An Aussie running across France

A very short update as really i feel i should be asleep as i type this (now re edited using notes i wrote at the time and lengthened, original was longer and more rambling - ie typical me however Blogger went down when i entered it):
Day 7: Run through wineries and cornfields as well as passing a big wine bottle made of bottles: 7th in 6:02, very flat which meant i found it hard to run. Certainly the day i found the value of frozen vegetables. Having two incredibly sore knees, and not much ice around decided the local supermarket was the place to be, probably the best value i've ever got for 1.31 Euros was a kilo bag of frozen chips (certainly they aren't called "French Fries" here), place wasn't big enough for frozen peas or beans (which in theory would have covered the knees more thoroughly and worked better) but after 3 hours lying down with them was not complaining reckon i had a new set of knees and certainly the next day proved their worth.
That night we had Mayoral Drinks at the town hall which is in the remains of the 15th century "Castle Chateau de Monts", our race director was given a local award (something similar to the Key to the City is how i would best explain it), and we tasted some of the local wines and then off to "Le Cheval Blanc" (even i know enough French to get that one "The White Horse") for dinner (sooner or later i will get used to 3 course meals the body will wonder what's happened when i'm back home and one course only).
Day 8: 8th in 6:37:01, finish in lovely historic town Angles-Sur-l'Anglin, shame the last few hundred metres are all downhill though, river (with walks listed of up to 300 K's) is just down the road so i spend afternoon cooling legs in river, unfortunately town appears to mean no supermarche so it's river instead of frozen vegetables. Very new gym, however the downside being that there are no showers only a hose !.
It was a free night meal wise and the only restaurant with a full menu that night knew we weren't going anywhere else, so some of the slowest service i've ever known (thankfully being a bit late there meant i didn't get as bad as some of the earlier people).
Day 9: The day from hell, i've never had shin splints before till today and did they hit me 9:24 in 24th place no idea how i'd last the next day. Really can't add much to this one, at the 40K mark my legs suddenly didn't feel they were my own and when i hit the next drink stop felt as though they had been "possessed", at that point was running around 13th, but the next two stops saw me being passed by groups of 5 or 6 each time and i could do nothing about it. We were all supposed to be looking happy at the 54 K point (half way point of the race), but i'm sure that the picture taken did show no joy what so ever (yeah i could see the end - not 575 K's away more like 5K's !).
Only positive was last drink stop (60K's) was passed by another group of 5 and couldn't do anything but keep them in sight, however with the city in sight and spurred on by the fact a couple now had their crew pacing them in (all within the rules but it's little things like that fire me up), caught 2 in the last K. No idea about our finishing town "St-Sulpice-les-Feuilles" as i spent most of the night worrying just how i could physically stand up and run the next day.
Day 10: One of those days, having spent most of the night wondering how i would actually be able to run the next day, was woken to hear rain (anything else to make it more miserable ???), realised early on that running wasn't an option (if i could describe the feeling of shin splints i would but frankly it was sort of an out of body experience). Knew things were not looking good when i was passed by Malou and Jim to slip into last overall at 25K's, however after that the persistent rain appeared to have a painkilling (numbing at least) effect and firstly found i could walk faster and then having passed a few found if i totally ignored pain (the brain does strange things) i could run finished 22nd in 8:23 but who knows how many days like that the body can take ?

Firstly before i forget for people wishing to read a more detailed description of the race rather than my ramblings there is an English translation from the official website here

