Ramblings ...

Well, I had such plans for this blog from my last post. An account of my pacing for the Brisbane marathon (fantastic experience and would recommend it to anyone) and things in general. Unfortunately, those ‘things’ have meant that the last thing on my mind has been updating the blog.

Of course, we’ve also had the Glasshouse 100 since then and much more that’s not running related (the ‘things’), but you get that. Maybe I’ll take some time over the next week to back track a little and share some of these events with myself if no one else.

So here 'we' are ...

Despite my many commitments to make more frequent visits I still seem to have difficulty in getting here when I need to. Oh well, at this time at least I have an excuse.

I didn’t start the blog to be solely a diary of my training and events. It was supposed to be an account of everything that goes on in my life. So here it is.

After months, no, years of struggling to make it work, my wife, Stacey, and I have separated. We’ve tried as much as we could over at least the last five years to make it work but things came to a head in February and sort of took their own path last month.

It’s been very difficult in all aspects of my life. Emotionally, materially and even just getting through a day at work ... all have been difficult. There are many details far too complicated and personal to include here but I’ll leave it at difficult. There have been friends lost and gained (nearly as painful as love lost) and material items gone by the wayside. Most importantly, our son, Rhys, seems to be the most comfortable with what’s going on and really seems more settled now we’ve done something about it. That tells its own story for me.

Things are settling but still a lot of stuff that will still need to be waded through, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel ... let’s hope it’s not just a train coming toward me!!

Looking ahead, I will stay here in what I consider both my and my son's home. Things are comfortable here and I've always felt settled, as does Rhys seem to be. I'm in the middle of my Cert IV, fitness and coaching which will hopefully seem me on my way back to University actively pursue something that interests me as opposed to simply paying the mortgage and will also make a less irritable and happier person to be around.

I’m pacing the Brisbane Marathon on Sunday for the four hour group, hopefully making the difference for many people by helping them in some way to break through that barrier. Next week sees the Bridge to Brisbane where I should be able to post a good time followed by a leading a group training run around the eastern section of the Glasshouse Mountains 100 mile course the same evening (in the dark), which will allow myself and a few others to reacquaint or familiarise themselves with the course and the conditions they’ll meet two weeks later during the event.

Finally, and I’ll credit this to a good friend of mine whether it originated with him or not (I first heard if from him):

Everybody dies ... not everybody lives – Glen Hendry

Time to get on with it I think.

Caboolture 48/24/12/6/3 hour

There’s something about the Caboolture Historical Village and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’ve always been interested in history, whatever its association but it isn’t that. As a race venue it’s peculiar to say the least. I think it’s that and the people who run it (mainly Geoff Williams) and those that support it – not the runners, they’re there to run if they’re honest, sorry guys – Caboolture Road Runners and the rest of the local ultra running support.

Anyway, having flirted with the idea of running the twelve hour instead of the six on the Saturday afternoon I decided that I already knew I didn’t need a twelve hour race seven weeks out of GH100.

I was fortunate to have Keith Sullivan score for me (he’d been there for at least 24 hours looking after a number of the real competitors running the 24 and 48 hour events) and was pleased to have someone who knew me – given his own challenges over recent weeks I was amazed he was still there after meeting up that morning for the start of the 24 hour event.

Long story short, there were only three in the event: Tina Fiegel, Lindsay Phillips (both ultra stalwarts) and yours truly. With no disrespect to these guys I guess I knew that as long as I didn’t get injured or was taken ill, I should win my first ever race. Not what I was there for but it did carry a shallow incentive.
My aim was to run a minimum of 60km, hopefully 65 and if all things went well ... maybe 70km.

I started off very well, a bit quicker than I really wanted (about 4:30/35 pace). In the first two hours I’d covered 25 km’s. I made a conscious decision to back off for the middle two hours and really have a tilt in the final two and did what I thought was necessary. I put on a beanie, long sleeved shirt and my gloves in anticipation of the cold and got on my way looking to get to 36 km for the halfway mark (which would have been 13, 12 and 11 km for the first three hours). As it goes, I think I had 36½.

Unfortunately, during that third hour, as I backed off I cooled down and this coincided with the temperature dropping considerably and I just couldn’t get warm again. As I got colder and colder, my legs started to stiffen (not cramp) and every time I went around that dreaded turn, especially in the clockwise direction (hours four and six) I felt a right quadriceps tightening. I walked every couple of laps hoping it would just warm up but it wouldn’t.

Through this time, Keith was constantly asking how I was doing and telling me to be careful, don’t make anything worse. Total sense which I didn’t totally ignore.
During one of these walking laps I was just in front of Susannah Harvey-Jamieson as I stopped running so we ended up walking together for about 15/20 minutes and though I wasn’t cured, it did me the world of good. When we turned at the end of hour four, I think I needed about 17 km to make sure I got 60 km which was my minimum goal.

I basically dug in and did what I had to do and not much more for the duration and snuck in with just under 62½ in the end.

One lesson learned: If you’re feeling good, travelling well and enjoying yourself, don’t change anything! I could have carried on as I was for at least another hour and who knows how I’d have gone for the remainder, but even if I’d had to hang in there I’d have been in no worse a position.

At the end of the day, I’m satisfied with how I handled myself and that I got over 60 km and that I won, despite the small field.

As ever, the event was run superbly and once again, a considerable windfall will go to the Historical Village

Great events there but they beat me up!

Life's what you make it - so why do we make it so bloody hard?

After a good training week and another resting week I felt really up for Flinders on the 25th. The little motivation monkey was off my back and I was raring to go. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

I felt in excellent shape and really thought I could be competitive over what is the fastest 50km course in the Glasshouse Trails series but I but priorities took over and I spent the day with my son, Rhys.

As it turned out, while I was disappointed, we found our way to CP4 and spent the morning with the Raftery’s and Deb Nicholl among others and had a great morning. Rhys in particular had a ball.

Monday (27th) saw me sweeping up the intermediate group at the Courier Mail Bridge to Brisbane session again. It’s hard work and on each occasion of the four so far, I’ve run the last third of the session at least looking after one or two tailenders who perhaps weren’t as intermediate as they thought. Good to be helping and it’s interesting to watch peoples reactions to their own limitations.

Nice run this morning with the social group at Active Stride. Picked the pace up after a few km’s and gradually pushed to a very nice tempo. A pretty quick 11km in the end, I think I needed it.

Moving on, I’ll be running six hours at Caboolture on the weekend among the un-dead that will undoubtedly be present as the 48 hour championships draw to an end. Will be picking up the new Garmin 310xt later today so will give it a try out then. It's sexy and it's waterproof and almost makes me want to do a triathlon but I'm not comfortable with a pole up my arse.

Finding it really difficult to function at times with other issues overriding everything I do. Just getting through a day at work is tough. I hope the feeling of helplessness starts to lift soon.

Gives me the shits that the date on these posts is US time. Lots of things give me the shits at the moment.

Motivational demons

Making a brief appearance again it would seem.

Very evenly steady 12km last night with only a 10 sec./km spread over the distance. This was on the back of the run this morning with Active Stride.

Struggling to get motivated to get out there today though but am about to stir my arse into gear and get out while I have the time.

So much for the lay off

Back to it as of yesterday, almost a full week off and it's like there was no break at all.

Really solid 60 minutes for 13½ km on a not too easy loop out on the trail in the middle of a very warm afternoon. Backed up with another 10 km or so looking after the back end of the intermediate group at the B2B training group in the evening.

