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.