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=12400

I'd admit i had been a little worried since the last entry as after a walk around the Chateubriant castle and wander back i had felt a little swelling in my knee, i was thankful that i'd got the Voltaren but i was worried just what effect this would have in the long term racewise.
Had spag bol done the local restaurant with the crew of legendary US Ultra Runner Don Winkley (who has not only done this race every time but also Trans America and numerous other races and is off to Spartathlon again after this), i was very worried when feeling very sore just walking 500 metres back so things didn't bode well for the next 69K stage i'd pretty much decided to take it easy and not bash myself around further that day.
Life had settled into a comfortable rhythm bed at 9PM (although the fact the sun doesn't go down for another hour ? makes instant sleep problematical), and then lights on at 5AM and then off to the start at 6:15 (if going by van) in between having breakfast and a never ending battle to close my suitcase (not buying stuff just seem to be packing worse at this rate i'll need an extra couple of suitcases by day 18 !).
Off to the start not particularly optimistic, this time in my 'MiAdidas' shoes so four brands used in 5 days (any shoe sponsors out there ?), as all i wanted was to be comfortable and speed wasn't an issue.
No rain, and pleasant conditions early on, we appeared to be in cattle country (obviously the local cows do not understand English as feeling tired i stopped near a fence and a herd moved towards me when i said 'who wants to go to dinner tonight you can be the steak' they moved closer). The further the day went on the warmer it got and me slower, only time i was making ground was on my old sparring partner Pierre-Michell at 36 K's and again he passed me at the 40 K drink station when i changed into a running singlet as well as Legionairres Cap, all this seemed to do was make me slower.
By the time i hit 52KM drink station i had been repassed by Pierre (i assumed he was in front of me but he'd done the wise thing and stopped for a cold drink in one of the numerous pretty little villages we passed through) and it would have hit 30 degrees, i was stuffed finally decided to have my powerbar (which i'd been carrying for 5 days) to see if that would help but the weather meant the usual cold coke was not overly cold (or refreshing). While struggling with the Powerbar i was passed by 4 runners including Don and first woman Selina, but was in no condition to chase. At least there was a lot of scenery, a big piggery (massive pigs with big litters of piglets) and just down the road a deer farm (massive antlers on one - certainly wasn't thinking venison in his presence).
Very much a long haul to the last drink station and another 4 pass me, this at least fires me up a little struggle to stay on as 5th in the pack of 5 but sight of straight last 2K's into town (and 2 of them being paced by crew gets me going) and i pass 2 so 17TH in 8:21:05 which knocks me down to 9th overall. Too tired to say much about that night, in van to Hall and try to rest but knee is very sore, we had some very nice local wine and another feast but really all i want to do is rest and see if i can survive the nice short day 5.
Wake up a couple of times during the night with knee aching (and too hot for sleeping bag or wearing 'Skins' so it's more Voltaren not looking good.
Back to wearing racing flats (simply for less weight) and we are off again, run over three really nice bridges and then turn around and head into the wineries, knee sore but able to move well.
Next problem i stop and then can hardly move again the knee, very tight very sore, however after 1K it feels better so give chase again, beautiful scenery wineries everywhere as well as sunflowers, right till the next stop and same problem knee just need to warm up (a worry in the future).
Run well following Tahitian till the last drink station, big round about and then the biggest pumpkin patch i've ever seen and then 3K sprint to the finish, pass Patrick (try to ignore my knee) and follow another runner in for 6th place in 5:10:20 with the winner in 4:52. Totally stuffed and somewhat worried what the knee will do tomorrow still it's another shortish one so nothing moire to do than enjoy Doue La Fontaine;