Planned a steady 12km tonight and though it was pretty consistent at about 3:20 marathon pace the Gold Coast is still in my legs and they were very heavy (probably something to do with yesderday's run too). I feel like I haven't had any time off.

If I stay injury free then I should go ok at Glasshouse next week.

July 9th (couldn't think of a better title)

Well, no session for me on Wednesday morning. Woke up just too tired and a little bit sore so gave it a miss and again on Thursday. Am feeling fine but will skip Friday too then get out on Saturday.

I figure I've earned the rest.

In other news, the Garmin 310XT has arrived and though I wasn't interested, I am now sold having been told it has a 20 hour battery life. Picking one up next week.

Back to the beginning

Enough of the blood and guts of 'marathoning', will be getting back to basics now and working on base leading into the Glasshouse 100 in September. Will have the Flinders 50km and maybe a pacing role at the Brisbane marathon to negotiate beforehand all being well, but this week is about recovery.

Went out for a trundle with the Courier Mail Bridge to Brisbane training group last night. I swept up behind the intermediate group and it was just what I needed. Not just a gentle 10 km or so (after adding a little on my own later) but giving a few people a push along when they needed it. It'll be interesting to see how some of these guys progress. One keen young lady who struggled doggedly right at the back, sucked it all in and simply said, "should I perhaps start with the beginners next week instead of the intermediates?". No hint of not sticking with it.

Some DOMS this morning, but nothing nasty. Nice and easy this evening then an early session with the Active Stride running group tomorrow morning, then more easy km's through the rest of the week and weekend before getting back to it next week.

Really looking forward to Glasshouse at the end of the month.

The Gold Coast Marathon - 2009

At the end of last year, a mate asked me what my plans were for next year (2009). When the subject of the Gold Coast Marathon came up, I said I’d be looking to improve on my then current PB (not being the fastest bloke a round it was a totally unexpected 3:38 at GC 2008) and stated boldly that I thought 3:20 was not unattainable. He stared blankly at me and said “Why don’t you go for three hours, you have nearly eight months to train for it? There are thousands of runners out there who can put together a 3:20 – the only difference between that and a 3 hour marathon is some hard training and some guts! ”

‘Bloke Man’ reared his head at the mere hint of a suggestion that I may not have the guts to do it and the seed was sown. I was going to run three hours at Gold Coast. The same protagonist offered to coach my speed sessions so there was no escape.

I put it to a few mates, in private and then blurted it out at the CR Christmas drinks at the Chalk Hotel. I got a mixture of responses, mostly encouraging (Bless you SHJ) and I was outed!

Before I committed to any serious speed sessions, I had the small matters of Hares & Hounds, Dusk ‘til Dawn and 6ft Track to get out of the way, but after that, I’d forego anything ‘long’ until after GC. All was going well until I suffered a tendon injury after Caboolture that saw me take about five weeks off training. I managed to arrive at 6 Foot injury free but definitely lacking the fitness I had hoped for. I was off the hook! I still took up the speed work (couldn’t hurt right?) but took on the Dayboro to Mt Mee marathon and followed it with the 80km at Glasshouse instead of sticking to the shorter stuff.

I felt that I was safe to get my aforementioned 3:20 without killing myself and all was well with the world. One unforseen problem: This nutter who was coaching me seemed to know what he was doing and the improvement in my pace was (and has been) immeasurable. Now what? In the lead up to the race, even a heavy cold that saw me stuck in bed for three days of the penultimate tapering week had the decency to hold off enough to prevent any missed training sessions and more or less cleared up before the day. It seemed I was destined to give it a crack.

Come race day, I was pretty sure I was underdone (ironically short of a last long run) but was in solid shape to go 3:06/8 and probably should have set with that sort of pace in mind. However, having made some strides this year and asked the question “how much are you prepared to give – have you got the guts” here on CR, there was only one thing to do. I’d set out to have a go at three hours and I’d give it everything.

I took off yesterday, not too deep into the crowd and only about 5 seconds (I thought) behind the gun. First km in about 4:30, no real drama, second in 4:06, caught up a little, next 4:20 and settled at 4:14 – 4:16 for a while after that. Ok after an unsettled start. It wasn’t too long though before the game was up. I wasn’t really working too hard but I didn’t feel I had it in my legs. South past Burleigh to the first turn and then the usual yell of "Go Alun" from Glen as he headed for the turn behind me (last year he was ahead of me but the yell was just the same - great PB from the man today too). I managed to stick close to the right pace for about 17km but I was always trying to catch up a couple of seconds. I hadn’t adjusted my goals yet but I knew something needed to ‘click’ soon if it was still going to be on.

Through the ½ in just under 1:31 (according to my watch), which was a slight PB and was something I knew I’d have to do if I was going to pull it off. Even then, though I knew the writing was on the wall, I kept the three hour mark in the forefront of my mind and thought along the lines of a negative split. I’d done before at a lesser intensity but I was going to have to come good. Fuel was ok (GU chews) but probably not taking enough water.

By about 25km I had banished all thoughts from my mind and I figured if I’m in any sort of shape coming across the start line I could settle down and make sure I got in under 3:10. Sadly, coming up the rise I knew the game was up. Aerobically I was fine but I had nothing and with about 12km to go and having already started to slow I knew it was going to be tough from here in. I heard Rhys, my son, yelling from somewhere and I looked across to my right to see him along with Andrew (Townshend) and his sons waving madly. I waved back and though it was a lift, I knew it wasn’t enough. I mimicked my throat being cut to Andrew and he replied with an open armed shrug that said ‘C’est La Vie’, i.e. I’d given it a shot.

As I came over the crest, I heard a yell from Robson Bond (coaching genius) in the middle giving me encouragement. I acknowledged him but I’m not sure I conveyed a positive frame of mind. From here, I had the toughest 11km of my life. I just focussed on a steady jog and made sure I slowed enough to drink properly at each station, walking the few steps it took to get it down. It wasn’t long before I knew that the 3:10 had gone and with about 5km left I was beginning to doubt that I’d get under 3:15.

2km to go and I though right, I’ll dig in and pick it up from here to make sure my 3:15 was safe. This lasted for about 200 metres before I acknowledged my demise and subconsciously told myself to save it for the last km. It was already very warm and there were a few horror stories around from what I could see so the conditions were obviously beginning to tell. Finally, I turned up the small rise back to the Pacific Highway and the end was more or less in sight. About a km to go, dig in and finish like you mean it … ok, nothing there, save it for the finish. I passed the many cheer squads (doing a stupid aeroplane impression as I passed the first group – I don’t know where my mind was then), inclusive of the dutiful CR group and finally turned off the highway with their yells ringing in my years.

At last, I was finally into the chute. I’d had a walk around here the previous evening and had pictured this moment. Pick it up, you’ll just scrape in under 3:15 … keep it up, 42km mark just up ahead so about 240m to go … don’t … die … on arse … bugger. As I passed the marker I had 3:14:20 ‘ish’ on my watch and I knew I was just going to miss out.

I crossed the line and by know I wasn’t thinking too hard about missed goals, I was just glad to get it over. I finished with 3:15:10 according to me and I’m sticking to it!

I spend long enough in the recovery area to get down enough water along with some Endura and a few pieces of fruit and also to endure a coughing fit (cold still hanging around). I crouched down and took the timing chip out of my shoe before slowly relacing it while I started to dismantle the day’s events.

