view from Blackall

First blog post, and first attempt at an epic run - the Blackall 100.

What is it about the ultra? I remember reading a book about running, that said if you do a marathon, people will think your a bit of a runner. But if you do an ultra there are people who will see it as superhuman. Well, after the previous runs I have done there is some truth to that, but it is effectively counterbalanced by people who think you are an idiot!!!

So what did I know about it before the start? Not much really. I didn't know anyone who had done it before. Didn't know much about the area either. Never run in the area before.

Completed 3 ultras before, but they were either on the road or a relatively flat dirt oval. What would be different about the trail? Did 7h46m for a road 50miler (about 80k). How much longer would an extra 20 take? And then how much would the trail slow you down? (Answer = not much idea!)

First step was to find out more! Check the website, check the race rules, check the profile, but most of all, look at the photos!! Look closely. What are they carrying? What do other runners appear to be doing? Can I pick out which brand of gear they are carrying? What shoes are they wearing? I see one runner is getting away with using a fuel belt? Can I do the same? (Answer = NO). Check the finish times. Is a top 10 finish possible? Maybe? 12-13hours might do it.

A 16 week program in the lead up had always prepared me well for marathons and ultras before, so time to work out when 16 weeks before is. I see there is a 30k trail I can do in there - that should be a great lead up run.

A few weeks later - broken toe. Bugger. Missed the 30k trail run.

Next - how I prepare for this one ? Think of some worst case scenarios. Race organisers have thought of one by asking us to carry a snake bite bandage. Will need plenty of calories. Got by on the gold coast 80k road run on liquids (various high energy drinks and sports drinks) and gels. Pack the same this time around but maybe some solid food also. Don't know what type I will feel like at the time, pack it in the food bags anyway. Add some extra glucose to the sports drinks.

Worst case scenarios. What if my shoes start to fall apart? OK, pack some spare shoes, one pair in the bag I will see at 60k, and another at the bag i will see at 70 and 80. There may be other things I feel like eating. Pack it anyway. OK, now those food bags are getting heavy.

Race requires a headlamp in case it gets dark. Make sure I have new batteries.

On to the event. The usual ritual of stuffing oneself full of high carbohydrate foods for 2 days before. No-one measure my blood triglycerides while I am doing this!!!

Short drive to the start from my caravan park. Need a motivational song. Check my Spotify playlist. Kasey Chambers 'stronger' is there. Yep, that will do.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6mzPaXf4ss

" I'm a little bit stronger,
I'm a little bit wiser,
It's a little bit clearer in my mind.
I can shout a bit louder,
I can feel a bit prouder,"

"I'm a little bit older,
I'm a little bit surer,
I can fight a bit harder against the tide."

"I'm a little bit braver,
I'm a little bit wilder,
I can stand a bit closer to the light.
I can stand a bit taller,
Like I wouldn't fall over,"

Etc. Etc. Etc........

Race day. No warm up for this run. Need every last bit of energy for run run itself. If i am going to cover a k warming up, it will be the first k of the race itself. Walking 50metres up from the carpark feels like expending too much effort!! The ideal would be to roll out of bed, and onto the start line. (First world problems are getting worse all the time!)

Race starts. Find myself near the front. Hang on. 99.something to go. Check my pace, settle into a 5min per k pace. A pack of 7 soon forms in front. Should I join them? NO. Stick to the race plan. Easy going so far, 5k in and it is still all roads! No tough stuff here.

First checkpoint at about 7k. Potato chips on the table. Not the sort of food I would have this early. Keep running. Some downhill stuff now into the falls. Had a plan to take a few walking breaks as I went along. Got passed by a few runners in the process. Over the suspension bridge and up some hills. Passed a few runners on the up hill. Through a gate being manned by the grim reaper! What are they getting at here??? A few more trails and into checkpoint 2, back where we started. Feeling good at this point. Sent the odd Facebook update during my breaks. Really looking for some inspiration from friends following. Plenty of that came from competitors anyway!

20-40k. Some real tough stuff here. Some steep downhill and uphills. Still feeling good. Top 10 finish looking like it might happen. Try running uphill. No, no, no, no and NO!.  Too steep for that. Heart rate in the 140s even while walking.  Look down and see that I am gaining time on other runners. New race tactic, power up the hills, walking is OK. Start a real battle with Megan who was running 3rd in the female competitors.  For about the next 40k we found ourselves overtaking each other on the course. With plenty of encouraging words along the way and discussion of how things are going, even race tactics at one point.

