tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21256228324223989402024-02-07T16:18:12.755+11:00The Wild and Long TrailA blog about ultra running, including general stats about the races I do. Stats include cost, evelation, course maps, conditions, etc.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-90964557549799917012016-12-03T13:18:00.000+11:002016-12-03T13:18:00.294+11:00Alpine Challenge 100 Mile 2015 (Running Wild)<style type="text/css">
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<tr><td>Event Date</td><td>28th November 2015</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td>Mt Bogong (Falls Creek), Victoria, Australia</td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>100mi / 160km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+7000m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy Moderate <span class="statsRating">Hard Extreme</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Mostly self-sufficient, trail ultra-marathon</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Single trail and fire track. Some very steep ascents and descents.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aid Stations</td><td>Reasonably regular (~ every 15km), though fairly basic.</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Position</td><td>DNF (destroyed at 112km)</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Time</td><td>21h32m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Winning Time</td><td>23h03m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drop Out Rate</td><td>40%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Warm / hot, sunny day. Clear cool/cold night.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/440962809" target="_blank">Alpine Challenge 100mi Course (112km of it)</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Event Website</td><td><a href="http://runningwild.net.au/alpine-challenge/" target="_blank">Running Wild - Alpine Challenge</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Price</td><td>AU$265</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 2 3 <span class="statsRating">4</span> 5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>I brought a new pair of trail shoes (Salomon S-Labs) a few weeks before the run, and they were a half a size too small. I had a gut feeling at the time that the size was going to be an issue... I should have listened. </td></tr>
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<div class="raceSummary">
The 100 mile course is exactly the same as the 100km course, with an additional 60km loop out towards Mt Hotham and Feathertop.<br />
<br />
I ran the <a href="http://thewildandlongtrail.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/alpine-challenge-2014-running-wild.html" target="_blank">100km course in 2014</a>, and the <a href="http://thewildandlongtrail.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/alpine-challenge-reccy-pole-333-hotham.html" target="_blank">60km Pole 333 - Pole 333</a> loop as training run. I've got descriptions of both of those runs in their respective posts.<br />
<br />
I made two major mistakes running this race. The first (critical) one was attempting a very long run in shoes that were too tight. By the time I got to the 90km mark, I had a single, but sizeable, blister that enveloped my right toe. At 112km, the Harrietville aid station, I could hardly walk on it. Ultimately that blister was the major reason for pulling out (the first time I've aborted a race). Lesson learnt.<br />
<br />
The other mistake I made was being too focused on saving energy. I entered the race knowing I hadn't trained enough, so I devised a strategy to deal with the lack of training.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't spend an extra energy running down hills, I'd conserve as much as possible on the ascents, restrict my pace on the flats, limit talking to people, and even keep my mind as quiet as possible. In retrospect, a stupid strategy!<br />
<br />
The whole reason I run these events is to enjoy the experience. How could I possibly enjoy it with that strategy? Foolish, stupid strategy, and it didn't help me one bit. Another lesson learnt.<br />
<br />
The run itself (as an event) is awesome. The course was the same as the the 2014 100km course, with an additional loop from Pole 333 out to Mt. Hotham, down to Harrietville, up Mt. Feathertop, and then back to Pole 333. I've got notes on both of those parts of the course here, <a href="http://thewildandlongtrail.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/alpine-challenge-2014-running-wild.html" target="_blank">100km course</a>, and here, <a href="http://thewildandlongtrail.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/alpine-challenge-reccy-pole-333-hotham.html" target="_blank">Pole 333 loop</a>.<br />
<br />
Other things worth noting (not covered in those posts) are the Mt. Loch carpark - [alt. 1815m] (near Mt. Hotham) and Harrietville - [alt. 520m] aid stations.<br />
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Depending on how fast you're running, you'll go through both of these aid stations at night. The Mt. Loch carpark aid station is indoors. I've been up there late at night a few times (in the spring months), and it's often cold.<br />
<br />
That coldness is particularly noticeable if you're still running in sweet dampened daytime gear (shorts and top). It's a good idea to put warmer kit on as the sun goes down, before the temperature drops, and before you start the steep ascent to Mt. Loch (which most people walk, hence getting cold).<br />
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If you don't, you risk having to freeze your arse off taking damp clothing off in the dark on the side of the trail at altitude in the cold.<br />
<br />
When you leave the Mt. Loch aid station, you have a 17km section that descends from 1800m to Harreitville aid station, at just over 500m. I got to this aid station in the middle of the night (about 2am). Harrietville is in a valley, and despite being a significantly lower altitude, was quite cold.<br />