I walked out into the throng and Andrew was there with the boys. I was glad to see Rhys particularly and Andrew was congratulatory both of my time and for having a real go. We wandered for a while before Andrew headed off. I spend some time bumping into a few guys, Ray James, Jon Pearson, Balri, Joe and the rest of the mob before we too headed for home via a couple of beers at Andrew’s place.

I asked the question of myself, as I had done on CR so many months ago, “Was I prepared to give it everything I had, given whatever commitments, family and work and any other time constraints placed upon me, and finish in a fashion whereby another ½ a km would be too much?”

Yes. Yes I was and I had. I was f*cked!

Had I sacrificed a sub 3:10 in pursuit of a goal that an earlier injury and more recent illness had, in all likelihood, put beyond my reach? Yes, probably but absolutely no regrets.

There were lots of things that probably hindered my training over the last few months but they’ve been overshadowed by the things that have gone right. No excuses, I just didn’t have enough on the day. I took a gamble with high odds and it didn’t come off, but hey, I have a 23 minute PB, a nice shiny medal (it is nice and it is shiny) and I live to fight another day.

Not sure the photos will be pretty though!

The calm before the storm...

Headed down to the Gold Coast after a good day with Rhys.

Enjoyed wandering around the start finish area for an hour or so and soaked up some atmosphere (there was plenty to be had if you were open to it), before heading to the Blue Water Resort(?) to catch up with Robson and Gary before settling down for the night.

Great night’s sleep. Race didn’t go as I’d hoped – took a punt and lost - but a good result all the same.

Report to come.

Time to get on with it.

Pretty much nothing to do now but get to the Gold Coast and race.

Got a pretty good 5km in last night and run good 1km intervals for km's 2 and 4.

Am relatively confident (a bad sign maybe?) and will definitely get a PB but should obliterate it. Remnants of the cold are still hanging around though. I got some salt water nasal spray today in the hope of accelarating it. It seems to work, it induces that thing that happens for a few hours after you've spent time being dumped in the surf too many times. In this case, it's literally within seconds!

Anyway, all ready to go, just a short jog to loosen up on Friday night or Saturday morning and that's it.

3 hours is definitely achievable but there'll be no half measures. If I miss it, it'll be because I blow up and if that's the case, I'll be lucky to get home under 3:20. Would be nice to pip my brothers 3:05 PB though.

2009 part II

1st of the month and halfway through the year.

Events to date:

Hares and Hounds 53km - January
Dusk 'til Dawn 12 hours (106km) - February
Six Foot Track 45km - March
Twighlight ½ Marathon - April
Dayboro to Mt Mee Marathon - April
Glasshouse 50 Mile - May
Doomben ½ Marathon - June

Now for the Gold Coast. Finally got around to entering Sunday's marathon today - or at least handed over a form for one of the Active Stride guys to take care of it while they're doing the 'expo from tomorrow!

Missed the run but intended to meet a small training group for the planned follow up breakfast this morning, just too tired so opted for the extra zzz's. I ended up caught in the traffic so missed both.

Real slow day. Will go for about 6 km before heading home and maybe include a couple of easy intervals of about 1 km. Everything's lined up for Sunday and I just want to get on with it now. Pretty lofty ambitions but I truly believe I can get close to the 3 hour mark if not under it.

We'll see.

June - all over already

Been very slack on here this month but it's been very eventful, just haven't had/made the time.

Aside of the emotional and domestic goings on that I'm dealing with at the moment, I've had a pretty solid month which has seen only three days off training with at least four days backing up to give a total of 31 sessions for the month. Two of those days off were in the lead up to the Queensland ½ Marathon Championships at Doomben on the 7th that saw a ten minute PB at 1:31:25 and the other was only yesterday while I taper for the Gold Coast Marathon.

This was capped off with an outstanding weekend at UQ athletics track where I crewed for Michael Lovric, Ron Schwebel and Keith Sullivan during the Sri Chinmoy run Australian 24 Hour Track Championships. Not enough web space to include everything but suffice to say it was a hugely satisfying experience to be part of their efforts and I learnt a lot from it.

So, all in all, a very satisfying months training at least with things looking favourable for Sunday's marathon.

I really have to make time to keep this up to date as it's of far more worth than spreadsheets and DAT files when it comes to diarising events, training or otherwise.

The Glasshouse 50 - Cook's Tour

Well the weekend came and I finally got some relief. Not the kind you get in the Valley you understand, but the kind you get from indulging in your passion and being able to mix with many people, friends and otherwise, who are of a like mind. I have some pretty intense emotions at the moment so it was great to get out there.

As for the race, I had my chance and the opportunity was there, yet my bad patch, as they unerringly do, came at the wrong time.

My goal on Sunday was to get under nine hours and finish ahead of Roger Guard in the process. Alas, I was Rogered again!

We ran with quite a large group for about 10km before Roger and I were slightly ahead and running/chatting together (had a brief but informative education on the location of Venus and Pluto after I'd pointed out Mars too!). From CP6 I went ahead and once I'd gone through the 'Big Dipper' I actually turned my light off until I got to the lookout as I didn't want to give a target to anyone (that's you Roger!). Stealth mode I think it's been referred to as, usually associated with Milov.

Anyway, long story short, I went really well for 50km and was looking at 8:30 but the loop at 8a got me again. I had to take my time around there to regroup during which Roger and Narelle Coutts passed me. So, at least I kept him at bay for nearly 60km this time!

After that section I had a reasonable run in but had lost too much time there. I did well from then on (aside of being run over by 4 4x4's on Cooks Climb!) and more or less raced Ashley Druve for the last 10km. I kept ahead of him but was unable to reel in Dom as, having passed him about 500m from the turn to the pool, he gave himself a kick and I didn't have it to get past him again ... another 30 metres and I'd have had you mate!

I didn't get my sub 9 but at 9:07 I got a 31 minute PB over an altered course that clocked up the same distance as last year so pretty chuffed.

Boring job, boring people, boring week. Bored. Can't wait for the weekend.

God it's been tough coming to work this week after a week off. It must be working for the government that does it but some of these people here are beyond logic. The amount of times I've felt that some need a slap this week is some sort of record.

Anyway, three weeks on from Dayboro/Mt Mee and in pretty good shape.

Have had a very solid block of training between then and now with a reasonable taper so I should be in good enough shape to at least enjoy myself on Sunday morning at Glasshouse.

Record field too with currently 285 entrants of a maximum allowed 300 across all events (over 50 in the 50km which is outstanding). Great to see the event being supported and the obvious growth.

Sadly, back in Wales, the family are still dealing with the aftermath of Craig’s passing. Fortunately and frustratingly at the same time, I seem to be out of it down here. I don’t think I’ve missed home as much since we’ve been here as I do now.

Had a good weekend in a cabin at Witta (west of Maleny) last weekend and given the terrain I couldn’t avoid doing hill work in superb surroundings.

Looking forward to the weekend as I should be strong. Not necessarily competitive but certainly capable of taking a chunk off my time last year.

Best laid plans and all that.

The Mt. Mee Classic (revised edition!)

After last year's Mt Mee Classic proving to be so good, I was a little dissapointed to learn of it's demise this year by the Dayboro to Mt Mee Marathong (still billed as the Mt Mee Classic). The 50 km of last year was a tough course and started in howling winds and icy cold conditions to escalate into typical Qld Autumn sunshine with temperatures in the 20's. I shouldn't have worried.

