Badwater 135 Tracking

This is a direct copy/pasta from an email received this morning from the race director (apart from my tracking link)

Track Adam directly here-
https://styrlabsbadwater135.maprogress.com/?id=10938

**The race starts at 1pm Tuesday July 11 Sydney time (this is 8pm July 10 Nevada time). Adams wave starts at 9:30pm which will be 2:30pm Sydney time on Tuesday. Grant Maughan’s wave (the fasties!) will start at 11pm local or 4pm Sydney time.

Hello 2017 STYR Labs Badwater 135 competitors and crew members!

There will be lots of ways to follow all the race action at the world’s toughest foot race, so please bookmark these pages, follow our various social media feeds, and spread the word to your family, friends, and running clubs!

Follow the 2017 webcast (including real-time GPS tracking of all runners; see information about that below):

http://www.badwater.com/2017-styr-labs-badwater-135-webcast/

Follow the 2017 time splits and results:

http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/results.php?bw_eid=83&bwr=Go

Follow the race on Twitter (@Badwater):

http://twitter.com/badwater

Official Hashtag: #Badwater135 (Please use this in all your social media posts!)

Follow the race staff’s live photostream on Instagram (@BadwaterHQ)

http://instagram.com/badwaterHQ

Follow the race director’s live photostream on Instagram (@ChrisKostman):

http://instagram.com/chriskostman

Follow the race staff’s photostream archive on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventurecorps/

Follow the race director’s photostream archive on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/

Join the Facebook conversation:

http://www.facebook.com/badwater135

Download the July 2017 issue of BADWATER Magazine:

http://www.adventurecorps.com/downloads/bw/2017July.pdf

Follow the 2017 webcast:

http://www.badwater.com/2017-styr-labs-badwater-135-webcast/

TRACKLEADERS GPS TRACKING

I’m excited to announce that we will be using MAProgress.com to track each runner in the 2017 STYR Labs Badwater 135. It’s an amazing system for live-tracking racers using a very small GPS unit. Just a little box about 2.5×2.5x.75″, it mounts most easily to the top of the shoulder strap on an hydration pack, and can also can be worn with an elastic strap around the upper arm. This system was used at Badwater Salton Sea in May and they were simple and unobtrusive. You can “replay” the entire race again here to see how great this system is:

http://www.badwater.com/2017-badwater-salton-sea-webcast/

Family, friends, and fans back home will be able to track the progress of each runner in the race. The MAProgress map will be embedded in our Live Webcast page:

http://www.badwater.com/2017-styr-labs-badwater-135-webcast/

Coast to Kosci 2016 C2K Guest Post- Adam Kavanagh

Coast to Kosci 2016 – Adam Kavanagh

How did it come to this?

With GNW just a fresh memory, the application week for C2K had suddenly crept up on me. I knew we couldn’t afford for me to apply and I knew that Kat wouldn’t be happy with me applying. However, I am useless when it comes to peer pressure. With the voices of Lisa, Adrian and Geoff ringing in my ears “It would be a shame to waste the fitness…” I applied at the 11th hour, thinking there would be no way that I would get accepted on my first entry.

So on the 2nd of October, when the email came in at Broke saying you have been accepted – I was a little bit surprised and terrified, especially as I was nursing a bad lower back that had crept up on me after PT on the 30th September.

Training

Well, that is an interesting concept, isn’t it? My lower back was causing me issues sleeping, walking, sitting, and all things in between, so training went right out of the window.

I remember some interesting motivational phone calls from Liz and Adrian telling me what I should be doing. I told them I was doing everything I could based on what the physio was telling me – but more importantly what my back was saying, too.

I know it wasn’t enough. I know I should have done more. Which are two reasons that made me keep putting one foot in front of the other. However, I had done substantially more Km each week in the lead to C2K than I had done in the lead up to GNW, so I know I was in a better state because of that. I know that I wasn’t helped when 2 weeks before the run I stood on broken glass and badly bruised my heel – not the best prep’, there, either!

Race Week

I don’t think I slept properly for the week before the run. Everything had been thrown into disarray by Adrian not being able to crew for me at the last minute. Fortunately for me (not him) Dave was in the right place at the right time and he agreed to help me out.

I think I had an easier time of things on Thursday morning than Lisa did sorting her car out. We could have taken the jeep but we would have been nowhere near as comfortable! I was pretty quiet on the way down to Eden. It was a long way, and I certainly got a bit overawed by roads and views once we got south of Canberra.

The pre-race dinner was great, but I was definitely feeling out of my depth with the talent of the other runners that were there that evening. And the support crews. I felt bad that I hadn’t organised fancy crew shirts. I had barely organised anything – it had all been done on the back of a fag packet by text. My crew weren’t even sure if I’d be running until 2 weeks before! (Nor was I to be fair.)

Race Day

And so the day arrived. Friday 9 December, and we were watching the sun come up on twofold bay. I felt completely out of my depth as everyone seemed so calm and in control, and everyone seemed to be here on their second or third run – I felt like the only newbie.

