Coast to Kosci 240km – Matt Pilley5
Race Date: Dec 1st Results: 2023 Strava: Coast 2 Kosci
Early start
I awoke Friday morning at 4:15am to the sound of rain. No surprise considering the drenching the area had had over the past 48 hours. The rain had meant a course change due to flooding so the first 45km was an out and back section.
Amanda, Steph, Tom, and I drove the 1.5km to the start at Boydtown Beach (near Eden) at 5:30am. Standing there on the beach I felt as though I didn't belong in this race and that I would get exposed as a fraud. I said farewell to my crew and shortly after the race started.
Amanda, Steph, Tom, and I drove the 1.5km to the start at Boydtown Beach (near Eden) at 5:30am. Standing there on the beach I felt as though I didn't belong in this race and that I would get exposed as a fraud. I said farewell to my crew and shortly after the race started.
The Race
I took the out and back section very conservatively in the hope of saving energy later in the race. It was a hilly section and I spent most of the 4.5hrs chatting to other runners which was enjoyable.
On finishing this section runners were driven by their crew 50mins down the road to reconnect to the original course. I took this opportunity to refuel by having soup and noodles and I closed my eyes and thought about other things other than the race. |
On reconnecting up with the course I said my farewell to my crew and continue to run. After already running a hilly marathon and sitting in a car for 50mins the legs took some time to get going. But once they did, I felt great and was popping along nicely along a mostly flat winding dirt road. I started to overtake a few along this section but had no idea where I was playing. My guess was around 20th.
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Around 56km I met up with Amanda, Tom, and Steph at the start of Cow Bail Trail which has a steep climb up a mountain before a nice flowing downhill section. This was my first time ever using hiking poles (thanks Griffo) and they were a god send. I know why people use then now ha ha. It was mandatory to have a pacer through this 14km section and I had the privilege of running with Steph. We both joked about how much we hate single track and steep dirt hills. After navigating some flooding causeways, we arrived at the next checkpoint where we were met by Amanda and Tom and I dropped Steph off. I was also advised that my tracking GPS wasn't working.
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I resumed running and I felt great. My crew was now allowed to leap from me and provide aid when needed. I chose for them to drive roughly 5km at a time where I Would replenish my 1x 500ml flask and gel and keep running. I still felt as though I was running conservatively however, I was worried about the amount of people I was overtaking and that maybe I was pushing the pace too much.
On reaching a big road intersection I was congratulated on being the 3rd runner through. I assumed I heard her wrong and carried on just running. The weather was doing crazy things. It was pouring rain one second and then the sun would be out and it would be stinking hot. I ran a lot of this section with a fellow runner, Mark Avery, and enjoyed a bit of banter with him and his crew. I was still feeling good and noticed that I was now running by myself. I was informed by other runners’ crew members, that were leap frogging their runners, that it must have been a good feeling seeing 1st place just up the road. |
On regrouping with my crew, I told them that I was coming second and that 1st place was just up the road. Amanda and Steph lied to me and told me that I was in fact coming 3rd in the hope of settling me down and not getting me too excited. They said, "Who would you believe? Us or some strangers you have never met"? In my head I was thinking 'strangers' ha-ha
I continued to cruise and found myself catching the person in front of me. I eventually over took him and believed I was now in first place. I cruised another couple of kms before reaching another checkpoint around the 100km mark where I finally saw my whole crew which gave me a huge boost.
Stu and Mitch had drove their way from Jindabyne and met up with Amanda, Steph, and Tom. I restocked my nutrition and continue my journey.
I continued to cruise and found myself catching the person in front of me. I eventually over took him and believed I was now in first place. I cruised another couple of kms before reaching another checkpoint around the 100km mark where I finally saw my whole crew which gave me a huge boost.
Stu and Mitch had drove their way from Jindabyne and met up with Amanda, Steph, and Tom. I restocked my nutrition and continue my journey.
In the lead...
Being in 1st place I was now the hunted and in a position I am rarely in. But I loved this section of road and I was popping along great. I had a couple of visits from race officials, Rob Mason (last year’s winner) and Dan (I think that was his name. Either way he was great!) who drove along beside me and would give me encouragement. I mentioned to them that I never thought I was good enough to be in this race let alone leading it. They were so supportive and I looked forward to every time they would drive by and chat.
On reaching dusk I was now allowed a pacer. Enter Tom Scott. I put on my head lamp and enjoyed finally having some company. I cannot express how great running with Tom it was. He kept my pace in check and ensured I was consuming enough calories. We had some great chats about life and unfortunately, he witnessed some of my GI distress 😬
We reached Dalgetty which signalled 150km and a checkpoint. I met my crew and had some yummy soup that was on offer from volunteers. About 7mins later I was back on the road with Tom and on route to Jindabyne. However, there were a couple of big hills in our way, which I was grateful for as it broke up the pounding of running on my feet. Tom and I kept making great time and I found myself at Jindabyne (185km), still in 1st place, and I would find out later, about 17mins in front of 2nd.
