Been a year since my last post, that one was the 2015 Blackall 100. Time for a new post, and now the 2016 version.
2015 didn't go quite to plan, so the deal this year - come back do the 50 and smash it!! As much as you can smash 50km on a trail run anyway. Yep, doing half what I did last time around. But half of this run is still longer than a marathon and in some tough terrain, so planning required.
Starts with the usual over planning of what goes into the bags to leave at checkpoints. What I think I will eat and drink during the run. And since it usually ends up being something different on the day, the bags end up a bit full! Down to even bringing along spare shoes.
Weather forecast 15-29 with late rain. Estimated time of 5-6hrs so will probably miss the rain. But 29degrees, with a finish around the middle of the day I will cop that one. Prepare for hot weather!
Day before, course change. Smoke in the area, cant do the bluff section. Bit disappointing, that was the monster hill where I gained some time last year!
Night before. Checking out the updated course. Feel far more relaxed
this year compared to last. Probably because the people are I am talking
to are doing the 100k for the first time, and seem nervous as hell! I
know the feeling... Second year running picking up a random draw prize. This could be a good weekend...
Short drive from the caravan park to the start. Long enough for one song to kick the confidence in, and 'fire up', so to speak. Haven't loaded much onto the stereo. Find this one - Warumpi Band - From the Bush. "Listen to me, I'm from the bush, I'm talking to you, from the bush". Loud guitars, straight to the point lyrics. Yep, that will do!!! ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq6UjA7M8Pg )
Race day, kick off at 7am. Faint smell of smoke in the air early on, good decision to change the course. After the first few k's probably about 20 or so in front of me. I'm usually a slow starter so I might catch some later.
6k in, log across the track. I go left. The runner near me steps over the log and keeps going. Good thing I saw that, might have gone off track otherwise!
10k in people are passing me. Was the one who started too quickly??? No idea where I am in the field now.
Some technical downhills , in which I get passed again, but at least I regain it on the following uphill.
1st checkpoint. Going for a time this year, so no time to stop, grab my drink bottle from the drop bag. Even in the space of time to see my bag, grab a bottle and keep running, 2 runners go past me.
Next runner comes to say hello and have a bit of a chat. Scott from our local parkrun! That now makes 5 parkrunners from our area in the race - awesome!!! Then I lose another place....
Fuel up, first energy gel for the day. Mojito flavour apparently. I don't know what mojito is supposed to taste like. Perhaps it was called that, because the more realistic description of 'toothpaste gone off', isn't very marketable. Anyway, its functional, gives me energy. If eating rotten toothpaste makes me cover the distance faster, I'm up for it!!! A few more of those in the backpack for later on... Something to look forward to.....
By km 16, the road starts going up. This is the opportunity to make up time. Think about how often I will have breaks from running during the race this year. Answer - use it tactically. The steep hills cant be run up anyway. Keep the heart rate up on the uphills. Now I start making up places.
Run around the dam now. Seems rather peaceful here. Running on my own for a bit. Go past the cameraman in the back of the ute, give a wave and move on. Be interesting to see how that turns out in the race photos. Now onto the 4wd tracks and some more uphills. Come up to a pack of 3. Have a bit of a chat, and keep pushing hard. One goes with me, bit more of a chat about how the day is going. This is the great thing about ultras - the chance to do this! Cant do that in a 5k!
30km in - under 3 hours! The target of 5-6 hours looking well and truly doable now.
Down the hill into checkpoint 3, U turn and back up. By now, past a few more runners.
35-40km - all uphill. Looking at my GPS data - up to a 75m elevation gain in 1km. Nothing like the 173m gain of kilometre number 43 in last years 100k, but still enough to get my attention. Here I catch up to the leading female runner. Quick chat about how things are going - but now I see an opportunity to finish in the top 10. Maybe even sub 5hours is possible?
Final checkpoint - feeling good - going straight through - no filling water up here - only 10k to go.
