Bittersweet

Was it going to be 3rd time lucky, or strike 3, you're out? Running is such a mental game. Many of my non-running friends think I'm mental! Actually that doesn't back up my comment. Confidence of your skills and abilities is maybe what I was talking about.

First, some history

12 months ago, cold, miserable, wrapped up in a St. Johns Ambulance blanket, I watched my friends finish their respective events at the Salomon Trail Race Series (STRS), Race 3 at Olinda. It was a dismal day; weather was foul, low cloud scudding across the start/finish area in the abandoned Olinda Golf Course. A rolled ankle (severe) at the 2k mark of the race was the reason I was watching everyone else finish, not struggling up to the finish myself, on what was a pretty brutal course. My mood was ranging somewhere between raw anger, and sad resignation, that;

1. My day was in tatters, and
2. My marathon plans for Melbourne, 8 weeks out, were in serious jeopardy.

Spending the next 6 months enduring rehab, struggling mentally with the thought that running may be restricted, if not at all, had me at times cursing this race, and then wishing that I could get the chance to redeem myself. Finally running and racing by March this year, I looked forward to being able to have another crack.

When race entries opened, I didn't jump in straight away. In fact I held right back, almost thinking that I should just let it be, move on and pick another race. But eventually it was just too good to resist, I signed up and focused on running a good race.

Lead in

Raced in the You Yangs (30k trail) and a few easy parkruns, but mainly it was consistent training. Melbourne Marathon being the A-list race. Ran a few times in the Dandenongs, and at least on one occasion, I covered most of the tracks that we would encounter in the major climb on the race. I felt I had prepared well, but as usual, pre-race doubts crept in. Was I over-training, was I in the same or better shape than last year, would I misjudge the climbs and bomb out on the 2nd half of the course. Sometimes these voices can be counter-productive, sometimes you can use them to focus on the job ahead of you. I chose the latter....

Race Day

Nicky and Jordan were also running in the short course, so it was an early start from South Gippsland for all of us. Drive up was uneventful, and we arrived at Silvan with plenty of time to spare (or so I thought...). Race central was already buzzing, guy on the PA giving lots of information, people milling around and starting to get ready. Met up with a few DTR's, Marc, David, Richard, Chris Burton, and Chris Piplios, and plenty of PTR's, LTR's and just generally all the trail runners I knew of in Victoria.

DTR personnel: Chris, Burton, Marc, Chris Piplios, David, and myself, 10 minutes before race time.
(Photo credit: Peter Mitchell)

Whilst the organisation of this event looked good, it wasn't until we went to put our bags in the bag drop, did we realise that was maybe not quite the case. A long line, that wasn't moving very fast, basically short staffed, and struggling. Finally got the bag checked in, and we started a bit of a warm-up. It was cold, so, having peeled off warm clothes and left in bag, there was nothing left to do but keep moving around. If nothing else, kept the nerves at bay! And that was a first for me, normally nerves are left for road races. Always calm before trail events, but this race had an added incentive for me.

Start of Race 3, long course.
(Photo credit: Peter Mitchell)

Before too long we were called up, the medium course (15k) runners going off 5 minutes before us. Usually I would have started my old GPS watch, and stood there frantically wishing it would pick up satellites. New Suunto Ambit 3, BOOM, 10 seconds to get both HR monitor, and satellites! Finally, I would be able to start a race without watch issues!

Start of Race 3, long course. Chris Burton with thumbs up
(Photo credit: Peter Mitchell)

So....., when I stuffed up starting my watch, I was to think back to that previous thought....
Started the watch, then about 100 metres up the road suddenly thought it wasn't going.
Running beside Marc Simpkins I said, ":How good is your eyesight?".
"Not bad" was the reply.
"Is my watch running?"
Marc looks at the watch face that I am holding up to his face, "F____ed if I know mate"
Ran another 50 or so metres, then decided that it was stopped. So, pressed the start button again. Annnddd, successfully stopped the watch..... Bloody dill. It wasn't until I had run another 200 metres did I decide that I should have another crack at getting it going. Hit start, hoped like hell that it was going, and decided to run on, not bothering whether it was going or not.