Here i am in a net cafe in Chateaubriand (picture above), my sort of town went for an ice cream and asked did i want a beer with it ?.
Been an interesting couple of days, rained sporadically the second night (big storm at 2 woke me) and i was worried about the day ahead, body was good but at no point had my stomach been quite right (possibly something to do with running in bike shorts as well as sleeping in Skins and having a camelbak across my stomach), certainly an interesting start to the day as they put us into the back of the vans - just like people smuggling with ten in the back - to take us to the start from the Sports Hall (it was only 2Ks out of town but every time i'd left to go to the Supermarket the heavens had opened up and i'd spent time in bus shelters).
A clear morning was awaiting us finally a decent looking day, still wearing bike shorts (with speedos underneath) and my Coolrunning Tri Top with my ASICS DS Racer 7 flats so same as the day before, as well as the larger camelbak still worried about rain so carried a jacket, nice run out of town and then bit of a shock as i was chasing only the race leader Sebastian, beautiful country side with some crop - corn i think, and lovely villages every 10K's or so, first time i'd really put on a 'race face' here, instead of my normal 5 minute feast i was arriving just after the leader and standing and drinking and ignoring him (and letting him leave earlier so that i could chase again), was really enjoying the sunny (25 degree day) and this happened for the first 51 K's.
In the meandering streets of the village after this stop he had gone out of sight (too many corners) and i was happy to race organiser JB and to be told we had only 18 K's of trail (disused railway without tracks) to go. Here i spotted my first ever wild Squirrel and i'll admit to be excited although i still could not see Sebastian, now with 3 or 4 K's to go my first ever navigational error here, we had been told the trail was straight the whole way, however you could not ignore an arrow facing left, so i took it, hitting the highway into town i knew this was wrong but with only a K to go couldn't do anything about it. Apparently the race leader (and stage winner) also took this turn and informed JB who then went and fixed it (these arrows had been put in a month before), so apparently we had both run an extra 500 metres so we had 4 minutes taken off our time so his time was 7:01:30 less 4 and mine 7:11:24 less 4 certainly never expected a podium finish.
Then driven to the sports hall absolutely stoked, especially when i saw a supermarket within easy walking distance. The local Aldi (Lidi here) was like a treasure trove with cold drinks and chocolate and i also bought some cereal as i wondered whether the lack of milk was doing my stomach harm, also bought another pair of bike shorts as i only had one and thought more may be needed (looked in the same sports shop for another pair of racing flats but none my size - small feet in France ?).
At night we were treated like royalty by the mayor of Guer, lovely wine, very nice casserole type thing with little spuds and carrots.
Off to bed and again the rain raised it's head (now i know how Brittany is so green), again we were put in the back of trucks to the start.
We were 2 runners short, one having dropped out yesterday and another off for a wedding (and rejoin us tomorrow).
Well a day very unlike yesterday, miserable wet drizzly weather the first 3 hours (20 odd K's), meant i never got going seemed to be spent from yesterday and couldn't get into it at all.
On the wildlife front saw my first ever wild badger (unfortunately as roadkill) but that was the only highlight straight roads meant i could see other runners getting away from me.
This continued till 50K's when to add insult to injury i realised that the chocolate and singlet i'd put out must have been at the one before (not at all happy but as the people at the drink stations were so friendly and welcoming i resisted a dummyspit which i sorely wanted).
At least now the sun was out and at 51K was finally fired up when first woman Selina from England, casually cruised past and said 'bonjour' powered past her after that (and as her husband said later ran like a man possessed the last 17 K's), certainly the way to get me going !!!.
Was flagging a little at the next drink stop (9K's to go) as frankly i'm not one to be passed by a woman (specially a Pom speaking French to me !), and was happy to sit down (didn't think i looked as bad that a funeral possesion of a couple of dozen cars was needed though - that came through as i was sitting).
After that the heavens opened up again but for a change it was good as i had sweated heavily and needed freshing up, was even better when i saw my nemesis of days 1 & 2 Pierre-Michell in front of me, picked him off and then Jacques another 500 metres ahead with the impressive 'Chateubriand' in sight, long way to it though and i was worried i had nothing left, but finally there in 7:21 in 10th place with the winner in 6:22 really just happy to finish (at this time have no idea of overall placing having probably slipped from last nights 7th).

