringwood and then following the Eastlink Trails and back following Dandenong Creek (so long since i've run there) to Heathmont and then Bayswater, a little before home lightning and thunder showed that the summery weather was well and truly over and ended up a little waterlogged by then and more importantly only giving me an hour (after a very quick hot shower) to drive to my chiro appointment.
This morning it was the 8K Victorian Road Runners Tan Trial, so did a pre race warm up lap and then the actual event in 33:56, again very comfortable and feeling good.
Couldn't resist a warm down lap with two of the original Spartans (including another visitor Bruce Hargreaves) and also an easy trot with the Nike Run For the Kids Training group, good way to get the legs ready for tomorrow.
So tomorrow it's my Third Frankston to Portsea, haven't run this since winning in 2004, but in those intervening years the class and numbers in the field has improved exponentially so no big predictions but reckon i've got a pretty good one in me.
Bit of a worry looking at the weather on the drive back, recently Coffs Harbour has been flooded and the northern NSW appears to have been indundated, so could be an interesting drive back home !!!.

My love/hate relationship with Trailwalker continues

2009-03-31T08:23:00.006+10:00

Limited internet access since TW (still in Melbourne for Sunday's Frankston to Portsea), so a brief report on the Team #65 Upstream Foundation Org Experience.
When i was called in as a replacement a few weeks back i knew the team was looking at around 10 Hours according to the Teamspace on the web but really had no idea whether this was realistic or not, certainly we had two well known Ultra Runners Mal Gamble and Sydney's Michael Lovric, but team organiser Rob Hall although a multiple trailwalker veteran was an unknown to me.
With a seemingly endless queue for check in just wondered whether we would even start close to time (i think race start was about 5 minutes late?).
A good sign for me was the fact i'd had a very nervy sleep the night before (definitely better than having nightmares about Richmonds performance), waking frequently, better for me to go into a race thinking about it (albeit negatively) than going in unfocussed.
Early on i was running with the eventual winners as we talked football, but realising i was getting a little too far in front dropped back and rejoined my team. Lot's of kangaroos about as we were in the lead 3 groups and they hadn't been disturbed as yet by the herds of teams to follow.
All running comfortably at the first checkpoint, although the feast at each checkpoint that i'd recalled in my other 4TW's didn't look like it was going to eventuate as it appeared we were getting in too early, so just a couple of cups of sports drink for me.
Next section again pretty cruisy, personally i was content as i was sure that if i was to have stomach problems (my biggest worry after Six Foot Track) they'd occur early on in the race. By now we'd settled at a certain pace and could see no one either ahead or behind us, 3rd place was ours alone. Mal was pretty much setting our pace and whilst i would have liked a little more speed, it was one i could live with.
Next Checkpoint i had a Gu Gel and some more sportsdrink and also got our crew to give me my handheld (or as Rob speaking to the crew on walkie talkie said "Kelvin want's his hand held" - maybe that just sounded funny at the time :roll: ).
More easy running and i'll admit i was a little worried about "The Leyland Brothers" (ie Mike and Mal), as me and Rob continued very steadily and easily and they seemed to be getting further behind.
Got a little confused at Checkpoint 4, a little misunderstanding meant that i went and had a Gu and filled my bottle whilst the team continued but ultimately this cost at worst 2 minutes so no big drama.
Next was a part i knew very well, through to Olinda, certainly Hacketts Rd hadn't grown any less steep but all the familiarity made it feel like a casual stroll. My ultra lightweight Nike Free 4.0's complete with holes did let me down here with a stick coming in the hole meaning i had to pull up and take the shoe off, otherwise all good but a little worried about how some members were going.
We made it to Olinda Oval and i admit i was disappointed i didn't see one of the lead teams come back out towards us, found out we were a good half hour behind. Another Gu and filled my bottle up again with the Powerade / Endura Mix (Rob's secret weapon).
Good running down some hills but Rob and i did keep on having to look back, the others were far from struggling but just weren't going quite the pace i'd have picked.
Silvan Dam and we found we were 37 minutes behind the leaders, i had a meat pie thinking that i may as well have some real food to get me through the last half (asked for a coffee flavoured Gu but was invited to have a coffee and a cup of GU2O not quite the same !!).
Back out and i realised that with 5.5 Hours gone, even with the dead flat Rail Trail 10 Hours wasn't going to be an option. All team members appeared to be in reasonable shape but i was beginning to feel a sore back as i was running just under optimal slow speed.
Finally we hit the rail trail (i kept my mind off the speed by taking mental note of the electrical equipment etc dumped on the side of the road), now we could put the foot down.
Not quite as planned, Rob and i were still going cruisily and Mal appeared to be back but Michael was having nausea problems, ultimately it meant i walked alot as i simply couldn't run as slow as necessary. We got the news that Bryan had dropped out from Team Muttley, so we were now officially in Second Place, sort of nice but i knew it was a case of the Midday Milers needing to blow up badly for us to improve, would much have preferred fate to be in our hands.
Another Gu washed down by Coke at the next checkpoint and finally removed my gloves and Moeben sleeves, and then an easy, albeit slow, run and walk along the trail to Checkpoint 7. Had a chat with Bryan there about his problems (remembering well his problems there in 2007 where our team had spent an interminable amount of time), and took it fairly easy leaving as Michael was in worse shape than before with nausea.
Lot's of walking sums it up, a vomit did help Michael and off the paddock section of the trail we started running again.
Our crew had bought some chips and a half a dozen chips and half a stubbie of VB was a treat awaiting me when we hit the pub on the Highway, if i was feeling a little frustrated before now i was a little more mellow. Cruised nicely into the last checkpoint at least i wasn't going to have to worry about finding my headlamp.
After some coke at the checkpoint and some more chips i was positively jumping out of my skin to get the thing finished again, we knew by now a win wasn't an option but still we would get under 12 hours.
A fair bit of walking and then at last to the Little Joe track, at last we could all easily move at the same pace to the top. Once atop me and Rob headed off and ran easily knowing we'd have a walk stage a little on, i was full of beans but really no point as we needed to finish together.
With the race finish in view, i had our crew give my our race T Shirt so we'd all come in looking the same and then regrouping just outside the oval we ran in together in 11:44.
As fast as we could go under the circumstances and i admit was still very fresh but doubt i could have gone fast enough to have beaten the 10:33 of the Midday Milers. Overall a good team performance, but again frustratingly close now the third time from 5 Trailwalkers that i've finished on the podium but not won.
Kelvin