By now we are running through lots of single trail, doubling back towards the start/finish area, before peeling off, and coming out on Pipeline Track, effectively a narrow gravel road. By now the crowd of runners has thinned out. I spied a couple of DTR shirts up ahead, Richard and David, and made a mental note that I might be travelling a bit fast. Didn't feel it, was comfortable along here, pulling about 155 bpm, it wasn't flat out, but it wasn't idle either!

Jenny Mitchell, showing us all how to do it,
on the ludicrously named, "Suunto Sprint"!
(Photo credit: Peter Mitchell)

Just when we were settling into a nice fluid pace along Pipeline, we turned off onto the "Suunto Sprint" (My quotes...). This should be renamed the "Overwhelmingly Ironically Named Suunto Sprint". Terms like sprint, and run, conjure up images of well... running.... both feet off the ground at some part of the stride. Something like that, anyway. The "Sprint" was in fact a 300 metre slog up a muddy track with an elevation grade of about 20%! Sprint, it was not....
Passed David, who was struggling up here, and was catching Richard before we crested the hill and started running again. Pass a photographer, then a left onto Track 17, and a longish undulating section (that included Georges Track), for about 3k's before we started the climb up to Olinda.

This is where the fun started! Met the last 15k runner making her way steadily up the single track. My first thought; gunna be interesting with all the long course runners still to come! This section is not terribly steep, but it just goes, on and on and on... Lovely sweet single trail, winding it's way through tree ferns, the track was muddy and slippery in places, and presented some difficulties to those running in light lugged shoes, or road shoes. I was feeling strong here, and noticed that I was steadily picking up runners and passing them. Original plan was to run somewhere between a half and two thirds of the climb to the top at Olinda. As it was, I probably ran three quarters of it, doing a fast hike the rest of the time. Passed Marc Simpkins along here. Probably the only time I'm ever going to do this in a race, Marc on a comeback, of sorts!

3D plot of the course (complete with GPS stuff up, far right brown section)
(Image courtesy of www.veloviewer.com)

The climb to Olinda was broken into two parts, the middle section had a short downhill, slippery, muddy and THE section where I rolled my ankle last year. Yup, and just before I hit that fatal spot, Pitty McAdams from PTR (Peninsula Trail Runners) passed me. Pitty being one of the first persons to stop and give assistance last year, the irony of that coincidence was not lost on me!
As I turned on to Ginkgo Track, the sound of somebody singing Bubbles (West Ham United theme song) echoed through the crisp morning air! Johnny Horricks, another PTR runner (and the other person to stop with me last year) has spotted me and burst into song;

"I'm forever blowing bubbles,

Pretty bubbles in the air,

They fly so high,

Nearly reach the sky...."

Caught up with me, and we ran/walked the rest of the steep climb to the R J Harmer Arboretum (highest point of the climb). On the final climb, I finally caught and passed Richard Matison, surprising the hell out of him as I jumped onto his shoulder, then went smoothly past. He would catch me on the descent, being better at the downhill then me. Finally, having reached the summit, I ran conservatively for a period to get the HR down before we started the exhilarating run back down the mountain.

Smiling, must have been a good race!

By now we are passing loads of 15k runners. And I would like to take the time to thank all of them, not one issue with us faster long course runners getting past. Many stood to one side on the single track (Poplar, and Manna Gum), and most were very happy to give back the good wishes that I would give them as I went past. A race run in a very fine spirit by all, from my point of view. 

Some of the runners I had passed going uphill, now came back past me as my inadequate descending skills were laid to bare. Having said that, barrelling down Manna Gum chasing Johnny Horricks was an absolute highlight of the day. Not quite single track, but a very pretty section with good ground underneath your feet, and a steadily increasing decline. The idea here was to throw caution to the wind and let gravity take over. At the bottom, 2 strategically place fallen trees provided us with hurdling practice, yeah, just what we needed....

