Triple Tops - Part 3

Monday, 10 November 2014

This is part 3 by the way. Scroll down to see the other 2. 

Once clear of the first couple of big climbs there were plenty of opportunities to pick up the pace a bit and run - although 'run' is a bit of an exaggeration as I didn't want to blow up later in the race so I went at a pretty cruisy running pace.

The terrain on top of the ridge was absolutely delightful - many parts were soft underfoot and gently undulating - I felt like I could run like that forever.  I was so happy to be there, doing the race at my own pace, with mostly no-one around me. I missed having company but it was also really nice to just run when I felt like it, and walk when I felt like it without having to consult with anyone else. I did chat to a few people along the way but they either fell behind me or moved ahead of me so it was always brief which was probably a good thing.  

An hour into the race, we went up the long steep climb up to the main Mt Roland range. It was here I dropped a guy (RedShirt Guy) who had been fairly close behind me for a while, and surprisingly I caught up to another guy (Greyshirt Guy) who I'd seen way ahead in the distance earlier. He clearly didn't like the hills so much. I remained focused on just moving steadily upwards so I huffed and puffed by him as he paused to get his breath back. He passed me again when it flattened out as he was running faster but there was plenty more of the race to come so I wasn't worried (actually I didn't really care if he stayed ahead either for that matter - I was just happy to be rocking and rolling along enjoying the day).

It was perfect running/walking weather - nice and sunny with excellent views in all directions. The spring flowers were all out and the trail had been recently maintained so it was clear of the scratchy bushes which drove me crazy when I bush walked it with Alexa in the rain. At most of the checkpoints there was water and chocolate or fruit which was pretty nice (especially when you consider the efforts it would have taken to get it up there) - I always had a nice chat with the volunteers - I guess by the halfway point I was one of the first 10 people they'd seen all day so they were as happy to see me as I was to see them. I was careful eat and drink at regular intervals as I wasn't really sure how I would go in this longer effort - and I didn't want to risk falling in a heap at a later stage in the race. I was carrying about 750mls of water and a few gels as well as some lollies. I drank all my water but I only had 1 gel as the checkpoints provided small snacks which was great. 

After a final grinding ascent almost to the peak of Mt Roland I passed a fading Greyshirt Guy again and managed to hold him off over the last section of the ridge trail before I arrived at the top of the descent everyone talks about.

At the top of the descent looking down at the finish, and back up at me. 

The famous descent is a good 15-25 minutes of near vertical trail that takes you from almost the highest point on the range, straight over the edge and down to the plains and finish below. There's no chance to get a camera out as you have to negotiate skree and in some places swing from anchor tree to anchor tree (which explains why my shoulders are so sore today!). Last time Jo and I reached this point with quite a few other people (as we were a bit further back in the field) which was a bit of a pain as rocks and things were often dislodged and people would hesitate in front of you thus slowing you down. This time I had the descent to myself except for the runners who had started to come through. Although Henrik had passed me in third place 15 or so minutes before I started the descent, I still hadn't seen Jon so I was expecting him at any time. I was hoping it would be near the finish so we could finish together.

After finishing the crazy descent (which I quite enjoyed this time around), and then negotiating a very slippery but more gradual section through the tall gum trees on the lower slopes (and surprisingly passing another two walkers, one of which had run past me like I was standing still in the first 45 minutes of the race), the last kilometre or so is on a gently sloping gravel road . My legs were tired but I was otherwise feeling great. In fact I'd been feeling great all day. As I ran down the road the girl who was in 2nd place of the run blasted past me. I should mention that orienteer Hanny Alston had passed me just before Henrik had and she finished 3rd overall (and 1st female of course) a long way ahead of girl number two - an awesome effort.

My own awesome effort came to an end as I turned the final corner onto Claude Road and ran through to the finish where I was handed a cup of water, a finishing certificate featuring some photoshopping which rivals the Chinese administration (left), and a race t-shirt.

So it took me 3:32 on my watch - so around 45 minutes faster than last time, well under my goal of 4 hours and I came in less than a minute in front of Jon as it turns out. He was 10 or so minutes slower than his previous years but otherwise happy with his result. Henrik held down third place and took home some prize money as well as a large box of fudge. I enjoyed the race so much that I was smiling for most of the race and for most of the rest of the day (except for the moment that I didn't win any fudge in the random draw). I'm certainly keen to do it again but I wouldn't want to attempt to do it any faster - as most of my enjoyment was related to being relaxed enough to go at any pace I felt like and enjoy the views along the way. When I mentioned to Jon and Henrik about the flowers everywhere and the chocolate frogs available at the check points they both looked at me blankly. Oh and I caught up with Old-Guy after the race. His well worn cheap shoes absolutely blew apart during the race so that the front half of his foot protruded completely. He claimed it was actually an advantage coming down the descent as he didn't have to worry about his toes hitting the front of his shoe. um yeah. Anyway - he ended up doing 3:47 and was very happy with his fastest-ever time. Considering how much I ran and I only beat him by 15 minutes that's really fast walking - he would have been the first true walker to finish I am sure!

And how do I feel today? Well I feel awful. Not only do my arms hurt, but my thighs feel like planks and my back is really really sore. I can barely get up off this couch although I did go out for a slow shuffle walk for an hour today while Zali swam and while that felt ok as soon as I stopped I was as sore as I was before I walked. I fear what tomorrow brings particularly as I have an orienteering workshop with primary school kids but I have no regrets!