Long & Lost

Macedon 30k Trail Race

They say the darkest hour is before the dawn, and I approached my own dawn here. Midway through my latest race, the self-doubts started to creep in, negative thought piling on negative thought until I wondered what the fuck I was doing out there.

Brett Saxons touch I'm presuming.
PborWall is replaced (temporarily)

Usually a fairly positive chappie (have to be running trail races and ultras), I fell to every runner's nemesis, the inner demons. And sitting here, laptop on hand, heater going, it's hard to fathom why it all started, and why it hit at that particular point.

Race brief, a large crowd on a very cold but clear morning.

Sunday was race day. One of my favourite races, the Macedon 30k. Fourth year back to do this, and considering my horrendous run of injuries over the last 2 1/2 years, it is utterly surprising that I've had such a continued presence here. Macedon is tough, really tough. Elevation profile alone is impressive, but add in the technical, and at times twisty trail and the factor of difficulty increases substantially. And I know this, having documented this firstly here (Ground on Down), and then here (Wave of Mutilation), and if you've really nothing else to do, here (Short Memory). I know how hard this is (why I come back), also because it's such a fabulous place to run, and it is a well organised and fun event. Brett Saxon and his team put on a great event, always a joy to participate.

So, how did I get to this dark place? I'd started the run well, conservatively trying to pace myself for the distance, and knowing there was a significant climb (runnable) back to the finish line. I had memorised some time splits of sections of the course (Camels Hump, Aid Station #2, #3 etc.) mainly to gauge my progress. I wasn't trying to beat any previous time, just a way to see what was happening on the day. The first 8/9k's was fairly unremarkable, give for seeing the frontrunners in the 50k event come flying past in the opposite direction between Macedon Road crossing, and Days Picnic area. Whilst running an hour and a half before me, they were running faster than I was at the present....
Passed through Barringo Road. aid station (#2) roughly on time from last year. Feeling good, had a chat with a few people along the way, then ended up coming up behind friend Andrea from DTR, and another female runner (Sabbrina?). All 3 of us heading towards the first steep descent, having some fun 'negotiating' the path down. Basically trying to go as fast as we can, whilst maintaining some semblance of control. Once again, bottom out, then the even steeper incline towards aid station #3.

The pine forest; mtb jumps, twisty technical trials, and where my dark mood took hold.
Photo credit: Chrissy Good

Here was fine, it was once I exited the station and headed into the pines that things started to unravel, somewhat. Always an interesting section to run, it twists and turns, and parts climbs, then drops down again, then climbs. First time I ran here in 2014, I hated it. But subsequent years it grew on me. But on this day I just felt as if this was the start of my struggles. Physically a bit, mentally a lot. Self-doubt crept in as I thought forward to races I've already entered, Surf Coast Century 50, Tarawera 62, thinking that there was no way I could do them. "Couldn't even get through 11k of a 30" etc etc. Didn't help that I'd run myself into a lone position, no-one really around me. At the end of the pines was a Baringo Road, a gentle downhill section back to the #2 aid station. Normally an easy run down, I found it was just not happening. Passed a few runners down here, and normally I would exchange a few words with them, whether I knew them or not. But I didn't, and that told me what frame of mind I was in. Beyond here is a favourite section, single track downhill bash towards a fire trail, which then leads back onto Barringo Road again. Previous years I have flown down here. It can be fun, and also a little bit hairy as you gain speed then have to negotiate the turns, right where a tree is strategically placed to arrest your momentum, should you not actually turn...

And still, down here my mood persisted, just felt low. Started on the climb on the road to Mt. Towrong, and it was along here that I decided that I really needed to get my shit together and stop bitching inwardly about everything. I should have been celebrating the glorious weather, sharing the trail with some wonderful people, being able to do what I love to do and had missed during my long time out injured. It was halfway up this road, not a fave section, but necessary to get to one of the best sections over this side of Macedon ranges, that I bumped into Tim Fleahy. We had crossed paths at SCC, Tim doing the 100, me completing legs 3 & 4 in a team. We shared the road along here, chatting about all things running, training programmes missed or light-on, races to be run. Whatever it was, maybe taking my mind off things, but my mood lifted considerably. Run through the single trail beyond the summit of Mt. Towrong, then for the first time in 4 years we (all the runners), were treated to an outstanding vista across the south of the park towards Melbourne.