Jordan ran the whole way with hoodie,
and water bottle!

Back out onto Prices Road, and eventually to Georges Road, mainly wide gravel roads that had a few hills to test the cardiovascular capacity. Hit the aid station at the 16k mark in fairly good shape. Stopped, grabbed a drink of SOS (sponsors sports drink, not too bad), then put my head down for the final 5k (expected, but not quite as measured) distance to the finish line. Immediately spotted somebody running back up the road I'm running down, Peter Mitchell, DTR head honcho running back home after his wife run the short course event. A quick high 5 from Peter, and I continue on my way. 

I have noticed that the same group of runners are now constantly around me. Backwards and forwards we pass, getting passed as if connected by a horizontal bungee. I would get them on the ups, they would get me on the downs. Along here I was following another runner, similar height, slightly stronger build, that I would later find out was Marcus Pain, yet another DTR alumini. Off the bottom part of a run called The Undulator (no, not ironic...), we continued down to come back out onto the Silvan Road. 18 and a half k mark. I expected that we would have somewhere between one and a half, and two and a half k's to go. (I had seen distances listed as 20, and 21k for this race. Thought if mentally I prepared for 21, I would be okay)

Nicky, looking strong, despite a rolled ankle!

Silvan Road was getting busy. Lot's of 15k runners still heading for home, and a bit of vehicular traffic making it's way along the road. Suddenly I could hear the PA system from the finish line, thinking that the sound was travelling a long way on the forest. Pushing along down a gentle incline, my legs now starting to get the first indications of fatigue. Not sore, just feeling the energy drain somewhat. Photographer sitting on a stool in the middle of the road takes heaps of pictures as I run past, I was picking up the pace as another runner came up on my shoulder. We are directed off the road onto a single track. 
The PA quite loud now. Thinking that this is a deviation to make up the still required 1.5k's, I was very surprised when, after a short section, we exited onto an area just before the entrance back to the finish chute. Head down, focused, I push hard for home. Heard my name shouted out (cheers peeps), I crossed the line, not even bothering to look at the stop clock. Stopped the watched (yep, it had been going, and yes, I did stop it properly). Time said 1:43, thought that was a bit light on, but was very happy all the same.

Looked around the finish area, but couldn't see Nicky at all. Paused to catch breath, and congratulate fellow runners. Friend Chrissy found me, a huge grin on her face, high 10 and hug from her. She had run the short course as a comeback race, and was very pleased with her efforts. Still couldn't see Nicky. Finally Jordan catches up with me, Nicky had rolled her ankle 3k's in, completed the race, but was in a bit of pain and discomfort. Bugger, the SRTS race 3 curse rolls on! Found her at the coffee cart, waiting patiently for her flat white. She was down, but pragmatic enough to realise that trails have a way of doing this. So, as much as I was happy with my day, sad to see Nicky having to hobble around for a few days afterwards. Best news is, that it was nowhere near as bad as mine was.

Caught up with a few people, but left fairly rapidly, as I wanted to get Nicky home asap. Found out later, I was 2nd in my age group, and had missed out on a prize. Never mind, it was the time and race completion I was more happy with. Age group placings, whilst brilliant, are not what I aim for.
Post Script: Rapid Ascents contacted me, I will pick up prize at Anglesea, after Race #4

The Wash Up.

12 months ago, cold, miserable, and waiting patiently for my friends to finish their respective races, I watched as 2 friends finished the race, embraced, and celebrated a great result. It was an image that was burned into my memory as I went through the endless cycle of rehab. I used it as an incentive to get back, to experience that thrill of competition, and the sharing with friends. I have never told either person of their part in this story, I may never will. I have confided to only one person about what I saw, and how it made me feel. It was a very raw emotion at the time, and one that left a lasting impression.
Funnily enough, I didn't want to recreate that image (it was an impromptu one at that, hard to replicate without looking staged), and although it didn't happen, I didn't care. I had run a great race (my impression only), and survived! That was all that mattered in the aftermath.

