Three

Race #1: A run, a beer, a beer run.

First run back, and it was hot. The temperature,
not the running from me! 

An idea of running between two of Mornington Peninsulas well-known brewery's for a friends birthday gave rise to the idea of a beer run. What exactly is a beer run? It can be anything, really. No, not a beer mile, although that event could be incorporated in future events. No, the concept is simple enough. Have a trail run, several distances, starting from a pub, major sponsor being a brewery. Have the race events start after liquor licensing laws allow the pub to open, so that you can have a drink (or 2, or 3) before the run. Supply beer at the aid stations or have a beer at the finish (2 cans as part of your entry). Run an event called Pints for Prostates, have events before the main races where contestants chug a beer, have a gel and run up the finish chute and back... You get the drift. It's an event that has the emphasis on FUN. But if you want, you can get serious and hammer either the 10 or the 21k events.

March in Victoria can produce any type of weather. Well actually, any month, any time in Victoria can produce any weather. At any hour...
Look, what I'm trying to say is that it can be mild, or it can be hot in early Autumn. March 18th was a warm one. Bright sunny skies, a warm northerly wind to heat the trees, trail and runners. Lucky it was a beer run, refreshments weren't going to be an issue. I had chosen this run to return to trail racing. Short distance for me, 10k, an event with minimal elevation and descents that were not going to flare my injury up, and as mentioned above, a non-serious event that allowed me to be relaxed and also indulge in the social side of things.

Mr Gippsland parkrun himself,
Tony O'Connell

I arrived about an hour before race start, picked up my bib from registration, stood in line for the toilets (a very popular activity, it seems!), and then got myself ready for the start. A few pre-race activities made for some entertainment, and then we were ready to go. Standing at the start, I was already sweating, not nervous, it was just bloody hot....
Thankfully the first few k's were narrow, I was caught behind many runners which stopped me from taking off too fast. After a k and a half, it thinned out and I was able to find my pace, slow was the best description! Passed and was passed by many, even had a brief stop to get HR down again, fitness being a little bit on the light side of things. Into the single trails and some respite from the sun. At some point we met runners coming the other way, still don't know which event, presumed mine, but the were way, way in front.

Hit the one and only aid station on my course, staffed by friend Cassandra, a most welcome sight as I was already feeling the energy draining out of me. There were beers on offer here, whilst tempted I reckon that would have been the end of me. About 500 metres past the aid station, the trail veered left. Or so it seemed. There were no markers on the ground, or in trees. My rudimentary knowledge of the course made me believe we needed to continue left, but as I stopped to take bearings, so did about 5 other people. Being the only one with the route stored in my watch, I was able to call it up and confidently call the correct path.
By now we are returning to Peeves Road to return to the Pig and Whistle. As we climbed towards the road, a shout-out from behind from a friend Caroline spurred me on to keep following her. Recently returning from the birth of her first child, Caroline was also struggling in the 10k where normally she would be running the longer distance with greater ease. She was being paced by a couple of male friends, and I made to hang on to the back of them as we ran back down Purves Road.

I couldn't stomach a beer at the aid station, some could though!

Throughout the race, I had kept bumping into another runner in an LTR shirt. I had never met him, but we both greeted each other when we passed by. Less than a kilometre from home he was slowing down, looking behind and spotted me. Caught up, and we ran in together as an act of Goat solidarity! A few yells from friends, some high fives, at the finish, then it was all over. I was stuffed, but more than anything I was close to overheating. Really glad I hadn't attempted to do the 21, would have been a long a difficult day, with an extended recovery period thrown in.
The best part was the social gathering afterwards. Included in race entry was 2 cans of beer from the Mornington Brewery, made good use of that and caught up with quite a few friends who I haven't seen for a long long time.

Always a delight catching up with Tan.
Photo credit: Tanya Marie

The drive back home was long and hot, and I was hungry, neglecting to eat anything substantial until I got home. A great event, and kudos to Deb and her team for putting together a great event, lots of fun.
Having got through this race unscathed (injury, whilst sore that afternoon was fine the following day), I decided to sign up for Duncans Run, 21k event in a fortnight's time. My preference was for something around 15, but either a 6 or a 21 was the choice, the 50 being not remotely on the radar!