Just one of those days

2009-03-20T11:33:00.003+10:00

I'd been looking forward to the Six Foot Track Marathon for weeks now, having been in really good form prior to Caboolture i'd struggled a bit with the layoff, simple fact is i'm much better at racing week after week than just doing long training runs.
I suppose firstly there's the fact that when i head out on a training run, i tend to get carried away and pretty much say to myself just one more hill or just till the next corner etc, but whatever it is i often end up biting off a little bit more than i meant to (i'm sure some would also question the fact that i don't drink or eat on these runs, as i'd much prefer to focus on pushing myself hard and don't want to ease that pressure by wandering around looking for taps and the like and as for food as far as i'm concerned all i need is a front door key when i'm out, money would only give me a soft option !), so in short i flog myself way worse than when actually racing.
Leaving the coast early afternoon meant i got within 200K's of Sydney by bedtime, so curled up in the car and had a very deep sleep at the old Leyland Brothers World servo, it's quite amazing the deeper sleep you get in cooler conditions, i'm quite convinced i'm never as refreshed after a sleep in the humidity back home.
Slept in a little so decided best option to get to Katoomba was to cut across and avoid Pennant Hills Rd, ending up going via Berowra Waters (and the ferry which just like when running there i was just in time to miss) and hitting the Great Western Hwy at Springwood. By 11, i'd made it to Katoomba and similar weather too home, wet and grey but without the heat, first time i'd ever been to the Carrington (way back in 1992 when i first did this race it was a ramshackle building looking to be prepared for demolition). Picked up my race number and discovered that i'd actually not bought a ticket for the bus to the start, just thankful i was able to remedy that, really wasn't anxious for a 12 Foot Track.
With bad weather looking a real possibility decided the old faithful Nike Free 4.0's would be struggling to last out the 45K's so it looked like i'd be using the 7.0's in which case new shoelaces would be a good option (as the one's in them always undid whether double or triple tied - frustrating), so bought a flash new fluoro green triathlon pair wondering just whether they were the go.
After catching up with a few mates at the Expo and also a little shopping headed off to Jenolan Caves and by 2 was settled in, nice lazy afternoon as the rain also settled in.
Awoke at 4:30 for the 5:30 bus, great nights sleep (not a good sign usually i'm awake hourly pre race - i shouldn't be that relaxed !). Deciding it would be cool, broke with tradition and put on my Lululemon Bike top (if i can wear it across France twice, Germany, Death Valley and numerous other places couldn't see me being uncomfortable spending less than 5 hours in it), and took my Moeben sleeves with the thought they may be needed.
The usual mixing bowl of Vita Brits and banana and fruit salad and being still a bit flat from the previous weeks also mixed my Ultra Muscleze Magnesium stuff in with my juice although not often having that sort of thing race morning, could only do good (so i thought !).
5:30 we were off and by 6:50 were at the start line, strangely uncrowded (no portaloo queues), obviously things were happening slowly at the Skyway buses.
Caught up with heaps of people and laso saw many strange sites, numerous blokes wearing pink running skirts in aid of breast cancer (some notable names including my "twin" Paul Every and previous race winner Paul Arthur as well as numerous others).
Finally decided the Moeben sleeves wouldn't be needed, it actually appeared to be perfect running conditions, a little cool, but clear and looking like being a marvellous day.
At 8:01 we were off, was happy with my position in the field when hitting the Nellies Glen steps, and was comfortably behind one of the Canberra "Gramps Army" contingent making a good pace. Down to the valley in nice time, and i felt very comfortable and now ready to put in some solid running.
First drink station and was disappointed to see only water (no sports drink or coke), so whilst not overly happy with that decided it was best to have a cup.
Around a K on i was still having that water, personally i thought it was a little cold and as sometimes happens when that's the case, it just seemed to sit on my stomach, definitely not good.
For the rest of the run to Cox's River ran reasonably but was holding back a little (and sometimes dropping off packs) as the stomach was an issue. Made it to the river in 1:20, probably 5 minutes slower than i'd have liked but was thinking i had plenty left if only i could sort the gut.
With more uphill now i realised this was causing me more and more grief, couldn't even walk up the hills with my usual speed and was passed by numerous runners heading up Mini Mini Saddle, things weren't looking good. Bit of downhill but even then i had to back off as i wasn't feeling comfortable and then struggled as i went for the last steep bit up the Pluviometer.
Last year the Black Range had been bit of a Death March as i hadn't handled the cold, this year much better weather conditions but it still didn't look promising.
By now my stomach was churning badly, i'd been having coke at most of the drink stops hoping to fix it up all with one big burp but all i'd managed to do was pile more stuff on the gut and i was simply getting fuller and fuller.
Decided now the idea was to get rid of all that stuff via the other end. Wandered off into the bush and had a toilet break, relief of sorts maybe now i'd be right.
Within a few minutes my gut was back to feeling as bad as previously not a good sign, and with this all my muscles around there were feeling pressure resulting in some pretty horrific cramping. More and more people passing me, talk about frustrating many recognising me and saying gidday and then passing easily if nothing else my ego was taking a hell of a battering.
The ups and downs of the Deviation were knocking me about badly and by then all i could think of was another toilet break, but upon reaching the checkpoint discovered the real toilet had a fence between me and it, and climbing over wasn't an option considering the cramping hell.
Again wandered off the track and again momentarily better, but on hitting the road crossing was back to gut plagued. Really no option but to just keep on moving as best able and simply getting to that damned finish line.
A few ups and downs but maybe a little better, at least i knew i'd get to the finish line, certainly wasn't bothering with eating as all it did was fill my stomach further, so a cup of Hi5 was my aid station drop each time.
Finally made it to the last stop along the road, now only heading inland past the cabins and to the finish line. Normally i'd be disappointed if i couldn't pass 10 runners from this point, today they'd have to have been nailed to the spot for me to pass. Was at least keeping pace with the runners around me, but if there were any lip readers around they'd have been disgusted as i said the "F" word to myself frequently just to ease the pain. Was pleasantly surprised to find the steepest downhill was less leaf littered and easier to run than usual but i wasn't exactly making the most of it.
Finally hit the stairs and in one of my most degrading racing moments, moved aside to be passed by a runner half way down the stairs, simply couldn't fire up, certainly that passion was burning deep inside but my body wasn't capable of responding this time. Finally it was all over a 20 minute Personal Worst 5:11:31, 18 years after the previous worst time, very forgettable day indeed on a day that should have been memorable as i'd later get my 18 race jacket.
Having had a few days to think about it all post race before i wrote this, believe me this is almost a happy smiley version compared to what an immediate post race copy would have been, still not sure what went wrong, maybe too much magnesium, maybe the water at the first aid station was crook (some say chlorine was in it as a disinfectant), but whatever it was life goes on, and i live to race another day.
Just got to put it down as a shocker and as sometimes happens, a shocker often produces that boot up the bum that's needed to bring out the best in upcoming races.

Time for a race: Half Marathon March 1

2009-03-06T16:39:00.003+10:00

I'd been putting of doing this post as i was waiting for official results and possibly a picture so i could be a bit less vague, but with none forecoming i'll just have to ramble on with my thoughts.
With no races since Caboolture i freely admit i was hanging out for a race, any sort of race as long as it was at least a half marathon.
Me without races sometimes is a bit reminiscent of the quote
“All I want to do is drink beer and train like an animal.”
from the New Zealand running great Rod Dixon
http://www.olympic.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?Print=&ContactID=1102&id=3774
tend to push myself well over fatigue point when i go on a training run when there isn't a goal that next weekend, would some it up and as for the drinking beer best said i always do find beer (and wine) a great recovery tool !.
Having noted that there was a Half Marathon in Brisbane on the Sunday (at the ungodly hour of 6AM meaning i'd be up and having breakfast at 4 with the 100K drive to follow from the Coast), decided that was my best option.
Only one Half Marathon last year (Warwick in May) and before that my previous two were in April 2006, so admit that nowadays they aren't really my thing (not sure of exact figures but have listed 58 since 1992, quite possibly another 70 odd in the years before - once upon a time they were my "thing"), so it really was a case of going in with no specific training and hoping the legs would remember just what was needed.
Went for a run on Saturday morning, but was feeling so fresh at what i considered to be my standard turnaround point that i decided to go on a bit, the hills of Bilambil Heights did eventually knock the stuffing out of me and what was originally an easy 2 hours turned into more like a tortorous 4 hours, not exactly a brilliant way to freshen up for a half the next day !.
With the petrol gauge light coming on at Beenleigh, spent the rest of the trip looking worried at it, and it was only once i got of the M1 at Stanley St that it dawned i didnt actually know where the Brisbane Road Runners Club venue was, a little worry. Thankfully after a few wrong detours i saw runners parking cars and so did the same.
Running a little late was relieved to find a queue of people still entering so had time to take a breath and relax a little.
Thankfully only hand written numbers, so i could race as i train, topless, lots of familiar faces but a course that i knew from the Brisbane Marathon as being somewhat mind numbing !!.
First up was 550 metres out and back and then we would do 5K loops, however i was a little worried when the 550 metres went on and on, surely i wasn't running that slowly. Went under the clock for the first short lap in 8 minutes+ (bit unsure of exact time), evidently something wasn't correct and was a little peeved, this wasn't going to be a good one, sometimes you can just tell.
Was chatting with Adrian for a while and he was saying we'd gone 1K out rather than the distance meant, was almost relieved thinking it might mean a 22K race instead of a dud half marathon time. Let him and then Keith go as i was still struggling to get the rhythmn needed, i was hoping distance was on my side. Was surprised to see him coming back towards me, sure enough with the wrong distance for the short lap, they had remeasured for our second lap so that the last 3 would all be 5K's, suppose all i could do was keep on going and maybe sometime i'd get that something that hadn't appeared so far.
Another lap and pretty much i'd revised my goal to just making sure i wasn't lapped by the winner, a course that to some degree should provide enough variety (turns, little climbs, etc) but one that just doesnt seem to suit me, still struggling and definitely p*ssed off as i realised sub 90 was going to require speed that my legs didn't appear to have on the day.
One lap to go, and at least the winner was within a lap of me, didn't look back to see him come in but i'm sure he wasn't far behind, i then had another Gold Coaster come up beside me (names aren't my strongpoint as i type this his escapes me !) and then pass me, finally i was a little fired up and made sure i was back in front the next turn. However i then heard footsteps and a strange noise, damn it was Aussie 24 Hour Rep John Pearson complete with running stroller and his son Jack, i do recall having been beaten by a bloke with a dog before but now one with a kid !!, definitely one of those days.
Was glad to at least get in before the clock ticked up to 93 Minutes, 92:3? i think, not a great time and it means i'll have to front up at Warwick again for a faster half. Still next week it Six Foot Track, finally i can get back to doing Ultras, been training hard this week and i'll even try to taper a little next week.
AC/DC tribute band tonight ought to give me some non running exercise

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2009-02-20T22:43:00.001+10:00

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It all begins again

2009-02-18T17:43:00.002+10:00

Just a quick update, with no Maroondah Dam 50K race last weekend, and my racing schedule between now and Six Foot Track a work in progress (ie i can't find a race worth doing ), thought it was worth mentioning that i've been offered a start in this years Badwater.
Funny thing was i had it in my mind that offers came out Wednesday morning our time and it was only when a friend rang me (who obviously read the website more diligently than me) and asked whether i'd got in last night that i hopped onto my computer and logged and got the good news.
Only worry at the moment is the exchange rate, with a much higher entry fee this year ultimately just entering is 4 digits in Aussie Dollars, at least i'm more organised this time having just booked my accommodation at Furnace Creek and Lone Pine, guess i'd better get some training in now :-).

