57 replies to this topic

[allrounder]

just thought i'd get the ball rolling on this one...from the centre of Canberra thru Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura, Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves...the event covers the following:

• 5k run (9.15am start; 75mins time limit)
  
• 16k bush walk (9am; 5hrs)
  
• 16k run (9am; 3hrs)
  
• 25k bush walk (8.30am; 7.5hrs)
  
• 25k run (9am; 5hrs)
  
• 42.2k relay (8.30am)
  
• 42.2k run (7.30am/8.30am; 7.5hrs)
  
• 60k run (7.30am/8.30am; 9hrs)

my particular interest is the marathon relay - i have 2 runners and am seeking 2 more...      :)      

the relay legs = 11.2k, 5.8k, 15.0k & 10.2k, in that order....

i have a runner for the 5.8k leg and i will run one of the other three (don't mind which leg)...if anyone is interested in being part of a team please let me know...entries at the cheaper rates ($15pp for the relay) must be in by 11 july...

[Eagle]

Allrounder :
Cannot help you with being a relay member but expect to run the marathon again this year. Great scenery on the course and a pleasant change to a road marathon. Nice ffriendly well organised low key event. Any marathoner should consider it as a pleasant change and I would asses it as slightly harder (but just) than Fitzroy Falls because it has more rolling hills.  B)

[Running Gal]

quote:

---

Originally posted by allrounder:
my particular interest is the marathon relay - i have 2 runners and am seeking 2 more...       :)    

---

Bummer,   <_<   the starting line is like 500m from my home... That would be great fun to do, but I'll be overseas then and doing a half over there. Bad, timing, ah well, there is always next year...

[allrounder]

i've heard lots of good things about this event and i look forward to meeting you Eagle...   :D  

bad timing alright Running Gal but sounds like you will be having fun anyway...   ;)

[Vurt]

a relay run could be fun.

if not i might give the 25ker a shot

[allrounder]

relay update:

new CR, NiceWhenIStop, is running the 5.8k leg...

FlashDuck & FlashDrake *may* run the two remaining legs...

[Steve M]

What's the 60k like ?

I completed the 6 foot track for the first time earlier this year and am looking for the next challenge.

[Mister G]

Will be doing the marathon, possibly the 60K.

[Paul Every]

Mr G, if I can scam the day off work, I'll join you for the 60km.

[Eagle]

Mr G:
I hope that means you are over the GF and will be back on the trails and a regular starter in most of the important events later in the year. You have been missed.  B)

[Mister G]

Eagle,

Hope so. Last Saturday I did my first big training run (ie over marathon distance- 49K in this instance) for 8 or more months, and things seemed okay.

Will back up from Bush Marathon and do the Cities the next day.

Be good to run with you again also.  :)

[Horrie]

Nothing like seeing the G Man running a 100km in 2 days. Fantastic news that you are building back up to it.

[RMC]

quote:

---

by MrG .. Will back up from Bush Marathon and do the Cities the next day.

---

I was tempted to run Warrumbungles on the Sunday after either Bush Capital or GH50 on the Sat, but have just read the course change to the Warrumbungle run and am not impressed. I'm leaning toward Bush Capital ultra given Glasshouse will be visited in Sept.

[Steve M]

I'm still hoping that someone can give me some info on the terrain/difficulty of the 60k. I am looking to step up from the 6 foot and this seemed like a good next step, any thoughts from people who've done both ?

[dave1678]

Hi I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me the rise and fall of the 6 foot track marathon. We've started a 6 inch track marathon over here in WA and it has about 1000m ascent and 940m descent. It is one way and starts with about a 200m climb over 2K. Just wanting to know how our race compares.
I don't check this site very often but I'm sure someone out there has run the race with their GPS.

[Virtual]

I'm in for 60 on this one..

Off the UK on the 11pm flight from Melb that day and managed to get the Canberra - Melb transfer for free. If I try to squib out I'll have to travel to Canberra anyway.

Looks like this is part of the GH training plan for a few tragics.