<br />
I was expecting the pub (hotel) to be open, and hoping to be able to get inside for a while to warm up. But the pub closed at 11pm. If I hadn't pulled out of the race at Harrietville it wouldn't have been much of a problem. Because I did pull out there, I didn't have any place to go to get warm. I didn't have anything warm to wear in my drop bag, and my body temperature dropped quickly.<br />
<br />
Thankfully (and I think I was quite lucky) the guys manning the checkpoint let me use their room in the hotel to take a quick nap and get warm (while I was waiting a few hours to be picked up).<br />
<br />
The lesson here? If you don't have a support crew that can pick you up relatively quickly in the middle of the night, make sure you put warm clothes (or a blanket) in your night time drop bags!<br />
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One final note. Bon Accord, the trail that connects Mt. Hotham with Harrietville. I ran this trail during a training run a few weeks prior to the race, and the length and steep descending sections nearly destroyed me. It got me again in the race.<br />
<br />
By the time I got to Washington River, the first 8km section of the trail had turned my optimism of finishing the race (that I felt at the top) into negative thoughts of defeat at the bottom. On this occasion I let those thoughts get the better of me... Bon Accord 2, Matt 0.<br />
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The day after the race I felt sick and bitterly disappointed about pulled out. I would have to come back in 2016.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0Falls Creek VIC 3699, Australia-36.8658814 147.28698020000002-37.0691039 146.96425670000002 -36.6626589 147.6097037tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-59146579432278243922015-11-19T22:41:00.002+11:002015-11-19T22:45:42.095+11:00Alpine Challenge Reccy: Pole 333 - Hotham - Harrietville - Feathertop - Pole 333<style type="text/css">
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<h2>
Quick Stats</h2>
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<tr><td>Run Date</td><td>18th October 2015</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Mt+Feathertop,+Hotham+Heights+VIC+3741/@-36.8949178,147.1016473,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b24304e45f0f41b:0x821120b26b76d8e0" target="_blank">Mt Feathertop, Alpine National Park, Victoria, Australia</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>60km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+3787m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy Moderate <span class="statsRating">Hard</span> Extreme</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Self-supported, day out in the mountains</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Technical single trail, fire tracks, and lots of steep ascents and descents.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Time on the trail</td><td>10h41m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Warm and sunny. About 25C.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/415293414" target="_blank">Alpine Challenge Reccy: Pole 333 - Hotham - Harrietville - Feathertop - Pole 333</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 2 3 4 <span class="statsRating">5</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>Going down can be just as slow as going up!</td></tr>
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<div class="raceSummary">
I'm running the Alpine Challenge 100mile ultra at the end of November. I ran the 100km last year, an identical sub-section of the 100 miler.<br />
<br />
Before running the race this year, I wanted to take the time to acquaint myself with the 60km section of the course I hadn't seen before. Below are my notes from the run, and a few pictures.<br />
<br />
During the race, this section of course is run from Pole 333 to Mt. Hotham, then down to Harrietville, up to Mt. Feathertop, and finally back to Pole 333. In all, you take in about +3700m of ascent, and the equivalent descending.<br />
<br />
Since you can't drive to Pole 333, I started and finished my reccy at Harrietville.<br />
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<h3>
<strong>Harrietville (584m) to Mt. Feathertop (1895m)</strong></h3>
This is a pretty easy climb. It's long, but it winds around the mountain and never really gets all that steep. I ran a lot of it, and walked when I needed to. Surprisingly, it was the only section of trail I saw a snake on.<br />
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The trail up is well defined, and easy to follow. When you come out of the tree line, as you get closer to Federation Hut, you get a good sense for how far up you've climbed.<br />
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The final climb from Federation Hut to Feathertop is a narrow and rocky path up the final ridge. It's easy enough. It took me just over 2 hours to reach the top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHlgJJs4lKviG6bJh9n6DoMUOsut6bsWuQDs5-WSC134Trz55RqC22GoKaI9Er2DWd4WjbWTFyAe9C6O6f7mGAYq_ymZaTqK3T-Mgna2Z-o0LqTTkXyBX39DiNhL8QOdHcPqOvFZw88VR/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHlgJJs4lKviG6bJh9n6DoMUOsut6bsWuQDs5-WSC134Trz55RqC22GoKaI9Er2DWd4WjbWTFyAe9C6O6f7mGAYq_ymZaTqK3T-Mgna2Z-o0LqTTkXyBX39DiNhL8QOdHcPqOvFZw88VR/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The trial/ridge leading up to Mt. Feathertop</div>
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It was sunny when I got up there, and there was no-one else around. It's an awesome view and I think if you time it right during the race, you could reach the summit at dawn, taking in the sunrise.<br />