The Dayboro to Mt Mee Marathon was run over a course worthy of any event and judging by the number of competitors it drew, it's going to get bigger. Well organised in beautiful surroundings typical of the area, I'm sure it's been given it's place among most people's calendar who took part yesterday. I suggested to some people yesterday, with mixed reactions, the there wasn't a lot to choose between it and 6ft track. 6ft is definitely a lot rougher underfoot and has stretches of single track that aren't present on this course, but take it from me, no one's about to break any world records on this run.

Ok, I think Six Foot deserves it’s title as Australia’s toughest trail marathon, but if the Mt Mee run was all trail (about 17 km is on sealed road), it would be a close call with maybe only the extra 3 km giving it the edge.

Mt Mee Classic Marathon profile

Six Foot Track Marathon profile

I had a tough day out at Six Foot last month which, aside of the difficulty of the event, was contributed to by the five week enforced layoff leading in. I’ve trained a lot better in the last six weeks so was able to run in a much stronger fashion. Maybe the jury will remain in conference until next year when hopefully I can run both with better preparation.

In any event, I’ve recovered pretty well and will take a slow 10 km after work today after a little tester this morning. All good.

Trains, planes and automobiles

Ok, a 4x4, a bike on the footpath and my own two feet!

I finally got my arse out of bet at the time I planned to this morning and actually achieved what I set out to do!

I was in the car and on the way to Southbank by 5:00 am and was putting my shoes on by 6:00 am.

I took a pretty leisurely 10km down the foot path/velodrome (!) alongside Coronation drive to Toowong and back. Second outing in new shoes proved what I’d already discovered on the first outing – lighter, flatter shoes are better. Not racing flats, more intermediate, but what a difference a light shoe makes and the feeling of being more in contact with the ground is a revelation to me. The bonus was that I was in the right place at the right time to see a lunatic cyclist (there are many of them on route who think it’s ok to ride at training pace among the walkers/joggers/runners) get cleaned up by a ten year old kid out running with a couple of classmates.

Anyway, back to TAFE in time to shower and get to the gym for a couple of hours vocational. Unfortunately, two of the other students needed a guinea pig for a ‘beep’ test. Guess who? Not my finest hour as it were but managed to myself justice – just – before getting my revenge and putting the two culprits through some pain of their own on stationary bikes. Sadly, the one didn’t have to go too hard as her HRM wouldn’t do what we needed and the other was an 18 year old 31 minute 10km man and I couldn’t get him into any distress at all!

Decent start to the day though and will back up with another 10km this evening.

Managed to enter the Dayboro – Mt Mee run over the phone too. No mean feat as I’ve lost my credit card and couldn’t pay. No racing for me, just a good hard training run with the goal being the Glasshouse 50. All I need is a babysitter now!

Perspective

There’s nothing like reality to bring you down to earth and realise how unimportant the small things in life are.

Since my last entry I’ve bemoaned my injury and its impact on my training for 6ft track. I’ve lacked motivation for training in general and have a plethora of other problems of the kind that seem, as they do to most of us, keep on dragging me down.

Relationship problems and the kids (both here and in Wales). May not be usual for everyone but it was, I stress … was, my usual.

This was all put into perspective on Thursday evening, February 6th. I got a phone call from my father in Wales to tell me that my nephew, Craig, had died. More than that, he was killed. Slowly and imperceptibly over a period of years maybe, but just as surely as if someone had driven a blade through his heart or fired a gun to his head.

Craig suffered from depression and schizophrenia. He had spent years plagued by the demons of his condition and living in constant fear of what he may or may not be capable of during his blackest moods. He took it upon himself during what was to be the last of his darkest moments to hang himself by his belt from a fence behind the house. He was twenty six years old.

He had a history of heavy marijuana use and more recently was affected by the effects of alcohol while on medication for his diagnosed conditions. Craig was a really happy child and though he may not have had the best of things, he was no different to many. We’ll never know if his drug and alcohol use caused those conditions or if he was predisposed and they were merely enhanced by those factors.

It was a tragedy while at the same time it was a blessing. I don’t say that lightly and I don’t mean to revert to cliché. Craig had been tormented for the greater part of his teenage and all of his adult life. The greater sadness is that I, my brother (his father) and many of my family are of the belief that he is now truly at rest. I am a Buddhist by nature and believe that we will see his mark somewhere, but not too soon I hope.

My point here is not to pay attention to drug use and how bad it is for us, etc. I’m hardly in a position to comment). It’s not that we should be more aware of mental illness and the effects it can have on people and their surroundings.

It’s this (and this maybe a little clichéd):

The next time you’re thinking of a member of your family, a friend or anyone one you haven’t thought of in a long time much less spoken to or interacted with, do something about it. Call them, write to them, e-mail them or message them on Facebook – whatever your preferred mode of communication is these days.

If you’re a runner, a tri-athlete, cyclist, whatever, though it may be the world to you (as it is to me), it’s really insignificant to the rest of the world and sometimes to those that you love. Pay these people some time. You never know when you’ll no longer have the opportunity.

This weekend, I will likely run from Dayboro to Mt Mee. Basically an uphill marathon through some pretty scenic countryside. Each step of the way, I will be thinking myself privileged to there, doing what I’m doing, in the surroundings I am in.

RIP Craig Davies, November 1982 – February 2009

Frustrating times.

Very frustrating times. Experience is always a good thing but can be a pain in the arse!

This time last year I would have been running with the pain, thinking to myself, "If I can just get through this week, the taper will take care of the injury and I'll be right for 6 Foot." Unfortunately, I'm much 'cleverer' these days and know it's prudent to lay off and get to the start uninjured as opposed to peaking.

Throughout yesterday afternoon I was in genuine pain walking around Montville (the uphill downhill of the high street didn't help) and it's not much better this morning.

Came into work this morning with the world collapsing around our ears, software not running (pretty much because we haven't paid the bill), hardware not working (overextending life cycles to save pennies) and customers - teachers - just not happy. Like me. Not happy … at all.

I'm also way behind with revision for an exam on Wednesday so this has the makings of a good week!

Tibialis anterior tendon sheath inflammation

Well, that's what it's called anyway! Seems it’s what I’ve got. From a niggle following Caboolture it flared up in my first full week of training after the event and though it cleared up to nothing following good rest and a 24 hour course of anti-inflammatory tablets by Thursday last week, it returned with a vengeance and I’ve had to rule out any running this coming week. With only another week to follow before Six Foot Track, it seems I’m going to have to toe the line with whatever I can get there with. Shame, I should have been sharp. I’ve no doubt I can deliver a strong run but I had some expectations. Ah well, I can now give heavier focus to enjoying the social aspect of the whole event. Bugger.

I've been pretty slack with my commitment to diarise my activities too, got to give it more attention.

Wow. Geoffs Runs - how good are they?!

The End

I stood there, hands on overly bent knees – overly bent so as to stop my hand sliding down my sweaty mucky legs, not because I didn’t want to get my hands dirty but because I’d probably fall on my face if I did. I stared down at the little bag of sand in the middle of the ‘track’. Bag no. 36. I had stopped … dead … exactly where I’d dropped it. I was knackered.

After a minute or so, I looked back down the track to the runner behind me, who I believe was Steele Beveridge, and stood to shake his hand. This guy wasn’t running well from the start and after the first three hours was reduced to a painful walk that he maintained for the next nine hours with no fuss or drama. I didn’t have a lot to complain about really. We shook hands and gave each other a pat on the back. Given his endeavours I felt almost guilty accepting his congratulations. We wandered around the corner some 200 metres to the start/finish.