Where to From Here

In the middle of a high training load for Melbourne Marathon. Managing the fatigue, and injury risk is now high on the agenda.Training has been going well, hitting targets, recovering well etc. But the first signs of subtle fatigue with training load have surfaced in the last week.
Upcoming races are;
30th August, Wonderland 36k trail,
19th & 20th September, Relay leg 28k of Surf Coast Century, and Race 4 STRS at Anglesea,
18th October, Melbourne Marathon.
Stop Press; potentially pacing 1:45 half at Mornington on 6th September. Awaiting confirmation for race organisers.

Until next time....

Feel the Pain

You Yangs Trail Running Festival

Background

You Yangs Trail Running Festival is one of the more complete, and full weekends you can have on the trails. Held around the You Yangs Regional Park near Little River in Victoria, it encompasses runs from 5k, right through to an old fashioned miler (yep 100 miles, or 160 kilometres, or 32 parkruns; take your pick!) All but the miler start on the Sunday morning, and follow similar courses that go through a common point at the start/finish line, at The Turntable. So, being a focal point for the 6 different events, gives it a real festival feel. Like a rock festival perhaps; except without the loud music, the mud, and the drugs...

You Yangs is the last in a 3 race series of Mountain Trails that the organisers, Trails+, put on each year. In terms of trail, and elevation profile, the 30, and 50k events are the easiest on theses courses. But don't be fooled, easier means less hiking/walking steep sections, and more running. Quick times over the 30 and 50k events are the order of the day. It was with this in mind, I ventured back, after having a stellar race in 2014. Fresh from a PB at Traralgon half 4 weeks previously, I was primed for another PB, Would I get it?

Adding to the mix was that I knew people running in every event (except the 5); social media has a lot to answer for!

Lead-in to the Race

Week after Traralgon, I took it easy. Easy paced runs, no target times, just make sure I recovered. That I did, then the next week was week 1 of a 16 week marathon plan heading towards Melbourne in October. Slight blip in week 2 of mara plan, went skiing at Falls Creek for the week, only managing 2 runs of 5k after dark around the town where I was staying, but the legs got a pretty good workout on the slopes! The following week (3rd week or plan) was race week. Depending on whether a race is going to be a target race or not, determines if I taper or not. Given the previous weeks drop in mileage, I decided to train through, only holding back my usual Thursday run for a shorter version.

Trying to nail down a parkrun PB! One way to do speed work,
 in prep for a race.

My wife was away for 2 weeks, with this weekend falling right in the middle. In preparation, I had asked my son if he wanted to stay over at a mates place on the Saturday night. He would be fine to leave at home for the day, although I was  slightly uneasy that I would be away most of the day. He never made plans, I decided I was racing anyway and threatened to get him up at 4:30 to come with me. 2 days out he suddenly thinks it's a great idea to stay overnight with a school mate! Problem solved....

Race Day

Early start, 4:30am. Quick breakfast and out of the door by 5:10. First thing I noticed was how cold it was. Sub zero in South Gippsland, I could only hope that it wasn't as cold at the You Yangs. Some of the milers would be still going, and having to have contended with that overnight. It was dark, all the way in to Highett, where I grabbed a list with fellow DTR, Cameron Baillie. Talk on the way up was invariably about the race, the milers (and specifically a friend, Oliver Mestdagh, and his progress) still plugging away whilst we slept overnight.

First glimpse of the You Yangs Regional Park from the car.
Sunny day, but bloody cold outside.

Arrived at 'Race Central' just after 8:30, missing the start of the 50k event. Event directors of Inverloch and Sale parkruns, Tony O'Connell and Bernie Larsen were heading off for their first ultras. Also there was Lysterfield Trail Runner buddy, David Boulton. David had rolled his ankle 7 weeks previously at Macedon 30, moving heaven and earth in an effort to get the ankle rehabilitated. Fitness being his only worry. Standing around the start line I met heaps of people (most of whom I've met through social media). I was, once again, very relaxed and very late getting warm clothes off, and race kit on!

