28/08/09 03:45: It was a very early start, as most event days are, but this time I had to catch a train to the starting line. After wolfing down some cereal and a half a cup of coffee, I rang for a taxi, how long would it take , it was a Friday morning there’d be plenty of taxis, with 15mins left to get to the station, hmmm things were getting tight. It did finally show, and it was an anxious ride down Parramatta road to central station, I had to run the last bit, but made it. I guess that was a way of warming up.
I met my other team mate Nick there, as cool and calm as always, we made ourselves comfortable on the 04:45 service to Newcastle. It would take a little more than 1 hour to reach our destination. Mark joined us at Strathfield and Nikita at Hornsby, so the band was together, and ready to play. All was set for the 2009 OxFam Trailwalker.
It was a perfect morning, clear skies and even better warm. W e had a little under an hour to await, I saw some familiar faces in the crowds, people for my other events, adventure racers, rogainers, summer series runners and friends.
The starter’s pistol rang out at 07:00 and we were away! Now the course was changes at the last moment so I wasn’t expecting the near vertical climb up to the ridge line. Perhaps that was for the best, Nikita’s knee injury from 3 weeks ago, had not really had a chance to heal, do it was under the pump from the get go, and it wasn’t looking good. After a heart pounding 15 minutes were reached the ridge line and the trail flattened out and allowed us to gain a regular heart rate. For the next 8kms we headed of without any real issue, but Nikita’s knee wasn’t getting any better and the rough down hill sections were coming up, so the acid test was on its way.
The first 2 sections cover approximately 30km, these are the hardest of the 100km to walk, and comprise a series of steep descents and ascents, and will expose any weakness your knees or ankles may have. The clear skies we enjoyed in the morning were also our foe later in the day as the temperature rose and rose, more like a summer’s day than winters.
While the terrain was slowing Nikita down, she was still persevering and we were only slightly behind schedule. But by the time she made it into Berowra Checkpoint2 (Georgie, our lovely support team, met us here), her knee had finally given up and she was unhappy to have to withdraw from the even. And then there were 3.
Mark, Nick & myself headed of in the heat of the afternoon, we made good time to Apple Tree Bay CP3, meeting up Georgie, Nikita and Alastair who had joined the support team. As a result of making up some time, Mark had run out of water and was starting to cramp up in the legs. The next section was going to test him, especially with the last climb out of the creek line. We pushed on, and while we were expecting to use our light son this section, we made it out of the bush and onto the streets before it was too dark. It was a little win for us. CP4 was a no support crew stop, but by some coincidence, we managed to find some slat tablets for Mark. :-)
The next section to St Ives Showground was longer than I expected, especially as I hadn’t walked it before. The fire trail and concrete covered section were painful on the feet and it wasn’t till we reached CP5 did Nick realise how much, his feet had suffered from a blister attack on the balls of his feet, and while bravely attempting to do the next section it wasn’t to be. Then there were 2.
The journey to CP6 was a quiet one for Mark and I, each of our managing our pain, to get us through to the next section. We finally emerged to our support crew which now numbered 4 as Peter had joined. Nick was on his way home.
And then there were 2.
We now had to find a new team to join to see us through to the end. This brought us in contact with team 188, "Comfortably Numb", a group of school mates that decided to do the OxFam walk as part of a 30yr celebration. Go figure? They were a great bunch, and I think we joining them was as good for there moral as for our moral. While a trudge, it was familiar trail for me, so I was feeling comfortable again, and were within 500mtrs when the rain started to fall. Fortunately, we were able to make it to the tent and heaters without getting too wet. By now, stopping was inviting, was also a trap, the longer I sat the worse I felt. So for me movent was the key.
The section between CP7 and CP8 is one I have never liked, and while I was physically, up for it, it just does my head in. The group worked it’s was through, and felt like it was making good progress. The trail took us past Bantry Bay which is a place I’ve kayaked to plenty of time, and a beautiful spot. But at 4AM it was losing a bit of it’s lustre.. haha, especially the last pinch climb up the plateau. There was a section that they actually had a rope needed!
CP8 was a welcome sight, it brought with it knowledge that there was only 11 km’s left to our 100km journey, but it was also a relatively easy stretch, with the majority covered by roads and street paths. While tired my spirits rose with every step closer to the finish line. Thoughts of next year had already started to permeate my thoughts, did I really want to put myself through this again or was this year it! Like all major events finishing stir my emotional side, the achievement, the effort and determination required to finish and the friends (team mates and support) that come on the journey with you.
