Training Log Archive: GM

MaryMac and I went back to the Redwoods in the daylight and went for a walk. We did the Quarry trail which had a good climb in it which unfortunately meant we had to descend and that was the quad killing part. But overall we were feeling ok.

Event: Tarawera Ultra
 

Tarawera Ultra Marathon

Mary and I woke at 4:00am and looked out the window across Rotorua and all looked quiet and still and dark. Then Mary looked down and saw a puddle reflecting light and pronounced "It's raining" - great. I hobbled around a bit and my back was still very painful and walking wasn't pleasant, so I had a small amount of muesli and yoghurt and two Panadene Forte - a real runner's breakfast. I then did about 10 minutes of gentle stretching and that seemed to help a bit. We were dressed and out the door just on 5am. The instructions for getting to the start were "walk out the door at 5am and get a lift from one of the 300 other people heading there. So out to the road in front of the hotel and nothing - no cars, no people. We then went back into the foyer of the hotel to get the car key to drive ourselves when we bumped into Brook and Toy Martin (Brook was doing the 85km) and asked for a lift which was gladly given. The drive to the Redwoods took about 10 minutes and we were lucky to be parked right down the road just past the start. The time was nearly 5:30 so we had a bit over 30 minutes to go.

Mary and I went up to the start line to check things out and it had a great atmosphere - low key but lots of positive looking people. There were spotlights on the redwood trees and giant ferns and except for the continuous drizzle it was pleasant - the temperature was ideal. We took a couple of photos under the start then wandered back to somewhere where we thought the slower runners would be. I thought I should try and jog to see how my back felt so went out to the road and did a couple 100m jogging and prancing - it felt painful but good enough to at least start.

With a couple of minutes to go there was a couple traditional Maori ceremonies - a haka like dance in front of the lead runners which we couldn't see, and a shell being blown and similar on the tree top walkway just up behind us. The starter asked everyone to turn their lights on and about 30 seconds later we were off - well I started my watch but didn't move for about a minute and didn't start jogging until right under the start banner at about 2:30. I decided to just keep with Mary for the first bit and take it easy and that was a really good choice. We could see the mass of runners and lights heading up the hill along the avenue in front of us and there was still hundreds behind. After about 600m the track turns left and narrows to a vehicle width but we were still jogging slowly and chatting to each other and a couple of those around us. The track undulated though the trees and twisted and turned but in the dark you loose all sense of direction. Then we were walking then we stopped altogether. Then we were onto a single path which was the reason for the stop. Still walking or slow jogging but getting a bit quicker. We broke out of the trees into an open glade and you could pass people if you wanted. I moved to the side to do just that and promptly put my foot into a deep hole but luckily no damage. I left Mary about here and wouldn't see her again till back in Rotorua but did think of her quite a bit - wondering how she was going. 

Then we started to climb on single track and the track was mud! It may not have been mud when the leaders zipped through but after hundreds of others had mixed the volcanic soil and water together it was mud and thick and slippery. When you struck the mud going up it was one step forward, and slide half a step back. When going down it was wave your arms to keep balance because it felt like ice skates. The good thing about the mud was that unlike clay it didn't build up on your shoe or stick.

We climbed and descended on single track for a couple of km, with lots of small tree roots across the path to keep you on your toes. A few morons weren't content to follow in line and cut past, then one of them started slipping all over the place in front of me so I passed him for my own safety. At about the 4km point we exited the dark trees at a water tank and you can drop your head lamp, which are tagged with your running number, and collect them after you finish. I kept mine thinking I would need it much later in the day, but Mary was confident of finishing before dark so she dropped hers. There was also a small crowd of spectators which was fun - started to make it feel like a race. 

Then we were onto some forestry roads and the first chance to start to run a bit. My back had settled down, and/or the drugs had really kicked in, so I started passing a few people. I slowed to put my Ay-ups away and then settled into a nice steady jog. Then we turned back into the native forest which was lush, and green, and wonderful, and muddy - very, very muddy. Because the runners had thinned out the pace was quicker which meant the down slopes in particular were exciting to say the least. There were a few hills in this section but none went on for very long so I was feeling good.