Race #2: Hell not quite freezing over

Which brings me to April 1st. April Fools day, no doubt. The weather at Tarra Bulga is distinctly polar opposite to a fortnight ago. Polar being the significant word here. Rain, wind, low cloud/fog (call it what you like) whipping across the top of Mt. Tassie.
The drive up from Warragul had indicated mild weather. High cloud obscuring the sunrise, temperature fairly mild, but promising good running conditions. Having taken the time to get my kit together the previous night, I felt confident that I was well prepared for what could be a tough course. Nicky was coming up with me to run the 6k event, and we were chatting happily as we barrelled down the Princess Highway. As often happens, the best laid plans and all that….
Took the turnoff to Churchill, somehow thinking the drive to Tarra Bulga was on this route. After driving for a while I thought the surrounding countryside didn't look right. Pulled the car over, consulted the GPS to work out I needed to turn around, head north to the highway again and keep going to Traralgon. GPS eta was saying another 51 minutes, it was already 7:10 with race briefing for my race at 7:45.

After a bit of fancy driving, foot a bit harder on the pedal than usual, I got onto the road to Ballook. By this time though, it was quite obvious I was going to be late, and miss my race. Pissed off didn't quite capture my mood. I was fairly calm though, at least I could change events and run with Nicky. Arrived at the start line at 7:57, watched everyone head off in the 50 and the 21k event, then I sauntered into race rego to work out what I could do. Halfway through my pissweak explanation of why I was late, the kindly woman on registration said, “You can still run it”. She threw me my bib, a quick kiss and a “see you later honey” to Nicky, and I careened out to the start/finish area. As I was getting changed, RD Trav came and gave me a personalised race brief (basically, don't get lost, if you do stay where you are, look out for snakes….. #theusual). Still thankful I'd pack my hydration vest the night before, watch on, satellite acquired in 30 seconds (thank you Suunto), I headed off to the start line, only 10 minutes late!

Not the greatest way to start a race, but off I went anyway. The first section is through the walking tracks adjacent the information building, heading towards the suspension bridge. My race plan had always been to run this by HR, keeping at 145 or under as an average, but to keep the high peaks to a minimum. With this in mind, I picked an early pace of around 6:00 to 6:15 pace, trying to run by feel, conscious of HR and breathing. It took me nearly 4 and half k's to catch the first runner. Joy, 60+ veteran of 17 Ironman events, 6 of them at Kona. I was in elite company! A quick chat, then off I went. Crossed the Ballok/Traralgon road and headed downhill through some of the loveliest single trail. It was a walking track to Mt. Tassie, but clearly not used much, and lacking in upkeep. The trail was very lumpy, and soft underfoot, at times prone to giving away as you foot came down hard. Lots of wet forest, tree ferns growing over the path, I was soaked by the time I was only 5 minutes in. Passed Warragul parkrun ED Lea and her husband doing the 21, then I continued the climb up to Mt.Tassie.

Spooky path to Mt. Tassie

Eventually, the path came out on a road where we turned left to head towards the communications towers. At the highest point, and the weather that we'd been shielded from, suddenly burst upon us in a flurry of showers, high wind and biting cold. Sharpys Beer run a very distant memory….
I was still running in just shorts and Tech T, but counting down the minutes when I might pull the rain jacket, thermal and gloves out of the pack. Thankfully we dropped back down towards the Ballook road (from the other side this time), and conditions calmed somewhat. My wide path, then narrowing trail again, before coming out on to a fairly extensive road used for logging. This was that start of the descent that would go on for a bit longer than I expected. At approximately 5k, with a gradual enough decline that it was very runnable. By now, at the start of the descent, we've covered about 13k. I wasn't fatigued much, my recent injury was behaving itself, but I was conscious of the effort I was putting in. HR still under 145 average (actually under 137 here) and considering the terrain, I was really happy with that.

Great to be back.
Photo credit: Burning Harp photography.