Back on the single track. I remember you from last year...... In 2015, by the time I made it this far, it was cooling down, raining and saw lots of little frogs looking back at me as I went along. You're not going to beat me this time around!! Technical nature, dodging obstacles means slowing down a bit, probably wont get under 5hours. Fatigue setting in, and the last thing i want is to take a stack in this section. But hey - getting close to 5 when the goal was somewhere between 5 and 6 is awesome!
Out of the last of the single track, up up the last big hill. Manage to run it--- a bit. Came up to another runner. A few encouraging words, but he simply says 'I cant run'. Obviously struggling with fatigue. When I get to the finish - I'm not going anywhere. I'll be waiting by to say a big congratulations on finishing when he crosses the line.
Time for some more water - hang on - none left!!! Maybe I should have topped up at the last checkpoint. Not long left now.
Right turn into the QCCC and down the bitumen road to finish. Time to ring the crap out of that bell!!
Thats it! 9th place, 5hour, 1 minute 8 seconds. Unfinished business from last year - Done!! Great to have a run where not just everything goes to plan, but better than that. End result much better than expected.
A few hours time, now to see the first 100k runners come through.
So did the 50k feel like halfway? No - 50k off road, up steep hills it always a tough ask. Same area, but different race. 50k meant keeping up an intensity which just couldn't be done for 100k.
Back at the caravan park, everyone staying in block was also a competitor. Plenty of war stories swapped over breakfast, and great camaraderie amoungst all. Walking like penguins, yoga mats stretched out, and doing our best to manage any kind of stretch! Be feeling sore on Monday!
What is in store for 2017? Make sure I have the weekend spare. Time for 3 in a row. Maybe the 100km calls again.......
And before I go!
A big thank you to the organisers, and volunteers who make the event possible. Big thank you to the QCCC who kept bringing the food out afterwards. Having gluten free available was much appreciated
Thursday, 17 November 2016
Saturday, 7 November 2015
view from Blackall
First blog post, and first attempt at an epic run - the Blackall 100.
What is it about the ultra? I remember reading a book about running, that said if you do a marathon, people will think your a bit of a runner. But if you do an ultra there are people who will see it as superhuman. Well, after the previous runs I have done there is some truth to that, but it is effectively counterbalanced by people who think you are an idiot!!!
So what did I know about it before the start? Not much really. I didn't know anyone who had done it before. Didn't know much about the area either. Never run in the area before.
Completed 3 ultras before, but they were either on the road or a relatively flat dirt oval. What would be different about the trail? Did 7h46m for a road 50miler (about 80k). How much longer would an extra 20 take? And then how much would the trail slow you down? (Answer = not much idea!)
First step was to find out more! Check the website, check the race rules, check the profile, but most of all, look at the photos!! Look closely. What are they carrying? What do other runners appear to be doing? Can I pick out which brand of gear they are carrying? What shoes are they wearing? I see one runner is getting away with using a fuel belt? Can I do the same? (Answer = NO). Check the finish times. Is a top 10 finish possible? Maybe? 12-13hours might do it.
A 16 week program in the lead up had always prepared me well for marathons and ultras before, so time to work out when 16 weeks before is. I see there is a 30k trail I can do in there - that should be a great lead up run.
A few weeks later - broken toe. Bugger. Missed the 30k trail run.
Next - how I prepare for this one ? Think of some worst case scenarios. Race organisers have thought of one by asking us to carry a snake bite bandage. Will need plenty of calories. Got by on the gold coast 80k road run on liquids (various high energy drinks and sports drinks) and gels. Pack the same this time around but maybe some solid food also. Don't know what type I will feel like at the time, pack it in the food bags anyway. Add some extra glucose to the sports drinks.
Worst case scenarios. What if my shoes start to fall apart? OK, pack some spare shoes, one pair in the bag I will see at 60k, and another at the bag i will see at 70 and 80. There may be other things I feel like eating. Pack it anyway. OK, now those food bags are getting heavy.
Race requires a headlamp in case it gets dark. Make sure I have new batteries.
