The Guzzler (Glass Half Full) 50 – John Gibson
Race Date: July 24th Results: 2021
Background
Well, another dramatic turn of events! After the 2019 Guzzler 50 (see previous report if you have nothing better to do!), I swore never again! Then of course I entered for 2020.
Then of course Covid-19 restrictions meant that the July event was postponed (and a Virtual was run which I did last July with 5 tours of the Witch course with extra climbs). The delayed Guzzler was held in October 2020, at which time NSW entrants were prohibited from entering Queensland, and my entry was deferred to 2021!
Then of course Covid-19 restrictions meant that the July event was postponed (and a Virtual was run which I did last July with 5 tours of the Witch course with extra climbs). The delayed Guzzler was held in October 2020, at which time NSW entrants were prohibited from entering Queensland, and my entry was deferred to 2021!
So – on to 2021 training – and these old bones and muscles objected to the ramped up effort.
January to mid-April was solid enough, with 568klms put into the legs – but a hip injury slowed my training with only 47klms through the next month – but again started nailing 50klm weeks to pound out another 450klms through to July 18th – however a calf strain felt on our long Sunday White Train from Wakefield Fire Station enforced a final week zero klms taper before 24th July event – three massage/chiro sessions, lots of Deep Heat rubs, and wearing calf sleeves for three days resulted in me feeing reasonably confident that the legs would cope with the run.
January to mid-April was solid enough, with 568klms put into the legs – but a hip injury slowed my training with only 47klms through the next month – but again started nailing 50klm weeks to pound out another 450klms through to July 18th – however a calf strain felt on our long Sunday White Train from Wakefield Fire Station enforced a final week zero klms taper before 24th July event – three massage/chiro sessions, lots of Deep Heat rubs, and wearing calf sleeves for three days resulted in me feeing reasonably confident that the legs would cope with the run.
Getting There
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However, the Queensland Premier held all the cards! NSW entrants (in particular those from Sydney) were advised by the Guzzler crew to defer till 2022! I chose to remain listed for this year – I had only booked flights, and nothing else.
As each day passed, I fully expected to doors to Qld to be slammed shut – and on Thursday 22nd the word came that NSW residents were to be barred from Qld from 1am on 23rd July. My plane landed at 10:25pm – whew, just scraped in! Thank you Anna (off to Japan) and the footballers (relocating to Qld through the week). A cynical person might say something…..I shall refrain! SO – through Brisbane Airport – easy enough, no real Covid-19 scrutiny except for some warnings – not even a temperature scan! A night at my cousin’s home in Manly area, then the next day I picked up a hire car and travelled over to the Auchenflower/Toowong area where I had hastily booked into the Inn on the Park – excellent self-contained accommodation, $175 for 2 nights. Only a 10 minute drive to start line, close to Toowong shops and restaurants, and the Regatta Hotel even closer!
A quick drive to the (different from 2019) start line to familiarize myself for the early 7am Saturday start – no $400 speeding ticket this time! |
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Race Day
Saturday morning – The Guzzler has three events – with the 100klms Full Guzzler trail run (4,618m elevation) starting at 6:30am, then the 50klm Half full Guzzler (2,102m elevation) run at 7am, and the 21klm Big Sipper run (740m elevation) on Sunday morning.
The 50k (actually 51!) run started with around 370 starters – in cool and brisk 10 degree conditions – with the forecast top temp of around 18-19 degrees – great running conditions! I started a bit gingerly, feeling for any twinges in the calf – but soon settled into a reasonable rhythm, aiming to conserve for later in the day.
The first timecheck / aid station was at Walkabout Creek at Enoggera Dam (18klms in) and I reached that spot in 2:07 (2:06 in 2019) so I was pleased with that!
Flyer Ingrid Bardon was waiting there with her daughter to provide great support, and take a few pics! Very happy to see Ingrid, as my own wife and daughter could not make this trip up to Qld due to my daughter’s ballet commitments.
Flyer Ingrid Bardon was waiting there with her daughter to provide great support, and take a few pics! Very happy to see Ingrid, as my own wife and daughter could not make this trip up to Qld due to my daughter’s ballet commitments.
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The next time and compulsory gear check was called McAfees - only 6klms away – but pretty much ALL uphill! See map!
Thank goodness for the hiking poles I carried, invaluable up those slopes! This year I was eating and drinking better than in 2019, and felt reasonable at the 24k mark, ready to plunge down to Hell Hole, and up the other side. I do okay downhill usually, and passed quite a few runners to the bottom, but then of course had to struggle up to the peaks again! However that felt easier than in 2019, and the legs were holding strong, quads complaining at the top! I kept moving towards Gold Creek Reservoir at the 32k mark for another food and coca cola guzzle – then a complete 5k loop of the reservoir and a long climb back out of that low point. |
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By the time I reached the top of that long climb, I was cooked! 39klms done, and 12klms to go – and thankfully there was an extended period of relatively easy(ish) gravel road, trending downwards. I walked and jogged for much of this period, slowly running the down and flat bits and walking all the uphill bits – with a dread memory of Kokoda – a brutal climb at the 48k mark to come.
Kokoda – only 1,000m from bottom to top – but over half of that is around 15-18 degree slope – and quite slippery with masses of loose gravel and rock.
Better this year though than in 2019, when rain had scoured the track badly!
With the poles working overtime (and having conserved energy in the previous klms) I managed a steady rhythm up 2/3rds of the climb – then struggled the rest of the way to the crest. Very thankful to reach that high point, and looked forward to the final 2klm downhill stretch to the finish line.
Better this year though than in 2019, when rain had scoured the track badly!
With the poles working overtime (and having conserved energy in the previous klms) I managed a steady rhythm up 2/3rds of the climb – then struggled the rest of the way to the crest. Very thankful to reach that high point, and looked forward to the final 2klm downhill stretch to the finish line.
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Finally – at 3:12pm (8hours 12 mins) I reached the big finish kite – faster by 17 minutes than in 2019 – and much better able to enjoy the accolades and cheers at the end of a tough day.
Overall, quite happy with the day (though at times I was thinking Fuhrer Anna COULD have shut the border a little earlier!!!!!...and I would not have minded!) – however now that The Guzzler was over, I am well pleased with the 2nd experience. |
Post Mortem
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(Of course, my JetStar plane home got cancelled, along with many others – but I did manage to return home on a (not much) later Qantas plane – so all’s well that ends well).
Thanks to the messages of support through the day, and afterwards, much appreciated everyone! And the 2022 event will be on again in July next year! Who is willing???? This is a very low key event (less than 400 entrants for the 50k), nothing at all like the hype of UTA, but a huge challenge with a short holiday! See you on the start line…………….(maybe)…………. |
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