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Surprisingly, there was still some snow up the top. I dug around for some fresh stuff, and filled up one of my water bottles. It wasn't as a good as a cold beer would have been, but it was pretty close!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7BW6Nb5M0DtA4b1PjgEBttbPu_etiAgprgRKkcQseQNNEO5CxSLqBiC7itVpm99EHIYR2thHCr4UBPjiOLFZ-7ZI-Us-0z2Sgu56_BcsBo09gJFVhI-IxM5qXRsf4ze7gsa6w1QKvRZi/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7BW6Nb5M0DtA4b1PjgEBttbPu_etiAgprgRKkcQseQNNEO5CxSLqBiC7itVpm99EHIYR2thHCr4UBPjiOLFZ-7ZI-Us-0z2Sgu56_BcsBo09gJFVhI-IxM5qXRsf4ze7gsa6w1QKvRZi/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the top of Mt. Feathertop</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRLV0iXTOvlanZ8If4YW2vXs04ZwtUzRcPxfa9p1ExAs0WSZTBOOMv9BlVaFDltZdwtr2O1-h88_UoHNKx8R7cCV8ncZ_qoj3sdimWpDRqA9nymzb9ZpvHxI2ApOMPt2uigHIF9yS_DHx/s1600/looking-across-at-Diamantin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRLV0iXTOvlanZ8If4YW2vXs04ZwtUzRcPxfa9p1ExAs0WSZTBOOMv9BlVaFDltZdwtr2O1-h88_UoHNKx8R7cCV8ncZ_qoj3sdimWpDRqA9nymzb9ZpvHxI2ApOMPt2uigHIF9yS_DHx/s400/looking-across-at-Diamantin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looking across at Diamantina Spur, and the Bogong High Plains in the distance</div>
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<h3>
<strong>Mt. Feathertop (1895m) to Blair Hut (1163m)</strong></h3>
When I was originally looking at the maps, I thought this section would have been pretty fast to run. But it wasn't! The final ascent down Diamantina Spur is very steep. Sections of it required all fours (hands and feet). This is going to suck during the race when you've got 115km in the legs!<br />
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I'm glad I ran this section of trail though. I wouldn't have liked coming through there in the middle of the night during the race without having seen it before. Going down that trail at night when you're drained from running all day and feeling mentally fatigued... could be tough.<br />
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The trail from the top of My. Feathertop to the start of Diamantina Spur is easy to follow and well defined. It was fast and fun running.<br />
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After you turn off the Razorback trail, you start to head down Diamantina Spur. It starts off as reasonably easy to follow, and I had began to wonder why people said it's faint. About half way along though, and the trail begins to disappear and reappear.<br />
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If you use your common sense, it's easy enough to pick up the trail again, though that was in day light. I think it might be a bit harder at night, especially if the weather is bad and the visibility low.<br />
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The end of the trail was covered in bark and tree debris, so over grown it's hard to see where you're stepping, and so steep you can't slow down anyway! Pretty good fun to barrel down. When I reached the bottom, I was a little surprised I hadn't stepped on a snake.<br />
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I had planned 30 minutes to run this section, and it ended out taking me 90 minutes!<br />
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There's a decent stream at the bottom, and I filled my water bottles there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaGQmsNLYXNyZem6KjOgjNImoPlfgXIcugqqlhx6wzq3u-w3vnZzQnfo6r0szzohW1tXvELI1ngam3jxha4FXWAG2Vkt-Cj6yq8wjB4WXmAZ2Lkfjf3q05qba5tQgyBTlp87K8HfbAPb8/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaGQmsNLYXNyZem6KjOgjNImoPlfgXIcugqqlhx6wzq3u-w3vnZzQnfo6r0szzohW1tXvELI1ngam3jxha4FXWAG2Vkt-Cj6yq8wjB4WXmAZ2Lkfjf3q05qba5tQgyBTlp87K8HfbAPb8/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is an example of trail along Diamantina Spur... sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUJ414WciXMVNl3lDW-hk1R-uopbZZy_qhAGLjKzglnY1w59Y9TQkyj5VC-y5xluRV3baxlHG0Hbl6dJJRZ09tZTWSLW5pcruD9ow2fxYkwIn4oazaXmtV1L_ltsbBekAiRVWf-ZOSNw/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUJ414WciXMVNl3lDW-hk1R-uopbZZy_qhAGLjKzglnY1w59Y9TQkyj5VC-y5xluRV3baxlHG0Hbl6dJJRZ09tZTWSLW5pcruD9ow2fxYkwIn4oazaXmtV1L_ltsbBekAiRVWf-ZOSNw/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-02.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Some sections of the trail get "rather" steep!</div>
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<h3>
<strong>Blair Hut (1163m) to Pole 333 (1793m)</strong></h3>
This section was pretty un-eventful. I never saw any sign of Blair Hut before reaching the turn off to Weston Hut (towards Pole 333). It was only going up that trail that I saw a track off to the left pointing back to Blair Hut.<br />
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I continued up the trail for what felt like a very long time. As I got to what I thought must have been the top of the trail, I started thinking I must have walked past Weston Hut without noticing it.<br />
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Not long after that, I came into an opening, and there was Weston Hut. I laughed a little. This regularly happens to me on long runs. I think I'm further through the run than I am. As it turned out, I wasn't even half way to Pole 333. You just can't cheat time and distance.<br />
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After Weston Hut the steepness of the trail eases off and it becomes more run-able. The trees thin out as you approach the high plains, and the snow poles start, which lead you to the Pole 333 intersection.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmkAu1ClcoaVrX6o7cGEFGvKSbZEXGOgg25kERAlmLaDXZ67lntiYsvq1u3l34hb3hsVq6SgB02fdoybFHXYFdTI5qRMWAC6j9OFDaVCBSds4QSeqiu_p_06vLm0cHhit0BNJutWWE9FJ/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmkAu1ClcoaVrX6o7cGEFGvKSbZEXGOgg25kERAlmLaDXZ67lntiYsvq1u3l34hb3hsVq6SgB02fdoybFHXYFdTI5qRMWAC6j9OFDaVCBSds4QSeqiu_p_06vLm0cHhit0BNJutWWE9FJ/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pole 333. Approx. 30km into the run (half way), and already 2.5hrs behind schedule!</div>