24hr40min clicked over as we passed the finish line. It was done, let the recovery begin.
To my fellow team mates, Mark, Nikita & Nick thank you. To our support crew, Georgie, Al & Peter we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank You!.
I met my other team mate Nick there, as cool and calm as always, we made ourselves comfortable on the 04:45 service to Newcastle. It would take a little more than 1 hour to reach our destination. Mark joined us at Strathfield and Nikita at Hornsby, so the band was together, and ready to play. All was set for the 2009 OxFam Trailwalker.
It was a perfect morning, clear skies and even better warm. W e had a little under an hour to await, I saw some familiar faces in the crowds, people for my other events, adventure racers, rogainers, summer series runners and friends.
The starter’s pistol rang out at 07:00 and we were away! Now the course was changes at the last moment so I wasn’t expecting the near vertical climb up to the ridge line. Perhaps that was for the best, Nikita’s knee injury from 3 weeks ago, had not really had a chance to heal, do it was under the pump from the get go, and it wasn’t looking good. After a heart pounding 15 minutes were reached the ridge line and the trail flattened out and allowed us to gain a regular heart rate. For the next 8kms we headed of without any real issue, but Nikita’s knee wasn’t getting any better and the rough down hill sections were coming up, so the acid test was on its way.
The first 2 sections cover approximately 30km, these are the hardest of the 100km to walk, and comprise a series of steep descents and ascents, and will expose any weakness your knees or ankles may have. The clear skies we enjoyed in the morning were also our foe later in the day as the temperature rose and rose, more like a summer’s day than winters.
While the terrain was slowing Nikita down, she was still persevering and we were only slightly behind schedule. But by the time she made it into Berowra Checkpoint2 (Georgie, our lovely support team, met us here), her knee had finally given up and she was unhappy to have to withdraw from the even. And then there were 3.
Mark, Nick & myself headed of in the heat of the afternoon, we made good time to Apple Tree Bay CP3, meeting up Georgie, Nikita and Alastair who had joined the support team. As a result of making up some time, Mark had run out of water and was starting to cramp up in the legs. The next section was going to test him, especially with the last climb out of the creek line. We pushed on, and while we were expecting to use our light son this section, we made it out of the bush and onto the streets before it was too dark. It was a little win for us. CP4 was a no support crew stop, but by some coincidence, we managed to find some slat tablets for Mark. :-)
The next section to St Ives Showground was longer than I expected, especially as I hadn’t walked it before. The fire trail and concrete covered section were painful on the feet and it wasn’t till we reached CP5 did Nick realise how much, his feet had suffered from a blister attack on the balls of his feet, and while bravely attempting to do the next section it wasn’t to be. Then there were 2.
The journey to CP6 was a quiet one for Mark and I, each of our managing our pain, to get us through to the next section. We finally emerged to our support crew which now numbered 4 as Peter had joined. Nick was on his way home.
And then there were 2.
We now had to find a new team to join to see us through to the end. This brought us in contact with team 188, "Comfortably Numb", a group of school mates that decided to do the OxFam walk as part of a 30yr celebration. Go figure? They were a great bunch, and I think we joining them was as good for there moral as for our moral. While a trudge, it was familiar trail for me, so I was feeling comfortable again, and were within 500mtrs when the rain started to fall. Fortunately, we were able to make it to the tent and heaters without getting too wet. By now, stopping was inviting, was also a trap, the longer I sat the worse I felt. So for me movent was the key.
The section between CP7 and CP8 is one I have never liked, and while I was physically, up for it, it just does my head in. The group worked it’s was through, and felt like it was making good progress. The trail took us past Bantry Bay which is a place I’ve kayaked to plenty of time, and a beautiful spot. But at 4AM it was losing a bit of it’s lustre.. haha, especially the last pinch climb up the plateau. There was a section that they actually had a rope needed!
CP8 was a welcome sight, it brought with it knowledge that there was only 11 km’s left to our 100km journey, but it was also a relatively easy stretch, with the majority covered by roads and street paths. While tired my spirits rose with every step closer to the finish line. Thoughts of next year had already started to permeate my thoughts, did I really want to put myself through this again or was this year it! Like all major events finishing stir my emotional side, the achievement, the effort and determination required to finish and the friends (team mates and support) that come on the journey with you.
24hr40min clicked over as we passed the finish line. It was done, let the recovery begin.
To my fellow team mates, Mark, Nikita & Nick thank you. To our support crew, Georgie, Al & Peter we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank You!.
