Sydney Marathon 2011

My personal best here is 3.05 in 2009 and I had hoped to better that. But instead I agreed to volunteer as a 3.45 pacer. And I am glad I did as conditions were brutal after 30k with temps over 30 degrees.
As it turned out I had a very pleasant run and for the first time in a marathon I chatted, looked around and generally had fun.
I also saw first hand the mistakes people make running marathons, many of the same mistakes that I have made.
Especially going out too hard so they hit the wall, not being trained, ignorance of the pace, no nutrition, overweight, over dressed, over gadgeted.
For the first 21ks I had a group of over 20 in a tight group around me. We didn't overtake anybody. Then we started losing people, and soon waves of runners were coming back towards us as they slowed down and we maintained a steady pace of 5m20s.
It was sad to see the forlorn looks on runners faces as we went past them. I knew how they felt.
By the start of the expressway rise I lost everybody. I made a point of stopping and walking every drink stop until finally there was no one there. In the last 5k I picked up a few people and encouraged them to hang in there, but the runners who I overtook were mostly on a death march. I have never had the time to look at the compete exhaustion of the runners before as I am usually feeling it myself. Its scary.
It made me extra keen to train hard and avoid total a state of exhaustion in the last 10k.
At the finish I came in at 3.44.56. I waited at the finish for the members of my "group" but apart from my fellow pacer Roland there was no one.
To keep the pace I had a 1k interval pace card that I laminated and my Polar watch. We got to about 40s up on gun time at the half way point but otherwise we were spot on.
Interesting experience and one I wouldn't mind doing again one day.
It was nice to finish feeling good. Next day no DOMS at all.

Mt Wilson to Bilpin 27/8/11

I really felt dead at the start after no sleep on Tue and hectic days following including diving all day Friday.
So away we went and when I saw Michele/Honor/Serena at 5K I called out "This is a crazy sport" and I meant it. I would have loved to have stopped.
So I decided to take it easy and hope for a recovery. I was overtaken a lot in the first half to the bitumen road, but then I started feeling better and was able to push along the bitumen and caught four runners. Then another three down to the river.
Up the other side I did the old man shuffle but I didn't stop. Overtaken at the top by one guy and strider Georgie. Pretty tired for the run down Bells to the finish. Time 2.50.50. Happy to take that.
In the afternoon we went to the Comet Inn for lunch and I hikes the 16k's up Lawson's Long Alley to the house at Mt Victoria
On Sunday enjoyed a pleasant slow 12k run to Mt York and back

Pymble Pushover Star Aug 21 2011

Large group turned out for this super hilly run. Most remarkable sight was a group of 12 bush turkeys just loitering at Pymble Station. Also invited to breakfast at the Sikh temple. Last hill was a killer and I walked a bit of it. Otherwise ran well.

City to Surf August 14th 2011

Up till 10pm sneezing with the flu. Completely congested so I got some Codral with pseudoephidrine from the late night pharmacy. I had to go through the hoops to get the real stuff. Michele said I looked like drug addict because I was untidy and skinny!
Anyway the pseudoephidrine was an instant fix. Within 10 minutes the congestion was gone and I woke up feeling not too bad.
Got to the start at 7.20 and stood about 10 rows back in the rain. Fortunately had warm throw away clothes and didn't get cold.
Over the mat 20s after the start. Felt dead till Rose Bay. Really struggled to 10k then started overtaking people. Came home strongly to finish in 57.38.
Then ran back to find Honor and Serena at Diamond Bay. Walked down to the finish with them and then on to the car at Bronze.

Steady Training

Thu 14th - Intervals on Pioneer Top oval. Five by 900m between 3.20 and 3.14
Fri 15th - 12 k lapa malabar circuit
Sat 16th - 20k Malabar - Lapa - Pagewood circuit. Ran strong.
Sun 17th - Rocks Push 25k
Mon/Tue/Wed no run. Blame work, Tour De France or wild weather. Take your pick.

Mon Tue 11/12 July

Mon - Easy 10k to Lapa and back. Absolutely freezing. Ran with the hoody on.
Tue - Strides at Pioneer then 5 * 900m on top oval. First time that I have felt pain free. Still not very fast. 3.35,3.25,3.20,3.14,3.16. Best I have done was this time last year 3.05. Reckon I will get back to that soon. 3.00 is a good goal.