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<h3>
<strong>Pole 333 (1793m) to Dibbon Hut (1351m)</strong></h3>
After taking a short 10 minute break at Pole 333, I followed the trail towards Cobungra Gap. This trail follows the snow poles along the high plains for a few kilometers. After that it drops off the side of the mountain down towards Cobungra Gap and Dibbon Hut.<br />
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This trial is mostly easy to follow, though it gets a little faint just as the decent off the high plains begins. If you keep an eye out for the snow poles, you shouldn't have any trouble picking up the trail.<br />
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During the race in November I expect a lot of runs will come through here before dark, so following the trail shouldn't be hard.<br />
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The descent is easy going and not too steep. A fairly short and simple run down to Cobungra Gap. When you reach Cobungra Gap you need to follow the trail down over a bridge into a grassy area by a stream. I filled my water bottles up in the stream before heading on.<br />
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You follow the trail across the grassy area towards Dibbin Hut. About 100m before Dibbon Hut there is a turn off to Derrick Hut. It's just a small wooden sign, so look out for it!<br />
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<h3>
<strong>Dibbon Hut (1351m) to Derrick Hut (1740m)</strong></h3>
The descent to Dibbon Hut is about 400m, which you then climb straight back up on the other side. That trail is Swindlers Spur, and it meanders back and forth through the trees as it winds up the side of the mountain.<br />
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It's a little step in sections, with the odd set of steps here and there. But it's easy to follow, and eventually you end out at Derrick Hut. It should be fairly easy to do this section of trail at night.<br />
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<h3>
<strong>Derrick Hut (1740m) to Mt. Hotham (1849m)</strong></h3>
You leave the trees behind as you pass Derrick Hut. The trail joins the ski slops, and it's very similar terrain to the Bogong high plains; grassy.<br />
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This section of trail is easy. It's only a little undulating, easy to follow, and provides a good chance to eat and rest from navigation.<br />
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The trail leads you onto the ski slops, and after passing the chair lifts, you take Machinery Spur up to Mt Hotham. It's a dirt fire trail that leads up to Mt. Loch carpark, and onto the Mt. Hotham summit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2_2Sfd3Vaxt4H8W85bbzIZqYaf1IahEn4C6XdnIFIBQIx6nTddBRuWf41AZ3PFme7CJpg2U9il_pHwaOTs1OZ0j8lueHELx9fFf_UqROuQBTvbjLsI_SL7x-WSr8V1bKKQCvwdKR5IhJ/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2_2Sfd3Vaxt4H8W85bbzIZqYaf1IahEn4C6XdnIFIBQIx6nTddBRuWf41AZ3PFme7CJpg2U9il_pHwaOTs1OZ0j8lueHELx9fFf_UqROuQBTvbjLsI_SL7x-WSr8V1bKKQCvwdKR5IhJ/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Mt. Loch, close to the chair lifts. Close to the end of the day (light).</div>
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Mt. Hotham</div>
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<h3>
<strong>Mt. Hotham (1849m) to Harrietville (584m)</strong></h3>
I reached Mt. Hotham shortly before night fall. It was amazing being up there just before dusk, but being 2 hours behind my estimated schedule, I didn't hang around for long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg72OEXI54jotZf0JY5i0yj-hYy1_WtJ14vIOSh2OuPzzoH-EGvdPD4XGLYTs_TsPwbaZaVcLe2qXeDqghW1j7OMZnPLSIh8unpBAL4rKWFfRHYYenPnN5w1Rp2aowziSVikfp4D3YU9RU/s1600/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg72OEXI54jotZf0JY5i0yj-hYy1_WtJ14vIOSh2OuPzzoH-EGvdPD4XGLYTs_TsPwbaZaVcLe2qXeDqghW1j7OMZnPLSIh8unpBAL4rKWFfRHYYenPnN5w1Rp2aowziSVikfp4D3YU9RU/s400/Harrietville-Pole333-Loop-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On top of Hotham, looking south west over the alps</div>
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<br />
During the race you're allowed to take the road around from Mt. Loch carpark to the start of Bon Accord, bypassing the actual top of Mt. Hotham. Possibly a good idea during the race. I couldn't find the trail down from the summit to Bon Accord, so I doubled back the way I came (roughly speaking) to follow the road around.<br />
<br />
When I reached the start the of Bon Accord Spur, I thought (wrongly) that it would be a quick 1 hour 12km (ish) run back down to Harrietville. That was probably my only real mistake of the day.<br />
<br />
Firstly, according to the map, it was actually 14.5km back to my car (13.5km to Harrietville). I also misjudged how long it would take to run, if not from a time perspective (it took over 2 hours), definitely from a mental one.<br />
<br />
Bon Accord as a whole is quite easy to follow, barring a section towards the end, where you need to navigate the river. More on that in a moment.<br />
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The top section of the trail starts out with a descent for the first few kilometres, but then flattens out for quite a while. I began to wonder why it wasn't descending much, and a little bit of frustration began creeping in.<br />
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The top of the trail leading down Bon Accord</div>
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<br />
Eventually, after what felt like a quite a long distance, but according to the map is only 3km, the trail descended sharply down to Washington Creek / East River.<br />
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I had been warned that the trail disappears (somewhat) here. I saw some campers and asked them about it, and they gave me a few pointers for finding the trail on the other side of the river.<br />
