Thursday, September 26, 2013

Toughing it out at the Surf Coast Century

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you've lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that's good.” 
― Elizabeth Edwards

As the quote alludes to, this race was pretty much the contrasting opposite of my last 100k race, back in May at TNF100. It was probably a very timely reminder for me to never to take this ultra running caper for granted, and there definitely can be such thing as 'too much of a good thing!' My own high expectations make me reflect back on this race, not so much as me racing it, rather me finishing it. Completing and not competing would probably be more fitting. It was a day however, that I probably gained more from than a day when it all comes together nicely.

Turn back the clock a bit...

I was offered the trip down to Surf Coast Century after TNF100 from the event organisers, Rapid Ascent. Since I heard about the race last year, and having experienced the similar GOW100 last year, I was keen to get back down again to this lovely part of the world and run this spectacular looking race. I accepted the offer and plans and bookings were made. I was very keen to knock out a great time and all things pointed this way. The course has only a relatively small amount of climbing (1800m), there are lots of fast, runnable sections which suits my strengths and there was a cracking field assembled which would ensure we had to bring our 'A' game. Then I got the invitation from Inov-8, my main supporters, to Japan to race the Hakuba 50k; and suddenly I was in a predicament! Only 6 days after Hakuba was SCC!

How much Hakuba took out of me? Well I'm not going to venture there. I'm glad I did things the way I did and wouldn't, even with hindsight, change a thing. It's given me a hard test, probably knocked me back into reality and retaught me how hard ultras should and can be.

Leg 1: The 'faking it' leg
The stunning first leg!
The race started half an hour before sunrise, to coincide with low tide, consisting of 21km of hard sand running along the beaches of the Surf Coast, such as Point Addis and Jan Juc, all the way along to Torquay. I call this the 'faking it' leg as I was doing just that. The legs were ticking over pretty well and weren't complaining too much. Without any real testing sections it was always going to be fast and furious and I had a great time running under giant sandstone cliffs, over rock ledges and reef platforms, avoiding rock pools and through channels and inlets. Andy Lee and I ran most of this first leg together at a pretty descent clip. I can't describe to you how beautiful and unique this leg is! Running along beaches, the rolling hypnotic waves of the ocean on the right and the giant cliffs on the left. We admired the surfers doing their thing on the curling lefh hand breaks at Bells Beach and I thought to myself that this is definitely the Australian flavour of trail running. Europe have their giant mountains but we have our majestic coastline! It wasn't all rosy though! I did have one moment early on when a small channel turned out to be quite a deep gully and I went over in the salty, sandy water. Serves me right for not starting with a headlamp!

Leg 2: The 'reality bites' leg
After leaving the well stocked and encouraging support at the aid station at Torquay Beach, Andy and I set off on the second leg which started off on gravel footpaths which ran adjacent to the beach - the 'Surf Coast Walk'. This has its lumps and bumps but at very best could be described as gently undulating. However, from my perspective, as soon as we hit the first few little rises I knew that it was going to be a tough day at the office. My legs had no drive and purpose and the lactic acid was hanging around way too long after each extra effort. Each little climb and Andy would pull ahead. I was just managing to hold on; the flats were keeping me in it but I knew pretty much then that this was going to be a battle.

Pushing through the Ironbarks section
Not long after the Bells Beach car park, Rowan Walker eased by and took Andy with him. I was kind of glad, I could fake it no longer and I settled into a much more circumspect rhythm. At around the 29km mark the course heads inland and through some beautiful Ironbark forests along twisty, windy single track. This is stuff I would usually love, but my legs were aching and the downhills were testing the already complaining quads and hamstrings. I was at best nursing myself down the downhills and crawling the ups. Andy, who had come back to me after losing Rowen, again pulled away on the ups but each time there was enough flat for me to bring him back. At around 35km Ben Duffus bounded past in his Hokas looking fresh as a daisy and he wasn't unexpected either. This is a young guy with loads of potential (7th in TNF100). He offered me some encouragement but I remember saying something about pulling the pin on the race soon. I wished him well for the rest of the race and off he went in the distance to chase down Rowan.