12 Hours at Caboolture, 3 Hours of running, 9 of painful walking

2009-02-11T17:28:00.005+10:00

Having had a couple of good runs during the week, reckoned that finally i could do a Caboolture Dusk to Dawn 12 Hour race that i could be content with.
It had been a relatively mild week and it appeared likely that at last we'd get a run without the normal huge humidity.
Listening to the cricket on the drive up it appeared for a change that the interstate runners would be heading up for cooler running conditions (sounding particularly like great Death Valley training conditions in Melbourne, however things that would occur down there the next couple of days were enough to take my mind off running for the time being).
Arrived with an hour to spare giving me time to check in and also catch up with some of the other runners as well as my lap score Di Schott (thanks Di, i did try to provide entertainment as i run around but the music on 4KQ didn't seem to quite do it for me !).
Certainly this was one time i'd be acclimatised and running topless and wearing the infamous Nike Free 4.0's i couldn't really be more comfortable, now it was just a case of getting my act together for 12 hours.
As well as the food and drink supplied i was more prepared than previous years bringing 2 600Ml bottles of Solo, 2 600Ml bottles of Fruit Cup Cordial, 2 600 Ml bottles of Lemon Lime Staminade, 2 Litre bottles of chocolate milk, 4 Hot Cross Buns, some lollies, 4 Strawberry Banana GU's,
2 Chocolate Muesli Bars, 2 Endura Bars and some Succeed Caps as well as an "emergency" stubbie of Carlton Cold, reckon i had everything i needed for every eventuality.
Started off nicely and felt very comfortable, rare for me in a lap race, was going a similar pace to John Pearson and Nic Moloney (both much more accomplished runners than me in this event) in the 12 Hours and Danny Hooley, Adrian Pearce, Tressa Lindenberg, Julie McCallium and Eleena Rosevear in the 6 Hours, so had plenty around me to keep me running consistently as well as knowing that Michael Lovric (with a surprisingly unhealthy start) and Roger Guard and Geoff Last as always dangerous competitors.
The first hour was my much preferred anti clockwise, but even the next was still churning them out nicely at around 12KPH, a couple of laps before the 3 Hour turnaround i was beginning to feel a twinge in my neck, definitely not a good sign but for the moment was hoping it would pass.
However after another half hour or so found the neck problem had moved further down my spine and i was beginning to have lower back problems, definitely a bad sign.
Can't say it was instant but one moment was travelling reasonably but a little stiff necked next moment my hips just felt out of whack, not good at all, was beginning to feel sciatic nerve related.
At this point i realised any lofty ambitions were to be abandoned and it was going only to be mental toughness, sheer bloodymindedness as well as a bit of ego going to keep me out there for the full 12 Hours, pulling out really wasn't an option.
The next few hours i did occassionally run, not because i was feeling better but simply that pride (and dare i say arrogance) needed to bring out the best in my racing just wouldn't let me get lapped repeatedly, sometimes i could even keep pace with the fast runners for a couple of laps but ultimately this felt like it was doing me more harm than good. A couple of other runners had offered me painkillers but personally don't like them and really if i did take them felt like i was conceding defeat to my body.
So basically the next 3 Hours consisted of walking, occasionally chatting, very occasionally running a fast K and trying to keep my mind of the pain listening to the music over the speakers adding only another half marathon onto the 35K's i'd done the first 3.
Just before 6 Hours was up i was talking to Tamyka, who conceded she hadn't done the mileage needed for this event so was pulling out at 6 Hours and she mentioned she could get me a massage after she finished, definitely an offer worth taking.
So about 6:15 in she introduced me to her friend Leslie (not sure of the female spelling of the name this is my best shot), and she worked on me for 15 minutes, lots of early pain but once eased back a little felt somewhat better but once she got working on my piriformis i had to simply start biting my hand, definitely no question what the problem was with me.
Back on the track and start churning out some useful laps, was running with Nic for a while and he offered me the remainder of his beer stubbie (as he found a whole one too much when running), that certainly perked me up and for the next hour between that and the massage i was back into a decent running zone. Maybe this last half wasn't going to be a disaster ???
Unfortunately my "miracle cure" worked for only an hour or so, around 7.5 Hours i was back to walking (pretty sure it was with a lean) and back to singing along to the radio when they had a decent song.
Whilst all this was going on John and Susannah were going at a great pace and lapping me uncountable times as well as most other runners and the walkers, for the most part Steel Beveridge (walking) was my only overtaking victim, it was going to be a long morning.
It's strange (and very typical me), sometimes the adrenaline rush from good music is a great painkiller whilst i couldn't claim i ran fast there would be points i'd hear a song i really liked i'd sing along whilst passing the lap counters and try as hard as possible to get back before it finished, i think this example pretty much sums up the speed i was moving at best: Heard "Honky Tonk Women" start around 50 Metres into a lap by the time i'd done the remaining lap just made it for the final line, so all 3 minutes and 2 seconds of that song to do 450 Metres and that was me at my fastest !.
Can't really say much about the hours until sunrise, i just kept moving, struggling more on the anticlockwise loops simply because my left ankle couldn't handle the pressure on tight turns (think i know exactly how Kingston Town used to feel when racing in Melbourne !).
Sunrise is usually the signal here for a new beginning but this time it just meant closer to the end and i plodded on, no faster no slower, just occassionally grimacing a little more when i'd get a spasm.
With around half an hour to go Martin (Lapscorer Di's Husband) turned up and walked with me, a bit of a chat took my mind of the pain to some degree and probably moved a little faster ultimately ending up with a new PW for this course: 96.1737 Kilometres, even worse than a similar back stricken run my first start in 2006 (98.5K's), just happy it was all over.
Lot's of great performances out there, PB's for John and Susannah, as predicted Roger came home very well as did Michael after nausea problems and Nic still managed his 100K with time to spare as well as other good performances by the rest of the field.
A big thanks as usual to Geoffrey & Betty Williams for organising and to all that make this event so special, guess i'd better make it back next year to get my revenge on the course.
As an update, went to the chiropractor yesterday and (with a massage beforehand -still very sore - really wish i didn't swear when masseuses just touch a little too hard must be off putting to people waiting !!) after a fair bit of manipulation noticeably better though i'm going back on Monday, there's still life in this broken down Ultra runner.

Mount Glorious 32KM Trail Run 1/2/2009

2009-02-06T13:27:00.002+10:00

Last year was the first ever Mt Glorious trail run and i remember at the time i got such a shock that such a "unbrisbane" like part of Brisbane could exist within 30K's of the capital city. Wet, foggy and even a little cold in February, really strange but very welcome climatic conditions more like something i'd expect in the Blue Mountains or the Dandenongs.
Had left my entry late this year, as with a field limit of 75 up from last years 40 that National Parks had imposed i was confident i'd get a late start but also wary about backing up from Mt Buller knowing i had two hard races in the weeks to follow (and no Phuket Blues Festival this year to recover at !).
After seeing the chiropractor on Wednesday first thing i did was put my entry in, and knowing it was a good 2 hour early morning drive decided i'd also camp at Camp Constable again with some of the other runners.
Leaving the coast on Saturday afternoon, the weather there was a welcome relief and was glad to get my stuff out the car before dark and get dinner cooking once i'd worked out how the operate the camp stove, knew that others were about but evidently there was still some trail marking being done.
Race organiser Greg and Julie as well as Townsville runners John & Lia, turned up as my spaghetti was boiling along so ultimately we had a good feed once Greg had got out the store room keys to provide tables and chairs. With only a few campers this year even had a whole fixed tent to myself, although the Huntsman Spider on the sidewall may have disagreed.
This year i was definitely setting my alarm although with a 7AM start (half an hour later than last year) i was confident i'd be there in plenty of time.
When i arrived, in plenty of time, we found another National Parks proviso we had to start in groups of 4, spaced 2 minutes apart (so we didn't disturb the tourists - obviously tourists around here are actually invisible !!), was thankful we only had 40 odd starters again, 75 and we'd have been waiting a long time, only wish we'd had this problem last year.
Eventually started off with the last group, a little outclassed as our small group had Don Wallace, one of the true trail greats and this is his backyard and one of his training partners, as well as Deb Mitchell who's beaten me easily the last two Glasshouse starts.
Not my ideal way to start a race with a steep uphill run after the first few 100 metres on road and dropped back to last knowing there was plenty of time to really run later. Up and up and up, sums up the beginning, very steep and at times slippery, was relieved to get up and find some downhill (and also to hear the calls of a lost runner, at least we managed to point out the correct trail for her).
Very steamy morning and was glad to get to the first drink stop as was sweating heavily but really not warmed up. Many of the runners use this training for the Kokoda Challenge Team event in July and are not quite as quick as the runners doing it day in day out so i was finding i was passing plenty of people but doubt i was going that well to be honest.
Some skinny, overgrown tracks and finally some wider stuff but nevertheless still uphill and this was to go on for many K's, ended up chasing down a couple of runners with a run/walk strategy as i knew i wanted to save myself for a good last half mainly downhill.
With a couple of K's to go saw my first lot of runners coming towards me with Don in front and about 8 others.
Turnaround point gave me time for some coke and endura and even a rice bubble type slice and i took off refreshed and looking forward to the return journey.
Passed Adrian Pearce and found he was having a few problems (normally a bulletproof Ultra runner as well as triple Beer Mile Champion) and he informed me the next runners were still a fair way ahead, that unfortunately i could guess i was moving fast but i assumed they would be as well.
From then on it was downhill and running hard but no sign of any others, last drink station and then up, up seemed forever ultimately there are 4 climbs before the steep downhill to the finish i'll try to remember this next time !!.
Took a while to get a rhythmn on the steep downhill but by the end it was becoming second nature and finished full of running in 3:31:12, much faster than last year although still 30 minutes behind Don.
Was surprised to find Deb not in, but she'd missed one turn and like last year there were are few people with navigational problems.
Still pretty happy with my performance and i reckon that's got me nicely in shape for Maroondah Dam but first i've got the 12 Hours at Caboolture to knock off.