I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and the understated atmosphere at the start. I tried to touch the water but there was no way I was getting saltwater on my trainers and wet feet at the start of the run. The fact that we were all going to be going from sea level all the way to the summit of Kosciusko didn’t even enter my head – the numbers were just far too big to comprehend.

All too soon and yet at the same time not soon enough, we were off, through the crowds of cheering crew and onto the firetrail up the hill. I have to wonder if the crews knew exactly what they were in for when they were cheering away at that stage? I don’t think they had any easier time of it than we runners did, with the lack of sleep and food!

I fell in with a group of people pretty early on in the first 24km: Adam Connor, Jane Trumper, Roger Hanney, Pater Caligourili. I had run with Adam before at the inaugural southern highland challenge, and I knew Roger from Hoka. Jane I knew because she had pushed in front of me twice at dinner the night before 😉 Peter was also a newbie with me although I do remember his comment – ‘you can virtually coast from GNW to this on your fitness’ I certainly didn’t believe him, but it made me feel better and slightly less nervous! Roger and Adam surpassed themselves with some seriously un-PC chat which made me laugh a lot. I stayed very silent though – these guys knew each other and I was the newcomer!

We passed Rolland Hassel, and Hailey Maxwell, and then they passed us and that seemed to be the way the morning was panning out, a bit of chat and meeting some new cool people. Jan went passed us on the uphill somewhere and then we caught him back up. Towards the end of the first 24km, we all started to thin out and spread out. Peter and I got into CP1 together – but his crew were nowhere to be seen so he went to the station and I got looked after by the crew. The first of MANY times they would be helping me out.

Everything was going nicely to plan – albeit with only having completed 10% of the race! Although the runners had spread out, it was only by 1-2Km, with several people in that space. It became a really nice feature of the race that I got to see the same crew members time and time again. Rolland Hassel’s crew were great, David (Peter’s crew) was really great as well and he always made sure to say hello and offer a word on the way past – for the whole race. I think a special mention has to go to Roger Hanney’s crew in the Tailwind bus. They were consistently positive and friendly and I saw them loads over the first 30 hours of the race. I didn’t see too much of Jane’s crew until later in the day when I called SJ Lisa because she looked like her from a distance and I thought I was expecting to see them around the next corner!

 

As the day progressed, so did the wind increase – seemingly exponentially. I know that my crew were worried about the fact that I wasn’t running with anybody, but I had seen and chatted to people. It also gave me a way to save energy and just focus on the job in hand. It was quite funny how you could pick the vibe from someone as to whether or not they wanted to chat almost 10m before you got to them, or them to you, too!

One of the moments early in the day had me jumping about 6 foot and moving quicker than I did all weekend. About 8 foot in front of me just baking on the track was a red bellied black snake that was about 2m long. He was just sat there looking at me and although I tried to get my camera out, I was too far away by then, and I had to shout back to Roger Hanney behind me that he should probably cross over because of the snake. Did not want to see any more of them through the day – I expected that with all the traffic on course, they would be long gone.

One of the things that crept into my head was the race report where Adam Connor talked about shaving down but not well enough and it causing him some issues. I thought I had shaved down well, but left enough manscaping so as not to cause issues. Oh no. How very wrong I was. I was causing myself some big issues down there, and no amount of Vaseline seemed to be quelling the burning fire in my crotch. Fire crotch for a whole new reason than normal!

The road into Cathcart was a beast. The wind was absolutely brutal and it was right on the nose, as well. It certainly sapped a great deal of energy going into the wind. It was here that I started to see Kristy Lovegrove in front of me. I had followed her into town, but she was leaving just as I got to the pit stop of noodles and spuds and a chance to wash my hands. It was gold. She then stayed resolutely 500m-1Km or more in front of me for the rest of the afternoon. More on that later.

It was after we turned off the Monaro Freeway that the crew dressed up. I saw Liz’s skull with an irish hat on and thought “that’s very interesting – not very Liz – but very interesting nonetheless.” It then took me several minutes to realise that in the impromptu stop, they had all dressed up. I was glad they had stopped though, I needed more Vaseline and sun screen!

 

Once the wind died as the sun went down it was absolutely beautiful up there. The views were great and it was really really peaceful. Exactly why I wanted to be out there. I certainly didn’t want to be out there amongst the wind and the road kill that littered the verges. That was stinky!

By the time the sun went down at Checkpoint 3, I had somehow managed to pass Kristy – but it wasn’t for long. She just flew down the hill after the CP and I remember thinking – I wish my quads could do that. But it was not to be! “Wind her up and watch her go’ was the response from her crew when I commented on how quick she was down the hill. I caught Graeme Wye going up the hill – he was suffering from indigestion – and you could hear it from a long way off – they were some massive burps!

At about 2100, I finally got someone to run with me and it was great. I told Dave that it didn’t matter if he didn’t want to talk – or that if he did and I didn’t answer I wasn’t being rude I was just conserving energy – I think that is what had done me so well by that stage – saving energy, etc, etc. I told him I’d be quiet and then talked at him all the way up the hill to the wind turbines. Which was a massive problem because I forgot to eat or drink. Until we got to just shy of the top. I was in the wrong clothes, with no energy – big mess up.