I limped in to the next checkpoint tired and frustrated. I was unable to capitalise on any of the fast sections of that leg. The support from all the Rapid Ascent crew at the checkpoint was amazing, offering me all the assistance I needed, but they didn't have what I really needed...a new pair of legs! All the thoughts of pulling out here were dashed; with all these lovely people encouraging me there was no way I could end it...well not there anyway!

Leg 3: The 'let the battles begin' leg
The next leg is the toughest leg of the race and took us out through the stunning Otway Ranges hinterland, through Eucalypt forests blanketed in wildflowers, past waterfalls and by some cool lookouts. It is the hilliest of all the legs and I knew that if I was to finish this race I had to somehow get through this leg come hell or highwater! There were so many sections of this leg when I wanted to end it but in my mind that was never going to be an option. I had decided that whatever it took to finish I would do it, even if it I had to stumble and bumble my way to the finish I would. On this leg I had somehow managed to creep ahead of Andy and so was still in 3rd spot. Not that position mattered, I was now simply surviving this race.

The beautiful bushland gave me plenty of stimulus to divert the negative thoughts, and I used lots and lots of mindfulness techniques to do anything but think about pain and fatigue I was feeling. While my heart was always in the race to finish, my mind needed some coaxing, and I'd already given up on my legs coming good! I began really focusing on the small but really uplifting things; the bird calls, the refreshing breeze against my body and the beautiful flora around me - grass trees and fern fronds were very abundant. Half way up the long slow grind at the 60k mark I was joined by a relay runner and we ran together all the way to the checkpoint at 77km. While we didn't talk each other's ears off, we offered each other the company that sometimes is what you need to keep plugging away. He was struggling a bit with some stomach issues, and like two wounded soldiers we encouraged each other all the way to the checkpoint. Thanks mate!

One of the short but tough climbs in leg 3
Reaching the checkpoint marked the end of the toughest leg and while my spirits had lifted somewhat, I was feeling very fatigued. In the rush of my trip down the night before, I had missed the opportunity to hand in my drop bag and so had to rely on the sustenance supplied by the event. But to my mind, that had been searching for excuses to give up all day, this was it! With an excuse ready made for me, I was just about to sit down and take a rest when I heard "Brendan...over here mate, we have all you need"! It was Shane and Belinda Simpson and Veronica Lee, three of the loveliest people you could ever meet, willing me over to have some of the supplies that they had on hand (they were crewing for Andy Lee). Deep down I though...damn have to keep going now, but also this generosity of spirit that they were showing uplifted me enough to shuffle off again. And so I did.

Leg 4: The 'reward for perseverance' leg
Not long after the 'douch grade' climb out of the checkpoint I reached Ocean Views Ridge, a breathtaking view of the coastline down to Lorne and scattered ocean rock monuments. It was here we finally headed back towards the coast and in an Easterly direction back to the finish line at Anglesea. At Fairhaven, around the 81km mark I was joined by George and Dion who were out doing a bit of a jog as a warm up before their sweeping and demarking the course duties they had to do later that night. Dion dropped back after a quick chat and George joined me for a leisurely (for him) couple of kms. He was great company as he told me about his exploits in the ultra running world and goals he's ticked off this year. At round 83km, James Roberts cruised past and finally I felt more relieved than anything that I was out of the top 3. With nothing, from a racing perspective, left to fight for, I could now enjoy some walking and relaxing, and pretty much succumb to my bodies every demands to the finish line!

But less than a km later I could see a figure walking ahead and it was Rowan Walker, who sadly, was struggling with a hamstring injury. From all accounts Rowan was looking really good for all of the race out in front and it was this injury that brought him undone. Ultra running can be a cruel beast! Finding myself back in 3rd, I was resolute now to hold this position and even, if there was a chance, try and get back into 2nd. After getting up to the lighthouse and over the pinchy headland at Aireys Inlet, we hit the cliff top track - just a supremely gorgeous trail, which winds its way over headlands and past rocky pinnacles such as Urquhart Bluff. I was running pretty well, at a consistent rhythm and was actually looking forward to the flat beach run coming up where I may have a shot at gathering in James.