The 15th Caboolture Historical Village Dusk ‘til Dawn

I was looking forward to this event. Having lap scored for scored for two runners last year, it was in my schedule from then on. I’d taken part in the three hour race in August (itself a small part of the 24/48 hour event) and had a good run and found the surface very comfortable to run on. Despite not having had any really big mileage in the last few months, I’d trained consistently (albeit for pace as much as anything) and had two 50km events (Kurrawa 50km and Hares & Hounds - four weeks prior and eight weeks prior respectively) in the bank. I’d stocked up on everything that I knew worked for me with one or two additions. I had a reliable lap recorder in Andrew Townshend (who doubled as unscheduled crewman when it counted – thanks again Andrew) and was pretty relaxed. Though I knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park, I fully expected that with some hard work and a good strategy, I’d get the result I was after:

100km – a must (barring injury)
110km – if all went well I should be able to get close
120km – la, la land!

I’d looked over last years splits and there was one constant. Of the top ten finishers, there were only two who did less than 21 laps in the first hour (and they were walkers). The remainder, with the exception of the 1st and 2nd placegetters, all experienced some pretty dire rough spells at some point having sustained this sort of pace for the first few hours. With this in mind, I figured I’d limit myself to 20 laps an hour which should see me at 60km in the first six hours without too much trouble and maybe get a km or two ahead. Obviously the pace would have to allow for toilet stops if required and drinks and, this was probably most important, some walking. So, I figured 5:45min/km would do me good. As it goes, the plan lasted about 200 metres!

The Beginning

Start – 20km
We took off at the sound of the cowbell and the usual suspects went ahead. Before the first bend, I found myself just behind Susannah Harvey-Jamieson. Not a bad place to be as far as pace was concerned so I tailed her for about the first kilometre before we got talking. She told me that she was intending to run a sub ten hour 100km and just hang in there for the last two hours. I now know that this event has been sanctioned as a 100km qualifier for the world 100km championships in June which may have been on Sussanah’s mind.

I said this would suit me early on depending on how we went. After only a few laps it was obvious that we were two fast for what I wanted and each time we passed the scorers I was getting ever more stern looks from Andrew who was recording my lap times. I signalled that yes, I was conscious of it and was going to slow down. At the 5km split I was five over five minutes ahead of my schedule!

I eased up gradually over the next few km and from there I was pretty consistent and stuck to the plan until the 20km mark.


20km – 30km
During the third 10km, Stacey and Rhys turned up. They actually came through the gate at the top end of the village just as I rounded the corner and Rhys immediately ran to me and continued to run some 200 metres to the ‘Hotel’ before having to head back to the start finish line (he’d gone out too quickly!). Stacey would be there then. As I came around the next lap, both were at the start/finish line chatting to Andrew and the rest of the scorers and Rhys wanted to come with me. It was sort of disruptive as I had to keep an eye on him with a lot of other runners around but it was probably good for me to ease up. Most of all it was great that he wanted to run around with me given the propensity for a lot of kids these days to want to sit around getting tubby! On the way around, Nic Moloney passed and warned me about running with a pacer and that it wasn’t allowed. I made my plea and he agreed to let me off this time!

Rhys stayed with his mum for a while, cheering me when I went past – until he sourced a donut from somewhere – and watching all the other runners go by. After a while it was time for them to go, but not before Rhys joined me on another lap before they went, which he stuck to admirably (during which Ms. Harvey-Jamieson made a remark in relation to having a ‘pacer’ but she seemed satisfied when I told her that Moloney had already reported me!). We said our goodbyes and as I rounded past the gate on the next lap, they were on their way through when Rhys ran back to tell me how famous I was! To see my son look at me in the way he did (and to get the subsequent messages from Stacey saying how proud she was) made every step prior and subsequent worth it.

30km – 45km
I’d been indecisive about shoes before the start. There are plenty of reasons that are far too involved but suffice to say that my original decision had outworn its usefulness and I changed shoes and socks at this point before continuing at the same pace. Also, I’d been pretty steady with fuelling thus far, alternating 3-500ml of water or Powerade every thirty minutes and taking a GU or maybe ½ a banana on the occasions I was taking the water and it was working well.

I carried on comfortably until the four hour mark and inclusive of the approximate kilometre I had made up in the first half an hour(!) I found myself a convenient 2km ahead – a sub four hour marathon.

It was becoming quite a social event by now. The relays were in full swing, the six hour guys were hitting the hard yards and those of us running twelve hours had a good idea of where we were and how we felt in relation to our competitors. There were already signs that one or two of the front runners were backing off a bit, Kelvin Marshall was beginning to have back problems and I think maybe both Nic Moloney and Michael Lovric were under par at this point. Susannah and Jon Pearson looked pretty solid. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself too.

I also had Keith Sullivan’s support. I first met Keith at the Kurrawa race in December, only two months ago, having run more or less together for the last 10 km and then having to race the bugger over the last couple of kilometre’s to lead him in by thirty seconds! Each time I went past he commented on my pace being good and how well I was going. There was the usual banter and encouragement (and piss taking!) among most on the circuit but for some reason Keith’s meant a bit more on this occasion and it was to continue throughout the race.

Another ½ hour and another four or five km and something was amiss. I was starting to have heartburn/indigestion maybe, I’m not sure what it was but there was a reaction even when I took on plain water. At my celebratory 4 hour mark I ate some heavily salted mashed potatoes that I thought would be good fuel but in hindsight seemed to cause the upset. I couldn’t run too much without making it worse and it was pretty worrying to thing that I was this far out with something like this flaring up, especially considering I’d never had this sort of problem before, ever.

No matter, I had a buffer and I’d aim to maintain it to the 50km mark. As it turned out I wasn’t able to, reaching 50km a little over three minutes ahead of schedule but as it turned out I was pleased when I got there.

45km – 65km
I decided to walk/jog until my troubles were over and simply sip water. If that was how it was to go on then so be it. I had covered 45km.

During this stretch I was pretty down. Andrew was hugely supportive as were the rest of the scorers and their support; Ann, Dianne Schott and the rest as well, of course, as the other runners on the track. At the same time I was pretty frustrated as I hadn’t worked out what was causing the problem and I wasn’t feeling particularly tired in any way. Either way, I maintained my walk/jog strategy, jogging from the top of the hill around to the bottom and then walking up to start again. It got me through the next two hourly changes of direction, past the 50km mark and onto 58km as we passed the six hour mark. Not too bad I thought. I was thankful of the 2km I’d made up earlier as 58km seemed a lot better than 56km would have.

I carried on with this until I got to 60km and my insides finally told me that it had finished with whatever it had been trying to deal with for the best part of two hours and I took a toilet break. Almost immediately I felt better and I carried on for another 5km in the same fashion until I felt I had got it together. I had, but the ordeal had taken its toll. I’d managed to get through it but had eaten nothing for the last 20km relying on just water and some Powerade. On top of this, I had some pretty severe chafing that had only come into play once I’d ‘disturbed’ my clothing during the toilet stop. At 65km I felt I was ready to get on with it. I didn’t realise how severe the chafing was until I started to run and I was in agony – as if someone had been at me with a cheese grater! – I hobbled off while Andrew looked for the jar of Striderm I had in my bag (it does work Tamyka, but you have to remember to apply it!). The product is very good as a preventative and to ease any existing problem. It never completely cured me from then on but it was better than bearable for most of remainder.

Throughout this period, Andrew didn’t miss a trick. He was across everything. He could tell my condition and would leave me if he thought I was ok but at the slightest sign of neediness he immediately got out of his seat and was at our camp as I arrived to help out with anything I needed. It’s a benefit having a runner as your scorer or crew (as he has been in other events) but having a good mate carries more weight than anything. As ever, I can’t thank him enough and probably never do.