Sri Chimnoy 10k Dolls Point 10/7/11

Very cold windy morning. Accompanied by Coach Amy. A smaller turnout than usual no doubt due to weather.
Enjoyed the run. No injuries or strains at all at the moment. First 5k in 19.30 and home in 39.30. So lost 30s in last 5k.
Did 5k cool down with strider Nick afterwards.
Through the week did slow 12k with Hon on Mon, no run Tue/Wed, Intervals at Pioneer top on Thu, no run Fri. Sat 17k to Cape Solander.

Striders Homebush 10k 2/7/11

Very unmotivated but Somehow dragged myself out. No 40min pacer today, and very few people I knew, but just wanted to run to how I felt. First 5k in 19.33 feeling the strain but OK.
Unusually I was all by myself in the second half. One guy stayed 30m in front but it was 200m to the next guy behind me. So I wasn't pushed.
At. the end I noticed an ache down left glut but Otherwise OK.

Woodford to Glenbrook 26/6/11

Almost no running for several weeks and coming off big offshore diving job there wasn't a lot in the fuel tanks.
Mike the Hammer was there and I fell in with him fir a pleasant run at a bit under 5 mins k. Mike came in for 9 min PB of 2h 1min. I then ran back 5k to meet Kayla who ran it off the couch and was struggling a bit when I found her at 20k.
She bravely walk/ran to the end. Gutsy effort.
Rewarded ourselves by going to Common Ground with Honor

More Downs - No Canberra Marathon

Sun 10th April 2011
Went to Striders 10k Run at Lane Cove on 2/4/11 and ran well to the top of the hill, but started feeling woozy and wobbly kneed, so pulled off the track and sat down to recover. Not much choice really. Then walked back down the hill still not feeling the best. Didn't know why I felt like this.
On Sunday went out for a 15km solo run from Malabar, Lapa, Eastgardens and home. It was a struggle but held 4.2min/km. A few light runs through the week but I felt generally unwell., then on Thu a molar on my left side really started to hurt. My regular dentist was on holidays, so I made an urgent booking with another one. He diagnosed an abscess and said it would take root canal therapy. So he started that and afterwards said you will be fine, come back for round 2 next week.
Felt wonderful with a full load of anaesthetic but about midday it started wearing off and began to hurt. Unfortunately we were already on the way to Canberra in the car by the time my face started swelling up and the pain became intense. It was along night of ice packs and pain killers until we were able to get an appointment at 12.30 with the wonderful Dr Truang in Kambah. what an angel. After quite a bit of drilling, slicing and draining she relieved my pain. But I felt I had gone 12 rounds in the ring. Still I was able to sleep that night and go to the Waters Edge restaurant. (it was great). But no way would I run in the marathon.
Got up and watched the start of the marathon, and then went to the markets with Michele and Serena. Feeling pretty fragile. Went back to the finish to see the winners and stayed till the 4 hour mark. Very few spectators out due to the constant light rain.
Flew back that night and straight into hectic work schedule. Saw the dentist in Sydney again, and he took out what was left of the roots. No pain at all now.
Looking back on it I have been suffering a flu for the last two weeks and pushing myself at work and play ran down my defences. The wobbly knees and the tooth were symptoms. So took the rest of the week very easy. Tried to sleep and did not run.

A few ups and downs

Sat 26/3/11 took Serena to violin and ran from Sophia's via Coogee and Gordons to top of Bronte then to Waverly and along Clovelly road thru Randwick, the Spot and Malabar Rd to Sophia's. 1 hour.
Sun 27/3/11 Sri Chimnoy Centennial Park half. Pouring rain just stopped at start time. Ot was a slow race on a dead track. In about 10th place at the 16k mark when had to stop for an urgent toilet break. That took 10 mins! So I withdrew. Oh well.
Mon 28th - no run really buggered
Tue 29th went down to Pioneer about 7pm after 4am start at work at sea and 5pm finish. Ran strides and then attempted intervals. Pulled out after the first one as my legs were wobbly and I felt woozy. Time for rest. Walked home.
Wed 29th another 4am start and all day at sea, 5pm finish but a little recovered. At 7pm ran down to Pioneer for strides and then a slow run down thru Chifley around the baseball field and back up Bilga.
Thu 30th feeling much better after a quiet day at work. Ran strides at Pioneer and then 4 * 900m intervals on the top circuit. They really hurt. Was going to do 5 but used the excuse of a movie date to wimp out. Actually though I was zonked. Times were 3.10, 3.11, 3.12,3.12. Best time round here is 3.05.
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A few days off