With scenery like this, who wouldn't be smiling?
Down onto Urquhart Beach and 4km of sand running had me snaking around the watermark, chasing the hardest part of the sand on each wave of the incoming tide. I could see James ahead (I couldn't miss his flouro green shirt!) and knew it was a good couple of minutes and too great a distance to gather in. I really enjoyed the beach run, the salty air and sea spray, together with a tail wind was energising me to the finish. Off the beach and up and over Point Roadknight and down back onto Angleasea Beach; I was almost home. A bit of a run through the crowd of supporters and I had finished; broken but satisfied, tired but reminded of what ultra running is all about.

Congratulations must go to Ben Duffus and James Roberts, who both came to the dance ready to rumba and ran superbly well executed races. Commiserations to the reigning champ Rowan Walker, who was only stopped by a failing body. Both Ben and James are two young guys who are no doubt destined for much bigger things in the years to come. A big shout out too to my old sparring partner Andy Lee who dug deep and gutsed it out for a well deserved top 4th spot. He's been killing the shorter style races this year so it's great to see him finish strong in a longer one. But it was a day for the young pups. It was really great to see the 'new blood' dominate the placings, which can only be great for the sport in general. In the ladies event, less than 10 minutes separated the top 3, with Kiwi Whitney Dagg taking the win, only minutes ahead of 17 year old!!! Lucy Bartholomew. If this is an indication of the new breed of ultra runner in Australasia than the sport is in a healthy state.

I really enjoyed coming down and being part of the Surf Coast Century. It's great to see a race director take the local terrain, walking tracks and conditions and incorporate them into a uniquely Australian trail race. While this race has neither huge elevation gain nor overly technical sections, it makes up for it in its wide variety of truly Australian landscapes and environments that take each competitor on a journey of the Surf Coast's best features.

Champ Ben (centre), James 2nd (right)
In my post race interview after crossing the finishing line with the always smiling Adele from Rapid Ascent, I said that I had to dig deeper than I've ever had to dig before to finish a race. It was one of those days that never went to plan, but it was a day I'll remember forever as one of the biggest battles I've been in. But the battle wasn't against other competitors, nor the course, the battle was entirely with myself. And I won it and I''m really proud of that!

Wore...
Inov-8 X -Talon 190s (great on the beach sections!)
Injinji 2.0 Original Weight Performance Socks
Inov-8 Debrigaitors
Inov-8 branded compression shorts
Hammer branded RaceReady Running Tank Top
Injinji Branded Headsweat Visor

Logistics...
Suunto Ambit 2

Carried....
UltrAspire Surge Pack (great for the amount of mandatory gear required)

Ate and Drank...
Hammer Gels; Tropical
Hammer Perpetuem (solids and liquid form)
Hammer Enduralytes
Red Bull at 87km

Recovered with...
Hammer Recoverite
Chips and Beer
Good friends, new friends and randoms at the Anglesea Pub!
A 14.2 Trail Run on Sunday morning all for the love of a 'Concrete Shoe'!!
I worked hard for this Concrete Shoe!
All photos courtesy of http://www.supersportimages.com

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Hakuba International Trails 50K

私はすべての他の素晴らしいランナーと白馬に挑戦しかし見事なトレイルを共有していることを光栄に感じています。イベントは非常に特殊です。クロージングパーティーの開会式から、すべてのランナーの間で共有精神の多くのれんと寛大さがあった。

私は日本に来る愛し、私は現在、2つの非常に美しいエリアを見てきましたのは非常に光栄に思い、富士山、白馬。これらの場所の両方では、人々の魅力、おもてなしと非常に歓迎した感じの私の感覚は非常に似ている!

私は白馬で会って、私に自分自身を導入されたすべての素敵な人々に感謝します。私は自分のパフォーマンスに完全に満足しませんでしたが、この失望はすぐに新しい友情を形成し、愛をトレイルランニングがはるかに重要である拡散私にとってとして忘れていた。

私はレースから私の高低についてのインタビューでのレースの後に求められた。私は、私はもはや、フロントランナーに追いつくことができなかった知っていたし、彼らは徐々に先んじてぞっとするときローが第二の大きな山に登るのだったと思う。私は美しい、大きな、茶色のワシは谷経由で優雅に高騰を見た田んぼに近づいていたような高は、第三登山の降下の終わりだった。これは私を拾い、私はそれからの私は、レースの残りのための強く、再び走った。私は楽しかった終わりに向かっていくつかの他のランナーとの良好な戦いのカップルを持っていた!