The track comes out of the forest at Blue Lake and crosses a large grass slope near the first aid station, but we have to do a complete circuit of the lake first. There was a proper toilet here so I stopped for a number 2 which had been building up for some time - codeine tends to have a poor effect in this area. I got going again feeling a bit lighter and a lot more comfortable. The track around the lake was great as you get to roll along a nice firm path with lake views. The day as still very overcast but the rain had stopped for the moment. Across a beach and a photographer was there so I made sure my hat was straight and I was smiling - which was easy to do because I was feeling really good. Some snaking single track for a while then out onto the road leading to Blue Lake aid station, but first was the compulsory gear check. 

Unlike Ultra Trail Australia (née The North Face 100) the Tarawera usually has no mandatory gear, but because of the rain this year they made everyone carry a seam sealed water proof jacket. I passed ok but the guy checking said he had to take the timing chips from quite a few runners until they obtained a jacket, with sealed seams. Mary told me she heard of one guy who took 3 goes to get it right.

The aid stations on this race are amazing - the volunteers can't do enough for you - each station is crammed with all sorts of food and drinks - and each station takes on a theme eg. Where's Wally, or Star Wars, or Santa, or a Hawaiian Luau to name the ones I can remember. I had been sipping on my bottle with Shotz electrolyte to this point so had a gel and was about to go and refill my bottle when a volunteer offered to do,it for me so I said thanks and had a couple of pieces of watermelon while waiting.

I left the Blue Lake aid station at 2:33:22 which is slow for 16.4km but if I deduct the 2:30 at the start, and the 5 minutes toilet stop, and the 5-10 minute aid station, and the couple of km walking after the start, and the mud, it is a bit better, but still slow.

The next leg is to Millar Road and it is only 6.4km and nearly half on a public road, but the first 2.5km was back into really twisty, muddy single track. Again I didn't mind because the forest is so beautiful, and the track is just fun, especially compared to the road. Mary told me that the houses around here are really expensive and looked it, but many are just holiday homes - there's rich bastards everywhere, but in NZ they are probably rich dairy farmers. I had a brief chat to a guy along the road section who said "this thing has turned into a real race" when I asked why he said "that woman just behind us in the purple top who is catching up is my wife" ... poor bugger was in a lose/lose situation. Not long after I was chatting to Giles from France who had just spent 48hrs on a plane from Paris to arrive just in time to start the race and was flying back as soon as the race was done - he said he was here just to have fun! Nice guy but a weird sense of fun.

I rolled into Millar Rd and the myriad of Santas and thought I had better stock up as the next leg is the longest and has the most climb. I had another gel, and some watermelon, but the started channelling robw and Shep and had some salt and vinegar chips followed a big cup of Coke. Normally I don't like S&V chips and I don't drink Coke but at that moment my body told me it was the right thing to do. 

So full of salt and sugar I left Millar Road at 3:34:18 with 22.8km covered, and that was including a nice long stop of about 10 mins. Just as I was leaving a guy raced past saying something about the cutoff there and how we weren't far in front. The cutoff time was 10:00am or 4hrs elapsed so we were 25 mins ahead, but I did start to worry about Mary. In the end the organisers were a bit more lenient at that point and Mary went through at 10:08 with more following. The conditions were quite slow compared to other years so they were sensible about it - although they didn't relax the other cut off times further into the race.

I was running with Giles for a while. The track in the open gullies was a narrow rut so you had to be careful, but there was some fun downhill sections beside a creek that were easy to run on - not the darker muddy surface in the forest. This section climbs steadily on a ridge line to the highest point of the course but there weren't any sweeping vistas, possibly due to the cloudy and overcast day, or possibly because the trees are in the way. The woman behind me was telling her friend "this is the last hill" and I thought yay, but then as we neared the top she says "oh, I was wrong, there's still another one to go". I felt like I was going ok through here, fast walking the hills and running the flats and downs, except for the last downhill which was steep, muddy, and really slippery. Still managed to stay on my feet. We hit the flat section near the next lake and a guy sitting there said there was only about 2km to the next aid station - it was a long 2 km. Lesson is not to listen to false prophets on the trail. Just before each aid station is a sign saying '200m to aid station' - I really started liking these signs. With the longest leg done I took a bit of extra time to refill the bladder in my pack, take some Panadene for my back, and have more coke/S@V chips/watermelon. Lots of spectators and runners here so it felt very busy.