This is where I think I started to annoy Lisa – right where she started running with me. Because of my fascination with numbers and planning times and talking things through interminably in my head. I remember one of the things I had been thinking about all day was sleeping at a similar stage to when I did on GNW – 110Km. Lisa let me try a little bit later on than that – but when her and Liz were chatting about people coming – I had to jump up and carry on – annoyed that I’d wasted time. I remember we walked past Nicky Redl at some stage – she wasn’t impressed when I made a comment that we still had more than half the race to go. After what Brick had told me at GNW – I’m now a firm believer that the halfway point is actually about the 60-70% mark on longer runs.

At Dalgetty was where I was told I could have a sleep. I was well within my time frames and everything was going well – so the crew were happy that I could have a sleep. The hall was sooooo loud and soooo hot, though. I ended up lying there hating everyone for being so loud and not actually asleep at all. It made me really angry with myself. When I went to the toilet and realized the car crash that was occurring in my shorts – that compounded my grumpiness. Although I at least managed to use the toilet. Lesson #1 – if you feel like crap – do one – it will probably help a great deal.

So when Liz and I stepped off at about 0330, I was not in a very good place at all. It was tough. Every step hurt my chaffed bits; and it started to get cold. I remember telling Liz “All I want to do is cry.” “Well just fcuking cry then.” Is not quite the response I expected, while at the same time it WAS exactly the response I expected and needed.

As the sun came up, I went through periods where every single part of me was trembling. I certainly considered quitting – many many times. I remember at 0730 thinking – I can be in the car by 0745 and all this pain will be gone by 0800. I also distinctly remember thinking “How on earth can I tell Dave, Lisa, and Liz that I’m quitting because it’s tough? ‘Thanks for giving up 4 days and driving for hours but I’m just a bit tired and broken – we can chill at a café in Jindabyne until we can check into our hotel for the night and then watch everyone who didn’t quit get their akubras.’” I also thought how uncomfortable that 6 hour drive home would be in utter silence. I think I hoped I would have a really bad injury that would then enable me to justify withdrawing when it finally got diagnosed.

Liz just stayed a little bit ahead of me – always out of reach unless I asked for something to eat or drink – which was often. And usually followed by a wee as well. The race doctor had said to drink to thirst – but the dry air and the cough meant that I permanently felt thirsty even when I knew I wasn’t. I have no idea how she had the patience to put up with me.

When the roving doctor pulled up alongside me I don’t think I was quick enough with my thumbs-up. He leant out of the car and told me that I was fine. That I had hours until the cut off at Charlotte’s Pass. That there were people behind me who were also fine and were going to make the cut. That was the final thing I needed. How could I quit 17 hours before the cut off and then look people in the eye when I went home? Time to keep plodding on and see what occurred.

Liz kept me pushing through the remains of the dawn chill and then let me sleep for 10 mins when the sun had come up. Just what I needed. In the driveway of a house. I had to answer the call of nature just across the road. Oh how I wish I had waited a few minutes and round the corner and I would have been in peace and quiet, without getting disturbed… That sleep in the sun worked wonders and seemed to recharge my batteries.

Liz was able to keep me pushing through from there until Jindabyne. Again it was the roving doctor who helped me out. I had sent Dave off 8km to the CP, which was a mistake. Billy the doctor gave us a ginger beer and topped up our water. I also got to use the loo at the lake. Lesson #2 – never pass up a loo. It was at this stage that we went past one of the people who ended up retiring. He was in a bad way and Liz gave him the rest of the ginger beer. His wife asked us about our poles and if they helped our knees to which we said yes. She then turned round to her husband and said “See – I told you so!” Just what I am sure he wanted to hear after 180Km!

The caravan park was another opportunity for a break with a sleep and a feed and calypso ice lollies! By this stage I had found the slather in the car and the Vaseline had been relegated. The slather had tea tree oil in and that was cleaning things up down there far better than Vaseline ever could. Gentle antiseptic worked wonders. I think I would still be chaffed now without it.

I had slowly frittered through my spare time, but it wasn’t too much of a drama. Now Lisa had the job of dragging me up from Jindabyne to the summit through Perisher and Charlotte’s Pass. There was still 50Km to go and it felt like it as all going to be uphill – until we got there and realised there was LOADS of down hill, as well! Lisa had a job on, convincing me not to sit down every single time I wanted to eat or drink. Fortunately there was absolutely no shade anywhere – so I knew that sitting down in the sun was not the most sensible thing for us to be doing.

And then Liz produced the Umbrella! Shade – on a stick! I think it made a world of difference as the sun was merciless. And wearing a reflective vest didn’t help the situation. Oh how I regretted not being able to get a very thin and skinny running one prior to the race…

One of the moments that I did find funny was a slight navigational error by the crew. They added another 5Km onto what we had to do. Which came at exactly the same time that Scottish Michael told us the hills were only undulating from where we at that stage – a complete lie! They felt pretty bad about it – but not as bad as Lisa and I did when we saw the two valleys we had to descend into and then climb out of – wish I could remember the name. I know that Diggers Creek was at the bottom of one of them, with a hotel and a lake at the same place. They were tough hills.