Mon 21st. Achilles quite sore. Very tired. No run
Tues 22nd - Ditto
Wed 23rd - 8 strides at Pioneer but Achilles still sore. So did no more than that,
Thu 24th - Beautiful autumn evening. 8 strides at Pioneer, Achilles much improved. Ran 10 ^ 500m intervals around Pioneer footy field. Slowest in 1.48 fastest 1.40. Very stiff at first but last few were OK.

Runs the Week after Six Foot

No runs Sunday.

Monday I was back in Newcastle for work and had light 8k run from Hamilton to Lambton shops and back. Felt surprisingly energetic.

Tue ran from Hamilton through Lambton Heights to Blackbutt Reserve and back down through the Reserve, about 12k.

Wed ran thru Banksmeadow to Charlestown and back through Kotara 16k all up. Very pleasant run. Newcastle has some beauttiful homes. Buggered at the end. Bought Spagetti Napolitano from the takeway and two tubs of yoghurt and demolished them.

Thursday back in Sydney, did strides at Uni fields, but too stuffed to do any more. and walked home.

Friday pleasant 11k run to Lapa and back.

Saturday morning repeated Friday's run a bit faster but could only run in bursts. Very tired and a bit of tummy trouble.

Sunday was torrential rain so did not go to planned STAR run. In the afternoon I ran the Malabar/Bondi Star in reverse but an ankle strain forced me to walk the last 10k. I strained it just walking at work and it started to flare up during the run. So rather than push it I simply walked home on a beautiful afternoon. Very hungry when I got home.

Weight down to 71.6kg.

Six Foot Track 2011

A rather complicated plan came together and I travelled straight from Newcastle to Blackheath to meet Michele, Hon,Serena at the italian restaurant.
After dinner I gave Michele my bag and she carried on to the Jenolan cabins. Right after she left I realised I left my running shorts with her D'OH. So fortunately K-Mart Katoomba was still opened and I was able to purchase another pair.

Slept well and got to the bus stop about 7.15. Met Mike and we hung around till my start at 8.05. Had a pleasant run to the river in about 80 mins. It was sunny and warm so I dived in and swam the river.

In 2009 I ran the whole Mini Mini hill but this time I thought I should walk/run. Felt good all the way and plenty in the legs. Ran well to base of Pluvi. At the first steep pinch I walked and then walk ran to the top. Still felt good at top but arrived in 2.50. I was now 7 mins behind last time. Mmmm?

So along the Black Range...after about 1km I had left the strain of the Pluvi behind and seemed to be running well. Started overtaking a lot of people. Came upon Spud who always seems to be a similar pace to me and went passed as we exited the national park. Light rain had begun to fall, conditions were excellent. I had run the whole range and was feeling good as I got to the camp ground at about 3.45.

Then the dreaded deviation and its three hills. First hill no problem, second hill my right quad cramped and then my calves started going and it was a matter if managing the cramps to the end.

This meant stopping often to massage and walk it out. I didn't feel especially tired. So the last ten k became a constant stop start, and runners started overtaking me. Including Spud.

I could see the minutes slipping by, but I didn't mind too much. I saw a lot of others suffering worse than me.
Finally got to the downhill in a line of about six runners but I couldn't take advantage of it. Just jogged down the hill as the others pulled away.

Happy to come in at 4.47. Got a great cheer from Michele, Hon and Serena, as well as surprise from Ron Yvette Sophie and Maddy. And then Kath and Geoffrey arrived.

Delighted to find Stef at the end with a big smile having run the wonderful PB time of 5.20.

This inspired me to go back up the hill to wait for Mike and phone in his arrival to the others. He came in 5.26 a 20 min PB. What a champ!

Boy there will be some competition in that household this year.