[Mister G]

Dave 1678,

From the  Six Foot Track website...

"The course climbs a total of 1,528m and drops a total 1,788m giving a net drop of 260m (it's a downhill course !!) "

[IDW]

SteveM
To help you compare events, I ran the inaugural Bush Capital 60 km in 5h 3m & The Six Foot Track in 4h 16m. Although the Bush Capital race is longer, it is a more comfortable event and you will run at a faster pace. The temperature will probably be around zero at the start & get to less than 14 degrees max. It is undulating, scenic bushland, on good tracks with approx 520 metres of ascent in total, but no huge ascents or descents like at Six Foot Track. And like all the events put on by the Australian Mountain Running Association, you will find that it is well organised, that the trail is well marked and that there are plenty of drink stations. It is in bushland, but it is not a wilderness run, so you wont need to carry anything --- except perhaps a spray jacket wrapped round your waist.

Ian

[Steve M]

Thanks Ian 520m over 60k sounds doable. Now the hardest task will be convincing the wife that a weekend in Canberra, in winter is a good idea. Great to have an event with so many options though, she might be keen for the 25.

[dave1678]

Thanks Mister G
I could have gone there myself I guess. Hope you don't mind but I used your signature on our six inch flyers last year. Hoping to convert a few more to the excellence of trail running this year.
If you're keen to come and do the race it's on the 17th of December this year and I'm going to get around to joining the billet service with AURA so you'd probably be able to stay with us if you wanted.
Anyway thanks for the info. Six inch is officially tougher than six foot!! 1029m -941m = rise of 88m compared to fall of 260m.
While we are on the topic is there many long hills at 6 foot? We only have the first 2K uphill otherwise everything else significant is under 500m long. (The second toughest hill is a 250m long downhill really washed out and about 20% with 10K to go).

[Steve M]

Looks like my wife and I are up for a weekend in sunny Canberra. Still some negotiating to be done but she will be doing the 25k or the marathon and I will be doing the marathon or the 60k. All depends how the long runs go between now and then.

Are there any profiles out there of the course ?

Can't wait, now comes the hard work.

[Barefoot]

Allrounder,

I will be running the 16km if you do not have a full team, I can back up and run the 10.2 final leg.

Recently ran "Puffing Billy" 13.2km undulating run in 59 minutes and Sydney Half Marathon in 97 minutes. Should be finished the 16k's before the final leg starts.

[Aki]

With Barefoot I think we've got a team.  Was Vurt still interested in the 11.2k leg?

[allrounder]

hi barefoot

thanks for that offer but will you be able to get from the 16k finish to the start of the final leg (off Horse Park Drive at Goorooyaroo Reserve)  :unsure:  

team so far:
1 - 11.2k Aki/allrounder
2 - 5.8k NiceWhenIStop
3 - 15.0k allrounder/Aki
4 - 10.2k ?barefoot?

Vurt hadn't said which leg he was interested in...which leg do you want Aki??

[Barefoot]

My wife will be with me, can you drive to the checkpoint??

[allrounder]

yes, you can indeed drive to the checkpoint...

i must say you may have a bit of a wait even with running the 16k and then driving there - we definitely aren't in your league!  :D

[Barefoot]

I originally was going to run the 25K's, so running the 16k's then a rest before the 10k will be OK.

I have already entered the 16km. To join your relay team, do you want me to fill in an entry and post it in? what is the Team name?

I will be arriving in Canberra on Friday 28th July, so I can meet up before the run on Saturday to know who is in the team.

[allrounder]

hadn't thought of a team name yet! any thoughts? must have a CR influence i reckon!

fill in an entry form and send it to me via snail mail - i'll put all the entries in together...just send me an email through my profile to get my address...

we'll definitely arrange to meet beforehand...

[allrounder]

d'oh, just checked my email and you already sent me one this morning - i have now replied...thanks

[allrounder]

the relay team has now been confirmed as:

Aki (leg 1, 11.2)
NiceWhenIStop (leg 2, 5.8)
allrounder (leg 3, 15.0)
barefoot (leg 4, 10.2 after doing the edit: 5.0)

team name edit:is CR Bush Taggers ;)  

looking forward to meeting some more CRs on the day...