I think I actually slept on my way out of the second one into Smiggins. Lisa was reading things out from Facebook and I said to her – “I have no idea what you’ve been talking about for the past 20 minutes.” I was trying to stay awake but failing miserably. We got a good feed in Perisher, which was awesome. And then it was over to Liz to get me up to Charlotte’s Pass. I felt bad not getting Dave to run – but I knew that Lisa and Liz would bollock me more than him and give me a bit more tough love. He’d be nice to me – which wasn’t what I would be needing!

Just short of Charlotte’s Pass was where it started to get cold as the sun was coming down. I had a plan with what I wanted to wear, but it hadn’t survived contact with the crew. Dave had taken my ron hill tracksters up to the checkpoint – but I needed warm kit where the car was. I argued with Lisa and Liz and told them what I wanted – but couldn’t understand why I couldn’t have them! Liz then proceeded to try and pull my merino thermal pants over the swollen legs and trainers. I remember the unseen look on her face when I told her “I told you that wouldn’t work” the silence and the pause spoke more than anything. But we eventually got the pants on and I trudged up the road with a blanket around my bum, arguing with Liz about not wanting to look like a hobo.

I think that was the worst behaved that I was for the crew over the course of the run. I think by that stage I also knew that we were going to finish. I knew it was going to hurt, though: my quads were cactus, my right knee was sore, as was my right hip and right thigh felt like it had been caulked. When I told Liz during my low spot (4 hours) she told to politely be quiet when I suggested maybe I had fractured my femur in my hip joint like Lisa’s friend had done…

After a bit of too and fro with kit checks and then some questions by the doctor, we were off. Not quite at the breakneck speed that a seemingly crippled Jane Trumper was coming down the hill with a not quite so broken looking Roger Hanney chasing her down. It was a lovely evening on the hill, I was gutted that I hadn’t been able to get the crew up in the day time so we could get some snaps with a view.

Just before we got to the snow crossing, we saw Jo Hedges and Pete Colagiuri again which was great. Jo and I have now been in a few races together – and apart from CP Ultra – he has finished in front of me. It’s great to see people on new runs. Crossing the snow was a little bit worse than it needed to be – certainly for Lisa. I will be honest, there were enough people with Dave and Liz looking after her, so I cracked on. I was really worried she wasn’t going to make it across, but I don’t think there was ANY danger of Liz letting that happen. I remember hearing Lisa say “I’m going to turn back” and Liz’s response was “No, you won’t.” I knew we were all going to make it when I heard that! It wasn’t until the way back that you could see quite how steep the run off from the snow actually was – you would have been sliding a LONG way!

The path after that was circuitous to say the least. A mixture of geo textile filled with rocks, and then smooth slabs. Until finally we got round the corner and there was the Streslecki Monument. The picture says it all – I was exhausted. I couldn’t face trying to get up on top – I would never have made it down again. All I wanted to do was make sure we got off the hill in as good a time as possible – so we got about three photos and that was it. I wanted to get back across the snow before everyone else in case there was someone who freaked out. I needn’t have worried – Lisa and Liz sprinted across and it was me holding things up because stepping down the snow steps was murderous on my right knee. The other two people who had summited with us were then off and past me. It was all I could do to keep Simon Roberts behind me with his bad knee. Although I was on the summit with Adam Connor, he managed to beat me by about 4 minutes. I had actually spent a fair bit of time with everyone who was in the few places ahead of me throughout the previous two days!

Something that Liz told me was that when I get near to a deadline or a hurdle, I switched off. That certainly happened with 1km to finish. I kept falling asleep and it was all that Dave could do to keep me on the straight and narrow and not go crashing into the wall on my right, or off the cliff on my left. I really wanted to try and keep my place – I didn’t want to get caught towards the end so I did try and speed it up. Which must have been laughable for Dave because it probably wasn’t as fast as I thought it was! I kept hoping it was just around the corner, but as with everything in the latter stages of the race, 1km felt like 1.5km and five minutes felt like ten. When I saw the finish line I did try to run. I really wanted to, but it was more of a shuffle into Paul Every’s arms over the finish! They got me a chair and a brew and that was it – I had finished 240Km that I never thought I would attempt, leave alone finish.

As my brew was handed to me I tried to stand up to get into the car but my knees were non-existent and I had to get lifted into the car by Diane and another lady. I do remember making the effort (it felt like I was making an effort!) to thank Billy for his wise words that got me to where I was.

But the race wasn’t over – it was a hell of a drive down to Jindabyne and I felt like I didn’t have the strength to move in the back of the car. Liz and Lisa did a great job driving down and keeping us on the road. It felt like the drive took forever – I thought I was sleeping although Liz assures me they were just micro naps. She must’ve been threaders with my attempts at crap chat to keep her awake. Although the stench coming off me should have been enough to keep anyone awake – I stank like the dead wombats I had seen by the side of the road!

It certainly took a fair bit of effort to get undressed that night. Point to note for when I crew in the future – get your own room so you don’t have to worry about the smell or the snoring or anything else that you do annoying your long-suffering crew. I made some very strange noises through the night when I got up for my old man wee. It took about 5 mins to get 3 metres to the toilet.