I felt fine afterwards and played a game of ambushes with Geoffrey Maddy and Sophie at the cabins. Unfortunately cut short by a thunderstorm.

Had a lovely BBQ looking back over the track. The next day it was a beautiful morning and Geoffrey and I went on "dawn patrol" around the forest behind the cabin. Then we went to Oberon Market and finally vintage clothes shopping in Katoomba.

All in all a great weekend.
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Hamilton Tue 8th March

No run Mon. Felt like I had been hit by a bus. Maybe overdid it on weekend. Calves very tight and sore. Big day at work.
Tue I was in Hamilton. Lovely evening. Ran strides then 5 * 400m intervals on the grass in the park across from the Tudor Inn. Yowser, the legs were heavy.
Did not time them.
Then a leisurely 8k run to Broadmeadow and back.
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Striders Balmain 25k Sun 6/3/11

Beautiful morning for run. The sunrise over the Harbour Bridge from Balmain Wharf was majestic. Joined the 6.20 group for STAR thru Balmain, Lilyfield, Petersham, Hurlstone Park, Summer Hill, and back up the northern side of bay run.
Started at 5 min av. pace for first 10k and ramped up to 4min/k pace for final five.
Bit tired at the end. Last night I also snuck in 5 laps of Cerntennial in 36mins on the bike.
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Strider North Head 10k 5/3/11

First 10k since July so wasn't sure how I would go. Weather was perfect. Cool, overcast with a moderate southerly. Big crowd. Started off by attaching myself to the guys who usually just beat me. Very fast start. I didn't look at my watch much but knew I was at least a minute up at the half way.
From 5k Suffered badly from need to go to loo. I got overtaken a lot between 5 and 8k. Just focussed on each step. At 8k I recovered a little and picked up the pace. Started overtaking people. But suffering level was 9.9 out of 10. At 9k I was just hanging in there but Strider Mark popped in front of me so I hung on to his heels to the finish in 38m 50s.
Never felt worse after any event. Just lay on the grass for five minutes panting. At least I know I put in 100%.
Mike and Stef both ran personal bests which bodes well for six foot next week. The bookmakers are tipping them both for 15 to 20 min improvements.
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Wed 2/3/11 Maroubra Beach 13k

No run Tue as wacked from being at sea and diving all day.
Decided I better start running in mornings to be in sync with the Six Foot so staggered out at 5.30am. Nice easterly wind blowing with misty rain. Ran along Long Bay and down Anzac Pde, Beauchamp then Broome St then to South Maroubra. Pitch Black. Then ran length of soft sand along Maroubra Beach. Ghostly figures of clubbies runnning the other way passed me on the wide beach. We were all working to hard to acknowledge each other so we passed like ships in the night. Then continued on around Lurline to South Coogee cemetery before turning round and following my footsteps home. As I came down to Maroubra it was just getting light, and I saw another guy about 100m in front. Decided to try and catch him along the concourse. Once by him I held the extra pace to the top of Broome St and ran well all the way home. Feel good. 13k all up.

The Six Foot Challenge

There is nothing like a bet to keep training interesting. My good friend and running inspiration "Corky" is starting an hour and five minutes earlier than me in the Six Foot Track, Last year she ran 5.38 and I ran 4.38 in 2009 on my last try.
So we may be finishing at the same time. I think she will run at least 5.20 so to beat her I will need to run 4.20. I don't know if I can do that, but the challenge is there.

Malabar Lapa 10k Mon 28th Feb

Spent all day out at sea. Thought I would be tired but I am strangely full of energy. Waited out some thunderstorms and went out at 7.30pm for an 'easy run' under a magnificent sunset. The legs were stiff for the first half but after 6k I ran into Bev and friend at Prince Henry then I got a second wind, and as I came back to Malabar I couldn't hold back and I ran the Howe St hill harder and faster than ever before. Strange. Thought I might pass out after I got to Prince Edward but managed to keep striding on to the end. Very pleased to have that much in reserve.

Equaliser 14k

Still felt sluggish but as the race went by felt better and better. Just wanted to maintain a good steady pace. Ran well everywhere and no trouble on the hill to finish in 66. The ran back half way down hill and came up again with Stef.
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Fri 27th Feb

Final day of marine course thank god. Michele is sick so went straight home to give serena a lift to orchestra. Then ran from the spot down to Centennial and one lap of outside track and back to spot.