Hares & Hounds 53K Glasshouse Mountains 11/1/2009

2009-02-05T15:48:00.002+10:00

With "that" 3:30AM start i admit i was in a quandary as to when i'd get there or whether i'd have a sleep at home this year, ultimately a warm afternoon at the Tri Nations Beach Cricket solved that problem pretty well as by the time i'd walked back home i was quite ready for a nap (at 6PM ). However after 3 and a half hours of tossing and turning decided i may as well have "Dinnfast" (a combination of dinner and breakfast), and then hit the road. Got there at around 12:30 and had a good sleep in the car waking at 3, perfect timing. Gave me a chance to fill in the appropriate paperwork as well as catch up with a few other runners.
Personally i do find running in the dark hard when i haven't had some running in fading light first and when i decided to just run with the handheld bottle that meant i was committed to wearing the headlamp (no way was i going to run with torch in one hand, handheld in the other i would have been a certainty to do a faceplant somewhere early !).
A few words and we were off, very pleasant conditions (not the humidity of last year) and certainly made it to the first manned aid station earlier than last year (not early enough to hand in my headlight). Found i was running in a group with Tafftrail and Prewannabee and at one point in a group of six (unheard of in Glasshouse Ultras !).
We were making pretty good time but i wasn't really convinced that i was going to be able to hold that pace till the end. When we got into Beerburrum was surprised when me and PWB left and found Tafftrail not picking us up and we ran again very comfortably and relatively fast.
We'd seen a few Hounds running towards us when heading towards the next aid station but from what i could work out we looked comfortably placed to beat them all in.
Endura and Coke seemed to have a positive effect on me (i wish that was always the case ) and i got away from PWB, was just hoping i could see some other runners to chase. Steep downhill and i was passed by Roger Guard but caught up with him on the flat and we got into the aid station together. Roger made one fatal error there, he mentioned that he needed salt, so i assumed he was beginning to cramp seeing suffering in a fellow runner always spurs me on and i took off hard, had a good drink of coke at the last aid station (5? K's to go) and was still looking for people to chase.
Unfortunately that wasn't to be, i did pick up a couple of 10K runners but no sight of that leading group of three (results show why i was at least 20 minutes behind third), but was feeling full of energy and ultimately very happy with my 4:53 (an improvement of 40 minutes on last years injured performance). Great runs by the first three, some very talented runners.
Not sure which is my preferred place to finish a summer Ultra a pool or a pub but Woodford Pool was close enough to heaven for me this time and a good beginning to the year.

An update of where i'm at

2009-02-02T15:04:00.004+10:00

Have to admit my aim had been to retire this blog once i'd finally done the Badwater Report, i'd had a lovely blogfree 4 weeks over Christmas and i guess in the back of my mind was the thought that any opposing runners out there who read it would be sucked into thinking i'd been taking it easy and not doing any training.
Definitely far from the truth, apart from the usual training, i'd done a number of Fatass Runs, firstly "Fat's Festive Fatass"
http://www.coolrunning.com.au/fatass/hq/index.php?title=Fats_Festive_Fat_Ass_QLD
a 46K run around Mt Nebo, followed up by a drive down to Sydney on New Years Eve for the Beyond the Black Stump Run
http://www.coolrunning.com.au/fatass/hq/index.php?title=Beyond_The_Black_Stump
Whilst down in Sydney also did a 10K race around "The Bay" as well as joining in with Billies Bushies to do one of their regular Saturday Morning runs in the magnificent Royal National Park, probably the hardest 100 minutes of running i've ever down with soft mud being like quick sand topped off by then getting the energy back in the legs enough to swim to the finish of the run.
Managed to find myself doing a Six Foot Track training run before i left the state as well with a run with over the 27K's of the Woodford to Glenbrook Course.
So heaps of running (and a reasonable amount of drinking - didn't want to get too fit those 4 days in Sydney after all there's a long year ahead racewise :-) ), as well as good times spent with various running mates there.
Still having finally done the Badwater report, was tossing up whether to retire the blog but whilst i wouldn't claim to be superstitious the fact is i wasn't anxious to create an Aussierunner 3 (or similar title) for my next overseas races as i couldn't recall any movie that sequel 3 was as good as the first 2 and in that case it may mean failure to finish (actually as movies go i did enjoy The Godfather 3 but even i'll admit it wasn't in the same league as the first two).
So here we are a month into 2009, lots of training and 2 races (Hares and Hounds report just done - i know i'm out of sequence), probably fitter this early in the year than i've been for years, partly caused by the weather up here with the sort of heat and humidity we've had recently going out and running 2 to 3 Hours has to work up a helluva sweat.
With minimal work hours over most of Christmas i've even had the chance to relax and rest and courtesy of the Gold Coast Library DVD Collection work my way through my favourite ever TV series (and the Mafia drama that leaves one of my recent favourites "The Sopranos" for dead) "La Piovra" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086779/
("The Octopus") a truly great sprawling saga, off hand an Italian/French/Bulgarian/German CoProduction and quite possibly the only show i'd ever gladly sit through hours and hours of subtitles.
Been great to watch it all the way from the beginning, back in the 80's when it started on Australian TV on SBS it was regularly on late, can't often recall it finishing before midnight (and usually on a Tuesday night strangely the same problem i had in recent times with The Sopranos), so whilst i'm pretty sure i saw it all often was a struggle against sleep as well, certainly being able to watch it at times of my own choosing has given me a greater appreciation of the series first hero Corrado Cattani as well as my favourite on screen villian Tano Cariddi (technically not Mafiosa but in reality a banker - sounds rather like real life :-) ), having worked my way through to series 4 i know i've still got some of my favourite parts ahead of me (and with another all time favourite character Silvia Conti involved only in it from series 4 onwards - essentially a female version of real life Sicilian Mafia Fighter Giovanni Falcone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Falcone - but much easier on the eyes!), now it's a case of the library system catching up with dvds being available.
Whilst i do the odd concert review (or have done) on this blog i don't think i'll come at doing DVD reviews however anyone wanting some great viewing, up to and including series 6 would have to be the best TV i've ever seen, unfortunately towards the end of series 6, life began to imitate art too much (with the real life killing of Falcone) and whilst 7 was still a great story a series without Tano could not be the same. Prequels were to follow in series 8 & 9 (and only telemovies rather than episodic series) and whilst they gave a great background (and 8. was essential to work out just what made Tano tick and why he was more dangerous than the Cosa Nostra), i think all true fans were waiting for an ultimate showdown which finally came to be in Series 10 (again a telemovie although redeemed by the fact Tano reappears in the last 10 minutes at the time giving hope that ultimately we'd get a full resolution as really the only neat way to finish the saga was to have only of the great survivors left, whether it be Silvia or Tano, unfortunately 7 years on i know that will never happen so just have to enjoy the masterpiece that was created between 1984 and 2001. Interestingly have only recently seen the actor playing Tano, Remo Girome, in one role since again as a villian though far less sinister in a recent episode of SBS's Inspector Rex funnily enough a series that had Rauol Bova in the main role - not the dog !- for a couple of seasons before he went and played a cop in Octopus 7 and then strangely played a different cop in the two prequels 8 & 9, possibly showing a lack of depth of Italian actors ???. As for the actor playing Cattani, Michele Placido, almost felt he was typecast as the only other movie i've ever seen him was a telemovie with him as Giovanni Falcone, as for Silvia, Patricia Millardet, have only seen her in, more as eye candy rather than acting ability, in a very forgettable take on what was a much better Wilbur Smith Novel "Wild Justice").

Anyway now i've filled in the gaps of the 6 weeks, simply this blog will become more a repositry of race reports !!, rather than of training, now i'd better get my head around this weekends Caboolture 12 Hours.

Mansfield to Mt Buller 50K

2009-01-27T13:53:00.005+10:00

After a rather humid week on the Gold Coast (with only one 2.5 Hour training run) was quite glad to be heading south for Mansfield to Buller. Apparently Victoria had been in a grip of a heatwave (as usual for the Australian Open Tennis), but by Saturday Melbourne at least had cooled down, however i was to find that over the dividing range it was still well in the 30's.
Bit of a saga at the airport, i'd been upgraded to a Toyota Prius but with non key operation i'd first tried to start it and then got the person from Budget to try and still unable to, gave up and was instead given a Toyota Aurion. Once i'd worked out how to operate a car without a handbrake !!!, had a good drive to Mansfield and then on to my accommodation at Merrijig. Relaxing afternoon (it's not as though Merrijig has shops !) with a dip in the pool being about as touristy as i got.
Unfortunately the pasta on the restaurant menu (where i was staying) had Carbonara (ie white) sauce, but whilst it wasn't my usual favoured Bolognaise doubted it would be an issue.
Set the alarm for 4:30 as i didn't want last years saga where i managed to almost miss the start, and being 15 minutes drive from the start couldn't take chances.
Good nights sleep, but was worried to find it so cold, probably explains why i slept so well as i was used to restless nights in heat recently.
Made it to the start with a few minutes to spare and was tossing up whether to keep the gloves on or not, but eventually convinced myself i'd never worn gloves there before (may have something to do with 13 of my previous 14 starts being at 7 !).
Without previous race winner Tim Cochrane there, i saw no obvious race leader so with hands numb with cold i grudgingly took off to set the pace. 5K's and i was running well but hands were frozen and i could feel i was wasting my energy trying to maintain my body temperature being that the running was taking way more out of me than it should have. Thankfully between 5 & 10K's i was beginning to hear footsteps and whilst refusing to look behind me i was very happy to ease back a little and swap the lead with Lachlan Lewis at the next aid station.

I was confident i had Lachlan's measure as he'd done Bogong to Hotham two weeks back and having done this double 11 times knew just how hard it is to back up here.
Peter Gray had set out at 4AM and he was the next runner i was to see, just before Merrijig, looked like he was in for a long day (and quite possibly out to erase Drew Kittle's 1992 slowest time record).
By the 15K mark i was finally getting feeling in my right hand, but was still struggling with the left and it wasn't until almost 20K's down that i finally had feeling in both. By this point the cool day had grown a little warmer as the sun had risen and i was beginning to get a good rhythm, but after having a lolly at the 20K aid station knew i'd wasted way more energy than was good as i still hadn't chewed through it by the next one 5K's away.

Lachlan was still a consistent distance in front and i was happily tracking him down as well as not hearing foot stops behind me. This continued until the 35K mark (although my mind was distracted somewhere around 30K's by the odour of dead wombat), by which time i realised Lachlan was beginning to weaken a little, i pushed along a little faster and by 37K's passed him and was relieved to not here him giving chase. Probably only a mile of good thoughts as i then heard new fresher footsteps, and was soon overtaken by Greg Love (like me another winner of this race in the 90's, whilst a little older definitely a faster Marathon runner than i).