65km – 100km
Before my ill fated attempt to resume running on the previous lap, Andrew had worked out some splits and figured out what I needed to do to make sure of the 100km. By now, seven hours had come and gone and I was on 65km. I needed to maintain fourteen laps an hour over the last five to finish just on 100km and 200 laps. I thought, fine, but I wasn’t comfortable. I hadn’t much fuel in me and I was going to have to work on catching up what energy I’d lost as well as maintaining enough to actually finish this thing. I took off having got plenty of carbs. with plenty of hydration. I figured that I could continue run/walking at fourteen laps an hour, but there was no guarantee that whatever I’d suffered wasn’t going to return. I decided to run six laps to one lap walking. With that ratio, the running laps would more than compensate for the ‘resting’ lap. This would give me a ten minute buffer per hour and would leave me a little to spare at the end. Also, the complete lap of walking each time would be a real rest. And so it went. From then on, I may not have looked it but I was quite strong as the mental processes took control.

After two sets of six laps with a seventh walking, I then did two sets of ten laps then reverted to six again. I seemed to be passing people more often than they were passing me, with the exception of Susannah, Michael and Jon and on one occasion during a set of ten, I remember passing Nic during a walk and hearing him start running just behind me. He stayed with me for a couple of laps and thanked me for ‘the drag’. He obviously wasn’t himself and I believe Mallani (Mrs. Moloney) wasn’t well after her event so he must have had other things on his mind but it still felt pretty good. I pulled off for water and fuel after ten feeling pretty strong.

A few niggles came and grew stronger toward the end of each set but the walk break seemed to be enough to keep them at bay (my right knee in particular when going anti-clockwise around the bottom of the course).

Throughout this stretch, it was obvious there was much going on with the other runners. Michael seemed to be out of his slump, if indeed it was a slump, though he still seemed out of sorts to me as for a relatively short while I was passing him more often than he was passing me (it didn’t last long!). The way he powered on toward the end belied this and really showed the strength of the man.

Occasional bi-directional words of encouragement from Jon, Susannah and the evergreen Roger Guard were uplifting and Billy Pearce with his earrings kept a smile on my face. Kelvin was something else though.

Kelvin had a variety of stock responses it seemed. He was walking mostly because of his sciatica and whenever I passed him with a “Good on ya’ Kel” or on one occasion “I don’t know how the hell you’re still going under the circumstances” I was greeted with one of:

1 “Yeah, you’re going well Alun”
2 “Urrrggghh ... bloody back ... laps ... sciatica ... Caboolture”
3 “Thanks, keep it up”
4 “F***ing round and round .... “

And on the one occasion (of two) that I was with him during my walking laps:

5 “Yeah, it’s this bleedin’ sciatica. It seems to be okay for a few laps if it’s massaged but then I just have to walk and the walking is pretty ordinary. I’m just hoping that it’s ok for Maroondah Dam next week!”

There were many other anecdotal comments from ‘our Kel’, but I may keep them in my own memory banks.

At about 3:00 am (from vague memory), our race director took to the track for an early hours training run. He probably did a very quick 5km – anything looked quick by then – and I’m convinced he did it to show off and grind us further into the dust (I only wish I had a recording of his heartfelt ‘humanitarian’ comments over the tannoy!)

It seemed that not much time had passed from 1:00 am but thanks to the distraction, interaction and general feeling of camaraderie (we were all in this together), before I knew it, I was having the laps counted to me: “6 … 4 … 3 … 2”. During this time I had another meeting with Keith.

“How are you doing”, I asked
“Pretty good”, he said, “I have about 13km to go for the hundred”.

I mentioned that I had only a couple of laps and to keep at it though I doubted he had time for 13km. I now know he must have meant 13 laps as he got his 100km (101 in fact)!

I walked the 199th wanting to run through the start/finish on the 100km mark (daft I know, but it’s the lad in me!). During this lap, Michael passed me and encouraged me to run it in and that I’d feel so much better for it. To run from there hadn’t entered my mind. On the track/course, there’s none of us can really know the detail of each others highs and lows and at that time I was happy to know that I was going to knock out the 100km with room to breathe. Given the stretch I had in the middle I was ecstatic, but there’s no time to explain that to a mate as they run past you.

I passed the finish line and ran a decent lap to get around for the hundred. I immediately sought out Andrew to shake his hand but he was standing out in the track with a camera ... what the hell ... I ran to him anyway and offered my hand before I realised the obvious in that he was set to take a photograph of me crossing for a 100km. I nearly ran him down but the comical memory is worth a thousand pictures.

100km – to the start
From this point it was a pleasure to be out there. I wanted it to end but there was a bit to do and while it was good to see the clock ticking down it was nice, in a masochistic sort of way. Ordinarily forty minutes would have given me a comfortable 8km, but these weren’t ordinary circumstances. Resting on my laurels, I took up the run/walk strategy again, walking the ‘hill’ and running/jogging the remainder. During this time I had moments with other competitors. Congratulations to each other and plain admiration for some - Steele Beveridge step up.

With about nine minutes to go, I felt I should run all the way so I picked it up and got on with it. At the start of my penultimate lap, Tamyka Bell was there with sand bags asking each runner if they wanted one as they went past. I indicated I would be fine as I intended to stop after this lap as I knew I wouldn’t make two. As I ran around I started to feel that after all this, I shouldn’t sell myself short and that whatever I got at the end was part of the whole experience. I came toward the finish line with about two minutes to go

“I’ll have a bag ... “
“What?”
“Gimme a bag ... I’ll have one!”

So Tamyka handed me bag no. 36 and I duly ran around the course one last time at the breakneck speed of probably 10km/hour, finally stopping about 120 metres short of the finish. And there it begins.

Epilogue (I loved ‘Streets of San Francisco’)
As hugely satisfied as I am with this event, more because of the way I managed myself during and following my bad spell than anything else, my thoughts were that though I was pleased with myself, the Caboolture track wouldn’t see me for a twelve hour event again. Round and around just isn’t my thing. I might add that this was by far the toughest event I've ever done, tougher than the Glasshouse 100 miler and it gives me an indication of what I really can do in events such as that.

Two days later, I’ve determined what I need to do in several areas to get close to 120km next year and I’ll be there barring injury.

It may seem that this is an elaborate report but I do this for every event I enter. Some are for my own reflection, some for select friends and some to share all around. I like this one so everyone gets to see it!

The hard core ultra guys who knock these things out at the rate of one a month or more have a different perspective maybe, I don’t know, but for me, they are testament to the level to which I can train given the time I have and present a huge amount of satisfaction to me.

I take with me the memory of Blair Venn getting his 50km and of Tamyka Bell getting six hours in for her first competitive event on this scale following serious injury. Then there was Kel and Steele Beverage just getting on with it and finishing (Steele in particular). Above all there were Sussanah Harvey-Jamieson, Jon Pearson and Roger Guard doing what they seem to do all the time. These were all highlights that I was privileged to be an observer to.

Not withstanding the obvious emotion surrounding the passing of Andrew Ludwig, it is clear how much this event means to Geoff and Betty Williams and all those involved in its organisation. As a resident of Caboolture, I can testify that with some obvious exceptions (Ron Grant, Ian Javes and the minority running community), the people of Caboolture, Morayfield and the surrounding area are largely unaware that the Historical Village even exists and much less this race meet, busy as they are with their McDonalds and Movies.