Lessons

SO aside from a new hat and some confused memories, what did I get out of the race? A new found appreciation for what is possible when you are working with a great team who are as focused on the outcome as you are. Probably more focused in fact as they had a little bit more rest in order to be rational about things. Some actual lessons:

  1. If you feel like crap – do one – it will probably help.
  2. Never pass up the opportunity to use a loo.
  3. Never use Vaseline again – not down there. Never use bum vas on your lips, either.
  4. Always carry an umbrella in your car
  5. Always be polite to your crew – and everybody else around you. You can’t do anything without them. If your tired plans don’t come to fruition – listen to theirs – it’ll be better.

It has taken me two weeks to write this – I’m sure it will have taken you that long to read, as well. I’m still a bit overawed by what we did together. I take every opportunity to wear my hat now – much to the style chagrin of Kathryn. I have to wonder what is acceptable though, do I wear it everywhere as a crew cap? I said I would never do it again – but I can’t say that now. I would love to go under 40 hours and I think with the knowledge I have now, that I would be able to achieve that. Although I think I would rather crew for someone and give them the opportunity to complete this undertaking.

I need something to train and aim for. I’ve not got the training motivation at the moment. Which is probably good as it will give me a chance to rest. All I have done in the past two weeks is eat drink and sleep. I didn’t have an appreciation for how tired I would be after the race. I nearly got a migraine on the Tuesday at work, which hasn’t happened for 15 years.

 

All that remains if you’ve gotten this far is to say thank you very much for enabling me to say I finished Coast to Kosci in 2016. A Miler and 240Km this year. What next?

 

Ultra Trail Australia 50km UTA50 Sarah Connor Guest Post

UTA 50k 2016

 

 

This race is awesome. Whether you race, spectate or crew, there is something for everyone.

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Was overly anxious about this race all week leading into it. Number 1 son had been unwell and my sleeping patterns had been quite broken. Work was insane all week. My right ITB had been giving me grief just walking down stairs and all wanted was for the race to be over by the Wednesday beforehand.

 

I worked at the UTA Expo the day before the race. Whilst it was great fun, it may not have been the best idea to stand up all day, the day before a 50k race. Dinner was very late, but I was hydrated through the day, which turned out to be a good idea as race day was quite warm.

 

Thanks to the Noosa NUTRS, we had accommodation very close to the start. Race morning dawned after a terrible sleep (perfectly normal for most runners I hear).

The start was heaving by the time we got there at 6am. Such a great sight to see!

 

Anxiety levels were peaking and after some wise words from Summit Sister Bek , took myself off to watch the 100k runners come down road to see Adam and all the others that were running. Did some warm ups while chatting Belinda Allison in the car park. A few yoga moves later, anxiety was done to more manageable levels and I was taking off my jacket in preparation for the start.

 

I was really happy to be in start wave 4 this year. Started at the back with some of the Summit Sisters, took off a bit too fast through the crowd and up the hill (Note next year start in the middle of the wave and listen to what others say!).

First 5 k is on road to spread out the field before going down the Giant Staircase. It’s a bit of a killer as its quite hilly. Good warm up though.

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Photo credit- Rebekah Markey

Passed back through the start area and waved to all my friends were crewing and spectating this year – such a boost to the ego to hear your name called! Gavin Markey made me giggle using the road cone as megaphone!! Classic. That image stuck in my head for quite a while.

 

Through to the Giant Staircase via Clifftop walk – again probably a bit fast. I don’t know if it happens to everyone, but there was a runner who kept running and walking and just annoyed the crap out of me. I suddenly realised that it was not their fault and soon settled down into a good rhythm. Top of the Giant staircase and no lines, just a few people making there way down at a good pace. Had the lovely Tom behind me, who talked too me all the way down the slight scarier bits (I’m not good with heights). He was fantastic.

 

Running through the Leura forest (my favourite bit!) and a guy in front came down.

Everyone stopped to see if he was OK, he said he was fine, so the conga line kept going. I mentioned to the vollie and the medic a bit further on, that he had come down and may have done an ankle. I heard a bit later on that someone had shattered their kneecap and had to be airlifted out. Hopefully it was not him.

Stomping up the stairs out of Leura Forest and I start to see a few Summit Sisters ahead. The single track of this part of the race, I love but today my legs were very heavy and it was a struggle.

This part of the race was the only place that I experienced a slight delay with the stairs. Other runners were very good about letting you past.

 

Through Gordon Falls to the cheers from Bek, Sharon and other Summit Sisters who were being the world’s most awesome support squad.

Got caught up with a much faster runner and stuck with her for about, oooh 500m, and then let her past. She was fast.

 

The highlight of this part of the race was getting to use a proper toilet at Conservation Hut. It was nice to sit down too…. Got some lovely support from the Melissa Caslick Cheer squad here!

 

Chugged along until Wentworth Falls where I had to empty the stones out of my shoes. (Note to self – buy some Trail Gaiters). Had a lovely chat to a guy who had run the Pace Athletic 22k and was waiting for a friend to appear.

