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This page last updated: Saturday 20 March 2010
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The Blue Labyrinth - Thomas' Report - 9th December 2000

Race Report

by Thomas Schattovits

Hi Kevin & Sean,

What a great run. Thanks for all the work that went into organizing it. I might have had the advantage of knowing what to expect, but that didn't make it easier. The large vertical distance combined with rough tracks makes for an exquisite mountain run. Congratulations to the two guys who finished the 90 kms!

Personally, I felt quite good throughout the whole run. My trial with the 'crutches' was successful. I will use them again on any run of that calibre (i.e. steep climbs on rough tracks). They rest your knees and quads. That may well have been the reason why I felt still ok at the end of 68 kms. I was not prepared for the 90 kms, though, physically and psychologically, but I played with the idea (when is the next one?). A couple of suggestions that you may already have in your own heads:

There are more options for shorter runs:

  • keep the existing 45 kms as the 'gentle marathon length option'
  • offer the 54km flimpyhead option as a harder & more scenic shorter option
  • alternatively, to get a circular course, start & finish a shorter option at the Waterboard Road Gate for 51 kms taking in Mt Solitary
  • scrap the 65 km option in favour of the one I did, it is great!
  • Let people know that the 90 kms include 3100 metres of vertical ascent/descent

My little wristcomputer showed the following statistics at my finishing point at the Waterboard Gates near the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital:

  • Vertical ascent: 2790m
  • vertical descent: 2760m
  • Hills (big or small): 8
  • Time: 12 hrs 16 min

A quick glance on the map shows that the 90 km option adds another 300 vertical metres to the vertical challenge, which brings the climbs to over three kliometres. I don't know another run that climbs so much (but I don't know them all).

My map tracker revealed the lengths of most legs longer than what you counted. Here's my record:

  • 20 km option: is 14 kms
  • 45 km option: is 45 kms
  • 65 km option: is 69 kms
  • 86 km option: is 90 kms

The 'flimpyhead option' to Echo Point Visitors centre car park near the top of the Three Sisters: 54 kms

My option back to the Kedumba Road Waterboard Gate: 68 kms.

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