Time was flying - leaving Okataina Lodge after 6:36:50 and 39.4km covered. The next leg to Humphries Bay is 9.8km and the initial part was beside the shoreline of Lake Okataina and it was very beautiful and peaceful with glimpses across the water. The trail went up and down across the small gullies, with shorter steeper ups and longer gentler downs. The sun poked out for a couple of minutes and the temperature and mugginess went right up, especially crossing some of the small open flat areas beside the lake. But soon the sun disappeared behind the rain clouds and the track started to climb up and away from the lake. I started running with the 'butterfly' girl for a while - she had pink fairy wings attached to her pack, a tutu skirt, and butterfly transfers on the backs of her calves. Her comment to me was "You can't. Be grumpy if you are wearing a tutu. You should try it next time". Not that I was grumpy. After a while I passed her and loped along by myself. There are no distance markers, except at the aid stations, so I was trying to guess when I passed he 42.2km mark using my average pace and time. There is something satisfying of thinking 'yes, now it is an ultra'. Some of the forest through here was delightful - there were sparse small trees with a blanket of alpine looking plants between and the trail twisting and turning all the time. The running surface was very good, but there were patches with lots of small tree roots and occasional rocks to keep you on your toes. We descended back to the lake and I could see the southern tip approaching - nice to have a visual goal - then a short final hill over the saddle and down to Lake Tarawera and Humphries Bay. As I entered the small clearing there was a sign saying '49.9km Half Way' which was good. Another great aid station with fantastic volunteers and another dose of coke/chips/watermelon plus refilling my electrolyte bottle.

As I left Humphries at 8:30:46 elapsed there was a white board saying the leaders, Jonas Buud and David Byrne had come through at 10:04AM which was less than half my time plus there was a note saying Jonas had won in 8:01 - so I was only half way and he was kicking back at the finish. Those guys are truly amazing. It was only a lazy 8.1km to the Tarawera Outlet aid station but a large hill early on and more mud made it slow, then the rain started in earnest - the heaviest of the day. I must have dawdled too long in the previous aid station because butterfly girl was back in front. I passed her and then managed to smack the top of my head into a small fallen tree across the trail. My cap, which is why I didn't see it, was down the steep bank to the side. A bit of rubbing and swearing and cap retrieval, and some checking by BG that I was all right. I started running again and was ok. The trail started to have a sameness about it - more lush ferns beautiful trees and forest and then a descent to near the shore and a sloshy run through puddles. There was the occasional sign through here offering encouragement or some clever saying - I didn’t really take them in and didn’t stop to read them properly, but someone had put some thought into it which was nice. Then I was at the next aid station at Tarawera Outlet. I didn't stop too long at the outlet - just enough time to grab a quick drink and snack of the usual.

My elapsed time leaving Tarawera Outlet was 9:58:53 but I was feeling good, probably better than I had been for a while. I left with butterfly girl but she turned off for the toilet so I didn’t see her again. This leg was only 5.4km to the 60km finish, and was I thought downhill. After a short distance the track swung East and I expected it to head down but instead it was climbing gently. The track was a light, fine gravel but was easy to run on. About where it flattened out I passed a couple of people but was also in need of a quick pit stop. I finished before they appeared and feeling more comfortable ran on. The rain was still falling but not as heavy as an hour ago. The track follows along beside the river that becomes Tarawera Falls, but before then goes through a series of cascades until it disappears underground to come out at the falls. I latched on behind an older guy (he may have been younger than me, but looked older than most of the runners) who was going at my pace. The trail was sloping down and I felt like I was running properly for once - it was really enjoyable. There was even rocks and boulders through this section, and still the beautiful forest with ferns and greenery and the sound the river was loud off to the right. Near the falls there was the only decent set of steps on the entire race - but they went straight up over a small ridge and almost immediately straight down and back to the flowing track. At the 1.5km to the carpark sign I went in front and left him behind. More lovely running then we crossed a small foot bridge over the river and just behind me were loud footsteps from a young guy who was flying along - turns out he was doing the 60km and was in his <400m to go finish sprint. At the end of this track there is a small carpark where the 60km finish it and there is a sign that directs people finishing to the left and the 85/100km runners to the right - I had to make a decision. A couple of hours ago I thought ‘Yes, 60km would be fine and I could wait for MaryMac and cheer her in’, but now I was thinking I was feeling good so took the right hand lane. I had left a drop bag here which someone magically was handing to me. It only had spare gels and Shotz so I grabbed a few gels as I still had quite a few and all the Shotz as I was almost out. Standing in the rain eating chips and watermelon, and drinking coke, and working out the cutoff times. I was over an hour ahead of the cutoff where I was standing which was 5:50PM but the next aid station at Tiktoki was 10km away and had a cut off for the 100km of 6:20PM. By the time I left I had about 88min to leave the next station if I wanted to complete the 100km otherwise I wouldn’t have a choice.