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To be honest, I'm not sure whether this section would be easier or harder during the day. The trail disappears as you zigzag across the river. But there are blue reflective markers on posts. So using your head torch you can find your way through this section by keeping a sharp eye and looking for the reflective arrows. That's in hindsight though; it was a little stressful making my way through there in the dark.<br />
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After making your way through the river section, you pick up the trail for five kilometers back to Harrietville. This section is really well defined, and consists mostly of wide single track. It follows the river along, occasionally moving away to cross folds in the mountain. It makes for some nice easy running.<br />
<br />
This section wasn't actually that hard. But the error in judging how long it would take had a surprising effect on me. It really sapped my energy, physically, and even more so mentally.<br />
<br />
I put it down to mis-managing my expectations. I'd expected the run to take about 8 hours, and planned to be back home in Melbourne at 10pm. Running 3 hours late, finishing in the dark and knowing I had a 4 hour drive home all started to take a mental toll. By the time I got back to my car, mentally I was toast!<br />
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<h3>
<b>The End</b></h3>
That's about it. I must admit, I was pretty fried at the end of that day. I started the day in Melbourne at 5:30am, and I finished the run at 10pm, and then had a 4 hour drive back home. I got to bed just before 3am, only to get up at 7am for work the next day.<br />
<br />
When I'd finally got back to my car, I look at the trail head that leads you up the 1300m climb to Mt. Feathertop and thought about doing that after running 105km (the distance covered in the race when you get to that point). It was too much, and my brain overloaded!<br />
<br />
On the way home, I spent the first 10 minutes questioning whether I should pull out of the race. My head hurt thinking about it and I needed to shut off. I told myself to stop thinking about it, and decided to review my plans in the morning.<br />
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The funny thing is, the next day when I woke up, all I could think about was getting back up to the mountains to run again. It pretty much consumed my thinking for the following three days. There is just something special about days like that draw me back, no matter way they take out of me at the time.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0Mount Feathertop, Hotham Heights VIC 3741, Australia-36.894999899999988 147.1366666-62.197780899999984 105.82807260000001 -11.592218899999988 -171.55473940000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-19502933143363258312015-10-07T19:20:00.000+11:002015-10-07T19:22:34.018+11:00You Yangs 80Km 2015 (Trails Plus)<style type="text/css">
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<table class="statsTable">
<tbody>
<tr><td>Event Date</td><td>19th July 2015</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/You+Yangs+Regional+Park/@-37.9487727,144.4170487,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ad41fbcec86d3b9:0x1d04567609f4d690" target="_blank">You Yangs, Victoria, Australia</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>80km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+2017m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy <span class="statsRating">Moderate</span> Hard Extreme</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Supported, trail ultra-marathon</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Hard packed single trail and mtb tracks, gravel fire track.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aid Stations</td><td>Approx. every 5km. Well stocked (Gels, cake, drinks, sweets).</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Position</td><td>11th of 19</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Time</td><td>10h11m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Winning Time</td><td>7h32m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drop Out Rate</td><td>15%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Cool/cold. 0-10C, (freezing in the early morning, sunny through the day)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/349149249" target="_blank">You Yangs 80km 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Event Website</td><td><a href="http://www.trailsplus.com.au/you-yangs/" target="_blank">TrailsPlus - You Yangs</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Price</td><td>AU$130</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 <span class="statsRating">2</span> 3 4 5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>Going out hard in the first 30km is not a good idea (for me).</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="raceSummary">
Before I write about the event, I need to qualify it with this. At the beginning of the race I decided to hang with the front runners for the first 30km. I wanted to assess my current fitness against them. It was a strategy I knew could hurt, but I least I was aware of that from the oust.<br />
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Was it a good idea? No. Would I do it again? No. Do I regret doing it? No. I learned something valuable; I like ultra running because I like spending long days running trails.<br />
<br />
The competition isn't as important to me as the experience is. If I can complete at the front on any given day, then great, that's fun. But setting out with the sole objective to complete (to win) isn't what I enjoy. That's just me; I like the experience of an ultra. The highs, lows, the pain and euphoria, the nature around me. The competition comes second.<br />
<br />
So, to the event...<br />
<br />
