Fitter Happier

Another Wonderland race completed, another bright shiny medal to go with the other bright shiny medals in my collection.
But this race is more than just bling collection. Run by Rohan Day, Michael Clarke and Matt Bell (through the Big Long Run company), the attention to detail, the support of the runners and vollies, the vibe that is created and the area it is held in (the magnificent Halls Gap and Grampian Mountains area in Victoria), make this a must do event. But be warned, it's not for the faint hearted. The 36k (with a little extra...) goes over Mt. Rosea, and the rock scrambling in places will slow the progress, max out the quads and hammies, and batter you before the long flat sections on the Bellfield run home. Every year I turn up knowing that when I finish I will wish I had trained harder and more specifically for the event. And this year? No different.

An outstanding view on our climb up to The Pinnacle. (Photo credit: Caz Derby)

Friday Night

Got a lift up with Matt and Caz. road trips to races are usually uneventful affairs, get on the road, make sure the car and occupants are fueled and in good shape. This trip not exactly so. Stopped at the BP Ballan, bain-marie and Maccas being to only options available. Caz, having to watch her diet for particular foodstuffs, opted for a Maccas without onion and potato cakes. The best of a bad lot. Unfortunately, they didn't agree with her. The 3 of us were sleeping in bunks, at 2:30 in the morning I was woken up by Caz telling me she was unwell and going for a walk. Half asleep I briefly wondered why walking might help, then fell asleep again. Woke up the next morning to find Caz asleep on the couch having been up half the night vomiting. Whoops... Sorry mate. Thankfully it was food related, rather than good ol' gastro.

Saturday

Volunteers get into the spirit of the weekend. Jacqui, Tony,
and Sue on Saturday (Photo credit: Warwick King)

The weekend is more than just my race. In an acknowledgment of the fact many families make the 3hr trek from Melbourne (and a few more from elsewhere) to Halls Gap, there are 2k and 8k races on the Saturday for the kids and adults not crazy enough to take on the 20 or 36 on the Sunday. the Saturday, setting up the start/finish, and then handing out finishers medals (my absolute favourite vollie role). Getting to hand out medals is great in that I get to meet so many runners, many of them friends, but also to see many first timers complete their first race, and first trail race. Watching the kids run the 2k event is fantastic, so many enthusiastic children with supportive and positive parents.
Interestingly though, there are a number of runners who double up with races. Either the 2 and the 8 on Saturday, the 8 on Saturday and the 20 on Sunday, or if truly really keen, the 8 and 36 double! I elected to help Volunteer on

One of my fave friends ran on Saturday
(Photo credit: Tan Marie)

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't kind to us on the Saturday, as the rain and cold hung around and then finally engulfed the area in the mid afternoon. But still it was held in good spirits, most if not all realising it is winter, it is the Grampians, weather like this is always to be expected.
The rest of the afternoon spent back at the accommodation with Paul from Baw Baw Runners watching the Wallabies nearly spring a surprise on the All Blacks in the rugby, only for the wretched bastards to score a try with 3 minutes left. Oh well, run angry tomorrow I thought.

Sunday

Last year, the weather was atrocious. On the Saturday night the wind blew, the rain poured, and we all probably awoke at some point and what the hell we'd got ourselves in for. The Sunday dawned calmer but the rain persisted and it will go down as a very wet and cold run. Roll forward a year and the weather overnight is similar. Wind, rain in buckets, but thankfully the day dawned clear and cold, with the promise of a mainly fine day.

Mandatory gear check before the start with
Matt Bell (Photo credit: Kim Day)

Having secured a house close to the start line, Paul and I packed our gear and walked down to the start area to drop bags off for safe keeping and get ready for a 7:00am start. As happens at these races, they turn into a massive social event. Meeting many friends and acquaintances, and people I know through Facebook and running forums. Pushed my way into the starting chute, nervous banter and laughter from all of us. Moved forward to catch up with a few other Dandenong Trail Runners (DTR), and decided to stay there in the first wave of runners going out. This is reserved for those of us who think they will be doing a faster time. Last year I deliberately held back to the 2nd wave, knowing full well my interrupted training plan was going to leave me struggling on the climbs. This year I was confident, the training had been consistent, and I had run plenty of hills and long runs to get me through.
Finally, the countdown came, the horn went off, and the first wave went on it's merry way. First few k's have bottlenecks, single track that is impossible to pass, with a couple of sharp climbs that slow runners much like traffic slows near an accident. I was followed along here by Karl and Andrew of DTR, and Karl and I chatted about how we were both running Surf Coast Century in 13 days (13 days! Sheeeet… ). He the 100, me the 50. And many other runners were also going to backup in 13 days time. For all us, getting through unscathed was likely to be target #1. Once the trail widened out and the runners started to sort themselves out, we could run patches, walk others and generally make solid progress towards The Pinnacle. Chatting to and passing a few runners (my climbing was on point for the day), made for a nice climb to the first peak. It was uneventful, or so it seemed.

