Sunday, March 12, 2006
Six Foot Track Marathon - The 2006 Version
11/3/06
After going for a short run on Friday, we finally accepted the inevitable that Belinda would not run this year. It was a tough decision but the only one we could make as Belinda was not able to run 5 minutes without feeling pain from the calf.
As for my run, it was the toughest day of running I have ever had!
Started off well with no dramas, getting down Nellies Glen without any problems. Headed down with Truckie and Professor. Truckie was talking about the 3 Striders. I thought we were more like the 3 Stooges. On a more serious note, we were striding out well and probably going a bit quick so I backed off. Professor was happy to back off as it was starting to get warm. Got to Megalong Valley when Truckie had enough of our company and took off up Pinnacle Hill. Professor and I decided to walk that bit. As this is the first part where you are really exposed to the weather, we certainly felt how warm it was getting. I mentioned that it wasn't going to be very pleasant on the climb to Mini Mini as that is also very exposed with no shade. Was happy to get to Cox's River in 1:38, which was 8 minutes quicker than last year. Then the climbs started and Professor was very strong hiking them and I just couldn't go with him. I was feeling the heat and noticed the heart rate climbing so I backed off a bit. People were starting to go past me which told me I wasn't doing as well on the climbs as last year. I was happy to see some downhills and flew down them, catching up with Professor at Alum Creek. Went past Virtual and FPT around here as well. Professor then proceeded to pull away from me again on the climb to Pluviometer, never to be seen again. As I was making one of the final climbs to Pluvi, I felt the first spasm in the quads. I knew this wasn't a good sign as they didn't come on until the Deviation last year. Got to Pluviometer in 3:19, which was a minute slower than last year but feeling a lot worse. As I started to run along the Black Range, the spasms in the quads continued so I just backed off and walked. Got to the first aid station on the Black Range, had a couple of drinks and a slice of watermelon and started to feel a bit better. I was then able to start running again but it was a very slow shuffle but I was happy to be feeling better again and not being hit by the spasms. I was happy to see Plu, who was taking photos out in the middle of nowhere and offered some great words of encouragement. Caught up with 2pennys as we headed down towards the Deviation and was starting to move quite well. Then the cramps that had been threatening at the start of the Black Range hit me simultaneously in both quads. My estimate up to this point was 5:45. This went out the window as the new goal was just to get to the finish. It then became a very painful mind game as I did what I felt I had to do to just keep moving forward. I was happy to get to the Caves Rd crossing as I knew that was the last of the climbs. I was happy to be winning the mind games with my legs at this point and continued to move forward, even managing to overtake a couple of runners on the single trail. Then came the whole new meaning of pain as I negotiated the steep downhill single file goat track. Every step was like somebody digging a knife into my quads. I just blocked out the pain by telling myself that it would all be over soon and forgotten once I got to the finish. It was an awesome finish once again, being greeted by the Cool Running Cheer Squad and then being dechipped and having my medal presented to me by Belinda with a time of 5:54. It doesn't get any better than that!
After going for a short run on Friday, we finally accepted the inevitable that Belinda would not run this year. It was a tough decision but the only one we could make as Belinda was not able to run 5 minutes without feeling pain from the calf.
As for my run, it was the toughest day of running I have ever had!
Started off well with no dramas, getting down Nellies Glen without any problems. Headed down with Truckie and Professor. Truckie was talking about the 3 Striders. I thought we were more like the 3 Stooges. On a more serious note, we were striding out well and probably going a bit quick so I backed off. Professor was happy to back off as it was starting to get warm. Got to Megalong Valley when Truckie had enough of our company and took off up Pinnacle Hill. Professor and I decided to walk that bit. As this is the first part where you are really exposed to the weather, we certainly felt how warm it was getting. I mentioned that it wasn't going to be very pleasant on the climb to Mini Mini as that is also very exposed with no shade. Was happy to get to Cox's River in 1:38, which was 8 minutes quicker than last year. Then the climbs started and Professor was very strong hiking them and I just couldn't go with him. I was feeling the heat and noticed the heart rate climbing so I backed off a bit. People were starting to go past me which told me I wasn't doing as well on the climbs as last year. I was happy to see some downhills and flew down them, catching up with Professor at Alum Creek. Went past Virtual and FPT around here as well. Professor then proceeded to pull away from me again on the climb to Pluviometer, never to be seen again. As I was making one of the final climbs to Pluvi, I felt the first spasm in the quads. I knew this wasn't a good sign as they didn't come on until the Deviation last year. Got to Pluviometer in 3:19, which was a minute slower than last year but feeling a lot worse. As I started to run along the Black Range, the spasms in the quads continued so I just backed off and walked. Got to the first aid station on the Black Range, had a couple of drinks and a slice of watermelon and started to feel a bit better. I was then able to start running again but it was a very slow shuffle but I was happy to be feeling better again and not being hit by the spasms. I was happy to see Plu, who was taking photos out in the middle of nowhere and offered some great words of encouragement. Caught up with 2pennys as we headed down towards the Deviation and was starting to move quite well. Then the cramps that had been threatening at the start of the Black Range hit me simultaneously in both quads. My estimate up to this point was 5:45. This went out the window as the new goal was just to get to the finish. It then became a very painful mind game as I did what I felt I had to do to just keep moving forward. I was happy to get to the Caves Rd crossing as I knew that was the last of the climbs. I was happy to be winning the mind games with my legs at this point and continued to move forward, even managing to overtake a couple of runners on the single trail. Then came the whole new meaning of pain as I negotiated the steep downhill single file goat track. Every step was like somebody digging a knife into my quads. I just blocked out the pain by telling myself that it would all be over soon and forgotten once I got to the finish. It was an awesome finish once again, being greeted by the Cool Running Cheer Squad and then being dechipped and having my medal presented to me by Belinda with a time of 5:54. It doesn't get any better than that!