After that rather dire last email, all is somewhat better. Was sick of Paris weather (very much like Melbourne back in the days it rained) and back was giving me hell. Anyway Monday off to Montparnasee (the main railway station) and the train to Roscoff. 4 Hours of intermittent rain later we get to Morlaix and the smaller train to Roscoff, catch up with 3 other Trans Gaule runners locals Xavier & Bernard and Jim from the US (a 23:38 Western States runner and one we will see next year as he has missed the ballot the last two years), off to the Sports Hall and a night of rest, after a wander around town (and for me fish and chips), very nice little fishing village (noted for it's healthgiving seaweed), above is a picture of the town taken from off the pier, i'm just hiding the start line in the distance.
Next morning i have a osteopath arranged, know the exact problem being where my spine and rib cage join.
Of course it is hard to explain the problem when i speak English and he French but eventually it's sorted.
That night it is dinner with all the runners at a very nice restaurant, as well as some very nice red wine (sort of enough to make me forget that a 26 minute phonecall to Australia cost me 35 Euros ! will i never learn).
Next morning after a restless nights sleep it's a 5AM breakfast then a 15 minute walk to the startline, first big mistake after presenting the runners individually to the mayor i am freezing by the start (and non competitive first 6Ks) at 8:30.
Funny enough i am first for that run to St Pol Leon so it means i must wait longest and 9:05 we start with 15 degree temp, sporadically it rains and then gets cold, and i question my running singlet and also the rather chafing running shorts. Spend the last 13 K's running with a local girl who speaks good English and am happy with 6:28 for the 62 K's overall 9th with the winner 5:40, very tired but thankful to be in before the next downpour, last runners in 9:10, we had dinner in a veritable feast, salad, pasta but a dodgy gut means i stay from the wine. Off to bed at 9.
At 3 am awoken by pouring rain, though thankfully this has eased by 5 when we get up for breakfast, use a larger camelbak as it looks like rain and also bike shorts as very badly chafed and this time racing flats not happy yesterday with cushioned Brooks Trance 6.
Finally at 6:30 we begin, feel good until it rains again and very thankful to see drink station with coke and coffee and veritable banquet at 15k's, again it rains and gets cold and am happy at 40K when Pierre-Michel (who beat me by 2 minutes yesterday) suggests we run and walk together for a while. Have a feast at 52 K's and then the heavens open up, put coat on and finally finish in 7:06 11th place and behind the winner in just under 6 hours.
3K lift to our accommodation and i see this pub with the net so walk back (and have a couple of Heinekens while typing), in all pretty happy but now for a long day tomorrow

Been an interesting couple of days since i last updated my blog, check out of the hotel in Nice on the 10th just as my luggage was coming in (okay i was happy to see it but on the other hand needed it at that time like a hole in the head). Caught up with Coolrunner Under Cover Brother (David) as the picture shows (it's meant to be two Coolrunners in Nice but it's a hotel room and could be anywhere - so just trust me it's Nice !!) and then off to the airport by bus.
As i said the luggage would have been much better off still in Paris, as bus came to a sudden halt and me holding onto the luggage managed to get pulled over by somebody elses luggage straining that delicate thing known as my back. Uneventful flight to Paris (looking at CNN after i was very thankful it was Paris not England) and even got a ham baquette and 250 ml white wine on the trip. At least the baggage was waiting for me at the end this time, using public transport to my hotel was interesting to say the least and probably stuffed my back further.
Am at the far side of Paris in an area called Porte De Bagnolet straight above the metro.
First difference from Nice is the temperature was 17 at 6PM when i got there and i was rather cold, but on the positive side i can now see how expensive it was there, probably why the local supermarket brand name is 'Casino' you could lose your shirt at there prices, 0.30 € for 1.5 litre soft drink as opposed to 0.90 there, bananas 1.20 per kg (yeah could make a fortune smuggling them home) and 440 ML beer only 0.50 (even Fosters only 0.99 but no i'm not that desperate).
Knew sooner or later my looking the wrong way (to me) for traffic would get me into trouble and almost got bowled over by a motor scooter (he was in the wrong as i was crossing with green pedestrian probably for the first time this trip) no idea what he said but i'd get this blog censored if i repeated my comments which he probably didn't understand. A bit shaken and the back probably a bit more strained.
Anyway spent most of yesterday (Friday) doing the tourist sights, the Louvre (massive queue like HK airport) but incredible place, museum (funny thing is there is a zoo there and sure enough first animals i see are kangaroos), arc d'triomphe and various others plenty of pictures caught bus past Eiffel tower and will get there today.
After something like 8 hours on my feet fairly tired, but good training for run though i wish i'd put jumper on as cold seems to have made back even worse, i'd be honest and say that even 200ml duty free bottle of Bundy couldn't put me to sleep as back was that bad not a good sign.
So here we are right up to date, was up early (as back too sore to sleep) big breakfast and then i thought i'd go for a walk to ring race director to organise chiropractor (had rung last night on mobile and kept on getting message in French about being on wrong network - totally confused).
Of course 7:30 no shops open, 14 degrees (according to ever present chemists - i have never seen so many chemist shops in my life, that and the fact that every street corner has a condom vending machine makes me wonder about the local mindset ?????) and then rain, walk till 9:30 till shops open and here i am now have spoken to race director and will have chiropractor before race begins just hope i can sleep between now and then.
One last problem so far last day in Nice and finally go to atm to get money and it says i can't have any (not like my local Comm bank told me), ring during Aussie banking hours and they say they have to transfer debit card from cheque (which doesn't exist in France to savings) which they can do overnight, borrow some money from UCB just in case it doesn't work (picture myself busking the rest of the trip - only song i know with French in it is Bill Wymans late 70's hit 'Je Suis Un Rockstar - reckon people would pay me to shut up). Good news yesterday tht worked i now have access to money.
One word of warning to anyone who has smsed me from Aussie looks as though it costs a fortune, something like $5 (well that's how much from my end so i think my messages will be few and far between)
Au revoir,
Kelvin

