Last Big Run Before Bruny

Yesterday's long run of 50k was rescheduled for today as we spent yesterday travelling from Mt Magnet to Jurien Bay, where the temperatures are often 10 degrees cooler. So I was rather pleased that I could run here rather than at Mt Magnet. However, last night I started to get a bit apprehensive about such a long run. I know that I have completed two marathon distance runs, along with a couple of aborted attempts. However, this was going to be an extra 8k on top of that. To make matters worse, I didn't sleep too well last night. Both hips were a bit sore for some reason so sleeping on my side, which is my preferred position, was rather uncomfortable. Having been awake for a while I got up at 4.40 am and helped myself to two bowls of Nutra Grain and then three mugs of tea. During the time I was up and getting myself ready it rained twice, but the heaviest fall was expected later in the morning when I would be on the track. As usual I loaded up my Salomon with two litres of water (bore water at that), 1 litre of Staminade, 10 gels and numerous jellies.

I would be running the Turquoise Way Path that wanders 12k south and 1.5k north from the jetty. I decided that I would run north to start (there are three toilets in the general area if I needed one) and then a double run over the southern pathway. I settled into a comfortable pace, which was, by the way, faster than I wanted to run. But that seems to be usual for me. I start faster than my ability to maintain that pace. I was running on bitumen which was good in that I wouldn't have to worry about my feet slipping on loose gravel, as was the case in so much of my running at Mt Magnet. However, by the end of my run both heels were a bit sore. At the end of the northern section I did a U-turn and started on my way back with the coastal scrub on my right concealing the beautiful coastline that I would follow for the basic entirety of today's run. Before I arrived back at the start I was able to pop into the toilet - three mugs of tea does affect this old man's bladder.

I hadn't gone far along the southern section when I spotted a stumpy-tailed lizard on the path licking up water from this morning's earlier rain. There were clouds around but no rain at the moment. That was expected at about 8.00 am. As I continued to plod southwards, maintaining an easy pace I started to forget about trying to keep it down to around 7:00/k. That seemed, at this stage, just too slow and it felt far easier to run at the pace I was at, even if it was a bit up and down at times.

After 9k I reached what the map described as a steep section of the track, though I didn't find it steep at all in comparison to what I have been running in other places. But steep, as I found out later, is relative to what one has already completed and how the legs are feeling. Anyway, I sailed up and over the hills as the track ran through sand dunes some of which were covered with scrub while there were also patches of sand in classic dune shape.

I had continued to delight in the sounds of the birds darting here and there, as well as a hairy centipede and may other insects crawling along the track. In all I spotted three stumpy-tailed lizards, two of which were sunning themselves on the path, making a great invitation to any raptor that might be overhead. They were great company. All the time I kept an eye out, as best I could from under the brim of my Legionnaire's cap, for any slithery snake who might just be crossing in front of me. But there were none to be seen. But there was one amazing sight. Most long competitive runs have sweepers, sometimes carrying a broom, whose role is to pull people out of the race if they are going too slowly to make the distance within the cutoff time. Ahead of me, working his way up the hill, was a sweeper who was literally sweeping debris from off the path. So I was able to pass The Sweeper. 😃 A little bit later, at the 13k mark I felt a few drops of rain, but it didn't last. Even though the temperature wasn't expected to get above 20 it felt quite hot, so rain would have brought me a welcome relief - even more of a relief than the cooling headwinds, which impeded my progress.

Towards the end of the outward 12k, during which I had faced headwinds of varying strength, I came to the river, blocked by the beach, that was a welcome sight. And while I hadn't stopped to read all of them, there were numerous signs about the history of the place - the history of the aboriginal people and the early Europeans who forever changed the landscape as they sought to bring it under their control. There were also many shelter sheds put up so people could pause for refreshments of whatever sort they had brought with them. Then the track ended at another shelter shed, which I ran around and began the 12k back to the start. This time, however, the wind was behind me and helped me on my way.

The next part of the run was fairly uneventful, though I did take a wrong turn towards the end.  With only kilometres left to the turn I looked up and spied lots of sand dunes, but a closer inspection revealed that they were the roofs of houses glistening in the sun. At about 25k there was Val, starting to take photos of me. At this stage I was still running reasonably strongly. I reached the start, having run 27k, turned around and began the last 24k. I had a couple of slow sections as I refilled one of my flexible bottles and then stopped for more sunscreen when I caught up with Val who had brought it with her for me to reapply. Another video of me running to be posted on Facebook was made. By now I was starting to tire a bit but, checking my times, I could see that I was reasonably ahead of my best time for a solo marathon run. How good it would be if I could better that time. So I kept up my pace as best I could.

This time the steep section of the path did feel a bit steeper, but up it I went. At around 36k it began to rain and I appreciated the cooling affect it brought. But it was short-lived, not even being enough to completely cover the path. Oh well. It had obviously skirted around where I was. My legs were feeling the pain as I rounded the shed at the end of the path. I was still on track for a good marathon time so I kept the pace up, not really caring that I would have another 9k to run after finishing the marathon distance. When I hit the magic distance I knew that I had bettered my previous best by somewhere around 20 minutes. But I would have to wait until I arrived back at the cabin to find out by how much I had surpassed that time. I had been feeling nauseous for some time and put it down to the frequent drinking of Staminade, the jellies and gels - my use of gels was a bit of a disaster though. I had initially planned to take one every 5k, but I hadn't been doing so and now that my stomach wasn't feeling too good I had stopped using them. This probably wasn't a good idea as I now began to struggle to maintain any sort of pace as I tired badly. I frequently had to walk up hills. And then when I jogged in between these walking periods my right knee had shooting pains. It became harder and harder to run and, like the Man from Snowy River's pony, I now could scarcely raise a trot. But on I continued for there was no way in which I could pull out as I would still have to get home. So I did the best I could and continued on with very slow kilometres. At least I was getting closer to the end. I knew I would finish, but I also knew that I wouldn't finish well.

And then the doubts arose in my mind. If I was finding this flattish course hard to complete how would I handle Bruny? Maybe it was stupid of me to consider running such a tough course. But as I've already entered I will just have to give it my best shot and if I get disqualified because I'm running too slowly to make the cut-off time of 10 hours, so be it. And why did I even consider entering Gone Nuts 50k in March, just one week after the Derby half marathon I plan to enter? My abilities are nowhere near as good as my dreams. So maybe I should limit myself in the future to shorter runs - like the half marathon distance which I know I can now cover quite easily.

With my legs screaming with each step I took - apart from walking - I passed the 50k mark but there was still 1k left before I crossed the finish line. So I sent Val a message to say that I needed a ginger beer and a coffee. Indeed, I had been hanging out for a coffee for the last 15k or so. Now I could have one. There was Val again, taking another video and shouting out instructions to relax my shoulders - but my back was sore, my shoulders were sore and I just didn't have the energy to keep good form. With the line in sight I upped my pace the best I could. The worst thing I did then was to sit down as I struggled to get up. Sore as I was I still felt far better than I had after the 2017 Derby Half Marathon where I could barely move at all.

Reflections: The last 9k were pretty tough on my body. I must learn to start far more slowly. At Bruny a number of others are also starting at around 4.30 am so hopefully I will have a better starting pace. I know that I have definitely improved over the years and when I recover from today's run I hope to keep on with what I am doing at the moment. I am grateful to my wonderfully supportive wife, Val, and to Ben Brockman who has drawn up my running plan. I've basically been able to keep to it, even with our having had to travel to Mt Magnet for these last five weeks. Oh, an my marathon time was a PR of 29:19. I was pleased with that, but at Bruny that will not be a mark I should even consider.