This was a really well organised event (a common theme with TrailsPlus events). Registration on the day on quick and easy, the trails were clearly marked, and there were plenty of aid stations. <br />
<br />
Aid stations were about 5km apart. All were very well stocked with the usual things you'd expect; a variety of drinks, sweets, fruit, cake, gels, etc. Great if you like running with minimal kit.<br />
<br />
You can easily get around this course without needing to carry any food, and arguably without needing to carry any water.<br />
<br />
The weather was cold in the morning, about -1C. It was a beautiful sunny winter day, and warmed up to a high of around 10C.<br />
<br />
I ran the start of the race in shorts and a thermal top, then swapped my thermal top for a short sleeved top a couple of hours into the race.<br />
<br />
The course contains some nice single track, connected by dirt fire roads and hard packed mountain bike trails. The single track trails were really nice; a mix fast twisty trails, some rocks, a bit of undulation, and all run-able.<br />
<br />
The hard-packed mountain bike trails... I didn't like them. They were too boring for me. They twist through a lightly forested section, were completely flat, and very hard under foot. I would have preferred more loops of the single track.<br />
<br />
All in all, I didn't really enjoy running this race. The event itself is organised really well, but I really didn't enjoy all the flat, hard, mountain bike tracks. And my strategy of going out hard and seeing how long I could hold on... was silly. But hey, you only learn through trying different things!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlopMN7mS7c8C9L00l5JweDU2Kj5a6Y2VK_jj3ST1TDn4SJkbDOQuZjv_Ui3N7KUFirESIyZF8UaTAcn3gn0e_hpscJwfRBhI0XPlwIK9mMBAGGXrN02teEftDw-y7PeMUem4zOykKYrA/s1600/You+Yangs+80km+Elevation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlopMN7mS7c8C9L00l5JweDU2Kj5a6Y2VK_jj3ST1TDn4SJkbDOQuZjv_Ui3N7KUFirESIyZF8UaTAcn3gn0e_hpscJwfRBhI0XPlwIK9mMBAGGXrN02teEftDw-y7PeMUem4zOykKYrA/s1600/You+Yangs+80km+Elevation.PNG" style="max-width: 600px;" />Elevation</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_nu33vJBJ7fOpU72lax8EBWUrkrWbNJqJhWZg5SuCqgr1KpYsw2xXQAlfaRhC02xF25wO-J1BCgeQIVp0w2DVWll_GxHTB8z_Vy9eAwdHYhWoD225KmqXSA8EZ3tQbWBN_3wjlViRejS/s1600/You+Yangs+80km+Course.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_nu33vJBJ7fOpU72lax8EBWUrkrWbNJqJhWZg5SuCqgr1KpYsw2xXQAlfaRhC02xF25wO-J1BCgeQIVp0w2DVWll_GxHTB8z_Vy9eAwdHYhWoD225KmqXSA8EZ3tQbWBN_3wjlViRejS/s1600/You+Yangs+80km+Course.PNG" style="max-width: 600px;" />Course Map</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0You Yangs Regional Park, Branch Rd, Little River VIC 3211, Australia-37.9532861 144.4232713-37.9783361 144.3829308 -37.9282361 144.46361180000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-752673710428016432015-07-15T22:31:00.000+10:002015-10-07T19:18:40.060+11:00Macedon 50km 2015 (TrailsPlus)<style type="text/css">
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<table class="statsTable">
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<tr><td>Event Date</td><td>31st May 2015</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td>Mt Macedon, Victoria, Australia</td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>50km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+2084m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy <span class="statsRating">Moderate</span> Hard Extreme</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Supported, trail ultra-marathon</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Soft dirt/muddy forest single trail, gravel/clay fire track.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aid Stations</td><td>Approx. every 5km. Well stocked (Gels, cake, drinks, sweets).</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Position</td><td>5th of 47</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Time</td><td>5h44m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Winning Time</td><td>5h17m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drop Out Rate</td><td>25%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Cool/cold. 5-10C, misty, heavy rain towards the end.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/315197809" target="_blank">Macedon 50km 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Event Website</td><td><a href="http://www.trailsplus.com.au/macedon/" target="_blank">TrailsPlus - Macedon</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Price</td><td>AU$110</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 2 3 <span class="statsRating">4</span> 5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>Pacing myself is a good strategy for running a quick time.</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="raceSummary">
This was a really well organised event. Registration on the day on quick and easy, the trails were clearly marked, and there were plenty of aid stations. <br />
<br />
Aid stations were about 5km apart. All were very well stocked with the usual things you'd expect; a variety of drinks, sweets, fruit, cake, gels, etc. Great if you like running with minimal kit.<br />
<br />
You can easily get around this course without needing to carry any food, and arguably without needing to carry any water.<br />
<br />
The weather was cold and windy, which I was told is pretty common for Mt Macedon at this time of year. It was 3 degrees, a little windy and misty when I got to the start line at 6:30am.<br />
<br />
It warmed up slightly during the morning, but I don't think it reached more than 10 degrees. I ran the whole race in shorts and a thermal running top.<br />
<br />
The rain kept away for the first five hours of the run, and then it came down quite heavy during the last 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
The course contains a lot of nice single track, connected by dirt fire roads. It's fairly undulating, with a couple of big climbs. Some really fun trails!<br />
<br />