Think i'm slowly going native, get to bed late, get up early (always last in for breakfast that finishes at 9:30). Finally Air France has tracked down where my luggage is: Hong Kong - hope it had a good holiday !, they said it will be back the 10th however as i'm in Paris then i said i'll get it then rather than them probably missing me in Nice. Downside is it meant i couldn't get any pictures from the Stones gig and all the marvellous places i've seen, everywhere i go there is a new beautiful view worthy of photos.

Monday night was the fan get together at the Kings Pub (hoping to receive some pics from there at least), where i really did discover that the Stones are a universal language, fans from everywhere, Finland, England, USA, Italy and of course France and probably other places, can't remember everything :-), great coverband and typically on the dancefloor i was pretty much part of the entertainment, came through uninjured at least but was a great workout (had hit 34 degrees during the day and wasn't much cooler that night).

Thought i had better do some real running yesterday so did Nice to Monte Carlo, incredible views with mountains towering above me on the left and glorious blue sea on the right, was probably quicker than cars the last 5 K's anyway, certainly if you want to see the latest model Rolls Royces and Bentleys etc, Monte Carlo is the place to be, strange compared to the streets of Nice where it's all motor scooters and little cars (Seat's, VW's, Citreons, Renault's Peugots & Fiats). At 1:44 Euros per litre wouldn't want to be filling those big cars. Of course i was hoping to see Mick and the boys strolling around before the nights gig. Bus back to Nice is only every 2 hours so i ran an hour back to a bus stop giving me a total of approx 32K's, meant i had to have a little nap before heading off to the gig. Bus from the train station (tickets said "Bigger Band Tour" they didn't quite get it !) and probably about twice the normal load of a double bus got us there at 8, saw a number of scalpers but they didn't seem to be going too well, although i was happy to buy a scalped bottle of water.

The support act finished around 9:15 and then a hour wait till the Stones (Front of stage tickets meaning no seats so just stand as close as possible so no room to sit down and relax), and although about 20 people back was probably only 10 rows back if we were seated absolute sardines. 10:10 the people with "On Stage seats" get into place so we know the concert will begin, beautiful full moon as a backdrop and then the Bigger Bang Video show and the band comes out the darkness for Jumping Jack Flash from then on it's 100 percent performance from not only the band but from us in the audience (as paper shows 53,000 there who knows how many on the FOS field section felt like way more than that). Hit after hit as well as 3 from the new Album including Streets of Love which they hadn't played in Australia. Superlatives fail me at this point, just lost for adjectives, loved the 10 minute version of Midnight Rambler and Sympathy for the devil straight after the bstage were my standouts and an encore of You Can't always get what you want and Satisfaction only made you want them to never stop (actually technically it was a 2 day gig : started 8/8 finished 12:15AM 9/8).

Organised chaos getting out the the stadium, i think we were all just on a high (only complaint guarantee %90 of the audience smoked ! not good), and eventually back to the convoy of buses finally back to the motel at 2, totally exhausted i'd used every once of adrenalin.