Can't say i was surpised i knew Greg was well suited by this distance and he's a very tough, old runner so pretty much my only option was to let him run his own race and if he weakened i'd be along to pick up the pieces.
Had the one GU i was carrying and decided i was better off saving energy on the steep uphill turns by walking, in theory leaving me with something for a finishing kick. Was a consistent distance behind Greg and at the 44K Aid Station he was leaving as i arrived, had a feeling i might have him before the end.
However i got to the ski village (beautiful conditions by now, showing 20 degrees on the thermometer there) and couldn't see him. Found out later he'd gone by the slightly longer, but easier road whilst i'd used the steeper, shorter path and saw him going around the turn as i was half way up the village. Hit the Arlberg (Finish line) and had a couple of cups of coke as well as washing down a couple of Succeed Caps, knew this last leg was make or break.
Can't honestly say i was making up much ground, particularly walking the uphills but by the time we hit the grass ski slope reckoned i may get him on the down hill.
We were both on the stone path to the Cairn at the same time so definitely not much in it, but all i could do was what i could on the way there, it was downhill would make or break it.

High fives and words of encouragement as we passed each other (him on his way back, me on my way there) and once of the path pushed it harder down the ski slope, by my calculations i was gaining ground. Walked fast uphill and was within 5 yards or so with all downhill ahead, and was already planning to catch up and put thoughts of a dead heat in his mind as frankly had nothing left.
Unfortunately here the wheels fell off, tried to sprint downhill but hamstring and calf were way too tight and was having thoughts i being marooned there with snapped hammie and placegetters went by. I had no choice but to ease back and gingerly get back in one piece, by now i'd seen 3rd and 4th coming towards me and knew that bar fatal injury i was safe so sadly just did what i needed to to finish, ultimately finishing 43 seconds behind.

Ultimately my second fastest time there (with 11 BtoH MtB Doubles and a couple of injured runs over those years, not that surprising to be honest), and definitely not embarassing to have been beaten by Greg.

A good start to the year, now for the chiropractor, knowing my body that sort of muscle tightness is always back related !.

Badwater - The Saga

2009-01-08T16:48:00.015+10:00

For me the Badwater dream started only a few years back, I vaguely recall newscasts in the late 70’s about various races between Tony Rafferty and George Perdon across the Nullarbor and later across Death Valley, back then I’d never run a marathon and would only have been in my early teens but these things stuck in my head (as did a lot of other incredibly useless trivia just anybody ask me about a pacer called “Paleface Adios” or his much lesser known contempary “Tan Heel” or many varied weird and probably less than wonderous facts about numerous musical acts and you‘ll see what I mean). By the time I ran my first marathon a number of years later (Melbourne Marathon 12th October 1986) the last thing I ever thought was one day I’d be looking at emulating their feats, in fact I can recall saying never again for something like the next 10 months (until I put my entry in for the 1987 marathon).
After finally run a sub 3 Hour Marathon at my 10th attempt in late 1991, i'd pretty much realised i'd done all i wanted to achieve at that distance and it was time to take on longer challenges, ultimately in the years between then and now i'd run 202 Ultra Marathons although i never claimed that there was anything such as an easy ultra.
I'm getting ahead of myself now, certainly i'd seen footage at times (usually as a filler on the 6:30 news along the lines of “why the hell would you do this ?), of people racing across Death Valley, but it was not until i ran La Transe Gaule across France that i learnt there was actually a race that “normal people” could enter (a couple of other starters had done it and both i had beaten there).
On my return i virtually retired from running (for a whole 5 weeks), i'd achieved what i had set out to do by finishing the run across France and with painful shin splints was both physically and emotionally spent my only motivation being that whatever happened i'd still front up and continue my streak at the Melbourne Marathon, other than that i didn't really care.
However i still had one other Ultra that i'd pre entered the 2007 Western States 100 Miler in June 2007, possibly it would keep me going but frankly the cheaper option was to write off that entry fee and not head to the US, however after a shock sub 3 in the Melbourne Marathon i then rediscovered that zest for running (as my old blog went on about for a couple of months including a couple of wins). Come December 2006 and i'd found out all the details needed to enter the race as well as the fact that entry applications were only open for 3 weeks in January, definitely looked ideal Western States 100 Miler followed up by Badwater 3 weeks later, optimal use of the US trip.
Of course not everything goes to plan, January ended up being the break up in relationship between me and my employer of 23 years Dun & Bradstreet, hard to explain but i'm sure it was similar to a marriage breakdown and quite simply the last thing on my mind those 3 weeks was putting an entry in, me bitter, cynical and at times having incredible mood swings was definitely using running to keep my head above water (and away from booze) but planning a race 6 months away just wasn't in my capabilities at that time (as shown by the fact i finally booked my trip to Western States less than 2 weeks before the event). As this blog shows Western States the race was a complete disaster for me with a cold on arrival on US soil and ultimately dnf'ing for the second time in my career, but there were positives
having 3 weeks before my return home post race it gave me time to enjoy Californian hospitality and also find my way around the state and eventually make it to Death Valley. Whilst i can't claim a day driving and walking around Death Valley made me a local it did however make me realise i had an affinity with the place and simply enjoyed that sort of heat, i'd now discovered what would now be my goal in 2008.
Come January 2008 and as soon as i was able i had my entry application in and was absolutely rapt to be offered a start in February, finally it was going to happen.
That weekend i was in Melbourne doing a race and caught up with another Badwater Starter Brendan Mason so we'd planned sharing some rooms with our crews to save on accommodation costs and with me out the country for 2 weeks (bad timing unfortunately) he'd sort out booking this accommodation whilst i'd email prospective crew members from the BW email list. Whilst in Phuket i managed to get to crew members, both experienced multiple Badwater Crew, Ian Stevens and Steve Ochoa and also a possible 2 others but managing to lose my phone (and therefore internet access) was not able to confirm all this until my return home. Ultimately i picked up another two crew members including Steve Hanes, an experienced 100 Mile runner looking at a start in 2009 and another crew member who ultimately had a job change around Easter and was unable to crew. Come April i'd picked up another very enthusiastic crew member Matt Mundy and i could see things taking shape, now it was just a case of training and racing hard and getting over there in time to acclimatise.
All went to plan and by June 23 i was in Los Angeles and then off to Squaw Valley where i had planned to assist some of the Aussies in this years Western States, again bit of a glitch planwise as the race was called off with bushfires however it did mean i got 3 good days of running in up there as well as a bit of altitude training. Decided to drive home to LA via Death Valley and spent a couple of days there, and also spent much time time sorting out my accommodation both there and in Lone Pine and now Hong Kong Based Brendan was no longer a starter but with bookings in his name and numerous time differences was having a lot of hassles. Two days in Death Valley as well as a hike to the peak of Mount Whitney and decided a few days back in LA for the July 4 long weekend was the way to go, with the plan then to spend the last week back in DV as final acclimatisation.

Sun, surf, live music and beaches with long running paths was the ideal in between break, but with LA barely reaching 80 degrees knew that i'd be heading back to heat once the weekend was over. Still unsure what shoes to wear, i couldn't resist a $77 Pair of ASICS DS Trainers at Sports Chalet, but with still much shopping to do (courtesy of a list from Ian) decided that a couple of days in Las Vegas was the best option, as not only would it be stinking hot, i'd also have mobile phone reception so that i could still talk to my crew just in case there were any purchases we had neglected to think of.
Anybody having read this blog over the last year would know my thoughts on Las Vegas (iredeemably tacky !) but i'll admit massive Walmart stores were a godsend, although i'm not sure what the checkout chicks must have thought as i wheeled out trolley fulls of 50 Cent Quart bottles of Gatorade. Also finally found the ideal legionnaire cap at REI Henderson and mini Clif Bars ultimately essentials as it turned out.
Two nights in Vegas is probably two nights too many so set out happily on the Wednesday to the relative civilization of Furnace Creek. I'd initially planned to camp there until my crew arrived, but in the Visitor Centre was told that the temperature had not dropped below 110 Degrees at night for the last week, remembered just how unervating those sort of night time temperatures were when i was running across the Simpson Desert in 2002 and decided it was worthwhile booking a cabin for a few nights. First night ran the 5 miles to Zabriskie Point just in time for a glorious sunset, dip in a thermal spring heated pool (90 odd degrees) and a cabin, even with an airconditioner, still over 100 degrees.
Next day did Zabriskie Point in the heat and came back via Golden Gully was feeling very confident that the heat wasn't going to be an issue, by now there were a few other runners about and met a German Runner as well as the lone New Zealander (unfortunately on her crew car she had the metric conversion of 135 Miles up until then i hadn't given it a thought and frankly didn't want to know).

Next evening met my first crew member Matt, who'd driven in from Yosemite National Park, great being able to put names to faces, now i just had to hope i didn't scare him too much (after all you don't want your crew thinking you're a
raving nut). Get the feeling it was cooler outside the hut than in that night, but still it wasn't only me that would need to be acclimatised and we went for a run to Zabriskie Point the next morning, i was a little worried that as a non Ultra runner i might have pushed him a little too much but i guess sometimes hindsight is a good thing !!. Now to arrange the room swap, having to vacate my cabin and then move into the new, air conditioned motel rooms without having to stand around in the heat.
That afternoon, finally got to meet the rest of my team and the crew vehicle who had flown into Las Vegas and then driven in, quick hello's finally able to move into our spacious, new, air conditioned rooms.

Dinner that night we all got to know each other better and unfortunately realised that i was the one supposed to supply the magnetic race numbers for our vehicles, so it would be a trip back to Pahrump (the nearest town) for them the next day to get spray paint, had this strange feeling i was going to look like the amateur amongst the hardened pros come race time.