Elapsed time was 10:54:30 leaving so I had done the 63km in about 10:45 which sounds really slow - and is - but the time goes so fast. For the first time in the race I had a real goal of getting to the next check point by a certain time. The trail and forest changes at this point. A short section of single track then I was onto a long straight and narrow forest vehicle track, but quite overgrown. With all the rain the plants on either side were drooping over the track so running through them was like running through a cold shower - refreshing, but I got soaked again. Then a turn onto a larger forest road that climbed for a couple of km. I was by myself for about 30 minutes then passed a few runners on the flatter top of the hill. I kept checking the time and tried to estimate where I was. Then the road started to head down with large sweeping bends, and although I was running ok my right quad above the knee started to feel quite sore. Then this woman passed me like I was standing still - she was flying down the hill, then two more runners went past. It gave me more of an idea of how fast I was running. And sooner than I expected the couple of runners ahead morphed into spectators and the tents of the Titoki aid station. They had a Hawaiian Luau theme going complete with a blow up swimming pool and floating toys. It was full of rain water. I was 20 minutes ahead of the cutoff so had a decision to make - keep on with the 100 or drop back to the 85. My thigh was getting more painful and I was getting weary all of a sudden so the 85 sounded like a good option. As I came in all I had to do was tell someone I was changing and they took care of the rest. Nice and simple. I didn’t rush through the aid station and had got into a nice rhythm. One of the nice things was a couple of buckets of clean cold water with a sponge which I used to wash my face and hands after eating and drinking. It is funning how little things like felling sticky start to get really annoying. In the 10 minutes I was there a few people came in looking quite distressed about making the cutoff but they had pacers who calmed them down and got them going in time.

I exited Titoki at 12:14:14 so 1:19:44 for the 9.9km including a 10 minute break, but I took the left hand fork onto the 85km course. From here to the finish it is relatively flat, and there are two more aid stations about 5km apart. The first is at Fisherman’s Bridge where the 100km course rejoins having done 15km further in a figure 8 loop, then onto the River Road aid station, then the finish at Kawerau. I was down to a run a couple of 100m and walk a bit, and repeat, as my leg was getting painful plus I realised that my left sock had worn a hole at the back and I had a raw bit of skin starting to hurt. I tried pulling my sock up but only managed to tear the hole bigger. This was my only chaffing like problem from the wet weather so not too bad. I played leapfrog with a woman on this leg who had decided to run up from the 60 to the 85 so we did a bit of encouraging of each other since there was no-one else around. At the aid station I sat for the first time today and fished out some ankle tape that I had carried for emergencies. I pulled off my shoe and sock and tore off a strip of tape to cover the raw skin. With my shoe and sock back on it felt so much better. A refuel, plus I took a couple of Panadene to cover all the aches and pains.

A longer break than usual meant I left Fishermans at 13:10:19 elapsed and 56:04 for the 5km + aid station. Because the 100km runners who had rejoined were a fair way ahead of me in time they were running faster, and many in pairs (runner plus pacer) but they were good to latch onto for a while - at lest mentally. There was a small section of road and a bridge across the river then back into the pine forest. The forest roads were nice but there were quite a few very large puddles that required some circumnavigation - my shoes weren’t too wet and I didn’t feel like getting them soaked again. On the rise to the last aid station there were life sized Storm Trooper cutouts, and pithy sayings from Yoda so I guessed they had a Star Wars theme going. The aid station was being run by at least half a dozen Princess Leia look alikes - and they were all so nice and cheerful. I had a short spell of about 5 minutes and headed off.