On to the event. The usual ritual of stuffing oneself full of high carbohydrate foods for 2 days before. No-one measure my blood triglycerides while I am doing this!!!
Short drive to the start from my caravan park. Need a motivational song. Check my Spotify playlist. Kasey Chambers 'stronger' is there. Yep, that will do.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6mzPaXf4ss
" I'm a little bit stronger,
I'm a little bit wiser,
It's a little bit clearer in my mind.
I can shout a bit louder,
I can feel a bit prouder,"
"I'm a little bit older,
I'm a little bit surer,
I can fight a bit harder against the tide."
"I'm a little bit braver,
I'm a little bit wilder,
I can stand a bit closer to the light.
I can stand a bit taller,
Like I wouldn't fall over,"
Etc. Etc. Etc........
Race day. No warm up for this run. Need every last bit of energy for run run itself. If i am going to cover a k warming up, it will be the first k of the race itself. Walking 50metres up from the carpark feels like expending too much effort!! The ideal would be to roll out of bed, and onto the start line. (First world problems are getting worse all the time!)
Race starts. Find myself near the front. Hang on. 99.something to go. Check my pace, settle into a 5min per k pace. A pack of 7 soon forms in front. Should I join them? NO. Stick to the race plan. Easy going so far, 5k in and it is still all roads! No tough stuff here.
First checkpoint at about 7k. Potato chips on the table. Not the sort of food I would have this early. Keep running. Some downhill stuff now into the falls. Had a plan to take a few walking breaks as I went along. Got passed by a few runners in the process. Over the suspension bridge and up some hills. Passed a few runners on the up hill. Through a gate being manned by the grim reaper! What are they getting at here??? A few more trails and into checkpoint 2, back where we started. Feeling good at this point. Sent the odd Facebook update during my breaks. Really looking for some inspiration from friends following. Plenty of that came from competitors anyway!
20-40k. Some real tough stuff here. Some steep downhill and uphills. Still feeling good. Top 10 finish looking like it might happen. Try running uphill. No, no, no, no and NO!. Too steep for that. Heart rate in the 140s even while walking. Look down and see that I am gaining time on other runners. New race tactic, power up the hills, walking is OK. Start a real battle with Megan who was running 3rd in the female competitors. For about the next 40k we found ourselves overtaking each other on the course. With plenty of encouraging words along the way and discussion of how things are going, even race tactics at one point.
About 40k in, trip, fall, splat.... Right calf cramp up. Try to stand up quickly, not going to happen! Need to stretch out first. Not long to checkpoint 3 now.
Next leg, onwards and upwards. And upwards. And upwards. Did I say something about going upwards?? My GPS at the end stated there was a 178m elevation gain in one of those kilometres. Still every uphill was a chance to put the powerwalk on, keep the heart rate up. Track levels out, time for some more consistent running here, but the knee decides it doesn't like it. Downhills become a problem. Have to walk all the downhills. Need to get that cowbell to take home!! Some encouraging words from some of the 50k runners. Flats and uphills going OK though. Megan passes me again!! More hills, some serious looking 4wd tracks. No go for the urban yuppie suv's on these roads.
Worst case scenario. Did I say something about a shoes falling apart? My over planning and paranoia came in handy here. Knew I had a new pair to put on at 60k. Somehow it feels good to put plan B into action.
Checkpoint 4. Real smorgasbord set up here. Find myself wanting to check out all the food! Down some watermelon, some potato, some banana. Great helpers at the checkpoint to make sure our water bottles are filled up. Grab the headlamp from my bag a head off again. A rocky downhill. No!!!
Come across a creek. The track goes straight through it. Can climb over some rocks though to avoid getting our shoes wet. Get caught at the bottom by another runner, but am able to then regain time on the next up. Only 10ks between checkpoints now. That sounds easier.
Checkpoint 5. Plenty of food and plenty of helpful volunteers here also. Find myself checking out the ingredient list of the stock of 'paleo bars'. Can't help being a dietitian sometimes... Spend a while refueling before taking off again.