Can't remember much of Sunday, relaxing (or trying to) was my main goal, and it was a case of just waiting for the compulsory race briefing. Certainly everything that was needed to be said was said, but by then my mind had only one thought, i just wanted to be out there running everything else was now there (including the 3rd esky provided by race sponsors Coleman). Once this was over it was off for more ice and also to see how everything would pack into the vehicles. Also bought two hand held bottles, an interesting thought having never run with a handheld before, but assured by my crew they would be necessary.
With a 6AM start, was up early, at least i still had plenty of time for my cereal breakfast, although realising i still had one beer left in the fridge (and didn't want things that weren't going to be used during the race taking up room), decided that would do me for pre race liquid intake to wash down my Gatorade.
We were one of the first cars to actual Badwater (282 Feet below sea level) and it gave us time to look around and also to chat with some of the other runners, i'd finally found the other Aussies as well as honorary Aussie Phil, so a few happy snaps and then weigh in.

Still can't believe i weighed in at 155 Lbs, obviously my clothing was heavy ???.
With the sun not yet up, it meant i could run with just the legionnaires cap “scarf” held on by my headband on my head, Lululemon Bike Top, Nike Fitdry shorts, Aldi coolmax socks (all $2 worth !) and the new DS Trainers, eventually i'd need other stuff to keep the heat off me.
A little bit of a talk from race director Chris Kostman and we were off.

Taking it very easily but surprisingly was one of the leaders, my plan had been to run comfortably and within myself but with the lead at stake decided it was worth pushing a little harder, 1.9 miles in and having climbed 80 odd feet, it was time for a drink stop, knew this would be the first of many and to just take it steadily.

6.7 Miles in and the sun was rising, time for the first Succeed Cap of the day, moving along steadily just enjoying the experience still, particularly as we were heading towards Furnace Creek home of the last few days.

Time now to put the Legionnaires Cap and Sunglasses on as well.

I'd actually expected blistering heat, but the storms towards Lone Pine the nights before had meant steamy, muggy weather and i was sweating way more than in training in dry heat, this was worrying as the running shorts were sticking to me badly and i was beginning to chafe, definitely not good this early on (and my pre race Vaseline was showing no signs of helping), by the time i reached Furnace Creek it was time for food, a few Fig Newton Biscuits seemed the way to go as i'd only been on the road 3 hours or so and really wasn't that hungry. Half an hour on and the chafing was beginning to take it's toll on me, certainly i'd run in lots of heat before in these shorts but my sweat levels were something i'd struggle to replicate, so it was on with a fresh pair of Nike Fitdry shorts and as well as bit of a sit down and contemplation.

Back moving again and essentially every mile or so i'd have alternate Gatorade or water, and some simple food like chips or nuts as well as a spray over the head and legs. 23 Miles in and i was ready for a pacer, Matt got me moving along well and took me through the first Marathon for the day, i was feeling good but worried about the chafing and the humidity. 5 Miles on it was Steve O's turn to pace more than anything just having someone out there was comforting as at that point we were still to see other runners.
With vaseline not doing the trick, it was suggested Diaper Cream was the way to go by Steve H, so with inner thighs coated in thick white cream i set off again.
Was surpised to see a bloke come along from the Australian media somewhere at this point, whilst the running was relatively easy getting an interview out of me was a little like pulling teeth but it was good to have some Aussie support.
Nine and a half hours in finally made it to the next civilization Stovepipe Wells, we were now 42 Miles gone and finally back at sealevel, took time to have a break and best of all some fruit salad.
Steve H took over pacing duties here and again we may have had conversations but i think i was too focussed on just making sure i kept moving to recall whether anything deep and meaningful was said!!.
Soon after RD Chris came along and said that our race would have to be rerouted as the storms had washed out the roads between Lone Pine and Keeler, mentally this was a hell of a blow, it looked like we'd have a 131 Mile run but essentially even if i finished i'd be one of those finishers with an asterisk against my name, but on the other hand i also knew that i'd promised myself that last years WS100 was going to be my last ever DNF short of actually dying in a race so simply i was just going to have to live with it as all the runners were in the same boat.
By this point i'd been passed by a few other runners but really hadn't taken much notice (other than Shanna Armstrong's Disco Mobile !!), but finally a familiar face Dean Karnazes, we talked for a couple of miles and never one to show weakness probably ran a little faster to keep up with him, but ultimately sense prevailed and i dropped back a little, however did pass him again as he sat on the kerb and had some blisters attended to, a very short lived victory for me.
A couple of hours after having our route changed was greeted again by Chris with much happier news, Caltrans had fixed our road and sure enough we were back on the real course, that gave me an extra spring in the step.
At last the sun was setting and with Townes Pass obscuring it's setting finally the sting was out of the heat, time to take the cap and sunglasses off, don't really enjoy running in either as it makes me feel too much like i'm wearing blinkers so know i could go and finally run like at home a great feeling.
Just when things were looking up my body was beginning to betray me, with downhill from Townes Pass we had miles of beautiful running ahead of me and simply i couldn't. It was as though i had a rock in my shoe and just couldn't land on my foot as usual. Had a stop and took shoes and socks off and could see nothing and not even a blister, but i could feel it, did this mean i was going to have to walk the last half ???.
At this point without the extreme heat i was also beginning to drink less as i didn't feel like it, but more importantly because every time i drank i felt bloated, numerous stops every couple of miles as i tried to rid my body (from both ends) of excess but i was having no joy.
Often looked behind me at the incredible procession of car headlights as we wound our way through the night, trying to take my mind of how i felt . I'd reached the conclusion i'd get to Panamint Springs and see the doctor there and get my stomach problems sorted as well as changing shoes and socks to make sure i got rid of the none existent stone.
Whilst i couldn't see far to my side, i could hear the animal life that had sprung up in the temporary pools caused by the storms, frogs and other animals last thing you'd expect in these inhospitable climes.
Panamint Springs was one of those places that seemed to be “just around the corner” for an eternity, possibly the fact the roadhouse was the only thing to be seen for miles made it look closer but i was beginning to feel it was moving away from me, funny how the mind works when tired !!.
Finally Panamint Springs (19.5 Hours) and the closest i'd got to a dummy spit all day as i learnt the race doctor was at Stove Pipe Wells, so crook gut and all i promised myself a 30 minute lie down and then shoe change.
The room that had been booked by the organisers was a welcome sight, particularly with aircon going but with bodies sprawled everywhere and much (i'm guessing well deserved) snoring going on i knew sleeping wasn't an option. Found myself a comfortable bit of ground and just lay motionless and sockless for half an hour.
Changed into the New Balance 901's and another pair of Coolmax socks and after trying to sort my gut problems out in a real toilet, headed back out there with a cold “Ensure” drink. Having described my foot problem to my crew and a number of bystanders the conclusion was reached that it was my metatarsal, as luck would have it Matt has metatarsal problems and also had the piece of rubber that acts as a cushion so couldn't do me any more harm than to try that ultimately all this fiddling around had cost me a total of 80 minutes but by now time was not a great issue to me.
Thankfully after this it was uphill, meaning i could take the pressure of the front of my foot, but i was stuffed if i could run on it, though could walk fastish.
Glad to see daylight again, although it meant back to sunscreen and caps and sunglasses etc, at least chafing no longer seemed a problem (plain label Diaper Rash Cream %40 Zinc Oxide a true godsend), 28:35 for the first 100 Miles possibly not quite the speed i wanted but at least it meant only 35 Miles to go.

Looking behind and in front of me another storm cloud buildup, one worrying thought as roads around here are still very easily washed out, only once i made it to Lone Pine would i be sure of a Whitney Portal finish.
At least we were getting some entertainment now from fighter planes flying over from the nearby airforce base, you'd listen for the supersonic boom and then try to spot the plane, Steve H took over my pacing again and whilst previously having a pacer had spurred me on a bit now it was just a case of keeping pace.
Keeler seemed to have the same “Panamint Springs” problem to me, never seemed to get closer, more worryingly i had a fair idea where it was from Lone Pine and those storm clouds were playing mind games (especially watching rain over Mount Whitney).
Finally Lone Pine, it had taken 35:46 to make the last check point at the Dow Inn, at least it meant i could finally get what i had been wanting got hours a chocolate milk shake, even McDonalds here looked tempting !!!.

Turned into Whitney Portal Road and was suddenly emotionally spent, can't explain it, but i'd spent so much time in Lone Pine of late that mentally it felt like i was home and finished, i'm sure my crew were worried as i sat down and just seemed to have a nice quiet nervous breakdown. Would have spent the best part of half an hour in a state of limbo as i tried to get my head around the last stretch, but finally got myself motivated and headed off.
Having driven this road to Mt Whitney, a week or so previously knew exactly every turn and twist so was quite happy to walk steadily and also to speed up when another vehicle kept on our heels, no way known i was going to let anyone pass between me and the finish (even if with different start times ultimately they would beat me).
Had been walking with Steve O and he was happy to keep it up until the end so even got bit of a chat in. With walking up steep hills, decided i didn't mean to drink as often but after telling the crew to go on another mile at one point was disappointed to find more corners than i thought and much longer between stops than i was prepared for.
Nightfall and i had failed my promise to finish in daylight, to be honest i'd never looked at a watch and only occassionally been told the time, a twinge of disappointment but i knew it would be all over soon.
Half a mile to go and the rest of my crew join me and after miles of walking i decide to run, finally 40 Hours, 23 Minutes later it is all over.

After that things are a blur, tired and a bit emotional it really doesnt sink in till the next day, no going for a jog that morning, but on the other hand the joys of bacon and eggs at a diner.
Definitely an experience i'll never forget, but one i'm aiming to improve on in 2009 !!. Freely admit i'm not used to being crewed but this is one time where a crew is not only compulsory but the only way you'll ever finish, i'm just so lucky i ended up with such a great bunch of blokes, whilst i love to Steve H out there running against me this year, i'd like to think the others with still be willing to put up with me again.