It was now 13:55:43 elapsed and 45:24 for the 5km so averaging about 8min/km so I was guessing about 40-45 min to the finish. As the real time was nearing 8pm it was starting to get dark and the overcast sky and tall trees of the forest were adding to the gloom. So I decided to fish out my Ay-ups just in case they were needed before the end. I had some company for most of the leg, either just in front or just behind. We had a brief section in the open that paralleled the road out to the falls then back onto single track through the pines. Then the bastard course setters had a short steep sandhill to climb. It really was hard to get up. A real case of 2 steps forward, 1.8 steps back. The trail was quite twisted and varied and I put on my light to make sure I didn’t trip on a root. The last climb of the day was steps up onto a long footbridge that spans the Tarawera River a few km from the end. Then a bit more forest and narrow paths and we were out into the open grasslands near the edge of the town. But there was still a good 10 minutes running to the finish. There were quite a few spectators dotted along here giving encouragement and the usual “Not far to go now” ... really! Then there was the 200m to aid station sign, and round a fence the finish chute and banner. I took 47:08 for the last leg so probably walked more than I realised. Paul Charteris the race founder was at the finish to give everyone a hug and their finishers medal which was carved wood which is a bit different. Paul made the comment the next day that after many hours at the finish hugging finishers his clothes were a bit on the nose. There was time for a brief chat with Paul and then a longer one with Tim Day the race director. Luckily I said I had changed down so Time could swap my medal with the correct one - nearly an oops. We then funneled through the medical tent to be weighed. They want to check if you have gained, or lost, too much compared to yesterday. I was 1kg lighter and said I felt ok so they let me through for some food and drink.

And being NZ they do things a little bit different - there was some food and drink, but there was also a craft beer guy with two kinds on tap - I think I went for the pale ale - and grabbed some cold quiche and found a chair and sat and drank and ate and wondered where MaryMac was. Then I remembered I had my phone so dug it out. She was back in Rotorua feeling a bit exhausted but not too bad - she was feeling rooted when she finished so didn’t think she could stand hanging around for me to finish. I didn’t mind.

After retrieving my finish drop bag, getting changed, finding out where the busses back to Rotorua went from, standing there for 20 mins before finding out that the bus didn’t go from there, finding the bus and sitting down for 10 mins, we were off. The bus trip back was a bit of a trial as it was stuffy, and the road very windy, but at least I had the whole seat to myself. I made it to the hotel on the right side of midnight and was glad to get there.

I finished in 14:42:52 for 87.4 km and over 2,100m of climb. This is my second longest run but I didn’t feel too bad at all. Probably a combination of not pushing too hard for various reasons and as such I really enjoyed the whole experience. I have already decided that I would like to do it again, and complete the whole thing, but make sure I do some proper preparation and run uninjured.

My splits
16.4km 2:33:22
22.8km 3:34:18.  56:60
39.4km 6:36:50  2:31:10
49.2km 8:30:46.  1:53:55
57.3km 9:58:53.  1:28:06
62.7km 10:54:30. 55:36
72.2km 12:14:14. 1:19:44
77.6km 13:10:19. 56:04
82.4km 13:55:43. 45:24
87.4km 14:42:52. 47:08

C • report 7

Back has been bad all day so I decided that a session of stretching and core exercises might help. It didn't feel worse by the end, and had loosened up quite a bit so at least I have a chance of running in the morning.

Short run from home over Cook saddle and back before heading off to NZ later in the morning.

Ride with MaryMac into ANU then I split off and did a circuit of LBG before heading home. Chatted to Bob from cross country/Parkrun on the ride up from Glenloch to the Cook saddle - he was heading home after the BBQ Stakes at Woden. He was certainly pushing along up the hill

C • Goodluck! 6

Run back from Lawson after checking on the latest progress. Ran over the top of Reservoir Hill then through UC, Gossan and Aranda.

Ride with MaryMac to Lawson then back via a circuit of Lake G.