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This was probably the first time in the race where I started to feel shit. After a quick pit stop, I was on my way up the massive climb to Kosciuszko National Park. I was now joined by Steph after Tom had finished his massive 60km stint. I had roughly 50km left and I now had the Australian National 50km running record holder pacing me. Too bad this was going to be much slower than that record 🤣.
Poor Steph was chatting away with me however I was in a world of hurt and could barely manage a response. I felt I was still running ok though. We finally reached the bottom of the hill where we had 1000m of elevation gain over 20km going up into Kosciuszko National Park into the snow fields. I felt my hiking pace was still strong up the hill and Steph had me running the flatter sections. On finally reaching the top my nutrition intake was struggling and my feet and legs were aching. My running pace had finally slowed down to a walking pace and mentally I was cooked. I had noticed that the 2nd places crew car had slowly been driving further ahead which signaled to me that he was catching. About 210km 2nd place finally over took me and I actually felt relieved. After leading the race for about 110km I felt as though I was no longer watching my back.
My aim was now back to finishing the race and not winning it. Holding onto a podium was going to be a bonus.
My aim was now back to finishing the race and not winning it. Holding onto a podium was going to be a bonus.
Perisher to the top of Mt Kosciuszko
I stumbled into the Perisher checkpoint and was now at my worst. In my head I felt bad for my crew and that I had let them down. I believed the next 30km would take me 6 hours and that I would have gone from 1st place down to the bottom of the pack where my fraud thoughts would be realised.
I headed off for the 9km trek to Charlotte's Pass with my good mate Stu. I have known Stu for a long time and we have had many of runs together. I had a sense of this was just a training run now and that I we were just enjoying the scenery. My race director mates would drive by a few more times and try and boost my morale. Stu was an absolute champion and dragged my ass along. He got me to run for 20 steps and then walk for 10 steps. I don’t know how many of these we did but before long we were at Charlottes Pass and I still managed to be holding onto 2nd place. |
The weather was ok and we were given the go ahead to summit Mt Kosciuszko. All of my crew’s mandatory gear was checked and I was thrilled that all of my crew except Tom (who needed a much-needed rest after his pacing duties) took the opportunity to climb the mountain. In my head the race was over and that I was now just on a hike with mates. I was absolutely cooked! The 9km trek up to the summit was pure hell for me but my awesome crew distracted me and I had a few chuckles. I had stopped eating and drinking and just wanted the pain to end. The weather climbing the hill took a U turn and was now absolutely shocking. It was raining and the wind was blowing a gale and freezing! Lucky, we had Stu to tell us to put on jackets on 🤣.
Right near the summit I was overtaken by Mark Avery who was flying! We both congratulated each other and I got onto trying not to die on this mountain. On reaching the top of Mt Kosciuszko we were surrounded by a wall of white mist. So much for a view. But I was so far gone that I wouldn't have appreciated a nice view. I contemplated just staying on top of the mountain and dying as it would have been less painful than climbing back down. But after a quick photo I tried my best to get down the hill quickly.
More interval running was on the cards with Amanda tell us to run for so many seconds and then walk...and repeat. |
Down to the finish line
And finally reaching the bottom and nearing 500m to this finish Tom was there to greet us with a Cow Bell. The crew was back together and we would be finishing together. I crossed the finishing line with my crew behind me and boy was I relieved that the pain was finally over.
One of Mark Averys crew (Rene) gave me a beer and I took the opportunity to have a shoey ha-ha. Thank you to Jane and Cyril who had given Amanda some beer for me to enjoy.
I was a Coast to Kosci finisher in 29hr and 22mins and took out 3rd place.
I was a Coast to Kosci finisher in 29hr and 22mins and took out 3rd place.
Mitch...what can I say about my 'good vibes' manager. Well Mitch was an absolute champion and kept the vibes high! No one else could have handed me a Coke or ginger beer like he did. He always had something funny and loving to say with the best being, "You've got legs like your mother" 🤣🤣
Amanda aka crew chief...nothing I write will do what she did justice. She pretty much did all the pre, during, and post planning. All i did was run. She organised with friends and family to write short messages to me which she read out on most occasions where I saw her. Now if that isn't motivation to do your best, I don't know what is so I thank everyone who wrote me these kind words. Your support is so appreciated. Amanda even got a bigger mention than me at the presentation for being the best support crew chief. Something that she deserves as her support and what she does behind the scenes often goes unnoticed.
To my whole crew... thank you. You all complimented each other. I could not have done it without you. Pat on my back for assembling a kick ass team!
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Post Mortem
Will I come back?
Not sure...I ticket off all my goals for the race:
Not sure...I ticket off all my goals for the race:
- Finish and get an Akubra ✅️
- Under 30hrs ✅️
- Summit finish ✅️
- My crew have fun ✅️
Getting a podium finish was the icing on the cake and not something I ever expected. Could I come back next year and run it smarter and do better? Maybe. But who knows. I left nothing for chance and had so much fun in the process.
So, do I still think I am good enough for this race or future races? No. But that is just my nature. But I'll still line up and give it my best shot knowing I have the best person behind me supporting my every step 😍