Training Log Archive: robw

Event: The North Face 100
 

North face 100k

Grant and I have been talking about doing this race for over a year and this is really what got me to start doing some training again.

Despite doing bogong to hotham earlier in the year and some good recent long runs - 40k - I was quite uncertain about what the race would be like and was pretty nervous - although not as bad as b2h. In the end I was right to be nervous as it was very tough.

I started near grant and we settled into a comfortable early pace with plenty of people ahead of us whom we began to pass as soon as it hit singltrack. The first 18k is really technical apart from a few hilly kms on the streets through leura. I wanted to stay with grant for company but he was setting a pace that I thought was bordering on too fast particularly downhill. Anyway I stuck with him and we did the first 18k in around 1.43 I think which shows how rocky and how many stairs there was. This section ws great fun with some awesome views when you could spare a second to take your eyes off the track.

We both filled up with water at the first aid station at 18k and headed of together on the next stage of 20k down narrowneck down the massive ladders, through some cool singletrack and then back onto firetrail. This was my best section of the race, it felt very easy to run and grant and I were chatting away. I was eating and drinking a lot and generally confident in fact i almost felt like i was waiting for grant on this section. We both filled up with water and grabbed a hot x bun before heading up onto iron pot ridge for the 3rd stage from 38 to 54k.

The first half of this felt good, it was fun singletrack out and back along a rocky ridge and we got a glimpse of 4th to maybe 9th maybe 6 or 7 min in front of us. Coming off the ridge was virtually terrain running down a very steep hill. I felt like we were pushing a bit to fast but it was hard not to it was so steep. I got a bit of a gap on grant shortly after this but immediately felt terrible and he came straight back past me. This was followed by a long slog along megalong rd, I had caught back up to grant and although I didnt say it I was just thinking where I would pull out. I coulnt imagine finishing at that stage and just made the goal to get to the next check point. When we finally did it was so nice to see al shannon and the kids and it really lifted my spirits. This was the only aid station where I didn't refill the bladder I just grabbed a powerade ate some chips and got a few more gels since the next aid station was only 11k on at 65k.

This next stage went quickly, I passed a kiwi guy, also called grant, and was expecting grant b to do the same and come up to me but when I looked back they were nowhere to be seen so I pushed on up the hill - up nellies glen where 6ft track starts. I ran most of this at a good pace, under 6min km, until the stairs began which I mostly walked. After this it was rough singltrack through to katoomba where I really struggled. Coming into katoomba I saw John and Duncan from work which gave me another good boost. Unfortunately it didn't get me going any faster as I was passed by Mick donges just before we got the aid station. Seeing him cruise by wasn't great for morale and as soon as I got to the aid station I told al never to let me enter another race like this again. Looking back somewhere on this stage I must have realized I could get to the finish because I was no longer thinking about pulling out but more stealing myself for survival. I downed another powerade, ate some chips and in that time al and shan had refilled the bladder and added the extra compulsory gear plus some food. In fact they were so efficient I was back out ahead of Mick as well as Andy lee who was also stopped at the aid station and not looking good.

This next stage is the longest at 24k (up to 89k total) and I figured if I could get through this the I would be able to get to the finish. Mick came past me again shortly after getting going again but I was passing a lot of tourists which took my mind off running a bit esp as it was pretty narrow singltrack and stairs for a lot of this including the massive drop down the stairs to the 3 sisters. After this it was basically a massive drop follies by a massive climb on fire trail (700m). I had bad blisters by this stage and the downhill was killing me, I was going really slowly and kiwi grant came flying back past me. In the end I decided to just run faster and bear the pain but after a few hundred meters I would slow down and would have to mentally force myself to speed up again. Going up the other side was much better and I was in a good rythm until shortly before the top where I really hit a low patch. It was a lot steeper here and I felt dizzy and needed to walk for big sections. I ate a powerbar instead of gels and this picked me up enough to get going for the last few km to the checkpoint. It was great to see al and Shannon here and I went through the same chips and drink routine and stuck on the ay ups for when it got dark.

At this point I think I was in a bit of a zone where I just wanted to get to the finish. I don't really remember talking to al and Shannon at the aid station. I do remember it taking an eternity to get to the 90k mark though esp as I felt like I was running ok on a sealed road. Not long after the track turned to rough singltrack again and went past some really cool waterfalls. I was convinced I had missed the 95 km marker and was dismayed when I finally came to it 40min after the 90k. This was my slowest 5 k of the race on really tough track. It was a great boost to see a km marker at 96k less than 6 min later both since the speed had picked up and for the first time there was a marker every k. I really felt like I was close to the end at this stage and with the lights I think I actually enjoyed these last few km. 97 was another fast km and then the next two were really tough both taking close to 10min. I had 11hrs as the goal to beat with 1k and 10min to go. In the end I finished in 10.55 which I would have settled for at the start even though the pacing along the way was mire aimed at 10hrs. I think half way was 4.50 and even at 65k I think I was pretty close to 6min km.

This was an awesomely organised race, great work Tom Alina, Dave and all the other aroc dudes. If anyone out there needs to get rid of a few toenails or wants an experience they'll never forget I'd recommend this race. It's hard to describe why you would do a race like this but the feeling of satisfaction at getting through something really outside your comfort zone is pretty special and the closest I can get.

C • I will take your word for it 26

C • Great work Robster! And... 2

Jog home from work.

Run from uni to home after dropping the kids off and before work. chilly. Feeling ok after a few days off, not long to go now...

C • Gel count? 5