Apart from 3 dirt bike riders and 1 other runner, I saw no-one along this road. Thinking it was good mental training, I put the head down and got on with it. As every k ticked by, and still descending, and with the knowledge of where the finish line was in terms of height above sea level, I knew we were in for a pretty wicked climb. And at the 18k mark, we hit it. A quick, short climb before turning left and then 2+ k's of an unrelenting slog up an old fire trail. Passed a few runners up here, most taking it easy walking up. I was hiking/striding, keeping the pace up as much as I could without breaking into a run. We were still in forestry areas for most of this climb, then suddenly we were back into the wet forest area surrounding Ballook. The climb behind us, it was just a kilometre and a bit left to get back to the finish line. Spotted several girls running together ahead of me, and made a point of trying to firstly keep pace, secondly make ground on them, and lastly see if I could catch them. Points 1 and 2 covered, point 3 seemed a bit of a stretch! As we crossed the suspension bridge they were about 100 metres ahead of me, we had less than 400 metres to go. I effectively gave up. Then on the run in to the finish, one of them decided she needed a quick breather before the finish, stopped mid track enabling me to catch up. As I did they spied the photographer, started running again so that we all finished together, with me urging them on from behind!

Finished at Duncans.
Photo credit: Nicole Walsh.

Watch time said 2:42, effectively 2:52 with my late start, but it was a great hit out. Nicky was there to greet me, having run her race, then waited patiently for me to return. I was soaking wet, fatigued, legs sore, injury finally starting to complain after the long descent, but I couldn't be happier, out in the elements again testing myself against the course.
Duncan's is a great little event. Low key, minimalist, but as always supported by enthusiastic volunteers, and friendly racers. The course has a mixture of trail types, with a splattering of the usual fire trails and logging roads, but the single trail is worth the effort. All reports the 50 was just as well loved.

Race #3: What goes up, must surely come down!

Never having run at Maroondah Dam before (training or racing), I fronted a month later on a cool and sunny morning on April 30th to tackle this as the first run in the Trails+ Mountain series. When I entered nearly 7 weeks ago, I had assumed (rightly) that this would be more a time on the legs race, rather than a full tilt, pedal to the metal attempt. History will show I got that correct!
Maroondah events of 30k and above climb over Mt. St. Leonards. The 42 and 50k events add even more climbing (and the associated descending too) to their distances. And climb is not an understatement. Whilst not a Skyrun by any imagination, the climb up can destroy calf muscles, the descent back down will shred all but the most steely of quads. It was on this particular section of the trail that my race, and my energy, fell to pieces.
My intention all along had been to run a controlled pace, run gently on the downhills and flats, walk any climbs that required it, and get to the turnaround in okay shape with enough left in the tank to descend reasonably well. The theory was good, the application was sound, just the body wasn't up to it on the day.

Nicky finishing the 10k. Photo credit:
Michelle Knoll Photography.

Trails+ events are a very social affair for me. Well organised, very well supported by runners and vollies, but low key enough to escape the razzmatazz of larger concerns. Being the first major race back for me, and over distances that I'm more accustomed to running, I found myself meeting lots of friends I hadn't seen for ages. It's a great feeling being welcomed back by many, and just as good knowing I was donning racing gear to get out and have a crack. Nicky was with me today, running the 10k event, a course that would follow mine for 5k's out and back. It was going to be her longest run in nearly 2 years, and in new shoes too (Salomon Speed Cross 3's, noice!).
A quick goodbye and kiss to Nicky, hug to several other friends running the 21 or 10 events (and hearing a comment about “fan club”…?), I ran off to the start line, seeding myself way back to avoid early race white line fever.

Because of a track closure, RD Brett Saxon, had devised a start that had us run through the start/finish area several times before heading out on the course proper. For a brief period we were all rock stars, fresh-faced in the early stages as we passed family and friends at the start area. Another section back and forth over the dam wall, and then we were away. Early stages I noticed my HR was spiking a bit too much on the climbs, so resorted to walking. A sure sign I still have a way to go with fitness. For the first 7 or so k's a group of us ran together, Chantelle and Jon (2 friends), and 4 other guys. It was remarked that it was more like a road marathon bunch than a trail race! Beyond the 5k aid station, the trail started to get into the initial climbs, nothing spectacular, but enough to make us thin out. Chantelle and Jon had run ahead, but I slowly pegged back Jon. I was finally in a good groove. I wasn't finding the run easy, but I had found my default pace and was sticking to it. At the 40 minute mark, first piece of nutrition, a protein ball. I was testing my hydration and nutrition plan, seeing how it would stack up for an ultra.