Some easier dirt roads for a while now. When we loop back to the same checkpoint. Easier road, but fatigue biting hard now. Got the song stuck in my head, and it has got to the chorus.
" I thought it was good, I thought it was fine,
I thought it was just a matter of time,
The sun would shine."
But it is getting darker, and starting to rain. Need a new motivational song next year!!! One that doesn't have a negative twist when it gets to teh chorus! In reality though, the rain cooled things down, and was fairly light. Not complaining there.
80-90k. Things slowing down, fatigue hitting, starting to get dark. Can I make it to the next checkpoint before putting my high vis jacket and headlamp on. Not quite. Start doing mathmatetical games. If I run at 7km/hr what time will I finish. What about 8? Or 6? No risk of pulling out. I want that cowbell!!!
Back to checkpoint 4. Only 10k to go. Will the Cliff Young shuffle work? Useful tactic on the road to stretch out your endurance. Done it before. This time, well, no. Cliffy wasn't a trail runner. Shuffle on the trails and you will trip over!!
Those worst case scenarios. OK so I had new batteries, but I had never checked how long the battery in my headlamp would last!! Run it on low power, focus the beam. 2016 plan - get a new headlamp and check how long a battery lasts!!! Just got overtaken. Much better headlamp than mine, so I try to keep up. Through some single track for a while. Then back out onto some roads. Not long to the finish now!! Rain comes down again. Don't tend to motive much though, just thinking of the finish. Start making plans to ring the crap out of that cowbell!!!! Power past 2 runners on an uphill. Road flattens out, they pass me. Nothing in the tank left to try to catch them. Just keep it going to the finish!!!
Made it!!! Ring that cowbell!!!! Photographer asks for a second take!! Must have been too aggressive first time !! Had to give it a ring!! Tremendous feeling at the finish, and great reception from the organisers and other runners. Blankets at the ready waiting for us. They were needed!!
A bit disappointed with my time in one way. Was hoping to be about an hour faster. Hindsight tells me that I should have stuck the my nutrition plan. The knee playing up in the last 30k was a big factor too, probably a bigger one. Kind of forgot about it on the course with concentrating on the run. Unpacking my bags fpund more of the high energy drinks than i planned on taking home. Know better for next year!
Time to share some stories from the trails with the other finishers. Time to get some sleep now. Race organiser sees me doing the slow penguin walk and offers to bring my car up to the door! Even thinks to crank up the heaters to full blast! Awesome!!!
More stories shared at the presentations the next day. I want that cowbell seemed to be a recurring theme. They sure hit the mark with the race medal for this one!
Big thank you to the organisers, volunteers and other competitors. Made for a great day. The analyst in me finds it easy to pont the things that I could have done better, but then it occurs to me. Finish 17th male, after still being top 10 at 92km. Tough last 10k, but I made it!!!
Any comments, feedback or even your own blackall experiences welcome!!
What is it about the ultra? I remember reading a book about running, that said if you do a marathon, people will think your a bit of a runner. But if you do an ultra there are people who will see it as superhuman. Well, after the previous runs I have done there is some truth to that, but it is effectively counterbalanced by people who think you are an idiot!!!
So what did I know about it before the start? Not much really. I didn't know anyone who had done it before. Didn't know much about the area either. Never run in the area before.
Completed 3 ultras before, but they were either on the road or a relatively flat dirt oval. What would be different about the trail? Did 7h46m for a road 50miler (about 80k). How much longer would an extra 20 take? And then how much would the trail slow you down? (Answer = not much idea!)
First step was to find out more! Check the website, check the race rules, check the profile, but most of all, look at the photos!! Look closely. What are they carrying? What do other runners appear to be doing? Can I pick out which brand of gear they are carrying? What shoes are they wearing? I see one runner is getting away with using a fuel belt? Can I do the same? (Answer = NO). Check the finish times. Is a top 10 finish possible? Maybe? 12-13hours might do it.