Every year I wonder why it takes me 30 minutes to get to The Pinnacle.
Every year I see these photos and understand why.
(Offical event photography: SuperSport Images)

As we approached the Pinnacle, a droning sound became evident. Bec Howes husband Steve, was flying his drone and taking video of the runners as we climbed and continued on our way to Sundial carpark. There was quite the crowd up here, people heading on to the viewing platform for selfies and group photos, the rest of us heading along the trail. It was here that disaster (or so I thought at the time) struck. The trail goes towards the base of the viewing platform then turns right at 90 degrees. I had peeled slightly right to take a different line, turned my left foot to take the next step when the foot just slipped and shot out behind me. I plummeted face first towards the granite, only just getting my hands down in time to break my fall. Nothing like kissing the rock at speed! All seemed okay, even though my left knee had clattered into the rock. Stood up, Karl asked if I was okay, said I was, and we descended on the trail. A quick look at my knee revealed a nasty gash, blood flowing supremely down towards my shoe. I was shattered, to say the least, more so thinking of SCC50 rather than this race. But after a few minutes of running there was no pain at all, only the feeling of the open wound and the warm blood seeping out.
We strode on, Karl and Andrew still with me as we passed Sundial (the first of several aid stations), then ran on to where the 20k runners split left, and we 36'ers headed right to Rosea carpark. I was finding it very comfortable along here, chatting with Karl about SCC and other running related stuff. It passed the time. Ran over 'my spot' where I achieved the dubious honour of being the only runner ever to complete the unadvertised Wonderland 10k event in  2015 (read here). Hit Rosea carpark aid station. Friend and DTR Warwick was volunteering here, encouraging us and taking photos as we passed through. Beyond the road is the start of the climb to Rosea, winding single track that steadily climbs enough that the walk/run strategy is in place. Stopped along here for my first gel and Karl and Andrew ran ahead. By the time we hit the rocky climb to the summit, I'd caught them and Stephen Davis, a line of 4 DTR crew snaking their way to the top.

DTR invades Rosea carpark. Karl, myself,
and Andrew. (Photo credit: Warwick King)

The weather, whilst still fine, turned decidedly colder on this stretch. The wind was the main factor. Not enough to make you stop and put a jacket or thermal on, but enough to know that if you had to stop, you would get very cold, very quickly. The views though were outstanding. Take my word because I didn't stop to take photos, just wanted to get to the top asap and get the descent underway. As we approached the summit, it was mostly walking, with the occasional burst of running. It wasn't so much the ascent, as it was the path. Rocky and uneven at best, a bit of scrambling at the worst. Run and slip here, almost certainly a disaster of a high magnitude. It twisted, and turned and in places you had to duck under a rock, then stop and peer around you to make sure you had the trail in sight. As interesting as this section was, the best was yet to come!
Just before the summit of Rosea, I was caught up by another runner, someone I didn't know, but he looked familiar, and I looked familiar to him. We chatted at length about running, future events, this event etc. So much so that we both ran past a rather large sign pointing us towards the track to Borough Huts. Half way to Rosea lookout we realised our error. Turned around to trudge back down, turning back a couple of other runners but also watching a stream of other runners get in front of us. More rock hopping, a bit of running then we hit the section of stone steps that mark the top of the descent to Borough Huts and a well-anticipated aid station. This section is worth the entry price alone. 6k of flowing trail on a mild gradient. After the slow and ponderous progress of the last 2+ hours, it was great to stretch the legs out. Down we went, DTR friend Stephen Davis in front of me after a few k, we steadily dropped back down towards the back of Bellfield. Last year I was in and around a large group, this year only a few of us, so not much chat (missed you, Bec Howe!).

Across the top was less running, more scrambling. The path at times becomes vague and indistinguishable from everything else! (Photo Credit: Alan Cleveralias!)

Arrived at Borough Huts in good shape. Certainly better than last year where I arrived thinking that now would be a good time to finish. Grabbed another gel (Vfuel, of course), aid station coordinator extraordinaire Bernie offered to clean up my bloody knee. I kindly declined, knee was fine. Taz from Phillip Island runners was there, taking photos of my damaged leg, but also giving words of encouragement (they were not forgotten, thanks Taz). After a few minutes, I pulled out of there and started on the long trek back to the finish.
Having done this last year, I was well aware of the mental toughness needed here, and that if I was done physically, it was a long way to home. First few k's out, I felt good. Nice steady pace, we were on the side of the road until we turned towards the eastern side of the lake on the dirt road. The road climbs very gently here, enough to let you know, but not enough that running is difficult. I had Stephen in front of me again shortly afterward along here, and it made me keep up and keep him in my sights. I was steeling myself for the first of 4 'pinches'. Number 1 arrived. I'd vowed that I would walk it, regardless of how I felt. No problems with that decision, what a bastard of an incline at that point of the run. Knocks the momentum out of everything.
Crested the hill and set off to start running again. And that is when I discovered my legs had decided, “bugger this” and had disappeared off to Rio, leaving me with a pair of useless stick-like appendages, not good for much else. But, the mind was still willing. I shuffled on, the pace pretty much gone, but I moved forward out of sheer pigheadedness.