 

Through to the Fairmont where the Ellen Braybon cheer squad was waiting. Grabbed a handful of chips and kept moving.   Ran into Tom again in the next section. Really thought he looked familiar… more on that later.

 

Got to the halfway point and my left knee/ITB was unhappy. Stopped on Tablelands Road and did some running repairs with my dodgy ankle tape.

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Sailed into CP1, got a quick hug from Selena, another conversation with Tom, grabbed coke, watermelon and banana, filled up with water, more repairs to the left knee and sailed out again. And then discovered that my little water bottle had been leaking coke into the pocket. Sadly had to drink all the black gold in one go.

 

Struggled down Kedumba with ITB /knee pain – but at least this year I was mostly running rather than walking. There were a few other runners in the same predicament.

 

Got the Jamieson to discover no water in the creek. I was planning to wet my hat here. Walking up the hills I started to pass some of the runners who had passed me on the downhill. Started to crave ice cream at this point.

Just before the Leura Creek – I hear – “hey, you’re Adam’s wife Sarah!” It helped that I had my number around to the back…. Had a chat to Byron about how Adam was my husband and left him to it. (It’s a running joke in our house – training one day on the UTA course and about 6 people said – “Hey you’re Adam’s wife Sarah”).

 

Get to the 41k mark, rattled my backpack to check if I had enough water – it felt like it. BIG mistake. About a 1k later, wondered why water did not come out of the hose….. No water. No coke. No watery foods. Dismissed the idea of going back.

After about another 1k, finally bit the bullet and asked if anyone had any spare water, and Marco came to my rescue by sharing his electrolyte. We power walked the course through the old sewerage works and the mud. Linda, who I had met during training out the back of Belrose one day, came to my rescue too and filled my leaky bottle with water, which lasted for about 3 k. Marco and I were having a grand old time chatting along this part of the course. Discovered that our kids go to the same school!

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Got passed by the winner of the 100k – he was very polite and very fast. Then about 30 mins later came the 2nd guy. And then the 3rd, 4th and 5th males … hmm those guys can move.

 

Took my salted caramel GU with about 2 k to go. Marco was making sure I was well hydrated too. And then appears the Furber stairs. Now I’m not a fan of stairs and I knew this was going to be tough. For the first time ever I cramped, which meant I had to put my heel down first on each step to keep my calf muscles long.

Finally got to the top and could hear the crowd. The lady next to me was emotional, so I grabbed her hand and checked on her – it was her first 50k! I managed to run about 2 steps with her and then the cramping started again. It was a walking finish for me.

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Photo credit- Jo Brischetto

Sat down on the finish line, not quite sure what to do about the cramps. The ever-amazing Jo came and picked me up and got a medic to advise me what to do. So 2 electrolyte tablets, 2 glasses of the Hammer Fizz and a chicken soup later, I was feeling much better. Marco and his family were there and it was lovely to meet them. Marco’s wife checked my time and that was when I discovered I had done a PB by 8 mins.

Linda was also there and then all of a sudden, Tom finished and I worked out how I knew him! I had met him with Linda that day in the back of Belrose.

Thanks to all my running friends who supported through out the day – it would not be such an awesome race with out the fans !
Thanks to my family who put up with my cranky runner impersonation whilst tapering. Thanks to Julie, my long run partner – she suffered for this too !

Love the ultra running community! Love this race. If you are thinking about doing an ultra or just want to have a go at the 22k , this is the race for you.

Gear worn

Patagonia undies – gotta have good undies

Moving comfort sports bra

Unknown brand of socks that I got from Pace Athletic and I love.

Lulu lemon singlet – in hindsight could have done without it.

Summit UTA 2016 Sisters Buff and UTA 2016 t-shirt.

Patagonia cap.

Nathan Vapour Shape 2 L/&l hydration pack.

Hoka One One Stinson ATR Trail .

 

Nutrition:

BBQ shapes

Protein balls

Food to Nourish green envy balls

Muesli slice

Peanuts unsalted

Almonds unsalted

Salt

Choc mint M&M’s

Hammer Enduralytes

Pre made rice cereal with apples –Farex brand

Pepsi

And boy did I get it wrong this year – could have done the whole course with Coke and chips and baby food.

 

 

Review- Teko Eco Performance Socks

Now I’m not terribly good at doing reviews, but if people would keep sending me stuff to try, perhaps I’ll get better. /Subtle hint

These socks are not currently available in Australia so I was very happy to be given a pair and asked to do a review. At their most basic, they are a 100% recycled nylon sock. Made from old fishing line, how cool is that? We all love the outdoors, and we all abhor waste so what’s not to love about a sock made from stuff that would normally become landfill?

The company also makes Merino wool socks which I love, have a look at their sustainable practices here

The sock I tried was the lightest weight material, called ‘Evapor8’. They’re quite long in the ankle/calf area, a good fit, and really really soft. Now to be honest, the length of the socks is not exactly the height of fashion, but have you seen the Salomon Team gear? Call the Fashion Police! There’s been a crime against style! And yes, if you do trail running for fashion, you probably need your eyes checked.