Weather couldn't have been better. And it made the trails look brilliant.
Photo credit: Chrissy Good

Drop down to Anzac Road, 18.5k's in, 11.5k's of mostly uphill to finish. Hit the road, and put my head down. Energy was low, but I was digging deep to keep going as much as I could. realising that I wasn't in the same shape I'd been in previous years meant that I probably walked a bit more here than I normally would. Intent on surviving and being able to finish in one piece, no injuries, ready to train for the next event was the sole focus now. Zig Zag can always be a bit of a chore, long and winding uphill, much of it at a gradient you could run it, but by now fatigued legs have made sure that isn't possible. But with the sunny conditions, and with timing the key, the sun was in a perfect position as I was running up here, giving me a glorious photo opportunity.

Climbing Zig Zag Track, the sun in our faces.

Beyond the aid station at 22k, I was just pushing as hard and as long as I could. Heart rate spiking on hills, I would keep running until it launched itself above 160. Stop running, wait for it to drop to under 150, then start again. It seemed to be the right decision at the time, and looking at previous results, my time along the last 5k's was pretty much as per those years. And it was along here, finally after 27 odd k's of trail, that I started to feel warm. By now though I couldn't be stuffed stopping and taking the thermal off! Just push on and finish.
The final run to the finish line, shout out from some friends, medal presented by Kim (thanks, such a lovely welcome back), then shuffle off and find Nicky. She had run the 10k earlier in the day and loved it. Much nicer trail than Maroondah Dam, although hillier. Get changed, yak with friends, grab a sausage, yak again, few photos, yak again, then hang around the finish line waiting for Chrissy to finish. And she did, albeit in a bit of pain, her ITB flaring again. But she loved the course, which I was thankful for, seeing as it was probably me who convinced her to do it.
So, 13 minutes slower than last year, and my slowest ever here. But I've been reminded by a few people that I haven't just come back from nearly 4 months off with injury, but my previous 30 months of running have been constantly injury hit. I, therefore, should be happy with my progress and look forward to the next one. Which I am.
And a big shout out to everyone running at Macedon, and To Brett and the volunteers who make this such a great event. (Even scored a bottle of wine, noice!)

Some interesting Statistics

As I said, I've run this event (same course, the 30) 4 times now. And it has been interesting to see how it has evolved over that time.
My first year there in 2014, I ran 3:31 and placed 14th out of 42. Roll forward to 2017 and I run a 3:49, placing 63rd out of 126. The same time as 2014 would have placed me in 39th position.
These stats relate purely to the 30k course.

Categories	2014	2015	2016	2017
Quickest	02:45:53	02:32:51	02:37:59	02:21:46
Slowest	05:25:40	06:01:45	04:53:42	05:06:03
Average	03:52:10	03:58:32	03:49:28	03:52:34
Median	03:43:50	03:51:34	03:51:25	03:49:06
No. men	27	72	90	85
No. women	15	25	39	41
%Women to Men	55.56%	34.72%	43.33%	48.24%
My time	03:31:15	03:31:47	03:36:36	03:48:49
Time Behind Winner	00:45:22	00:58:56	00:58:37	01:27:03
My Placing	14	31	47	63
Total Runners	42	96	129	126

You can take whatever you like from that brief summary I've given. But here is my take;

1. Despite the dramatic increase in numbers, the average time has stayed relatively stable. Interestingly, the slowest average (and median time) coincides with the bragging rights shit storm of a day in 2015 where it was wet, cold and miserable, and snowed on Monday afterwards.
2. 24:07 minutes have been shaved off the course record in 4 years, that is quite an increase in pace.
3. Men have dominated the number of runners (2014 being the exception), but in recent years the women have clawed their way back. C'mon girls, you know you want to run it!
4. My time has slowly tapered off over the years. A combination of age and injury no doubt.
5. And exacerbated is my time behind the winner. As they get quicker and I get slower, that time stretches out further and further.
6. With the introduction of the half and full marathons in 2017, the 30k numbers plateaued. But overall numbers would have increased quite a bit. A factor many race directors will look at to maintain the viability of smaller events.
7. My time has fallen within the median range in all 4 races. Maybe that is all I aim for next year, or at least plan C, after plans A and B get mown down. Maybe I'll harden up and do the 50.... 

Race Calendar:
July 23rd - You Yangs 30k, Trails+
August 6th - Bunyip State Forest (fatass event)
August 27th - Wonderland 36k.
September 6th - Surf Coast Century 50k.
Until next time....