Sat 28th Feb. Very tired. Out at 6.30 already getting hot and very humid.. No energy. Did slow 7k run to NSW links and back. Then went to Peats Ridge to pick up Kate's new horse.
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Malabar Lapa Circuit Wed 23/2/11

15k hilly run. Started slow at 7.30. Made it to Cathedral by 7.55 and then down to Browns Rock. No fisherman for the first time. Then feeling stronger powered across Congwong beach round Lapa and home. 70 mins all up.
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Wentworth Park Sprints

Still at super boring marine course at Glebe, nice misty rain, started with strides then got in 5 hard sprints on the grass. Not sure on distance, about 800m. First one in 2.55 and the final one in 2.30.

Mon 21-2-11 Centennial Park

Thank goodness a cool southerly came through during the night. After spending the day at the marine course I stopped at Centennial and ran 2 laps of the sand track just inside the boundary. Felt good. Ran the second lap faster. All up 13k in about 55mins.

Sunday 20/2/11

Got out at 5.30am and hoped to do 30k. But it was very warm and humid again. After 5k I new I had nothing. So I did leg exercises at the "Cathedral" as the sun came up and then slowly ran back home. Only 10k! Then off to the boring course. In the evening I had a good 8k run around the old grass skiing park opposit Honor's netball. Ran 5 circuits over the summit. A great place to run.

Lane Cove Ride Sat 19/2/11

Met Graeme at Lane Cove at 6am and did three stiff laps of the 10k circuit. It was very very warm and humid and the sweat was poring off me so badly that my hands were slippery on the bars. Good start to day though. In the afternoon visited Jan and the kids at Drummoyne. Found four black helium balloons up a tree and gave one each to the kids and Jan to make a wish with and let them go.

Wedding Anniversary Run 18/2/11

Still on the boring marine course, ran from Glebe to Neil's office at Annandale to dleiver a key and return. Pleasant 10k run through the leafy streets of the inner west. In the evening Michele and I saw the movie 127 Hours about Aaron Ralston. Was that rock trapping him good luck or bad luck? Good movie.

Malabar Hill Sprints 17-2-2011

After sitting through the world's most boring marine course for 8 hours, I got out for hill sprints up Howe St. Started with 13 strides across Pioneer Park including the knee squat (aargh) and the 10 intervals up Howe St and down Neptune with 2 minute breaks. Felt pretty crappy and dizzy but came good on the last three and ran them without stopping. After a five minute chat with Greg and Ricky finished off with slow jog around Malabar Circuit.

Malabar- Lapa Circuit Wed 16th Feb

No run Tue. Just too tired. On Wed had late run from Malabar to Lapa and back 10.3k in 43mins. Plenty of hills. Legs stiff for the first 3 k then increased speed on the way back. Powered uo Howe St.

Run to Glebe 12-13/2/2011

Sat - Ran to marine course in Glebe, then did strides at Wentworth Park and 5k run at lunchtime. Ran home again for 35k all up.

Sun - Back to the course on Sunday. Ran strides around Wentworth Park then 8k run before course again at Glebe. In the evening rode 8 laps/32k of Centennial with Graeme in 56 mins. Av speed 31kmh

Mon - Dental appointment in the morning left me with numbed left side for the day. Repeated ride with Graeme in evening for another 32k in 56mins.

Consistency - No injury

Monday - 12k easy jog to Lapa and back
Tuesday - 500m intervals at Pioneer Footy Park These were a challenge. Just by myself abvout 7.30. Great conditions just on sunset and the grass just cut. The first one was just 2.02 and I knew this would be tough. Made each one faster till the last one was 1.39. Didn't bust a gut.
Wednesday - Malabar-Cape Banks-Lapa Malabar - 13k. Pleasant evening run. felt full of energy.
Thursday -Evening run up Golf course hills - 6 repeats - then carry on 7k to Lap via the coast and then 6 interval laps of Lapa circuit.
Friday - At Glebe for a course (very boring) Ran 8k at lunchtime from Wentworth park up to St Andrews then down Pyrmont Bridge and around Ultime and back to Glebe.