Great way to finish the running year

2008-12-15T13:08:00.008+10:00

I think the last blog post sums up the last week or so, the fact that it was written only 7 or so hours before my next race pretty much shows i wasn't happy with my performance at Kepler and took a while to come up with a positivish spin on it.
Simple reason for that Kepler numberwise would be easily one of my biggest Ultras (Six Foot Track, Great Ocean Road Marathon and Western States being the only ones comparable) and whilst i've performed well at the first two over the years, Western States was the infamous DNF (and with harsh provisions for overseas entries now one i'm unlikely to ever avenge) i was looking for big numbers to bring out the best in me (despite having won many a low key, low number race over the years my fastest times have usually been in big events like the Melbourne, Gold Coast and Canberra Marathons where i can usually lift a notch simply because of the crowds and atmosphere) and was realistically looking at somewhere between 6 and 6.5Hrs with under 7 at worst. It was an unexpected bump in what had been a last 8 months year racewise (as for those first 3 months of the year i have only one word "Sciatic Nerve") and just from the point of view of ego 99th place was more like the sort of number i'd be looking for in a 1,000 person or more marathon (whether i'll make it back there for another shot is questionable).
To be honest Kurrawa to Duranbah 50K, had sneaked up on me somewhat, i'd been focussed on finishing the year with Coast to Kosi and it was only in the last month or so that i'd realised that if i was to do Kepler i'd be struggling to get back in time to do it in any sort of shape (to some degree i think of NZ as more of a domestic trip than international and just didn't realise how few flights came back to my airport).
I'd actually only entered the week before but knew at least i'd have a permanent number awaiting me (you get this for 10 starts, Geoff Williams and Geoff Last had got theirs last year, so it was a case of whether me or Peter McKenzie would be No 3 or 4).
Having picked up my number (3) the day before didn't bother leaving home till 4:15 (i could sleep in till 3:30 !!!) and looking at the number of cars about it was easy to see that the 180 runners (solo 50, solo 25 and relay) was true, amazing those sort of numbers and a good sign of a healthy event.
Much different conditions pre race to last week though, certainly no need for a top (number pinned onto my shorts) and my headband was definitely all that was needed on top, really nice looking day although we hadn't managed to get the slightly cooler conditions of Saturday morning (which were as close to as perfect as you could have got in summer for a 50K race), only thing to weigh me down was a baggie of 8 salt tablets definitely could be needed the last half.
Caught up with a few people and had a chat and was probably a little more relaxed than usual pre race (after all this is my backyard so the course held no fears).
Watched some of the rocket like relay runners disappear into the distance (and hoped that none were solo runners) and took off at steady pace, pretty much a procession runners until Nobbys Beach and our first drink station at 5K's. Up the steps (something i always avoid in training runs here) and then along the Burleigh Esplanade, already astir with early risers. By then i was running with a fellow who knew me (and i knew by sight but names aren't my strong point !!) and we ran consistently and chatted. By 10K's it was getting warmer so i had two cups of Endura, for the next few K's i was essentially in my backyard so ran relaxed and fluid (after all how many times had i run along Jefferson Lane ), was thankful for a cup of water at Currumbin as the sun was getting warmer, looked like as usual it would be a real steamy one.
Once we'd got to Tugun i'd felt nicely warmed up and decided it was time to do some chasing down, the bike lane of Golden Four Drive being ideal (although it meant i got more sun than footpath runners as the taller units offered shadows), down Gibson St and onto Pacific Parade always get's awkward as not only us runners were out but other joggers as well as cyclists so was never quite sure if i was chasing people in the event. Two more cups of Endura and finally spotted a familiar figure, Chris Dixon (doing the relay), spurred me on as i remembered how easily he'd passed me at a similar stage in the Melbourne Marathon. He took the pathway through the markets (possible at this point but not on the return as too busy) and i followed catching and passing as we went up the Rainbow Beach hill, feeling good by now.
Heard footsteps on the steep downhill to Duranbah and couldn't resist pushing that little bit harder but once i'd made the flat was happy to let the girl (in relay) pass and settle again for the run back (wasn't sure if i had 2 or 3 solo runners in front as at times i misjudged when to concentrate on race bibs).
Another couple of cups of Endura and washed down a couple of salt tablets and now for the chase, feeling strong but with the fear that i'd seen a solo runner a good couple of K's ahead.
No footsteps behind me and was determined to let as few people (relay and solo) passed as possible on the return, only downside i had yet to spot another runner (i was kidding myself i couldn't see them as i was on the bike lane and they were on the footpath as i headed towards Tugun but that was closer to being a psychological boost than the truth i think. By Currumbin was beginning to feel the heat a little, and was relieved to find the drink station (cup of water over head was more needed than the drink to be honest) and pushed on strongly, first footsteps were as i headed up from 15th Ave to the GCH, tried to go with a relay runner (and again headed onto the road, hard to explain but i race way better on roads than footpaths), but she was too fresh and i resolved to ease down and have a good rehydration at the next drink stop before flogging myself the last 10K's (no aid station at last years 42.5K beer stop so knew i'd have to time it right). Up the GCH Hill and then the Goodwin Tce loop, now it was a case of running hard and dodging crowded walkways was calculating whether i was better off heading off path and using Burleigh Esplanade but recalled being passed in 2002 there and had less than fond memories.
Walked up North Burleigh hill as it gave me time to get the salt tablets out and i was thinking that the only way i could catch solo runners was once we were off the beachfront and i could spot them so it'd be a death or glory last 3K's.
Thankfully the steps down were uncrowded (unusual for this time of day) and even better the last drink stop had Gatorade in cups, the Endura had done it's work but i needed something more refreshing on the palate (albeit lemon/lime) now for the last shot.
Finally spotted a runner (and doubted i'd be catching relay runners) on Albatross Ave and with a breeze (a headwind but nevertheless air movement so rare in this event over the years) had picked him up before reaching Hedges Ave.
By now i could see the buildings near the finiah line and one other runner, i always think of Hedges Ave at this point as the "Cauldron" as usually it's sun beating down and with a skinny street and houses (worth millions) on either side no air reminiscent of a descent into Hell. Headwind or not the breeze was making it almost pleasant, finally spotted a runner doing it hard (i was doing it hard and my left calf was cramping but definitely was not going to show that as i passed) as far as i could work out i was now second. Hit the park and then the long haul to the other end, over the finish line and i was told i'd done 3:57:07, rather disappointing my third slowest performance in 10 starts (although way faster than last years injured 4:32:43), but rather shocked to find i'd won.

Of course at heart i'm not only an Ultra Runner, but a Data Analyst (and shelf stacker !), but looking back at previous results this was definitely my third slowest run here (even allowing that the course prior to 2006 was only 48.4K's).
1998: Second (to new race organiser Peter Hall): 3:37:42
1999: Winner: 3:29:47
2000: Second: 3:38:12
2001: Winner: 3:31:21
2002: Third: 3:35:00
2003: Fourth: 3:59:34
2004: Third: 3:49:07
2006: Fourth (3rd Male): 3:51:43
2007: Eighth: 4:32:43
2008: Winner: 3:57:07

Still trying to work out a conclusion from these (other than i'm getting slower !!!) but still whilst an unexpected win probably one of my best actual race performances for the year, 3 wins for the year so ultimately 2008 hadn't been the writeoff that it had been looking to be back in March (i have reread some of my rather whinging blog posts as sciatic nerve and back problems drove me to distraction and drink at various points early on), reckon i can give the year a 7 out of 10 and have a little break before the new year comes upon us.
Certainly after a year with 3,185 Race Kilometres including 2 Marathons and
23 Ultras shows i've still got a decent career ahead of me, certainly at the moment pretty much uninjured and feeling good i'm looking positively towards 2009.