Thankfully the running community all over Australia and to a lesser extent internationally have a greater level of consciousness and as a result the event is embraced by its extended family.

Long may it continue.

Dusk 'til Dawn - Caboolture Historical Village

After a reasonably good nights sleep my niggle, miraculously, seems to have disappeared (touch wood).

Looking forward to it but I have to keep reminding myself that barring major disaster this is the second longest event I’ve taken on. I probably haven’t done nearly enough long stuff to prepare but the Kurrawah 50km and Hares & Hounds should give me something to lean on.

We’ll see. Should be an interesting event and judging by last year there should be a real social feel to what is a peculiar event.

Dear Diary

It occurred to me the other day that this blog has sort of become obsolete.

I only started it to take account of what was going on with the running and now I realise the probable reason for my tardiness in relation to it's updating (not that it's ever been any different) is due to the fact that all my running/training information is stored in at least three other places so I'm not inclined to get on here and record it a fourth time.

With this in mind, maybe I should treat this as more of a ramble than anything else, a traditional diary … an account of whatever pops in my head at a given time.

Strangely, at the moment, my thoughts are filled with the Caboolture Dusk 'til Dawn race tomorrow (merely coincidental I assure you) and how it's going to go. I had been looking forward to this event but I've developed something that seems to be more than a niggle at the superior end of my left calf just below the knee. It's not going to stop me but it's of concern and I'll definitely have to keep an eye on it. Ironically, I think it was caused by me last run (Monday 2nd) when I went out with the aim of running nice and slow, about 6 minute/km, and that's what I did. I can't remember the last time I ran at that pace over 12km and it felt really uncomfortable and awkward. I had the niggle the next morning and it seems a bit more serious now. Pretty dumb, huh?

Will just have to see how we go.

Of more interest is that I started my fitness and health certification this week (a stepping stone toward studying for PTI and Coaching) and it's started well. The nutrition module in particular. The next few months should keep me well focussed.

Beer mile? What beer mile

Well, as it turns out, we never even made it to the Beermile, not even as spectators. The magnetism of Southbank Markets proved to strong and I was unable to escape ... maybe they use a tractor beam like the death star?

Instead, I took advantage of Stacey’s studying and went out for 12km while she got her nose into the books. Still very humid but a reasonable outing. Obviously Saturday's ordeal had take a bit out of me and I still felt a little fatigued but ok.

Australia Day!

The big day has finally arrived ... not Australia Day so much as the Queensland Beer Mile!

I doubt that I’m going to run it but I’ll be popping down to the Clem Jones oval to take look see at some drunk people running around the park for a while. Having said that, if it’s as warm as it has been the last few days, a few cold beers would go down really well!

Of course, this is dependant on how long we (Stacey, Rhys and I) wander around ‘Chinatown’ this afternoon. Even with it being Chinese New Year today, it’s difficult to get excited about it as a spectacle having seen the scale of way they do things in Chinatown, San Francisco a few years back.

Had a pretty poor run with AT on Saturday and was really badly hit by the humidity. Not sure why really. I’d had a good training week but nothing over 13km but even after three or four km I we were both feeling it. It was a bit crazy as we’d started out at 5:30. Andrew got it together ok but I never got into it and took a walk break at 10km and it got worse from there. I wasn’t nauseous or anything, I just had no gas. What didn’t help was AT practically running on the spot alongside me and at a point later on running ahead for five minutes then coming back to me looking like he’d just started off. Not bad for a guy who’s run nothing over 15km for a few months.

Anyway, what I thought was going to be a nice early morning trot around the state forest turned into a real workout for me and I was glad to get it over with. Driving back home we noticed the temperature was already 28 at 7:30 am. The biggest positive for me is that I was hugely disappointed that I hadn’t had a good morning as I’d been really up for it which would suggest that I’m a damn sight keener than I have been for some months.

I canned the planned outing on Sunday (yesterday) and will keep to a scheduled rest day today. Will hopefully have a solid few days to Friday before a short (too short) taper for Dusk ‘til Dawn. Hopefully, the humidity will die down a little through the week as it’s been in the 80’s the last few nights so not only have the days been ‘sticky’ but sleep’s been non-existent.

Anyway, we’ll see.

Hares & Hounds

Well, it happened, I did it and it was good. But not without some lessons.

A full account below for anyone who's interested. On we go!

At the beginning of 2008 I had some pretty big plans, for me at any rate the Hares & Hounds race was to be just the beginning. Unfortunately, some six weeks prior I had turned an ankle pretty badly and although I’d managed to get some training in it wasn’t what I had in mind and I was lucky to be there at the start. I went reasonably well and though it was a struggle at times I had a slow but steady event culminating in a six hour and thirty one minute which, above all else, saw me in one piece.

Fast forward to January 11th, 2009 and it was a different story. I’d achieved everything I’d set out to achieve in 2008 and then some. I was fit and strong and though training hadn’t been exactly ‘full on’ I felt I could be competitive.
I had a race plan that would bring me home in 5:13 with plenty of scope to pick up time and felt good. I’d even gone to the Glen Hendry school of ultra running and had printed my pace and splits on a small laminated card which I’d conveniently forgotten.

I had planned to tag along with Susannah Harvey-Jamieson and take it from there. Running down the hill from Woodford pool I got talking to Deb Nichol, who tore up the 50km course last September, and before I knew it I was already on my own in front of Susannah and behind a few front runners before I’d even made it to the trail head at the bottom of the hill. So much for best laid plans!
Anyway, off I went and set about my business. Aside of the few who had taken off ahead, there was another guy who I caught up with after about 2 km who, by the sound of his breathing, had obviously gone out to quick. I also noticed that he had barely any light emanating from his headlamp. Anyway, I settled some 20 metres behind him (I didn’t want to give him the light and this have him pick his pace up) and by CP7 there were another two runners who had passed me and tucked in on his shoulder. This suited me well and so it continued all the way to CP6. I believed Susannah and Nic Moloney among others were some 50 metres behind me and seemed to be pacing off me as I was pretty constant. This was evident as the three in front of me kept pulling away and coming back to me in a lather. Just before coming out onto the fire road toward CP6, the two runners who had passed went on ahead and left the guy with no light. I came alongside him and ran with him a while and suggested he shared my light to CP6 which was only about 2km away (having already offered him batteries). He suddenly pulled up and chose that moment to put his own spare batteries in. Go figure. I left him and made my way up to CP6 where I dumped my lamp and collected a visor and left after topping up my drink and downing and iced coffee.

From CP6 the terrain changes a little and first up is a steep and bumpy downhill of about 300m followed by an incline of the same length and severity. I walked the second half of the incline with nothing to gain by running it and was caught at the top by Nic Moloney. We started running together from the tope and up the next short but steep incline before turning down the hill toward Mt Beerwah in all its glory. It was an overcast morning and it wasn’t lit by the rising sun as it usually is but it was spectacular nevertheless. Nic commented exactly along the lines I was thinking. Unlike the September course, we turned right at the foot of this hill and along a series of up’s and down’s that lead to the Woodford-Beerburrum Rd. On the first of these inclines, Kelvin Marshall caught up with us and we proceeded along this section together at a fair pace (faster than any of us wanted but wouldn’t admit to) until we caught the runners in 3-5 place. We’d already commented to each other how we usually ended up running alone in these events and how unusually pleasant it was to find ourselves in this group of three, but now we were six which is almost unheard of in these event. We probably ran together for about a hundred metres before the momentum dropped and I think both Kelvin and Nic must have thought something similar and we went on ahead.