!5k runners: Danny Burgess, Ali Moxham (yes hard to recognise by the handstand, NOT), and Susi Viete

Race brief from Brett Saxon (follow the markers, don't get lost etc., etc., and have a great day...). Final handshakes, pre-race mind games, then we were off. As like last year, some people treat this as a parkrun, like shots from a gun they fly up the first rise! I was running what I thought was a conservative 4:45 in the first 500 metres, and getting left for dead by heaps of runners. Having raced here last year, I knew what was on offer later on, time to hurt towards the end of the race, not in the first 5!

Still frost on the ground, at about the 2k mark we started passing 50k runners returning to Race Central. Not for the first time that day, my name was called out by a fellow runner, and it took me a long period of time to put a name to a runner. Apologies to anyone I might have appeared to be a bit vague with (probably half the field!).

The 30k runners: Top row -  Kris Harris, Kate Atkinson, Libby Williams, Mathieu Dore, and Cameron Baillie.
Bottom row - Steve Bullock, Chris and myself, Brett James, and Chris Spano.

The first 3k's climb up to the saddle, then is a long fast descent to to the eastern boundary. This is where I probably went a bit hard last year. Thus I thought that being a bit conservative would help later in the race. That was the theory. I even thought I had done as planned (until I looked back at the kilometre splits). If anything, k's 3 to 10 were faster than last year. Not by much, but enough to know that it was why I struggled once again beyond the 24k mark! They say live n learn, not learning much....

As with last Trails+ race at Macedon, Kris Harris and I ran together over the opening stages. As the first part was downhill, we had the chance to chat a bit; discussing parkrun (Kris is an event director at Churchill Island), fellow runners not joining us today, and plans for ultras in the future. Had a few other runners come past us, but in general we kept close to, and passed a few runners who had started out hard.

The 50k runners: Dylan Perera, Warwick King, David Boulton, Bernie Larsen, and Tony O'Connell.

As we headed along the eastern boundary, I knew it was slightly downhill, and let my legs and cardio feel the right pace. Caught one more runner before we turned north and headed back to the saddle. Returning up the Branding Yard Road, I spotted 3 runners ahead of me. One of them, Steve Bullock (Surf Coast Trail Runner), and 2 others, 1 I would become acquaintances with for the rest of the run.

Caught them as we turned off the road, onto a indistinct track (Branding yard Track). I make that observation, as several runners in my race would miss that turn, get lost and either run an extra 4 or so k's, or DNF! Poor bastards. Steve and I had a brief chat as we started the worst of the climb. This was the only section in the first 15 that walked last year, and was prepared to walk again. The woman who would eventually win our race, passed me here, running slowly, but efficiently up the steepest sections.

Crossed the saddle, and headed back to the start/finish line. Photographer alert: mug for the lens! By now, one of the 3 runners (who I later found out was called Chris), was running with me. chatting along the way, both worked out we were heading for Wonderland 36k in late August, and speculating on the difficulties that race presented compared to this one!

The hardcore 100 milers: Oliver Mestdagh, Simon Roberts, and Michelle Shannon.

15k runners were passing in the other direction, always good to get a shout out form a few friends. Entering the start/finish area was like entering as carnival, lots of people milling around, marshals etc., all giving us encouragement as we turned to head up to Flinders Peak. This climb is tough for several reasons. Firstly, the stone steps are not placed such that you can easily match them to your stride length. Secondly, it is hard packed, with stone, murder on the feet and lower legs. Lastly the descent is one you think you can make time on, but at risk of smashing your quads!

The 80k runners: Ashley Bennett, and
Stephen Rennick, 2 loops down, 2 to go.