Comments:
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Geeze Horrie. Thats one tough day at the office mate. Any idea of the cause of the quad cramps ? Diet ? Hydration ?
Comisserations to Belinda for not making it to the start.
Comisserations to Belinda for not making it to the start.
Congratulations Horrie on getting through the race. Hope the training partner Belinda returns soon to peak fitness. Cheers.
Wow, what an effort Horrie. Reading this it just goes to show runners are crazy!
What a wonderfully bittersweet moment that must have been having Belinda present your medal - it almost brings a tear to my eye thinking about it.
What a wonderfully bittersweet moment that must have been having Belinda present your medal - it almost brings a tear to my eye thinking about it.
Well done Horrie, more than a tough day at the office but hey as you say, if it was easy anyone can do it!
Great to catch up with you guys over the weekend, I do agree that Belinda made the right decision but it was great to see her being so involved in helping when I am sure she would had rather been running.
Great to catch up with you guys over the weekend, I do agree that Belinda made the right decision but it was great to see her being so involved in helping when I am sure she would had rather been running.
Great to see you finished Horrie. It is an incredible feat to get through that on any day but in the time you did and in the pain you were in...truly amazing. You must have this motto that all runs have to be painful or lifethreatening.
And how wonderful to hear you comment about the finish. Even through all of what you had just endured you finished off on a truly positive note about receiving your medal from Belinda and seeing all the CR crew.
I really have to get to Six Foot one day, even if only as a witness to all this glory. :)
Belinda,
So good of you to be there supporting Horrie. Just thing how much stronger you are going to be with all this six foot training you have done. I guess you will be able to just walk through Canberra with a breeze heh? Hope the leg is healing nicely.
Sounds like perfect timing for some R&R for you both this week!
And how wonderful to hear you comment about the finish. Even through all of what you had just endured you finished off on a truly positive note about receiving your medal from Belinda and seeing all the CR crew.
I really have to get to Six Foot one day, even if only as a witness to all this glory. :)
Belinda,
So good of you to be there supporting Horrie. Just thing how much stronger you are going to be with all this six foot training you have done. I guess you will be able to just walk through Canberra with a breeze heh? Hope the leg is healing nicely.
Sounds like perfect timing for some R&R for you both this week!
Horrie, I felt every bit of your quad pain...brings back fairly recent memories of another 6foot track! You did brilliantly & I was so sorry that Belinda didn't make it....I've a good idea of what that feels like too - injured almost too late!
Hugs to both of you & see you (both?) in Canberra.
Hugs to both of you & see you (both?) in Canberra.
Horrie... gutsy effort mate! I loved seeing you hoon down that final bit of the track! B... what more can I say! I thought you out shone yourself on Saturday. You were composed in your decision and then had the grace to hand out the nedals for something you had put your heart into! I took a lot away from that :-)
Gutsy effort Horrie - I witnessed the discomfort you were going through but I knew you would make it and I was also confident that you would beat me on corrected times and you did - well done mate ;-)
Belinda - I feel truly honoured to have received my race medal from you - I reckon that was about the gutsiest effort I saw all day - you are grace personified.
Pity they don't give out a gutsiest couple award - I reckon it would be residing on a particular mantlepiece in Little Bay ;-)
Belinda - I feel truly honoured to have received my race medal from you - I reckon that was about the gutsiest effort I saw all day - you are grace personified.
Pity they don't give out a gutsiest couple award - I reckon it would be residing on a particular mantlepiece in Little Bay ;-)
Horrie, it was a tough day for a lot of people out there but you got yourself another finisher's medal, well done mate. Look forward to running some longer stuff with you this year.
Belinda, you and AK did a great job at the finish line, you must of reeked handling all those sweaty runners.
Sorry you couldn't make the start line this year but I'm sure all the training you've been doing won't go to waste.
Belinda, you and AK did a great job at the finish line, you must of reeked handling all those sweaty runners.
Sorry you couldn't make the start line this year but I'm sure all the training you've been doing won't go to waste.
Commiserations Belinda. You'll be surprised how quickly this next year passes. Now qualified to enter 6', you'll be in with a show for years to come.
Congratulations Horrie on toughing it out, and helping pull through a few others on the way. Very inclusive.
Congratulations Horrie on toughing it out, and helping pull through a few others on the way. Very inclusive.
Horrie, your gutsy effort is awe inspiring. I know at the time you wish there was some magic potion that take those spasms away but your grit and determination to endure and then succeed truly reveals more of the man than any finishing time ever could.
I look forward to running with you and Belinda, who will be chafing at the bit by then, in Canberra.
I look forward to running with you and Belinda, who will be chafing at the bit by then, in Canberra.
You did it tough Horrie. Many in our group from Canberra also suffered with leg cramps. Might have to investigate the magnesium supplement theory.
Not long until Canberra. 50k in 7 hours will seem easy after 6 foot!
Once again, I'm sorry Belinda didn't make it. Next year!
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Not long until Canberra. 50k in 7 hours will seem easy after 6 foot!
Once again, I'm sorry Belinda didn't make it. Next year!
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