A 16 week program in the lead up had always prepared me well for marathons and ultras before, so time to work out when 16 weeks before is. I see there is a 30k trail I can do in there - that should be a great lead up run.
A few weeks later - broken toe. Bugger. Missed the 30k trail run.
Next - how I prepare for this one ? Think of some worst case scenarios. Race organisers have thought of one by asking us to carry a snake bite bandage. Will need plenty of calories. Got by on the gold coast 80k road run on liquids (various high energy drinks and sports drinks) and gels. Pack the same this time around but maybe some solid food also. Don't know what type I will feel like at the time, pack it in the food bags anyway. Add some extra glucose to the sports drinks.
Worst case scenarios. What if my shoes start to fall apart? OK, pack some spare shoes, one pair in the bag I will see at 60k, and another at the bag i will see at 70 and 80. There may be other things I feel like eating. Pack it anyway. OK, now those food bags are getting heavy.
Race requires a headlamp in case it gets dark. Make sure I have new batteries.
On to the event. The usual ritual of stuffing oneself full of high carbohydrate foods for 2 days before. No-one measure my blood triglycerides while I am doing this!!!
Short drive to the start from my caravan park. Need a motivational song. Check my Spotify playlist. Kasey Chambers 'stronger' is there. Yep, that will do.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6mzPaXf4ss
" I'm a little bit stronger,
I'm a little bit wiser,
It's a little bit clearer in my mind.
I can shout a bit louder,
I can feel a bit prouder,"
"I'm a little bit older,
I'm a little bit surer,
I can fight a bit harder against the tide."
"I'm a little bit braver,
I'm a little bit wilder,
I can stand a bit closer to the light.
I can stand a bit taller,
Like I wouldn't fall over,"
Etc. Etc. Etc........
Race day. No warm up for this run. Need every last bit of energy for run run itself. If i am going to cover a k warming up, it will be the first k of the race itself. Walking 50metres up from the carpark feels like expending too much effort!! The ideal would be to roll out of bed, and onto the start line. (First world problems are getting worse all the time!)
Race starts. Find myself near the front. Hang on. 99.something to go. Check my pace, settle into a 5min per k pace. A pack of 7 soon forms in front. Should I join them? NO. Stick to the race plan. Easy going so far, 5k in and it is still all roads! No tough stuff here.
First checkpoint at about 7k. Potato chips on the table. Not the sort of food I would have this early. Keep running. Some downhill stuff now into the falls. Had a plan to take a few walking breaks as I went along. Got passed by a few runners in the process. Over the suspension bridge and up some hills. Passed a few runners on the up hill. Through a gate being manned by the grim reaper! What are they getting at here??? A few more trails and into checkpoint 2, back where we started. Feeling good at this point. Sent the odd Facebook update during my breaks. Really looking for some inspiration from friends following. Plenty of that came from competitors anyway!
20-40k. Some real tough stuff here. Some steep downhill and uphills. Still feeling good. Top 10 finish looking like it might happen. Try running uphill. No, no, no, no and NO!. Too steep for that. Heart rate in the 140s even while walking. Look down and see that I am gaining time on other runners. New race tactic, power up the hills, walking is OK. Start a real battle with Megan who was running 3rd in the female competitors. For about the next 40k we found ourselves overtaking each other on the course. With plenty of encouraging words along the way and discussion of how things are going, even race tactics at one point.
About 40k in, trip, fall, splat.... Right calf cramp up. Try to stand up quickly, not going to happen! Need to stretch out first. Not long to checkpoint 3 now.
Next leg, onwards and upwards. And upwards. And upwards. Did I say something about going upwards?? My GPS at the end stated there was a 178m elevation gain in one of those kilometres. Still every uphill was a chance to put the powerwalk on, keep the heart rate up. Track levels out, time for some more consistent running here, but the knee decides it doesn't like it. Downhills become a problem. Have to walk all the downhills. Need to get that cowbell to take home!! Some encouraging words from some of the 50k runners. Flats and uphills going OK though. Megan passes me again!! More hills, some serious looking 4wd tracks. No go for the urban yuppie suv's on these roads.