I enjoyed running this race - all in all, a great event!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtAWqR53Pp6vj4Ed0qFQtD0AnVs59vMaDu_sh9WwZdvl5jIc9m7VHv3tCpuRuMmwFu-xTpBp9aRzOXCLQ6gWI_Pwq9zBbnm_1u6LgHbzDqSPK7-6OOAmwzzT54ogW72l3YN6dxKhNw8GT/s1600/Macedon-50km-elevation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtAWqR53Pp6vj4Ed0qFQtD0AnVs59vMaDu_sh9WwZdvl5jIc9m7VHv3tCpuRuMmwFu-xTpBp9aRzOXCLQ6gWI_Pwq9zBbnm_1u6LgHbzDqSPK7-6OOAmwzzT54ogW72l3YN6dxKhNw8GT/s1600/Macedon-50km-elevation.PNG" style="max-width: 600px;" />Elevation Profile</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrA4CqFVcddT85CktMRmqpTo2IsdW1-BwImz8becajtGou0Zjwvqg-SPQbBxIEJN0gEMjNmc9LyxDfrrL9hvMwBfoaEySBPHlC8Kv2IobXIYlCw98bRwsqMHSI-sNSUMS-ft2WOz8BqNt/s1600/Macedon-50km-map.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrA4CqFVcddT85CktMRmqpTo2IsdW1-BwImz8becajtGou0Zjwvqg-SPQbBxIEJN0gEMjNmc9LyxDfrrL9hvMwBfoaEySBPHlC8Kv2IobXIYlCw98bRwsqMHSI-sNSUMS-ft2WOz8BqNt/s1600/Macedon-50km-map.PNG" style="max-width: 600px;" />50km Course Map</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-85543718797746121482015-07-06T16:37:00.002+10:002015-07-24T18:14:50.489+10:00Wilsons Prom 100km 2015 (Running Wild)<style type="text/css">
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<table class="statsTable">
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<tr><td>Event Date</td><td>2nd May 2015</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td>Tidal River (Wilsons Promontory), Victoria, Australia</td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>100km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+4075m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy <span class="statsRating">Moderate</span> Hard Extreme</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Completely self-sufficient, trail ultra-marathon</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Soft dirt single trail, sandy beaches, gravel fire track and a few kilometres of bitumen.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aid Stations</td><td>None. But you can access your car at the 80km mark.</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Position</td><td>10th of 22</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Time</td><td>16h05m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Winning Time</td><td>11h08m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drop Out Rate</td><td>-</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Warm, overcast and sometimes sunny. Stormy during the evening.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td><a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/296547918" target="_blank">Wilsons Prom 100km 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Event Website</td><td><a href="http://runningwild.net.au/wilsons-prom-100/" target="_blank">Running Wild - Wilsons Prom</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Price</td><td>AU$110</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 2 3 <span class="statsRating">4</span> 5</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>Even without enough training, a day out running can never be a bad thing!</td></tr>
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</table>
<div class="raceSummary">
I almost pulled out of this race due to lack of training. In the end I thought, why not just run it anyway? At the very worst, it will be a good day out running. And that's never a bad thing!<br />
<br />
I'm so glad I did run it too. There was a good deal of winding technical trails, that weaved through the hills. The scenery was spectacular and overall it was great to explore Wilsons Prom.<br />
<br />
I'd heard the weather there can be unpredictable and frequently windy. I must have lucked in, because it was a perfect day for running. Hardly any wind, slightly overcast and generally warm and sunny.<br />
<br />
Though I did get into trouble by missing an opportunity to fill up water at creek, and subsequently ran out. It meant running about 20km with barely anything to drink, during the middle day sun.<br />
<br />
By the time I got to some water, I was somewhat de-hydrated, and it took a couple of kilometres of walking before I recovered.<br />
<br />
Talking about water, this event follows a "self-sustained" theme. I am happy with that, because I like the idea of wild running, but it's not for everyone. The event organisers did point out all of the places where you can get water. These were mostly creeks, the odd rain water tank and one tap (at the light house, about 50km in).<br />
<br />
So be prepared. Think through how much water you'll need to get between each water source.<br />
<br />
Which brings us onto food. There are no food checkpoints. You must be fully self sustained as far as food goes. At least up to the 80km mark, where the course doubles back past the start line. The race rules permit you to stop and get additional food (or water) from your car/campsite if required.<br />
<br />
I must admit, this is the most unprepared I've ever been for a race. I really hadn't looked at the terrain, the map or the elevation profile. So bad me. But it was only a 100km, and it's pretty easy to run out of Wilsons Prom no matter where you are. At most it's probably only a 20km run from the furthest points.<br />
<br />
There is a deceptive amount of elevation gain. Just over 4000m. Most of the hills are runnable though, with the exception of one or two, depending on how fit you are. I wasn't feeling all that fit, so a walked a few of them, especially towards the end ;-)<br />
<br />
During the final 20km of the race a big storm rolled in, and the skys went black. It was pretty awesome, and when lightning started to strike, it gave me a jolt of motivation to get a hurry on!<br />
<br />
The view from the top of the final ascent was spectacular. You could see the lights of Tidal Bay peering out of the scrub into the black night sky. I was up there by myself, and it was one of those moments that reminded me why I do these sorts of adventures.<br />
<br />
