In the week leading up to the Great North Walk 100s I read this race preview that served as a warning of how this run wanted to treat me.
From the time that I entered, every time I told someone who knew of this event of my goal to conquer the GNW100 miler, they looked impressed. I can see now that they were impressed because they knew that the marketing of "Australia's toughest trail races" isn't just marketing. It's fact, evidenced by the imposing the drop out rate.
This year, by my calculations*, only 53% of the field finished the distance they entered. I am beyond disappointed that I was not one of this 53%.
I'm not known for my DNFs... so what happened this time?
Showing posts with label Race Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Race Stories. Show all posts
High points, low points, and the all important three points
Wow. I did it. I finished The North Face 100.
It's two weeks later and if I'm really honest about it - the relief of knowing I've accrued another three qualifying points for the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc is my most dominant emotion.
That's not to say I'm not proud of my achievement. It's The North Face 100. It doesn't tickle. It wasn't my first 100k event, but I didn't know whether I was capable of finishing. So there is plenty to be proud of.
And it's not to say that there wasn't any fun or fear during the 100ks. There was both of these things, in spades. So my race report is all about my high points and low points from TNF100.
It's two weeks later and if I'm really honest about it - the relief of knowing I've accrued another three qualifying points for the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc is my most dominant emotion.
That's not to say I'm not proud of my achievement. It's The North Face 100. It doesn't tickle. It wasn't my first 100k event, but I didn't know whether I was capable of finishing. So there is plenty to be proud of.
And it's not to say that there wasn't any fun or fear during the 100ks. There was both of these things, in spades. So my race report is all about my high points and low points from TNF100.
Wild Horse Criterium - a good hard training session
In my last blog post I hinted at what the next few weeks of training looked like for me. Right there, at the very end, after all my feeling sorry for myself, it's there.
I wrote that I still need a few good hard training sessions before The North Face 100.
I can now say that I've got one of these under my belt. Over the weekend I completed the 55k event at the Wild Horse Criterium.
I wrote that I still need a few good hard training sessions before The North Face 100.
I can now say that I've got one of these under my belt. Over the weekend I completed the 55k event at the Wild Horse Criterium.
Beerwah @ Night
This weekend saw the first of the Run Queensland day/night series - Beerwah@Night.
It was my first event of the year, first trail run for a while, and first time out in the dark since the Glasshouse 100. I was happy to find out last week that for once I'd have some reinforcements. Daggy and Matt, who both trained in the same triathlon squad as me many moons ago, were having a hitout too.
Glasshouse 100: I'm an ultramarathon finisher
There's always a first time for everything. Last weekend I did my first real ultramarathon.
Technically, my 50ks at Kurrawa 2 Duranbah last December counts as my first ultramarathon, a term which describes any foot race of over 42 kilometres. But when you up the stakes to 100ks on trails, somehow 50ks of road running seems remarkably different. I felt like what I had ahead of me was more significant.
I didn't know what to expect but as the event approached I was hopeful that I had trained enough to be physically and mentally able to get through 16 or so hours on the trails.
Technically, my 50ks at Kurrawa 2 Duranbah last December counts as my first ultramarathon, a term which describes any foot race of over 42 kilometres. But when you up the stakes to 100ks on trails, somehow 50ks of road running seems remarkably different. I felt like what I had ahead of me was more significant.
I didn't know what to expect but as the event approached I was hopeful that I had trained enough to be physically and mentally able to get through 16 or so hours on the trails.
Finding home / leaving home: Ironman Cairns 2014
A couple of weeks ago I predicted how race day would pan out based on past experience and my training form.
I think it's safe to say that with 11 days to go, I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been, either physically or mentally.
I don't think I was lacking focus or passion, and I definitely had both on race day. But on the flip side, there was more water than I imagined possible to contend with.
Here's how Ironman Cairns 2014 compared to the predictions I made earlier... and as I turn my focus to ultra running, I've thrown in some nostalgia for good measure.
I think it's safe to say that with 11 days to go, I probably wasn't as prepared as I should have been, either physically or mentally.
I don't think I was lacking focus or passion, and I definitely had both on race day. But on the flip side, there was more water than I imagined possible to contend with.
Here's how Ironman Cairns 2014 compared to the predictions I made earlier... and as I turn my focus to ultra running, I've thrown in some nostalgia for good measure.
A Wild(horse) run
Surprise... I did my first trail running event this weekend.
I got to the Wild Horse Criterium in plenty of time to register and was delighted to receive race number 226 - the number of kms you complete in an Ironman triathlon. I thought immediately that it must be a good omen, not only for my ever approaching eighth iron-distance at Ironman Cairns, but for my ambitious plan to become an ultramarathon runner.