At the bottom of Flinders I was joined by Chris again, having got away from him on the descent. Heading back out for the final 13 odd k's, we met another runner stooped at a track junction, asking us which was was our course. The mischievous bugger in me was tempted to go "right", when in fact it was left!, But, being a trail brethren, I just got him to follow us.

Kerry Clapham powers along to yet another ultra.

This part starts the downhill to Sandy Creek, and the 24 k mark, where we then climb slowly, but relentlessly to the finish line. It enters a section of forest, weird in the extreme. Tall straight eucalypt tress, zero under-storey, it really is Blair Witch Project territory. I kept a nice even pace down here, although the first signs of fatigue were creeping into the legs. Hit the aid station, bumped into a 50k runner and friend Kerry Clapham, and stopped for a quick chat (to be sociable, to recover the HR, and to down a few squares of chocolate, the first food of the run). By now there were 3 of us running together, chatting in between huffing n puffing as the trail started to climb back to the finish. The climb is minor in gradient terms, but is hard having pushed a pretty good pace from the start to here.

Blair Witch Project territory, if ever there was! Must have be fun at night....

Came up behind another runner in the 50k, David Boulton. David, despite keeping an eye on the cut-off, was not worried about a finishing time. Brief chat to see how each other was going, then I went on, trying to make up ground on my 2 running companions. Caught them at the start of the mtb zig zag tracks, a section designed to finish you off mentally. Steep cambers, mountain bikers flying downhill to meet you head-on, the feeling you were running for ages and making no progress, this section was just relentlessly tough on the confidence.

After what seemed like an age, we exited the mtb tracks, hit a road with yet another climb to get to the last aid station. Along here I had a 2nd walk with Chris, whilst our companion pushed on. Quick stop at the aid station, grab a final piece of choccy, then I took off for home. Last year I walked about 2 to 3 sections from here, the final 3k's. This year I made a pact to run the lot, regardless of how I felt. And run it, I did. The last finishers in the 15k race were also making their way to the finish line. Made a point of giving them as much encouragement as I could muster. I may have run further, I was fitter and stronger, but I wasn't hurting any more than they were. Hopefully I got a few of them over the line just a bit quicker than they had hoped!

Gotta give the punters something at the
finish line!

Final 50 metres is downhill to the finish line. Love a downhill finish; you can look semi-conscious, get the brain into gear, and perform for the finishing line photographer! Crossed the line, look at the watch, aaannndddd, sod it, same time as last year! Momentarily disappointed as I had grand plans of bettering last years time, but soon gave way to acknowledgement that last years time may well have been as fast as I can possibly go on this course. Still, thankful that I can run, many others still out with injury.

Caught up with the 2 other runners I had shared the final sections with. Tom in front of me; I was catching in the final k's but never quite got there. Chris had stopped at the final aid station, and cramped severely. I thought he was right behind me. If I had have known, I would have stopped to help him.

It took me a while to gather my senses after the finish, I had really put in over the final 6k's, and it had taken it's toll. managed to catch up with a few of the milers I knew, Michelle still to complete her final 20k's, Oliver having just finished his. Post race massage courtesy of Ross Kinsella from Freedom Sports Medicine (happy to plug, it was a freebie!), coffee, as much food as I could stuff down my throat, then Cam and I headed back to town.

Reflections

Training is going well, I am pretty much near, or exceeding, where I was this time last year. Marathon in October still the main prize, but these races along the way serve to remind me what racing is all about, and also provide a social context to my running, so great to meet so many wonderful runners of all abilities. Doing trail races as lead-up events is probably as unconventional a method as any, but it makes me tougher, and correspondingly, is fun! I genuinely enjoy the racing, and the camaraderie of the trails.

Race bib, and bling! The spoils of war....

Next race is Silvan Dam. This is the re-scheduled course for what is Race 3 of the Salomon Trails Series. Last years 'bastard' race where I rolled my ankle. This will be the 3rd attempt to finish (having a DNS, and a DNF previous 2 years here), and finish it I will!

Until next time...