Overall, it was a great day out. The event was very well organised, albeit, requiring you to be fully self sufficient. <br />
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGMb_GIqCMQx653BX0wYsxgebyihhtZz1K4FWR_bUJUPdI7XAocHgyj_uRTaj88TsY7PKk-9AuoA_8aTELFZsMwJDBEUFig5fa20lHksaY5E2URut2qoOSTmKg1yqPuyaGDdsg-DVaAet/s1600/elevation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGMb_GIqCMQx653BX0wYsxgebyihhtZz1K4FWR_bUJUPdI7XAocHgyj_uRTaj88TsY7PKk-9AuoA_8aTELFZsMwJDBEUFig5fa20lHksaY5E2URut2qoOSTmKg1yqPuyaGDdsg-DVaAet/s1600/elevation.PNG" style="max-width: 600px;" />Elevation Profile</a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMo2ZmMfZmhRvH1bWj8MOXemAOBMcuTPIYB4e0CLEZbLRnBWCYLHaPZCKIX4pzcBy3OVTME_3FYDiw3-pJRkgL4GpmLlknC4ElhctHYAnSo1G1pEdLEFARecSn_yZ6oY50WSWfl0QF05e/s1600/map1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMo2ZmMfZmhRvH1bWj8MOXemAOBMcuTPIYB4e0CLEZbLRnBWCYLHaPZCKIX4pzcBy3OVTME_3FYDiw3-pJRkgL4GpmLlknC4ElhctHYAnSo1G1pEdLEFARecSn_yZ6oY50WSWfl0QF05e/s1600/map1.jpg" style="max-width: 600px;" />100km Course Map</a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUbhx3h-vaDOSYgi0hNmyN73GK6M81867td2Xe2rTU0qDbqU6_1KLYpHNqGKkQLpMU8eFIqZ9LI7d8eNsqAu0uEAbc3ekrcnoTJmlVYo7t9ruqAZLh21QOMhZ808doLaJ7ZUznfNUFY-N/s1600/Oberon-Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUbhx3h-vaDOSYgi0hNmyN73GK6M81867td2Xe2rTU0qDbqU6_1KLYpHNqGKkQLpMU8eFIqZ9LI7d8eNsqAu0uEAbc3ekrcnoTJmlVYo7t9ruqAZLh21QOMhZ808doLaJ7ZUznfNUFY-N/s1600/Oberon-Bay.jpg" style="max-width: 600px;" />Oberon Bay</a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AmXD17ZphPzuMRVqceBo_He_FOJd4M361Ii_of8IYGDBGe8C_d79JVme82WTzKQNW8OKTVbjKDjAwExeq1CCmXDThv7odxf-n-zmzQig1xyCZMmKpzFp64r6t1TULn0h4djyDrESaJT4/s1600/sunset-little-oberon-bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AmXD17ZphPzuMRVqceBo_He_FOJd4M361Ii_of8IYGDBGe8C_d79JVme82WTzKQNW8OKTVbjKDjAwExeq1CCmXDThv7odxf-n-zmzQig1xyCZMmKpzFp64r6t1TULn0h4djyDrESaJT4/s1600/sunset-little-oberon-bay.jpg" style="max-width: 600px;" />Sunet at Little Oberon Bay</a></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0Wilsons Promontory National Park, Wilsons Promontory VIC 3960, Australia-38.9166667 146.33333330000005-39.3117837 145.68788630000006 -38.5215497 146.97878030000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125622832422398940.post-50184382808795760952015-07-03T21:34:00.002+10:002015-07-24T18:18:07.528+10:00Alpine Challenge 100km 2014 (Running Wild)<style type="text/css">
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<tr><td>Event Date</td><td>29th November 2014</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location</td><td>Mt Bogong (Falls Creek), Victoria, Australia</td></tr>
<tr><td>Distance</td><td>100km</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elevation</td><td>+4000m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Relative Difficulty</td><td>Easy Moderate <span class="statsRating">Hard</span> Extreme</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style</td><td>Mostly self-sufficient, trail ultra-marathon</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terrain</td><td>Single trail and fire track. Some very steep ascents and descents.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aid Stations</td><td>Reasonably regular (~ every 15km), though fairly basic.</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Position</td><td>10th of 25</td></tr>
<tr><td>My Time</td><td>20h29m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Winning Time</td><td>14h03m</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drop Out Rate</td><td>40%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weather on the day</td><td>Warm / hot, sunny day. Clear warm night.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Course (Strava)</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Event Website</td><td><a href="http://runningwild.net.au/alpine-challenge/" target="_blank">Running Wild - Alpine Challenge</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Price</td><td>AU$265</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enjoyment Rating</td><td>1 2 3 4 <span class="statsRating">5</span></td></tr>
<tr><td>Lessons Learnt</td><td>If you're going to be out running all day, wear a comfortable pair of shoes!</td></tr>
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<div class="raceSummary">
This was an awesome run, with some very rewarding views. You get to run places most people will never see, including summiting Victoria's highest peak, Mt Bogong. The two crossings of Big River were fun. A great place to cool down on a hot day!<br />
<br />
Be prepared to be fairly self sufficient; there's not a lot of food at the aid stations, and it's hard for your support crew to get to most of them. So take enough food with you to get through the first 50km (there is an aid station at the start/end of the Mt Bogong loop, where you can get some food).<br />
<br />
You can pick up water from some of the river crossings and natural springs along the way, so that isn't as much of a problem.<br />
<br />
The event was well organised, with an appropriate level of safety controls. The course isn't marked though, so you need to be able to read a map, or have a GPS.<br />
<br />
I think it would be worth getting up and doing some recon runs if you're serious about putting in a fast time, or struggle reading maps!<br />
<br />
Some of the course is fairly exposed. In 2014 it was warm to hot all day, which was fine. But if the weather was bad, like in some of the previous years, be prepared. I reckon you could get pretty cold in some sections, especially the during the last 20km, when it starts to get dark, and you start to get tired.<br />
<br />
All in all, an awesome run (race), well worth doing. I'm coming back to do the 100 mile course this year.<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16760302583879761410noreply@blogger.com0Falls Creek VIC 3699, Australia-36.8632596 147.2817913-37.0664821 146.9590678 -36.6600371 147.6045148