Worst case scenario. Did I say something about a shoes falling apart? My over planning and paranoia came in handy here. Knew I had a new pair to put on at 60k. Somehow it feels good to put plan B into action.
Checkpoint 4. Real smorgasbord set up here. Find myself wanting to check out all the food! Down some watermelon, some potato, some banana. Great helpers at the checkpoint to make sure our water bottles are filled up. Grab the headlamp from my bag a head off again. A rocky downhill. No!!!
Come across a creek. The track goes straight through it. Can climb over some rocks though to avoid getting our shoes wet. Get caught at the bottom by another runner, but am able to then regain time on the next up. Only 10ks between checkpoints now. That sounds easier.
Checkpoint 5. Plenty of food and plenty of helpful volunteers here also. Find myself checking out the ingredient list of the stock of 'paleo bars'. Can't help being a dietitian sometimes... Spend a while refueling before taking off again.
Some easier dirt roads for a while now. When we loop back to the same checkpoint. Easier road, but fatigue biting hard now. Got the song stuck in my head, and it has got to the chorus.
" I thought it was good, I thought it was fine,
I thought it was just a matter of time,
The sun would shine."
But it is getting darker, and starting to rain. Need a new motivational song next year!!! One that doesn't have a negative twist when it gets to teh chorus! In reality though, the rain cooled things down, and was fairly light. Not complaining there.
80-90k. Things slowing down, fatigue hitting, starting to get dark. Can I make it to the next checkpoint before putting my high vis jacket and headlamp on. Not quite. Start doing mathmatetical games. If I run at 7km/hr what time will I finish. What about 8? Or 6? No risk of pulling out. I want that cowbell!!!
Back to checkpoint 4. Only 10k to go. Will the Cliff Young shuffle work? Useful tactic on the road to stretch out your endurance. Done it before. This time, well, no. Cliffy wasn't a trail runner. Shuffle on the trails and you will trip over!!
Those worst case scenarios. OK so I had new batteries, but I had never checked how long the battery in my headlamp would last!! Run it on low power, focus the beam. 2016 plan - get a new headlamp and check how long a battery lasts!!! Just got overtaken. Much better headlamp than mine, so I try to keep up. Through some single track for a while. Then back out onto some roads. Not long to the finish now!! Rain comes down again. Don't tend to motive much though, just thinking of the finish. Start making plans to ring the crap out of that cowbell!!!! Power past 2 runners on an uphill. Road flattens out, they pass me. Nothing in the tank left to try to catch them. Just keep it going to the finish!!!
Made it!!! Ring that cowbell!!!! Photographer asks for a second take!! Must have been too aggressive first time !! Had to give it a ring!! Tremendous feeling at the finish, and great reception from the organisers and other runners. Blankets at the ready waiting for us. They were needed!!
A bit disappointed with my time in one way. Was hoping to be about an hour faster. Hindsight tells me that I should have stuck the my nutrition plan. The knee playing up in the last 30k was a big factor too, probably a bigger one. Kind of forgot about it on the course with concentrating on the run. Unpacking my bags fpund more of the high energy drinks than i planned on taking home. Know better for next year!
Time to share some stories from the trails with the other finishers. Time to get some sleep now. Race organiser sees me doing the slow penguin walk and offers to bring my car up to the door! Even thinks to crank up the heaters to full blast! Awesome!!!
More stories shared at the presentations the next day. I want that cowbell seemed to be a recurring theme. They sure hit the mark with the race medal for this one!
Big thank you to the organisers, volunteers and other competitors. Made for a great day. The analyst in me finds it easy to pont the things that I could have done better, but then it occurs to me. Finish 17th male, after still being top 10 at 92km. Tough last 10k, but I made it!!!
Any comments, feedback or even your own blackall experiences welcome!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)