しかし、振り返ってみると、本当に楽しいセクションがたくさんありました。私は、あなたが山ダウン独自のパスを選択しなければならなかった最初の大きな降下を愛した。これは私の、私がかつて英国で行ったレースを実行して落ちたことを思い出し。私が側川に沿って走ると谷流れ落ちる水の流れを聞いだっすると私は非常に肯定的に保つ。非常に特別な瞬間は、第三登山の開始時に神社までランニングして墓地を通過しました。私はこの素敵なセクションを感情的に本当にいい感じを持って。私はあまりにも急な下り坂を愛して!私はINOV - 8 Xタロン212Sを着ていた嬉しかった。大きなグリップは、私が本当に下り坂を下り爆撃することができました。しかし、私の足はレース後日で、このために支払うんでした!それはスローダウン'と述べた看板を見て面白かった。私の脳は逆の方法で働いていたし、彼らは、これは私ができるのと同じくらい速くダウンする場所だったと言ってくれました!

私は、レース主催者のために何も賞賛、もちろん、地元白馬の住民にボランティアを持っていません。彼らの励まし、支援とコミットメントは、最高でした。組織は、シームレスであり、ビューのランナーの観点から、私は非常にすべての点で面倒を見ました。すべてのスポンサーと、このイベントの支持に感謝します。

おめでとうござい田畑幸司素晴らしい勝利と用ウェルに行って巨大な私のINOV - 8×デサントのチームメイト田畑幸司と小出拓则それぞれ2番目と3番目の仕上げ用。ビッグはよく女性のタイトルを獲得するための私の仲間のオージーショーナスティーブンソンに行わ。それはまた、彼がしたすべてのもののすべての週末すべてのクラスだったスポーツの伝説、剛鏑木を、満たすために光栄でした。彼は皆のために多くの時間を持っていたし、魅力的な笑顔ですべてをした。私と一緒に撮った写真を持って含む!

私が日本で訪問し、レースをする機会のためにデサントに感謝しなければなりません。私は今年の私の5位を改善したいと考えてどこに再びUTMFために来年4月に戻ってくることを願っています。それは大きなテストが、私は達成することができます感じるいずれかになります。私は非常に日本のトレイルに自宅で感じる!

次回まで!
With my Inov-8 x Descente 2nd and 3rd placing team mates
I feel honoured to have shared the challenging but stunning trails at Hakuba with all the other wonderful runners. The event is very special. From the opening ceremony to the closing party, there was much goodwill and generosity of spirit shared among all the runners.

I love coming to Japan and I feel very privileged to have seen two very beautiful areas now; Mt Fuji and Hakuba. In both these locations, the people's charm, hospitality and my sense of feeling very welcomed has been very similar!

Thank you to all the lovely people who I met at Hakuba and introduced themselves to me. Although I was not totally happy with my performance, this disappointment was quickly forgotten about as for me forming new friendships and spreading the trail running love is much more important.

I was asked after the race in an interview about my high and low from the race. I think the low was on the second big mountain climb when I knew I could no longer keep up with the front runners and they slowly creept ahead. The high was at the end of the descent of the third climb as I was approaching the rice fields I saw a beautiful, big, brown eagle soaring gracefully over the valley. This picked me up and I from then on I ran strongly again for the rest of the race. I had a couple of good battles with some other runners towards the end which was fun!

But looking back, there were lots of really enjoyable sections. I loved the first big descent where you had to pick your own path down the mountain. This reminded my of a fell running race I once did in the UK. I loved running along side the river and hearing the running water flow down the valley kept me very positive. A very special moment was running up to the shrine at the start of the third climb and passing through the cemetery. I got a really nice feeling emotionally through this lovely section. I loved the steep downhills too! I was glad I was wearing the Inov-8 X Talon 212s. The great grip allowed me to really bomb down the downhills. But my legs did pay for this in the days after the race! It was funny seeing the signs that said 'Slow Down'. My brain worked in the opposite way and they told me that this was a place to just go down as quick as I could!