Kepler - the race

2008-12-10T11:12:00.006+10:00

A late Tuesday afternoon flight to Christchurch meant i could casually wander down to the airport and my next step would be onto overseas soil, not often you can do that !!. With a flight of just over 3 hours it was barely a longer trip than to Melbourne with the wind against us (a regular occurence), half empty plane and i was lucky to have 3 seats all to myself shame it was too early to lie down and have a nap !.
With time differences (+3 hours) arrived in Christchurch just before midnight but having to go through customs (and getting my muddy Free 4.0's washed as i'd be running in them) meant it was tomorrow before we (me and fellow Gold Coast Runners Peter Hall and his wife Leanne) picked up the hire car and headed off to the hotel in downtown Christchurch (easy to get to except the Rememberance Arch and pedestrian mall meant a few extra turns than expected (some of my better navigating).
The plan being to meet up at 8 and then drive down to Te Anau, by the time i'd eaten dinner (a couple of sandwiches i'd made at home and really didn't feel like on the plane) it was well after 1 and more tired than i thought i woke at 7:55 !!, so pretty much out of bed, repack and down to the car (so much for thoughts of a run in the city !).
Having successfully navigated out the city it was then the long drive south, mutton pie and cappucino (note to self never again say yes to chocolate on NZ Cappucino felt like i had to eat a block of chocolate before i made it to the actual coffee !) and then stocked up on groceries at a town along the way. Lovely scenery, alot of it reminding me of the Princes Hwy on the way down to Portland, as expected lot's of sheep and many green fields (have never seen so much irrigation though this seemed strange as it was looking quiet wet !!) strangely also saw some signs warning of wallabies (never saw any though).
By 4 we'd made it to Te Anau i was staying in a cabin a couple of K's out of town with a glorious view out my back window (3rd picture down) of the lake and the surrounding mountains. With a bit of rain in the air and a chill in the breeze
have to admit i was feeling the sort of cold i hadn't experienced since moving north, was only thankful i had a couple of days to acclimatize.
Certainly got colder once night fell (10 PM !) and was actually woken by the cold at around 6AM (this sleeping bag had been used by me in below zero mornings in German sports halls, surely it wasn't that cold !) so seeing rain it was on with the skins and a jumper and back to bed !!.
Had a better look around the town on the Thursday and, if not for the weather, an idyllic place bumping into Peter and Leanne at the info centre and joining them for lunch and organised a bit of a training run on the course the following day.
Later got in an hours running, certainly warm clothing was going to be an essential part of this event.
Friday morning we did the last 10K's of the course from Rainbow Reach, perfect track for running on, wide and soft underfoot, the Free's were definitely going to be my shoe of choice (they'd taken two days to dry after being washed in customs so was very careful to keep them dry the day before the race).
Picked up my number and race pack and returned later in the day for the race briefing, just how a race briefing should be, short, bit of humour and to the point so getting a lift home was ready for bed at 8:30 having set the alarm for 4.
Only wish i had brought my mixing bowl breakfast bowl as it meant i was having 2 to 3 bowls of cereal (NZ Hubbard Muesli, cornflakes concoction - quiet tasty) every time, still the important thing was having it.
My plan had been to run with my bike top and Moeben sleeves, with gloves on and using the bandanna "Beanie style" but once checked in just realised how cold it was so one thermal top as well as the Goretex jacket came out of my camelbak (bladderless this was one race i wouldn't need extra water) and were put on.
Managed to catch up with some other Aussies and the very low key start took me by surprise, was nowhere near the 7 hour pace time was actually positioned somewhere near the back of the field !!!.
First 5K's was pretty much spent passing runners and walkers whilst going at a very gentle pace (was bemused to see a couple of runners heading back towards me, apparently they had forgotten some of their compulsory gear and were heading back to pick it up), but reckoned this was a good way to start as it would, in theory, leave plenty in the tank for the easy last half.
Once out of the tree line, beautiful clear skies awaited us, only problem clear skies mean real cold and the breeze of surrounding snow capped peaks meant that even three topped and gloved i was damned cold. Finally made it to the hut and the gear check was just thankful there were no long queues and standing around, a couple of cups of leppin and i was ready to go.
The next stage of the run was basically a single file of runners at easy pace, giving me some time to enjoy the scenery, simply didn't feel as though the frozen legs really wanted to be pushed at this point. Sadly the cold was getting to me and i had quite a headache and was wondering whether the thermal beanie was a better option but never quite made that change (the Buff Bandanna had done such a good job on cold morning in France it was virtually my security blanket !!).
Finally we headed off the ridgelines and headed back into trees, by then i'd passed a few runners (helped by a one drink no food stop at the last aid station) and it was simple downhill running. I'd be honest and say i wasn't as sure on my feet on these foreign trails as i would be at home so went down rather more gently than usual, although was only passed by one way more daredevil runner.
At this point we were still running virtually in groups, can't really expplain why but simply you'd find a comfortable pace and just stay on it.
Had a good feed at Iris Burn Hut (nearly half way) and my plan was to then really push out as my legs should still have been really fresh. Unfortunately no one had told my legs this, not sure if the cold up top had just made the muscles too cold or what but the legs had simply lost their usual bounce and anything vaguely uphill reduced me to a walk.
Eventually we made it to parts of track under the sun (as opposed to under trees) and i was beginning to wonder whether all the layers of clothing were making me sweat too much and this was effecting me.
So 26K's to go it was off with the thermal top, the goretex jacket and the gloves and pop a couple of salt tablets, a little better but still was struggling (and it was still coolish - wasn't rolling the Moeben sleeves down). Had a vague idea where i was place wise as had heard the woman i was running with was 14th (should make me around 120 to 140th by my calcs) so was pretty much hanging on, looking for a second wind to at least get top 100.
Next aid station was my last roll of the dice, a couple of quarters of orange sometimes inexplicably a great aid. Finally was getting running consistently though not fast and just waiting to get to Rainbow Ridge (and in theory the easy familiar part). Couple of Leppins there and seemed to finally get my act together, not fast but consistently passing runners and no walking. One mistake at the last aid station grabbed a cup and drank it, unfortunately it was jelly beans, still not far to go so not a great issue. Finally the finish line in sight and i could stop.
Thankful i didn't realise the time (7:20:57) as i'd been confident of something between 6 and 7 hours (was only on seeing the full results i realised how i'd just sneaked into the top 100 99th place).
Absolutely stuffed post race, the complimentary orange juice washed down by the complimentary beer at the end were absolute saviours and for the first time since about 5K's i was feeling pretty good, wandered back to the car as i was sure Peter (and Leanne who was doing the Luxmore Grunt) would have well and truly been finished by now. Beautiful sunny day by now, much better than the weather had indicated in the previous few days, we were definitely lucky.
Wandered back and had a feed and caught up with some of the much better performed Aussies.
Despite this run being only somewhere between 61.2K's (official distance) and 58.6K's (Garmin measured distance) it was damned tough, probably more due to the fact i don't handle the cold well.
Next day (after 10 hour sleep - maybe my body was telling me something), wandered into town for the presentations and was lucky enough to win a spot prize (although the question has to be asked when i'll get to use my Milford Sound boat trip !), after that fish and chips and a leisurely lakeside walk.
That evening was reminded just how lucky we had been weatherwise with heavy rain which continued unabated till morning (goretex jacket and waterproof pants not usually what i'd wear to wander the 100 yards to the ablutions block !!).
This weather followed us all the way north back to Christchurch (picturesque Queenstown being essentially shrouded in fog and sleet i believe it has mountains !!).
Arriving back early evening in Christchurch did mean i would get a look around the town this time, and was fortunate to find a Pub with live music that night (acoustic guitar playing vocalist nice relaxing way to spend the night) and not being tired went for a walk of the block (3 or 4 miles) before bed.
One last chance of a run in town so that morning memorised the street map and headed towards the Gondola, by signs this was around 12K's (plus a little as had to avoid freeways) but with murky weather heading to the top wasn't going to be an option (and having worn a watch so i'd be back in time for a shower before checking out wasn't likely timewise), so headed back in time for breakfast and a shower before 10AM checkout.
With a few hours to kill before the flight out, went for a walk around town but again rain dogged us and eventually ended up in the the Canterbury Museum, so yes i did see plenty of Kiwis and Moas and all the unique birdlife although unfortunately only stuffed !).
First time i'd ever paid to leave a country ($25 Departure Tax) and then a quick (tailwind got us back 25 minutes early), flight home, actually it all went so smoothly i forgot to change my money at the airport (rather embarassing in the supermarket the next day).
A 3 hour run on Thursday, showed me that the Kepler legs were only a small blip and 90 minutes this morning makes me confident of a good 50K's tomorrow http://www.goldcoast100.com/K2D/home.html in the Kurrawa to Duranbah and return, my 10th start there. Not sure of the weather though, going by recent rain we may actually get good coolish conditions rather than the usual humid, mobile sauna conditions.

Training too hard now for a relaxing flight to New Zealand

2008-12-01T15:50:00.003+10:00

Not much to talk about racewise since my last post, but seeing i head off to New Zealand for the Kepler Challenge on the 6th of December, doubt i'll be updating the blog till i return.
Very hard week training wise, unfortunately there are times when simply i forget that most of my career has been based on training runs of 2.5 to 3 Hours with no drink stops and just pure hard running and also simply that much of this has been in somewhat cooler climes than the Gold Coast (particularly in the recent very humid conditions we've had when it hasn't been raining !!).
Long runs Thursday and Saturday and both times was feeling too good when i got to my usual turnaround point unfortunately both times i was struggling by the end and even needed a drink of water (and dip under a beach shower) with still a couple of miles to go. I guess pushing it too hard is always better than training too easy but nevertheless i do have the odd feeling of mortality when i push it that hard. A litre of cordial and water mixture goes down so well when i get home it isn't funny, but really it takes a good couple of hours before i'm back in any sort of shape (interesting when i went off to work on the Thursday arvo !!!).
Decided to take it easier on Sunday and ended up doing a relatively easy 15K's with the Gold Coast Road Runners Club (having slept in had to drive there which worked out well as sausages and eggs for breakfast there would have been an interesting run back).
Today was desperate for one last hard run, but wanted to give myself the option of shortening it if i felt knackered, so dug out my old "Mt Woodgee" loop meaning i'd do the hard K or so uphill and then cruise around the Currumbin Beachfront and enjoy the beautiful sunny day before heading up my "hill from hell" again.
Seven laps was quite sufficient, was still feeling strong so decided was best to do an easy lap back to my bit of beach and a swim, looks like i picked it nicely today, 16K's of the loop as well as 4K's there and 5K's home seemed just what i needed today.
Not sure if i'll get a chance for a run tomorrow, but seeing i get to Te Anau on Wednesday i'd like to think i could do some trails around the Kepler course before Saturdays race.
Unfortunately not being able to get back to the Coast before the Tuesday evening means i've had to rule out a Coast to Kosi start (with a 15 to 20 Hour drive to the start at Eden really question whether i'd have run my race beforehand, think i really needed a QLD based crew so i could have had a good rest in the car rather than being stuck behind the steering wheel), i do feel it's really a bit of waste considering my fitness at the moment, whilst i wouldn't have been giving Tim Cochrane's record a shake i'm confident i'd have been well under my 39 Hours of 2005, still even i can't be everywhere.
Looks like the month of Magnesium supplement seems to have done me alot of good as i'm definitely recovering well and (unrelated i'm sure !! have had no back problems), however i have been happy to have the odd beer or wine in recent times after all we've only got one life and being permanently alcohol free has never been an option for me as for me it's always been part of a happy, well rounded life.