Am taking it easy today and will likely meet up with David (CR Undercover Brother) tomorrow before it's off to Paris in the evening, well acclimatised and all read for the more serious stage of my journey.

Not sure when i will post next, hopefully before we begin the race

Finally i've made it to Nice, incredible saga so far, after walking the length and breadth of Changi Airport finally had a flight scheduled for 10AM, however as this was an extra flight they needed to request permission from flight control at Ho Chi Minh city, we spent four hours in a non air conditioned plane on the tarmac until they finally gave up and said we could not get it and would instead go via Manilla. This finally got us to Hong Kong airport at 7PM, once staff were found they told us to get into a queue and pointed to the far end of the airport, myself and two fellow Victorians going to Rome to join a tour went to that end, well as promised the airline did provide food (one bottle of water and two very light nini cake things !!). Finally after 4 hours we were half way in the queue but at last a stroke of luck the airline was looking for passengers for Paris, so i was plucked out and put on a midnight (and very empty flight), very tasty curry and a Heineken beer was the dinner ( at midnight menu ?????), and with no one next to me i contorted my body over two seats and had a beautiful sleep waking with three hours to go. Thirteen hour flight meant we reached Paris at 6:30 AM local time, then the saga of sorting a new ticket as i was a day late. First out to terminal 2F about a mile away and then Air France about 3 hours later they had issued me a new ticket for 6:15 PM, so 10 hours to kill !. Bus into Paris (Roissybus $8.50) and then grabbing a tourist map walked for hours (unfortunately having read it upside down got it all totally wrong which i should have realised when i could not find the Arc D'Triomphe, not worried as i will spend a few days there later and was just great to get out of airports. Back to the airport at 4 and then the hottest terminal i've ever been in, glass roof on 2F meant it was like a hothouse and was very happy to board at 5:45 meal was one sweet biscuit and a glass of juice (no expense spared) flight was full and i couldn't believe seat in front had one woman with fluffy yappy lapdog and other with young child who screamed his head off when dog yapped, 90 minutes later torture by sound (but glorious scenery !) finished. Half an hour later still at airport filling in forms for lost luggage (all my running gear), and then 9PM bus into Nice and Hotel, you guessed it i got lost, finally make hotel at 10:30 (shame 2 little single beds in room but very nice and sleep).
Lovely nights sleep and not a bit of jetlag and up at 7:30 for free breakfast (what more can i say than i had 2 bananas as well) ate enough for two and then a shower at last. The lost luggage mob gave us a toiletries bag at least however a three day growth and a less than solid razor meant i am now moustacheless (would look stupid with 2/3 mo) hope that doesn't worry people when i use passport. Lovely day 26 degrees expected and lovely blue skies, now all i need is luggage, can't believe the French have non "qwerty" keyboards but now i feel used to it. At least i have my Stones tickets with me and Euros and cards for clothes (but camera in luggage so no pics yet), au revoir till the next time.

When we were informed during the flight that we were being sent to Singapore and would then accommodated in hotel rooms for the night, thought it couldn't be that bad, however since landing at 8:30PM local time, thnk it's dawned on me that hotel translates to "departure lounge floor". Must have walked a few miles at the airport before eventually having a lie down and sleep but was awoken by the tv's springing into life at 7 (not even programs rather some sickly sweet pop music ! certainly the sort of thing that would have made me toss the tv out the nearest window given the opportunity), so have wandered off again to the free internet. 10:45 AM our flight is scheduled to leave for Hong Kong, who knows what from there, still intrigued that they can name an airport after an infamous Prisoner of War camp but then i suppose that however frustating it is here i have it much better than they did in World War II.
Hopefully no more blog updates till i get off a plane in Europe (rather than yet another part of Asia Pacific).

Here i am sitting at a free terminal at Singapore's Changi Airport, not exactly Hong Kong (and no i wasn't providing navigation). Apparently a typhoon has shut down Hong Kong Airport so i'm here tonight who knows where from here. A day of dramas, realise early in the day that my train to the race start is booked for the 15th not the 14th and spend most of the trip to the airport rearranging it, and then hanging around the service desk waiting for the courier to arrive. Had earlier had luggage issues, weighed them this morning and calculated something like 27 Kilos about 7 over, thankfully was only 26.4 (it all fitted in one bag and i swear i didn't pack bricks) and got through without needing to pay excess. Anyway tomorrow the saga continues, however probably not from France !!

