A very good question...
The lack of recent posts here can only mean one thing, not much running but still I found myself at 8am yesterday morning at the top of Nellie's Glen to start Six Foot. Many people would question my sanity, including myself! A quick look back through the log book and in the last six months to the start of March I ran a sum total of 448km. That said, some semi decent activity in January left me with the feeling that I did have something left in the legs.
Anyway, not only was I starting but my initial game plan was to tear off at the start in the rush to the stairs, I have to say that my love of downhill bush running is too much to overcome! So off we went and at the top of the stairs I was in 2nd place right behind Rod the Hornet. I let 2 people right behind me slip past and then down we went. The plan was to then ease up dramatically once at the bottom of the stairs, but no one was even close behind me and I was only passed by one person between the bottom of the stairs and the start of the actual firetrail.
So once on flatter ground the focus was on slowing and conserving with a close eye on the HR. I was actually very surprised at how long it took for decent numbers of runners from my wave to start passing, which really only started happening at the Megalong Creek crossing. Each aid station I grabbed a couple of drinks etc and walked through, knowing it was going to be a long day. After crossing Megalong Road and waving to my dad for the camera I continued my approach and was now fairly comfortable. It was actually great because I had a very steady stream of people that I knew going past with just enough time for a quick chat. The descent to Cox's was also very comfortable, I tagged onto the back of one conga line and just hung about 50m behind them, with another conga line about 100m back. Despite running much slower than what I usually do through here I was only passed by about 3 runners and I let the second conga line go through with only about 500m to the river. Note I was overly conservative on ensuring anyone could pass, to the point that one cursed/joked that they were actually going to be happy to cruise behind me for a little while as I was running a very smooth pace.
Through the river and I picked up some sand which I ignored, posed for a photo for Will who had been just ahead running with Hamburgler for some time. My river split was 1:36, about 15 minutes slower than my "fast" splits and I was quite happy. Mini Mini beckoned and I immediately adopted my plan of walking at an even HR with the stream of runners continuing past, close to the top the front runners from wave 4 started to appear. My calves felt a little tight towards the end of the climb and I was looking forward to the descent. My quads on the other hand were less impressed! After the aid station at the last creek crossing I paused to remove the sand from my right shoe.
The climb up pluviometer was again a story of paced walking and making full use of each aid station along the way, once again the calves were complaining a little but I was pleased to make it to the top in around 3:30, just under 2 hours from the river. Now it was time to start running again! Too bad the legs did not agree, as Black Range continued it's reputation. For the first couple of km it was ok but then the calves started cramping and so I started modulating running and the walking to stretch out the calves. At the second aid station along here I asked for a salt tablet and downed it with the usual mix of sports drink, water and coke. Not to much effect though and I was glad to see deviation.
Just as I thought I could open up a little more with some downhill running, my quads had other ideas with a dual lock down, some more walking and then run/walk again. On one of the more technical steep downhill sections when I tried to prop to establish firmer footing, both locked up again and it took some time to free them up. Then the final indignity, as I worked my way up the longer and steeper hill along deviation my right hamstring went out in support of the quads and calves!
Anyway I made it to the road, had a quick chat with Frank from Striders and Roses as she cruised past. I knew I would make it to the finish, it would just be a mix of run/walk. The frustrating bit was that when I could run, it was at a reasonable pace and so I was leap frogging people who were shuffling full time. The final descent was murder on the quads and as I finally managed the turn at teh bottom of the stairs for the for my last burst of running both calves and quads completely locked up on the line, thankfully Tiger Angel lived up to her name and held me up as I was de-chipped!!
So here I am today sore as hell but also satisfied with the point that with what can only be called a complete lack of base or substantial training I managed to finish! In reality I knew that this was always going to be tough. But I wanted to run, as much for the chance to catch up with all my running/blogging mates and see Pluviometer again!
Thanks to those who read this that said hi over the weekend, it was great to see a lot of familiar faces. It was also great to see so many people fulfil their potential and effort in training with PB's left right and centre. For me, this was not a redemption run, it was not a soft run, it was a run that I simply wanted to do to experience Six Foot again. In doing so I came to realise how much I miss running in the aussie bush and also all of my CR and Strider friends, but I'll be back!!
I realise I need to reflect on how running and exercise and goals associated with this, fit in with work and most importantly family. It will always be tough but I will constantly work on trying to establish the right ratios and perspective.
ps my time was just under 6:30, technically a PW but that is not the way I will remember this run in hindsight!