About 40k in, trip, fall, splat....  Right calf cramp up. Try to stand up quickly, not going to happen! Need to stretch out first. Not long to checkpoint 3 now.

Next leg, onwards and upwards. And upwards. And upwards. Did I say something about going upwards?? My GPS at the end stated there was a 178m elevation gain in one of those kilometres. Still every uphill was a chance to put the powerwalk on, keep the heart rate up. Track levels out, time for some more consistent running here, but the knee decides it doesn't like it. Downhills become a problem. Have to walk all the downhills. Need to get that cowbell to take home!! Some encouraging words from some of the 50k runners. Flats and uphills going OK though. Megan passes me again!! More hills, some serious looking 4wd tracks. No go for the urban yuppie suv's on these roads.

Worst case scenario. Did I say something about a shoes falling apart? My over planning and paranoia came in handy here. Knew I had a new pair to put on at 60k. Somehow it feels good to put plan B into action.

Checkpoint 4. Real smorgasbord set up here. Find myself wanting to check out all the food! Down some watermelon, some potato, some banana. Great helpers at the checkpoint to make sure our water bottles are filled up. Grab the headlamp from my bag a head off again. A rocky downhill. No!!!

Come across a creek. The track goes straight through it. Can climb over some rocks though to avoid getting our shoes wet. Get caught at the bottom by another runner, but am able to then regain time on the next up. Only 10ks between checkpoints now. That sounds easier.

Checkpoint 5. Plenty of food and plenty of helpful volunteers here also. Find myself checking out the ingredient list of the stock of 'paleo bars'. Can't help being a dietitian sometimes... Spend a while refueling before taking off again.

Some easier dirt roads for a while now.  When we loop back to the same checkpoint. Easier road, but fatigue biting hard now. Got the song stuck in my head, and it has got to the chorus.
" I thought it was good, I thought it was fine,
I thought it was just a matter of time,
The sun would shine."

But it is getting darker, and starting to rain. Need a new motivational song next year!!! One that doesn't have a negative twist when it gets to teh chorus!  In reality though, the rain cooled things down, and was fairly light. Not complaining there.

80-90k. Things slowing down, fatigue hitting, starting to get dark. Can I make it to the next checkpoint before putting my high vis jacket and headlamp on. Not quite. Start doing mathmatetical games. If I run at 7km/hr what time will I finish. What about 8? Or 6? No risk of pulling out. I want that cowbell!!!

Back to checkpoint 4. Only 10k to go. Will the Cliff Young shuffle work? Useful tactic on the road to stretch out your endurance. Done it before. This time, well, no. Cliffy wasn't a trail runner. Shuffle on the trails and you will trip over!!

Those worst case scenarios. OK so I had new batteries, but I had never checked how long the battery in my headlamp would last!!  Run it on low power, focus the beam. 2016 plan - get a new headlamp and check how long a battery lasts!!! Just got overtaken. Much better headlamp than mine, so I try to keep up. Through some single track for a while. Then back out onto some roads. Not long to the finish now!! Rain comes down again. Don't tend to motive much though, just thinking of the finish. Start making plans to ring the crap out of that cowbell!!!!  Power past 2 runners on an uphill. Road flattens out, they pass me. Nothing in the tank left to try to catch them. Just keep it going to the finish!!!

Made it!!!  Ring that cowbell!!!!  Photographer asks for a second take!!  Must have been too aggressive first time !! Had to give it a ring!! Tremendous feeling at the finish, and great reception from the organisers and other runners. Blankets at the ready waiting for us. They were needed!!

A bit disappointed with my time in one way. Was hoping to be about an hour faster. Hindsight tells me that I should have stuck the my nutrition plan. The knee playing up in the last 30k was a big factor too, probably a bigger one. Kind of forgot about it on the course with concentrating on the run. Unpacking my bags fpund more of the high energy drinks than i planned on taking home. Know better for next year!

Time to share some stories from the trails with the other finishers.  Time to get some sleep now. Race organiser sees me doing the slow penguin walk and offers to bring my car up to the door! Even thinks to crank up the heaters to full blast! Awesome!!!

More stories shared at the presentations the next day. I want that cowbell seemed to be a recurring theme. They sure hit the mark with the race medal for this one!

Big thank you to the organisers, volunteers and other competitors. Made for a great day. The analyst in me finds it easy to pont the things that I could have done better, but then it occurs to me. Finish 17th male, after still being top 10 at 92km. Tough last 10k, but I made it!!!

Any comments, feedback or even your own blackall experiences welcome!!