Just back from the Warrumbungles 50K, was fortunate enough to get a lift up to Coonabarabran with my truckie mate David Spencer who i'd seen the week before at the Princes Park runand had said he'd be doing the race if he could get a load to Brisbane. So it was certainly a different way to get there, almost felt strange not to be behind a steering wheel and certainly being in a vehicle that size (as above) shows just how bad the roads are.
Pasta Party the Saturday night and it certainly looked as though we were going to be short on numbers compared to previous years, i was given number 1 and David as a late entry was only number 4 in the 50K. Some familiar faces, former Traralgon Harriers now living up in Woodenbong, Penny & Neil Burgess with their family and Melbourne Racewalker Brian Glover and his wife Jackie (if i get the name wrong i aplogise my name retention is very ordinary !!) . Had been a beautiful sunny day and looked like Sunday would be similar.
Not sure of exact details but i think it was a field of six in both the Marathon and the 50K's, quite cool (me in gloves and a Coolrunning Tri Top).
Ran along pretty much by myself until i hit the start of the Half Marathon at the 15 K Mark, and then got some half marathoners to chase. At the 25K mark we deviate from the course of the other events and go up to Siding Springs (up and up and up !), was interested to see the signs at the top "Quiet - Astronomers Sleeping" and really enjoyed the great views (whilst the numbers may have dropped because this was no longer a trail run, this view made up for it).
At the turaround was a little surprised to see that fellow Sydney Strider (and late entry) Chris Graham was only metres behind me. That was the queue to throw myself down the downhill 5K return stretch, saw the rest of the field coming the other way and then it was back to the main road. Was starting to feel real good and by the 40K mark could finally feel my hands so took the gloves off (only to drop them accidentally out the tri-top pocket at 45K's - i was moving too fast to put them in correctly !). Where would a Warrumbungles event be without a wrong turn from me :-( !!, didn't see the fellow at the Ultra turnaround (must have been sitting in his car !), and got to the marathon turnaround and was told i should have turned a mile or so back (won't ruin the "G" rating of this blog by repeating my comments !), and thought i'd thrown away another race. Anyway was directed to the turnaround (fellow from the marathon turn drove to there to check what was happening) and found it was where i had gone wrong two years previously (i'd gone over a bridge and continued on instead of turning), was still fuming and assuming Chris was in front and was very pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case when i hit the line in 4:07:54 (say 53 K's with my wrong turn). Saw second and third come in (thankfully Chris had picked up my gloves - now i can just say i'd "thrown down the gauntlet" to the other runners !)
1.1 KM walk to the showers at the campground was a good warmdown and David had just finished in 5:06 when i was on my way back and sure enough a wrong turn (still don't know how i missed the sign), meant i missed the presentations but did at least get back !!.
A barbequed rissole sandwich and slice of cake and i was ready for the bus back (large bus for 4 people as most others had brought cars down), don't know his name but one Queensland runner had pulled out the marathon around 20K's with his shoulder popping out (apparently a recurring injury) was one of my fellow passengers.
Back to Coona for a bigger feed and a cappucino and bit of a rest before continuing the journey to Brisbane, many hours and many absolute rubbish roads later we got to Brisbane, where i had a flight bck at 9:30 PM. Caught up with family and friends as well as getting some overseas travelling tips and with the flight delayed didn't hit Tulla till 12:05 (so i'd left in July and arrived in August !!). Bus to Spencer Street station meant i didn't hit the city till 1AM and by then just wanted to stretch my legs (and couldn't be bothered catching a taxi) so walked home (quite a mild early morning).
Just received an updated email this morning regarding Trans Gaule and the people involved and it mentions me as a late entry and that i'll be added to the site when the webmaster returns, so ignore it i am actually there (Number 4).
Two more sleeps to go !