I have nothing but praise for the race organisers, the volunteers on the course and the local Hakuba residents. Their encouragement, support and committment was awesome. The organisation was seemless and from a runners point of view I felt very looked after in every respect. Thank you to all sponsors and supporters of this event.

Congratulations to 田畑 幸司 for the fantastic win and a massive well done to my Inov-8 x Descente team mates 田畑 幸司 and 小出 拓則 for finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. A big well done to my fellow Aussie Shona Stephenson for winning the womens title. It was also an honour to meet a legend of the sport, Tsuyoshi Kaburaki, who was all class all weekend in everything he did. He had so much time for everyone and did everything with a charming smile; including having a photo taken with me!

I must thank Descente for the opportunity to visit and race in Japan. I hope to come back next April for UTMF again where I hope to improve on my 5th place this year. It will be a big test but one I feel I can achieve. I feel very at home on Japanese trails!

Until next time!

Friday, September 6, 2013

Lake Crackenback Trail Running Weekends

The Resort at twilight. Photo by Nadine Davies
It's fair to say that sometimes the most unexpected opportunities can just happen. It's what you do and how you do things once you get these opportunities that ultimately control how far these moments in time go and how successful they are.

So the story goes. Soon after The North Face 100, I was contacted getting lots of random emails, Facebook messages and the like, and, despite some being put on the backburner for a long time, I eventually responded to all. There were lots of encouraging comments, some cool comments about other people's races and also some questions too.

One random question I received was through my Twitter account. It was an innocent question about my UltraAspire pack that I used in the race. Of course I'm always happy to talk gear and so I replied. Before long, one thing led to another and I soon discovered that the person behind the messages just happened to be the General Manager of the 4.5 star Lake Crackenback Resort and Spa. So we got chatting and Scott and I immediately clicked. He is a passionate runner and outdoors man and ultimately wants to tick TNF100 off his bucket list.

Anyway, the resort's slogan is 'Relax. Rejuvenate. Activate'. It is located on the border of the Kosciuszko National Park, the resort is a natural playground nestled in the Thredbo Valley surrounded by the spectacular Snowy Mountains. As part of the resort's commitment to outdoor activities, they have a range of Ambassadors and Events to help promote the activities the resort offers. Pete Jacobs, Jared Tallent, Caroline Buchanan and Andy Blair amongst others are some of the Ambassadors. When Scott asked me to be a trail running Ambassador, naturally I jumped at the opportunity!

So we got talking about how we could promote trail running at the resort and we both came to the topic of hosting trail running camps. The resort has some stunning single track trails with over 20km of unique trails that run alongside the beautiful Thredbo River and in the surrounding bushland. Scott and I were keen to get a female on board, and we both agreed that Hanny Allston would be a wonderful ambassador. She is not just a fantastic athlete (former World Orienteering Champion), but has also been coaching and organising trail running camps through her business 'Find Your Feet' so brings a lot of experience and expertise. I first met Hanny in 2010 at the Melbourne Marathon when she was a dedicating herself to road running, and also caught up with her during TNF100 this year. She is lovely and superkeen to make these camps memorable.

So to cut a long story short, Hanny, Scott and I have planned three weekend trail running camps for the resort; starting in October, with one in November and February. The camps are definitely geared for all levels of abilities and experience; indeed at the core of Hanny and my values is a strong belief in inclusivity. The camps will involve a number of information seminars, technique workshops and a range of mentored group runs in the resort and in the surrounding National Park. There are a range of options for accommodation at the resort, and the more friends you bring, or if you organise it with a group, the better value it will be. The camps also include meals and a late checkout on Sunday. Having just spent a beautiful weekend down there, I can tell you that the accommodation, food and scenery is simply outstanding! The wildlife also come and say hello quite regularly too!

There is a loose progression of the camps, with the first one being themed as 'Preparing to Train'. The second camp has been titled 'Preparing to Race' and the last camp 'Maximising your Potential'. So in this way, you can choose the camp that is best suited for you, or, just as easily attend all three and you will be provided with different content and training sessions. 




We would love to see you there!