Caught up with another runner I have crossed paths in trail races, Skye, and we had a chat/moan/whinge about how we didn't seem to have any climbing legs today. As we were chatting, Chantelle had stopped in front of us to take photos, then joined in the chat. She was coming back from giving birth to her first and remarking on how she would have previously eaten this distance for breakfast (my terms, not hers!).
After what seemed like a very long time, finally made it to the aid station before the first big climb to Mt. St. Leonards. And it didn't look easy…, the climb that is. Quick chat with a vollie I met at Sharpy's Beer run, then off I went, keen to get this climb out of the way. And shit, what a climb. I was a bit unprepared, the course profile giving me no indication of its pitch and rockiness. There was no point running here, in fact, there was no way I was running here. Having been thinned out by the previous 10k, this section seemed to bring us all back together again, some of us stronger than others. And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, turn a corner and it gets steeper and rockier. And one point I stopped walking, HR was showing 167 here, and I just had to get my breath back. Filmed Ash Bennett flying back down, actually was in awe of all the front runners descending ability. It was a sight to behold.
And finally at the summit. Knackered, out of breath and knowing that I was severely spent didn't help my mood, which was a bit low. But I continued on to the turnaround point, grappling with a short sharp descent which I knew was going to be a short sharp and hard climb on the return.

Rounding the bend at the end of the dam wall,
knackered. Photo credit: Michelle Knoll Photography.

Chantelle caught up with me at the turnaround, and we ran together until the climb back to the summit. She was obviously stronger and kept going as I stopped to walk. Once I summited, it was with a big sigh that I started the descent. By now we have run about 16k, and whilst there were a few climbs left, the majority was downhill or flat. The hardest part on the steep descent was trying to break the speed, without smashing the quads. At one point I dislodged rocks and they continued to tumble behind me, threatening to overcome me!
Arrived back at the aid station at the bottom, crewed by Paul Todd and Kim. A quick bite to eat, chips and fruit cake, then push on to home. It became apparent very early along here that I had not much energy left for the 10k. Shuffling and walking, pace very slow, I was being overtaken with ease by many in my race. Eventually, Jon caught and passed me. Then the 42k runners and the 50k front runners came past. I could have let myself get disheartened here, but stuck to my goal of just moving forward.

Final aid station with 5 to go was back on the road. Following another runner along here who looked to be doing it as tough as I was. Made a point of hanging with him, albeit about 50 metres behind him. This section was a slog, interrupted by the creek crossing (socks only just dried after getting wet on the way out!), and I was mentally flat. Turned up the trail back into the Yarra ranges National Park, an MTB rider passed me and told me I was doing well, "only one climb and about 1400 metres to go!" It was lovely of her to say this, but I knew it was still about 2 to 3k's left. Lots of people walking along here, looking with more than a little amazement at the runners struggling back up the climb and heading towards the finish. With about a k and a half to go, I made a pact to myself to run it all the way in. Past the guy in front, and on to the dam wall for one last time. I could hear loud music, thinking our entrepreneurial RD had stoked up the boom box for some inspirational finish line music. But no, it was a Greek festival in the same park.

A selection of pics of runners I knew doing a number of events. Photo credit: Michelle Knoll Photography.

At the end of the dam wall, there was a tight turn right, with a path or stone steps to get to the finish. My brain just registered the steps were closer, so down I went on very tired and stiff legs. And then the finish line appeared, Nicky and friends there to cheer me over, and I was done. 4:01 on the watch, which surprisingly was my estimated time for me. I just didn't think it was going to take so much out of me in getting it.
Normally full of emotion at finishing, I was strangely flat, none at all. Apologies to everyone who saw me at the finish, it was uncharacteristic of me, but it was just one of those days. They say the hard and shitty runs are the character building ones, and on reflection they are right. It has taken me a while to recognise that, and the positive was that I pulled up with no injuries, very little DOMS, and the confidence that mentally, at least, I can handle that and a bit more.
I couldn't eat straight after the race, just not hungry. On the drive out we stopped at Four Pillars Distillery for some gin tasting and purchasing. That made me very sleepy until we hit Cockatoo, then I had to stop for food and drink, my appetite finally returned.

Next race, Macedon 30k, race 2 in the Trails+ Mountain Series. (My 4th year in a row for this event, this distance).

Until next time.