The Kosciuszko Run Race Report – Simon White
Race Date: February 10th Results: 2013
The Kosciuszko Run is one tough little hill climb. Exactly none of it is flat. It's a long way from home, and the weather is variable at best. There is also not much room on the mountain top, and so the field is limited to 120 runners.
It kicks off at Charlottes Pass Ski Lodge, down in the bowl off the main road, climbs up to the main road and ascends to the Kosciuszko National Park entry gates. The first mile is much like running up Scenic Drive from Merewether....twice..but breathing only through your nose. And the first mile is really the toughest part.
Once you're through that, it's a continual rise right through to the 6k, a gentle, albeit short drop to the Snowy River, and then the final climb which spirals around the mountain to reach the summit.
The Kosciuszko Run is one tough little hill climb. Exactly none of it is flat. It's a long way from home, and the weather is variable at best. There is also not much room on the mountain top, and so the field is limited to 120 runners.
It kicks off at Charlottes Pass Ski Lodge, down in the bowl off the main road, climbs up to the main road and ascends to the Kosciuszko National Park entry gates. The first mile is much like running up Scenic Drive from Merewether....twice..but breathing only through your nose. And the first mile is really the toughest part.
Once you're through that, it's a continual rise right through to the 6k, a gentle, albeit short drop to the Snowy River, and then the final climb which spirals around the mountain to reach the summit.
The first year (2009) we did it, the wind was so strong it blew a window out of a mini-bus, and they considered cancelling. They didn't, and we ran in to the wind, up the tallest hill in Australia.
This year, it was blue skies, sunshine, 20 degrees, and wind only about half the strength. See photo and video below....
The level of competition just was not there this year. I looked over my shoulder at 5k to go, and had about a 1k lead over 2nd place, and so was able to cruise to the hill top in 56 minutes, for 1st place outright and a $300 cheque. That made a nice change from busting your balls to try and beat Richard Palmer over 10k for a plastic trophy and an H-Events t-shirt...
We sat up top for about 45 minutes, watching the bushfires down in Hotham, several hundred kilometres away, and cheering the other competitors as they arrived. Ater a 70 minute trot back down the 11k, admiring the view, taking photo's and sticking toes in the very chilly Snowy River, a cracker lunch on the Jindabyne lake front was enjoyed, followed by the long drive home.
If you want a challenge, something a little bit different, in one of the most spectacular venue's in Australia, have a run at Kosciuszko. It's a jaw-dropper.
Next year, I recommend we take a van, and see which of the Flyers can get up the hill....we might even clean-sweep the prize pool. Even 3rd is worth a $100.
Simon.
| mt_k.avi |