The Super Hot Week ending Sun 6/2/2011

This was the hottest weather ever in Sydney with the temp upto 42 degrees and over 25 deg at night. Combined with high humidity it was very tiring. The trip last week hungover and I had a slow run Monday, intervals Tue and MLR Tue night. At work early Wed so no run.

Weather continued over 40 deg, so got out early for runs. Worst was Sat. Had planned to run Striders 10k but ran around Mutch park for 10k. A real challenge in the heat.

Sunday was the Meg Mega but I gave it a miss and ran the 15k Malabar circuit twice including down to Browns Rock. Took it easy. Felt pretty good. Time around 3.10.

Southerly change finally came through at 2pm Sunday and broke the hot spell.

OZ Downunder Race - Australia Day

Neil's first "proper" wheelchair race around the Rocks. We all went in to see him. The standard was very high. Ran the back part of the course with him. Then after eating at Rock's market ran home. Very hot.

Next day flew to Ballina with Kate and dropped her at Anthony's. Drove to Surfers and ran some intervals on a super hot day then went for a swim in the surf. Caught plane to Gladstone and stayed night with M & B.

Next day, Friday sorted out long boat and drove south. Slept at Scarrabolloti's lookout above Byron then spent day with Anthony and Keri. Then drove to Taree and slept in at a Motel till 11am. Has best of intentions of running but was exhausted. Continued on to Sydney. No run. Arrived Sunday 4pm.

Warriewood to Mona Vale Swim 23/1/11

Joined Mike, Judy, Judy's brother and Alex for the annual swim. Nice conditions but lots of blue bottles with a 10 knot NE breeze. Very hot and I got sunburnt during the swim and the run back. Great afternoon at M&S's as usual.

Claire's Calamity Run 22/1/2011

Very tired all week. Made it out for just one 10k run to office and back and one set of hill repeats. On Sat ran the Striders Calamity run at Bobbin Head. The course was very scenic and featured plenty of hills. Felt great until I got to the T-intersection for the final descent. That was hard on my knees and I twisted my ankle. Also got lost a couple of times. By the time I arrived at the big climb from the Marina I was stuffed. Ran about 2/3s of the hill but zonked and had to walk/run the last 2k to the finish. Overall pretty happy to finish the 32k in 3.40.

Tiring Weekend 15-16 Jan

After B2H I only had a couple of light runs this week and my legs were sore till Wed. On Sat went with Neil early to the Rocks where he practised for the Oz downunder race. It was hard work keeping up with the wheelchairs over such a flat course. After an hour of sprinting we went home and I did the Malabar/Cape Solander loop. I ran much stronger than any time in the last six months.
Then Sunday I somehow dragged myself out of bed for the Pymble Pushover Star with the 6.10 group. I was tired but was able to run all the hills easily, this course isn't as hard as I remembered from last time. Later that day though I was zonked and had to nap.

Bogong to Hotham 2011 - Jan 9th

Picture - Mt Bogong from Mt Beauty Township

After being overseas and interstate for three months, I arrived back in December keen to get fitness back. So when Mike suggested that he and Stef were going to run the B2H I thought why not? So with three weeks of training I found myself flying down to Albury with Ed en route to Tawonga for the race briefing. Two days earlier I had read the previous race reports and I knew I was in trouble. I had never run more than 45k and this was 64k over mountains.

The reports from 2010 were brutal. It was a very hot year and even experienced runners fell by the wayside and missed the 5h.30 cut at Langfords Gap. How would I be able to cope on so little preparation? So I went to bed at the camp ground resigned to my fate. I made sure I ate well, had my gear checked, and opted for the early start, and planned to try and make the 5h.30 cut at Langfords and then plod the second half to come in at 10 hours.



The next day was cool, with a forecast of showers, fresh winds and 12 degrees on the mountains. About half the field started at 5.30am to give themselves an extra hour before the cut off. The initial pace to the Staircase was easy. Once on the Staircase to the top of Mt Bogong it was just a matter of plodding up. I arrived on the top in 1hr 50min and felt fine. But I was cold so I donned the thermal top and beanie. I think there were about 4 runners in front of me. It was total cloud cover and I was worried that I would get lost. This was avery common problem in previous race reports. The run to Cleve Cole hut was pleasant and just past the hut I stopped to look at the map, when a group of four runners caught me up, so I joined with them. One of them was Spud who would keep reappearing through the run.

