Six Foot Track Marathon Report – Kirby Clarke
Race Date: March 9th Results: 2013
Race day did not really begin as planned. Darlene Reis and I were staying at Katoomba YHA. Our Alarm went off at 4.30 am. Went down stairs, only to find the kitchen locked! That was not part of the plan. I had anticipated 3 slices of toast with peanut butter, but if I could not toast it, I was not going to eat stale bread! I settled for one of Darls' hot cross buns with peanut butter on it, while she made her mandatory pre-race coffee with water from the bathroom tap.
We caught the shuttle bus to the start line, where I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and happy to run into a number of other runners I knew. This race is as old as I am! Born in 1984... I was a 6 foot first timer, and had no idea what to expect. I thought I might take 6-7 hours, as the website says if you take 4 hours to complete a road marathon, expect to take 6 hours for 6 foot. I had planned to run very conservatively, and i am definitely not great on hills, so was expecting a 6-7 hour time. Consequently, I had placed myself in wave 4.
At 7.25am the gun went off for wave 4, and Darlene and I raced off, only to start walking 20 seconds later, as 200-odd runners all made it to the top of the stairs and proceeded down in single file.
Race day did not really begin as planned. Darlene Reis and I were staying at Katoomba YHA. Our Alarm went off at 4.30 am. Went down stairs, only to find the kitchen locked! That was not part of the plan. I had anticipated 3 slices of toast with peanut butter, but if I could not toast it, I was not going to eat stale bread! I settled for one of Darls' hot cross buns with peanut butter on it, while she made her mandatory pre-race coffee with water from the bathroom tap.
We caught the shuttle bus to the start line, where I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and happy to run into a number of other runners I knew. This race is as old as I am! Born in 1984... I was a 6 foot first timer, and had no idea what to expect. I thought I might take 6-7 hours, as the website says if you take 4 hours to complete a road marathon, expect to take 6 hours for 6 foot. I had planned to run very conservatively, and i am definitely not great on hills, so was expecting a 6-7 hour time. Consequently, I had placed myself in wave 4.
At 7.25am the gun went off for wave 4, and Darlene and I raced off, only to start walking 20 seconds later, as 200-odd runners all made it to the top of the stairs and proceeded down in single file.
We got stuck behind a particularly cautious lady going down the stairs, and it seemed to take about 20 minutes to get to the bottom of Nellies Glen. By the time we reached the bottom, the runners in front were out of sight. I made it my mission to catch up.
We cruised to the first aid station at Devils Hole. Shortly after, Darlene left me to go into the bushes and have her first bush wee.
At 5km I had my first salt tablet. I had never used these in a race before, so I had decided to have one every 5km.
There were lots of mud puddles, but managed to keep my feet dry. Nearly rolled my ankle at the cattle grid at Megalong Valley road.
Started walking earlier than anticipated going through Megalong valley, as all the runners in front of me were walking and I couldn't get past, this was frustrating.
2 more salt tablets later, I made it to cox's river. 1 hour 49 minutes had elapsed, and with the hard hilly bits to come, I thought I was on track for maybe a 6.5 hour finish.
The creek is what scared me going into the race. I like running in the rain but hate having wet feet, so swimming through a river in my running shoes did not sound fun. The river was flowing fast and was chest deep, lucky there was a rope for me to hold onto, otherwise I would have been swept away. The bottom was really rocky too. My left shin connected with a rock underwater, and the pain was crippling, lucky there were volunteers there to help us out of the river. I looked down, no blood. Luckily I was wearing my calf sleeves, or my shin probably would have split open.
A quick stop at the aid station, for a swig of sports drink (I did that at nearly every station) and... Allens snakes, my favorite! I grabbed all the green ones.
And then the hills came. At the lemon tree yards aid station, I stopped to fill my water bottles. I was pleased to see a sign that said '26.4 km to go'. I was feeling good.
The pebbles and grit in my wet shoes were starting to irritate me, but there were still several more knee-deep river crossings. I had dry socks in my pocket. I would stop and change them if I felt blisters coming on.
I don't even know where Pluvi started and finished. I just felt like I was going uphill for the next 20km. The track was nice and wide, and I felt like I was passing a lot of people, even when walking up the hills. Lots of people also commented on my outfit as I ran past them too (note to self: wear neon pink head to toe again next time).
At the 29.7km mark I found myself sprinting up a hill, trying to complete 30km before my watch clicked over to 3hr 50min. I missed it by 10 seconds, but made it up that hill quickly.
With 1/3 of the race to go and no idea how many hills still may lay ahead, I thought I was on track for a 6 hour time.
A few km later, on a steep downhill section, I found myself on the dirt. It must happened quickly, I didn't feel myself falling. And it must have been spectacular, as the 2 guys behind me gasped and rushed to help me up... My muscles started instantly cramping so I could not get up myself. Thank you for the help, random strangers! I think I landed on my right knee, then right palm, then right shoulder, and scraped all the way down to my elbow. My hand was stinging, I didn't even know my knee was cut up. I washed out my hand with a cup if water at the next aid station, and also had some coke!
I ran past 2 guys and heard one say he would get some salt at the next aid station, so I offered him some salt capsules, and he gratefully accepted. And, just when I thought all the hills were over, I round a corner to find the most daunting hill I have seen all day! This one is steep! But the man running near me at this point is doing his 6th 6 foot track, and assures me it is the last hill. I walk up it and he walks faster but I overtake him again on the downhill.
With 39.5 km elapsed on my GPS and 5.5pm to go, I come to the last aid station, and see a sign saying 4.4km to go. This is incredibly uplifting! I knew my GPS would be slightly off due to the terrain.
The next km or 2, I just love! Single track, ups and downs, and I feel like I'm moving fast here. I remember someone saying save yourself something for the last few km as it is a hard finish.
I'm overtaking a few people, and flying down the hill. The volunteers yell out to be careful as the path us very rocky, and it sure is! I wish I had more support underfoot, and know my ankles and knees will be sore tomorrow, as I'm bouncing everywhere.
With about 2k to go I find myself behind Andrew, who also started in wave 4, and is doing his 11th 6 foot track! He tells me we are on track to go under 5hr 30 min, so I enthusiastically jump onto the back of his run-train and ride it all the way to the end, overtaking people when he does. Running fast and worried my quads could give out at any minute, the track is windy and drops away on one side. Once again I'm glad to be wearing neon pink, in case I topple over the edge - I'll be easy to find.
I can hear somebody ringing a cowbell, and when we get to the top, Andrew says, 'this is where you enjoy it now' and I can see caves house at the bottom, and it still seems a long way down running back and forth, as I get to the bottom I hear the announcer call my name, and I follow Andrew all the way to the finish line. 5 hours 26 minutes.
See you all next year.