As I attached number 226 to my race belt, I had no way of knowing that the day would unfold in a most unexpected manner. But as wild as the ride was yesterday, it isn't all bad.
I got to the Wild Horse Criterium in plenty of time to register and was delighted to receive race number 226 - the number of kms you complete in an Ironman triathlon. I thought immediately that it must be a good omen, not only for my ever approaching eighth iron-distance at Ironman Cairns, but for my ambitious plan to become an ultramarathon runner.
As I attached number 226 to my race belt, I had no way of knowing that the day would unfold in a most unexpected manner. But as wild as the ride was yesterday, it isn't all bad.
First 50 - Kurrawah2Duranbah done
You've probably all forgotten I ran my first 50ks a couple of weeks ago now. Hell, I've almost forgotten too!
But better late than never.
Let's be honest, not only do you, dear readers, deserve a race report, so does 50ks.
But better late than never.
Let's be honest, not only do you, dear readers, deserve a race report, so does 50ks.
Smiling in sunny (?) Cairns
It's a few weeks now since Ironman Cairns. It's been a busy few weeks of travel since then so I apologise for my late race report.
If I had have written my race report in the days after the event, it probably would have been a lot about how I suffered on the run and didn't meet the goal I'd set for myself.
Time often changes perspective though, and I'm now feeling much better about the race. Especially as I have it on good authority that despite how I was feeling, I kept on smiling.
If I had have written my race report in the days after the event, it probably would have been a lot about how I suffered on the run and didn't meet the goal I'd set for myself.
Time often changes perspective though, and I'm now feeling much better about the race. Especially as I have it on good authority that despite how I was feeling, I kept on smiling.
The ups and downs of Ironman Melbourne
Until four weeks before Ironman Melbourne I hadn't imagined I'd be using "ups and downs" as a descriptor for this race. I had trained so well and was loaded with expectation for a good performance - maybe even my best ever - then a niggle hit and before I knew it I was crying to my masseuse and scurrying off in search of a Plan B.
In the week leading up to the race my niggle didn't seem so bad. I was again filled with optimism until I landed in Melbourne and was reminded of the unstable weather patterns that had initially warded off any desire to do this race in the first place.
By now I was expecting race day to be filled with ups and downs and I wasn't disappointed.
In the week leading up to the race my niggle didn't seem so bad. I was again filled with optimism until I landed in Melbourne and was reminded of the unstable weather patterns that had initially warded off any desire to do this race in the first place.
By now I was expecting race day to be filled with ups and downs and I wasn't disappointed.
Kings of the Coast 3.8k swim
I arrived at Lake Kawana on Sunday very unsure of what lay ahead of me.
It was a very respectable start time of 8.30 registration for a 10.45 race start - the down side of this is that there is plenty of time for nerves and doubt to creep in.
I started questioning everything - do I wear my wetsuit, do I change down to the 2k swim that I didn't know was on, do I just go home...
A reluctant rockstar in Roth
I arrived at the start of Challenge Roth, feeling many things. Overwhelmingly, I was scared.
I wasn't ready for this. My body wasn't strong enough and the colds and injuries I'd been fighting for the last few months had probably left it a little bit broken.
Not very rockstar.
An iron-distance triathlon is always a bit of an epic. There is time for plenty of ups and downs along the way. All I had in my favour this time was experience. It was time to draw on this experience by getting myself into my routine, and start preparing myself psychologically, even if I didn't feel physically up to the task.
I wasn't ready for this. My body wasn't strong enough and the colds and injuries I'd been fighting for the last few months had probably left it a little bit broken.
Not very rockstar.
An iron-distance triathlon is always a bit of an epic. There is time for plenty of ups and downs along the way. All I had in my favour this time was experience. It was time to draw on this experience by getting myself into my routine, and start preparing myself psychologically, even if I didn't feel physically up to the task.
The RunLikeCrazy (Half) Marathon
After more than twelve months of following Tristan "T-Bone" Miller's Run Like Crazy adventure, the day was finally here.
Especially since I'd dropped back to the half marathon, I felt very little pressure, and could enjoy the day. I was looking forward to meeting Tristan, and to supporting Speedy Reidy to finish her first Marathon.
On reflection, my relaxed and cheerful readiness to run seemed a fitting way to approach being part of Tristan's remarkable achievement of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks, right across the world.
Especially since I'd dropped back to the half marathon, I felt very little pressure, and could enjoy the day. I was looking forward to meeting Tristan, and to supporting Speedy Reidy to finish her first Marathon.
On reflection, my relaxed and cheerful readiness to run seemed a fitting way to approach being part of Tristan's remarkable achievement of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks, right across the world.
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