The descent down to Big River was super steep and loose so I took it easy. The group of four pulled away down the hill, I wanted to conserve my knees. Arrived at the bottom at 3h.10. The eventual winner passed me here as I filled my water bottle. (Stu Gibson in 6.59.Great performance.)

The climb up from Big River was my favourite part of the day as I overtook about six people, and we passed through different terrain as we gained altitude. Just kept plodding up but felt strong all the way. At the top of the climb two more leaders overtook me. When we broke out onto the road the American runner Nate came past with a cheerful greeting. He said that the Big River hill had "kicked him in the keyster". I could see two 5.30am start runners about 100m ahead and tried to catch them but they slowly pulled away out of sight into the fog.

Fog rolled in and out so I was quite worried about navigation now that I was alone. Fortunately I didn't get lost, but I was never completely sure that I was on course as there are very few signs, and nobody about. Coming down to Langfords I took a big tumble in the mud when I was surprised to see a lady hidden in the bushes filming me! (She was a competitor's wife and I saw her another two times along the course) When I arrived at the bridge over the Aqueduct the fog cover limited visibility to 10 metres. Left or right?

After consulting the map I decided right but I wasn't 100% sure. After jogging 50m I saw a ghostly figure, when I called out "Is this the way to Langfords Gap?" the spectral figure said "Mmm, maybe" It was Ed! I saw the time was just going on to 5.30 so I sprinted to the checkpoint arriving at 5h.37 (I had till 6h.30 because of my early start)

I felt good so I was confident about making the 64k. After spending 15 mins at Langfords to refuel, I set off at a steady plod and arrived at Bogong High Plains Road at 5h.55 elapsed time. Coming up to this point I had run with a guy called Tim who had running poles, something I hadn't seen before.

After the road the track continues across the featureless high plains for another 10k before descending down to Dibbens Hut and up Swindlers Spur to Mt Hotham. This was the most challenging part of the course as the ground is strewn with nasty ankle twisting, foot bruising stones. It was hard to stay motivated and I tried to loudly count the snow poles as I passed them. At times I walk/ran as I was becoming tired. The cloud cover was heavy and mostly visibility was about 100m. I was all by myself for this whole period except for one 6.30am runner called Toby who slowly went past me. We had a brief chat and he pulled away.

At Pole 267 the track splits and surprisingly there was no signs posted. The cloud had cleared somewhat and I was surprised that I could not see Toby in the distance.

From Pole 267 the track makes its long descent down to Dibbens Hut. Soon after beginning the descent Tim reappeared and overtook me. The click clack of his sticks was quite disconcerting. He was really moving down the hill. Then Spud reappeared and overtook me powering down the hill. Then Toby overtook me again. He had missed the turn at Pole 267 and was loudly cursing as a rocketed down the hill. He was moving at an incredible rate. Near the bottom of the hill another 6.30am runner also flew passed me.

I took the down hill slowly as my knees hurt, and I definitely did not want to get injured. After getting water at the Cobungra river bridge I set off up Swindlers Spur. Its steep. Very steep. In fact the course now goes up for the next 10k to the finish apart from a few brief dips.

It was hard work climbing the hill but I started to get quite excited that I was going to finish soon. I made sure that I crammed in more space food sticks and a trail bar to keep up my energy level. I overtook Tim up the hill and then Spud. When we arrived at Derrick Hut (which was beautifully situated in a grassy field full of wildflowers), Spud was about 100m behind. By now I was dog tired and I was willing myself to run two poles and walk one. Finally we broke through the tree line and I could see the first ski lift at Mt Hotham. Eventually I could see cars parked near a summit and I guessed that must be the end. Spud had closed the gap a bit on some of the downhills and was probably only 20 metres behind when we commenced the final climb up the bitumen to the summit.

As usual the finish gives you a second wind, and I was able run most of the bitumen and then "sprint" to the cairn on the summit. Came in at 9hrs 57mins. It felt great to be there and we were rewarded with great views as the fog had finally lifted.

So my first ultra was over, and I survived without injury. Would I do it again? I hope not but never say never.