Bonus- high socks = less leeches

So how are the socks? Running in cold temps they are fantastically warm, and the softness allows your feet to move around a bit without getting blisters. Running in hot temps I found my sweaty feet got well, sweaty and did not dry out even after several hours. It certainly wasn’t uncomfortable but does contrast to those brands that claim to wick moisture away from your feet. I haven’t had a chance to run through creeks etc in them but I suspect the results would be similar- if you really need dry-ish feet, try another brand. BUT- if your requirement for dry feet is because you think wet feet= blisters, you will be pleasantly surprised with these socks.

So I’ve been able to do a couple of months of multi hour runs in these socks and they’ve worn pretty well- no signs of distress yet. They are comfortable and don’t have any hot spots, reasonably priced (in the UK) and good for the environment.

I’m hard pressed to say what the best feature of these socks is- is it the fact that they are really, really soft? (Just had to say that again) Or is it because they are contributing to a cleaner environment by reusing old fishing nets etc. in their manufacture?

Either way, I’m a fan.

 

*update- after several months these socks did go a bit hard which I kind of expected. So I’m going to order more.

The North Face 100 Training Resources 2015

I made a post on the Unofficial North Face 100 Training page late last year, here are all of the links that I could find. This document will get updated as often as needed. Any link with (R) next to the name also does remote training programs via the internet.

Training Groups & Coaches

Official training camp with Brendan Davies (R)

Crows Nest Sydney has Northside Running Group

Another Sydney Club is the Sydney Striders

Mile 27 online training with Andy DuBois (R)

Brisbane has Wild Runners (R)

Hunter Valley Trail Runners

Northern Beaches Trail Runners

Blue Mountains Fitness

In the Orange NSW area contact Brett Sammut

Noosa Ultra & Trail Runners (NUTRS)

Southern Sydney Running Club

Energy Fitness Gymea

Sydney Northern Suburbs or Online DBA Runners– with Matty Abel (R)

 Manly Beach Running Club– hosted by Joe Ward (R)

South Australia has Hayley Teale and RunFit

Queensland has Surf Coast Trail Runners

In Victoria we have Bendigo University Athletics Club

NSW Hawkesbury Fitness

Victoria Ascot Vale Personal Training

 

Toenail Death Count

Event                          Gone Black                     Fallen Off

North Face 100                  4
Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour          1
In Between Runs                                                      1
Larapinta                                                                  1
Bilpin Bush Run                                                        1

Poor Mans Comrades 2013- 2nd Attempt

Success at last! Well, sort of- we didn’t start at the Opera House steps where the ‘official’ run begins. Here’s the story-

Kirrily Dear suggested doing this run as a last big hit out before the Great North Walk 100 miler on November 9. So when she suggested the date I said yes without thinking about it too much. I really only wanted to do about 60km and I thought that if there were a few of us I could run to the top of Bobbin Head and back. I’ve been doing a fair few long runs lately and I wanted a decent road run to practise ‘not stopping’. Most of the long runs had been in the bush and I’ve been guilty of stopping for dumb reasons. I really needed to whip my mind into  a new attitude of ‘relentless forward progress’ while not worrying at all about speed.

Kirrily is doing the GNW and has also been accepted into Coast to Kosciuszko– a 240km race along roads in December. So she wanted to practise her all day, all night, all day, etc pace.

Here’s the docs- Poor Mans Comrades

So we started on Friday 18th October at 5am from the corner of Shirley Rd and Pacific Highway in Crows Nest. The pace was nice and easy, a big contrast to last time when I was just outside my comfort zone trying to keep Annabel Hepworth in my sights.

Going up the Pacific Highway was a bit of a shock- noisy and stinky during peak ‘hour’, and Kirrily reminded me that’s why she doesn’t like the big smoke. I’d have to agree. The run down to Bobbin Head was fun, lots of smiling older people on bikes headed back towards us- if  that’s what you get to do when you retire I’d like to retire now please, and after a comfort stop and some food watching the bay wake up, we headed up the hill on the next stage past Kalkari, over the freeway and on to Mt Colah.

The best thing about this section is that there’s a whole bunch of service stations and shops – it’s like having a checkpoint every 500m stocked with cold Coke, chips and pies. Awesome.

We finally got on to the Old Pacific Highway and a few km later got to stop at Pie in The Sky. Unfortunately we were held up here for more than 20 minutes because I had to make a support call, but it gave me the opportunity to snarf down a sausage roll and some Powerade.

From Pie in the Sky it’s a loooong downhill to cross the Hawkesbury River on the old bridge, then a loooong climb out to Mt White. At Mt White we made our last major stop at the Road Warrior Cafe (also known as the Old Road Cafe) and had a brief chat to some guys who were out for a bike ride. We saw lots of people who have nice carbon bikes, but apparently no jobs. It was here that I pulled the pin last time, so from here on I was in new territory. Honestly there was more of the same, roads through bush. We went through Calga and came out at an industrial area near Gosford with about 8km to go. It was here I said goodbye to Kirrily- she had to head elsewhere for a lift home with her boyfriend. I was a little worried- she was wearing tiny shorts and as we said our goodbyes a few local tradesmen nearly had accidents as they drove past. OK they weren’t THAT tiny but I was pretty sure the tradies weren’t looking at me.