See photographer, suck it up and pose
(Offical event photography: SuperSport Images)

Caught up with Stephen for the next 'pinch', and we adopted a run/walk strategy through this and the next 2. We chatted a bit, ran a bit, walked a bit, but really we were both just moving as fast as we could towards Halls Gap. One pleasing feature was the weather was still nice, even a bit warmish at times, and the views over the lake we lovely. Whilst not the most inspiring section of the run, the sounds, the smells, the squelching of mud under the shoe, all make it a rich and rewarding experience.
As we approached Brambuk and the wet grassy plains, the track goes downhill quite rapidly. My legs, sore and tight after all the climbs, weren't happy here. They'd returned from Rio just to complain about it. Stephen got away from me here, I nearly caught him at the aid station, but beyond that point my race was pretty much me on auto-pilot just getting it done, ugly and nearly effective, but done all the same. Photographer around the corner was the cue to run again, then I had to stop, compose myself and get going again. I forgot about the steps along here, coppers logs, about a metre across, very difficult on tired legs. It seemed like an age to get to Delleys Bridge, and any thoughts I had about doing a 4:45 started to seriously evaporate along here. And then the heavens opened. I hadn't even spied the cloud coming across. One moment it was sunny, the next raining and cold.

Don't like the weather in Victoria? Come back in 10 minutes!
Left to right: Kylie (sun), Sue (sun), Paul (sun), Narelle (sun), Tim (light rain), Me (pissing down), Diana (rain easing)
(Photo credit: Belinda Roffey)

Hit Delleys, finally. Greeted by a friendly face of Belinda Roffey, taking photos and urging me on that I was nearly there. I knew it was close, but I was cooked. Hit the concrete footpath beyond the bridge and gave myself a mental spray to just get on with it. Once I started running again, I was okay. Mentally picking up, knowing the finish was just over a k around the corner. 2 women passed me, Kerry Schilke, and Jennine. Both gave me brief words of encouragement, as I gave some back. Trail runners are incredibly supportive, why I love this sport so much. Turned the final corner, recognised many familiar landmarks, and mapped out the path home.
Many friends along here yelling and clapping. The finish is up the main street (on the footpath), and it is a great way to finish a race. Tired legs and minds somehow pull out one last mighty effort to bring it home strong. And I did, 15 minutes faster than last year and with the feeling that despite the late race fade, I was much stronger and fitter than this time last year.
Finish, bling draped over my neck, then the most awesome hug from friend Narelle (has become a bit of a Wonderland tradition!), and then I smashed down 4 cups of coke. Don't normally drink it, but after this, give me sugar and caffeine, and give it to me NOW!

Post Race

The DTR Memorial First Aid Room at the Halls Gap community centre!
Myself, Stephen, Karl (just visiting), and Shawn.
(Photo credit: Helen Jane Davis)

Having run 33k of the race with a bloodied knee, I decided maybe it was time to get it cleaned up. Saunter into the first aid room only to be greeted by the staff there, “Hello Les, welcome back!”. Bastards know me by name. And in here were 3 other DTR members, 2 of whom were requiring attention. Indeed, the chair I was sitting in had just been vacated by a former DTR Naralle! The DTR injury squad was in full swing. CJ from LTR stuck his head in briefly, alarmed after hearing I was once again in first aid at Wonderland, saw the cut on my knee, laughed and buggered off again! On the way out I got a “See you at Two Bays” send off from the first aid guys. Very funny boys, very funny...
Sunday night at Wonderland is curryoke, curry and karaoke. A great night some great entertainment, some terrific singing (not from me...), and the best way to wind down after a hard race. Slept well that night.

Monday

Lift back to Melbourne with Caz Derby (a different Caz 😄), great chat and banter to wind down after the weekend, and then back to reality for all of us. Another weekend in the Grampians over, already talking about coming back for 2018. No DOMS really, just that guttural groan every time Caz and I got in and out of her car! Knee feeling good too, just the pain of the cut, no bruising of flaoting kneecap to really put a dampener on the weekend.

What Next?

This was the first race in a block of 3 covering 7 weeks. Next is Surf Coast Century 50 on September 9th, followed 5 weeks later by Melbourne Marathon. It's an ambitious plan, and recovery sessions the key here, far more important than any hard and brutal training runs. Given where I was on 1st January, not running and in pain, it is simply enough that I can make the start line of these events, let alone do well in them.

Post this image every year, never looks any easier!
And notice the "37.5 km at 0%"? Distance is value for money, and it's a flat run (elevation gain = descent!)

Until next time...