I don’t mind telling you that this was dangerous ground for me as even though the pace was comfortable and I was enjoying myself it was faster than I’d ever run any stretch at this distance ... and I mean, ever. As we ran toward the lookout, Nic commented that it felt good to catch and pass the other group but qualified it by adding that he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep up the pace. I mumbled something in agreement more to myself than anything else.

Either way, we continued down the hill and on to CP4a. I stopped to fill a bottle and while Nic was obviously taking care of more and maybe regrouping a bit Kelvin was already taking off. I made a quick decision to go off with him having decided that I was going to pay for the earlier pace either way so I might as well make the most of the good conditions and see how quickly I could get into Beerburrum.

We took off along the undulating trail for about 700 metres before turning into the bush. Other than a brief ten metre uphill stretch we ran all the way to Beerburrum maintaining the same pace. I’d intended to ease up from here and though Kelvin made a comment suggesting I was pulling away from him I doubted it. Either it wasn’t the case or it was indicative of how much too hard I was pushing. I’d arrived at the checkpoint at about 2:16, some twenty minutes ahead of my long forgotten race schedule. Even though I knew I was about to hurt, I felt satisfied that there was no way I was going to blow a sub five hour finish with 2:45 to do it in. What a dick head!

I left CP2 with Kelvin about 100 metres ahead but couldn’t close the gap. We run through the bush around the new section used in the 100 miler in September. Nic caught me as we got back out onto the trail and soon went on. From there it was downhill all the way. I still had sub five in my head but my body was telling me something completely different. Carrying on along Caves Rd, the inevitable happened and I got my ‘Rogering’! Yes, at about the point where Messrs. Healy, Hendry and Rasi caught me last year, Roger Guard and (I believe) John Taylor passed me.

It was a soliloquy of ultra running from there on. It was hot, hard and uncomfortable. On the plus side, I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t struggling to keep going, there was no mental battle of wits underway, it was the simple fact that I had gone out way too fast and bonked. I determined that the way things were going I was unlikely to get the five hour finish I felt I was capable of at the start (expected even), but I was going to dig in, manage the rest of my race and make sure I came in under 5:30 which would give me a 1 hour plus PB over the course (being more or less the same as last year).

I passed through the ever supportive CP4a (for my sins I forget the names of the people there though I do know them and have met them several times), making full use of the water to cool down and loading up with Endura and taking a few grapes along the way. I ran all the way to the foot off the hill to the lookout and walked hard up there after running the first 100 metres or so. Keith McKay and Peter Geraghty were some way back but visible and I made it my next goal to ensure they didn’t catch me before CP6. These guys were in the group of three we passed on the way from CP6 and though they were going to get their satisfaction at some point, I was going to make them wait ... at least a little while!

Past the tower and along the fire trail before turning off to the right and along the undulating stretch before turning sharply up ‘that’ hill. I’d stayed in front of my pursuers and I knew now that with this climb, a sharp descent followed by an equally sharp climb before the ½km or so to CP6. Mission accomplished though Keith was breathing down my neck coming up that last hill, I could feel it ... from 100 metres!

I got to CP6 and my surrogate parents, Ann and Jo Raftery, at a shade under marathon distance in about 4:02 ... I was pretty pleased with that, it wasn’t going to spur me on any but it was pretty decent for me. The crew had looked after my drop bag well. I had an iced coffee and a PowerAde that had been kept out of the sun and my iceblocks had done their job. I downed the iced milk coffee and was about to do the same to the PowerAde when Joe said, “you’re not going to drink that on top of the milk are you?” with a look on his face that suggested he was about to lose his own waffles. I replied with a smile, “It works for me Joe.” But I wasn’t convinced and I barely touched it.

What could I change? Shoes! I had a comfortable pair of road shoes in the bag as a precaution for the relatively new Teva’s I was wearing. My feet were ok but I’ve often found that a change, any change, makes a difference. I did and as it turned out it didn’t! Nic was there having slowed down somewhat himself, Keith and Peter had already been and gone and he asked was I ready to go. I said I was going to change my shoes and I’d catch him up. I meant it ... honest. Having done so, I filled my bottle and took off down the hill.

This section is rarely used but had been included this year, as it had last year, due to the condition of the track behind CP6. It’s a good stretch because you get to see those within range ahead of you and those behind along the straight after the hill from CP6. I could see Nic not too far ahead and maybe Peter Mack someway behind. At this stage of a race like this in this part of the field, there aren’t too many people making ground. There were a few still behind me (Susannah, Martin Schot, Adrian Pearce and maybe Rod Ladyman) but I’d seen no sign of them). I decided to forget them and concentrate on catching Nic. He obviously wasn’t having the best of days himself and there’s not much better company to have in the circumstances.

Coming up the last hill before passing the powerlines entry on the left, I looked back and saw the familiar figure of Susannah catching me up. I was walking to the top of the hill and it was inevitable that she caught me as I’ve never seen anyone with the ability to continue uphill in the same way the rest of us plod on along the flat.

“I wondered when you’d show up!” I said.
“I’ve been putting it off for a while as I was wondering whose sexy legs I was looking at!” she said. Well, it was something like that anyway and I’m sticking to it!

I trotted off down the hill behind her and caught up with Nic just as he turned off the road into the bush and just after Susannah passed him too. I bet she made the same comment about his legs too ... Jezebel!

Nic and I ran together and walked together for a few km. He got ahead of me for a while I caught up again just as we arrived at CP7 and the Active Stride van, ably manned by Glenn who’d been there for about five hours by now and still had a couple to go. We exchanged pleasantries and partook of his wares, mainly Coke for me. 5 km and a bit to go, only a couple of hounds past and looking to be home comfortably in under 5:30. I can’t say I was motivated to do much else. Nic and I ran for a while and I thing it may have been the first time I felt like walking but either way, I just needed to and, without a word, I left him to it. I kicked myself afterward because I had though that if I took a rest, I could reel him in over the last couple of km. I got him to about 200 metres (I swear he was looking back inviting me to join him at one point) but whenever I made any ground, I couldn’t sustain it.

Finally I reached the holy grail of the Woodford events – the turn into the short trail through the bush that leads to Petersen Rd – and was home. Running up the slope to the pool, which is a long 500 metres that doesn’t look it at the time, I had the usual feeling of wanting to run well and look like it was a breeze. I also had the usual hugely supportive group of people hanging around at the finish simply to welcome finishers in.

Finishing in 5:22 I was about thirty seconds behind Nic and it was a massive PB over the course and also was by far my best performance at a Glasshouse 50km event. I was immensely satisfied but at the same time a little cross with myself for abandoning my original race plan. It didn’t take long to realise that I had proved something to myself in the first half and even more in the second. I made up around 35 minutes over each half so it was a fantastic result for me.
As usual, it goes without saying that the support was immense and venue was perfect. My wife Stacey and our son Rhys joined us at the pool and I spent plenty of time mingling with lots of runners who are always good to catch up with, many from some distance.

Great start to the year.

So much for commitment

Well, I was going to give a more concerted effort to maintaining this but as you can see, it's been a long time between drinks ... again! While not entirely true, what with Christmas, New Year and both my own and my wife Stacey's birthdays, it's been hard to stay 'dry'. I have however, maintained a reasonable idling speed over the last 3½ weeks which should hold me in good stead for Sunday's Hares & Hounds.

I'm not expecting it to be easy but I am looking forward to it. Lots of goals this year, maybe too many, but this is the beginning.