Adam nears Gosford

The descent into Gosford was terrifying- it’s a little winding road with barely 2 lanes, no pavement, a cliff on one side and a rock wall on the other. And I happened to be there at 4pm on Friday afternoon when everyone was knocking off work. Sub optimal. But the road finally widened out and I came out back on to the Pacific Highway besides Jax Tyres. I’d truly entered the ‘suffer zone’ by now, and when I looked on the instructions I had 1200m to go! Yay, all I had to do was keep it together for a few more minutes……

But no. It was actually about 4km to the end, so I was a bit grumpy when I finally sat down on the steps to the station. And of course there was no one to tell about my run. So I asked some cops if there was a Subway sandwich shop nearby. They said yes, about 500m away- but I thought nope, I’ll eat anything that’s close. They told me about a noodle place only 50m away. Should have gone to Subway- it was the filthiest place I’ve eaten in for a long time- and I’m generally not a fussy person. Perhaps telling the cops later that they mustn’t have high standards wasn’t smart either, but I escaped without a cavity search.

Oh well, off to the train station where I did manage to tell the people sitting next to me how far I’d run, then a noisy trip home in the train with some teenagers, Coles at St Leonards to buy some random stuff that I didn’t really want then a walk home for a shower  and bed.

Elapsed time was 12 hours 14 minutes 59 seconds for a distance of just over 87km. Well under 12 hours if we remove the tech support calls. I didn’t feel as if I’d over exerted myself, nutrition went well and overall I’m very happy.

Garmin link

As soon as I posted the details, Andy DuBois posted this article. I have no idea if it was just a coincidence or just a not-so-gentle reminder, but I still feel as though doing that run was worthwhile for me. I was back running fairly quickly afterwards, but the reasons I wanted to do it weren’t really about the distance, it was all about consistency. I definitely got a few ‘free’ kilometres that I wouldn’t have chosen to do if I’d been following a strict training plan, but it was a great day, great company and I finally finished a run that I’d previously DNF’d.

but Andy is a great guy who’s probably forgotten more about running than I will ever know, so he’s probably right.

Mount Solitary Ultra 2012 Preparedness

Hi all, to those doing Mt Solitary this weekend I’ve made a few short notes about what to take.

Note- if anything said here disagrees with the official website, the website wins……
http://www.runningwildnsw.com/mt-solitary-ultra/

All entrants were emailed this yesterday advising that you will need to have all of the mandatory gear available at the race. Depending on conditions you may have to carry it during the race, so don’t forget!
Here’s a few things that may make your day more pleasant
– spare shoes and socks for the end. There is at least 2 creek crossings, one of them about 3-4km from the start
– spare (warm!) clothes for the end
– deodorant (if you’re car sharing this may prevent you being left at the side of the road at Blaxland)
– sun cream (yes this is another race that could require both sun cream and fleece all in one day!)
– old credit card to remove leeches
– money to spend at the food stand after the run, alternatively-
– food for after the run
– a drink for after the run
– money so you can stop at Macca’s at Blaxland
– salt tabs or a source of salt/ electrolytes
– plenty of gels/ food to take with you
Remember that we’ll be out there for a fair while, maybe take a camera because you’ll be passing some unbelievable views. The top of Mt Solitary is a pretty magical place.
Leech protection
There’s likely to be a few of these but don’t be concerned, be prepared!
If it’s cold wear long skins and tuck them over the tops of your socks to keep the creatures out. Otherwise I use a roll on bug killer- I apply from just under the sock line to just over the sock line and sometimes on other exposed skin areas like back of knees etc. Since doing this I haven’t had a single leech problem, but that could be luck. Also if you stop, don’t go off the trail or sit down anywhere that you haven’t thoroughly inspected. Keep moving or stand in the middle of the trail.
Leech removal
Take an old credit card or use a long fingernail to lever them off. They’re very hard to kill, but I’m usually upset enough to try.
Last thought- I’ve had some emails from people freaking out because I took 8:37 to finish last year.
1. Every one of those people is a stronger/ faster runner than me
2. last year I was training above my ability and was sore and grumpy before the race even started
3. I’m sure each of you can beat that time with no trouble, just like I expect to

Fitness

I’ve trained with Matthew Reid for 5 years now, initially losing about 20kg, but now I do it for other benefits. I feel better, I’m able to work harder and I’m much healthier. In fact last year I did my second City to Surf and easily beat my earlier time-  from 1982!

I made a conscious decision to eat what I like, and exercise to keep myself a little trimmer. So I never deny myself treats if I want them. Consequently my diet is ridiculously bad, but that is not Matt’s problem.

Why write about it in a work blog? Matt has done a lot for me and I think if you want a great personal trainer who will get results, you could do no better. Be prepared to work hard and feel great!

Give him a call on 0403 067 629. If you start now you’ll be in sleeveless tops by summer. Then you’ll have to invest in some ‘tough stickers’ (tattoos) to finish the image. Or maybe not.

Adam