Edited by allrounder, 15 June 2006 - 10:16 AM.

[Vurt]

allrounder, on Jun 8 2006, 04:56 AM, said:

the relay team has now been confirmed as:

Aki (leg 1, 11.2)
NiceWhenIStop (leg 2, 5.
allrounder (leg 3, 15.0)
barefoot (leg 4, 10.2 after doing the edit: 5.0)

team name edit:is CR Bush Taggers   

looking forward to meeting some more CRs on the day...

good luck team CR.

Sorry for my slow reply. I just scored a new job (in sydney) so i am on the move again. I doubt be able to make it to this event which is a pity. Maybe next year.

[allrounder]

thanks for your well wishes Vurt...should be good fun...just about to post the entry...

and thank you for your help in yesterday's Terry Fox Fun Run (even if you didn't know it at first!)...i was rapt with the time!

[Barefoot]

allrounder, on Jun 18 2006, 10:24 PM, said:

thanks for your well wishes Vurt...should be good fun...just about to post the entry...

and thank you for your help in yesterday's Terry Fox Fun Run (even if you didn't know it at first!)...i was rapt with the time!

Looking forward to running in another CR team. Had success at the Mini-Mos run on Sunday as part of a CR team "Barefoot & Solo" we won the team event in our category. I will be training more on hills and bush tracks next few weeks to be ready to have fun on the run in Canberra.

[Vurt]

allrounder, on Jun 19 2006, 02:24 PM, said:

thanks for your well wishes Vurt...should be good fun...just about to post the entry...

and thank you for your help in yesterday's Terry Fox Fun Run (even if you didn't know it at first!)...i was rapt with the time!

Happy to "help"

I just read your blog, i kind of figured you where using me for pacing as i could hear your Garmin beeping every so often.   COngratulations on your time, a 6 minute PB is fantastic

[allrounder]

Vurt, on Jun 19 2006, 03:21 PM, said:

... a 6 minute PB is fantastic

"only" a 6 min PB for the course...a 67 sec PB for the distance...nearly reached my 2006 goal (see sig)...

[Steve M]

Feeling a bit tender today after the first long trail hitout in a while yesterday(watching the soccer probably didn't help). The 60 is proving a good motivator for me to get the long runs in.  

Any recommendations on accommodation, something affordable but not too rugged close to the city ? My wife has never been to canberra as a tourist so that is my other marketting point.

Edited by Steve M, 19 June 2006 - 03:29 PM.

[Barefoot]

Steve M, on Jun 18 2006, 11:27 PM, said:

Feeling a bit tender today after the first long trail hitout in a while yesterday(watching the soccer probably didn't help). The 60 is proving a good motivator for me to get the long runs in.  

Any recommendations on accommodation, something affordable but not too rugged close to the city ? My wife has never been to canberra as a tourist so that is my other marketting point.

Try Cabnerra Carotel on the Federal Highway. Not far from start/finish. Have all types of accomodation from tents to motel rooms. 02 62411377

[Steve M]

Thanks Barefoot for the recommendation, but we'll probably get something in the city itself.

Looks like my wife and I are up for the partners 100k challenge, not really a category but it adds up(nearly) to a nice round number with her doing the marathon and me having a crack at the 60k.

It's great to be able to print off the topo maps from the parks website. Gives a good indication of what you're up for for someone not familiar with the area.

[Eagle]

Now a non starter which is a shame as I enjoyed the challenging marathon last year. A stress frature will keep me out of running for another 2 months.

[allrounder]

that's a bummer Eagle...pesky stress fractures...maybe next year?!

[Steve M]

Entry list on the website now. Field is pretty small for the 60k could be a long lonely day at my pace.

Still getting pretty excited now. The hard work is done, now just have to enjoy a great day on the trails.

[Aki]

Something seems to be going on with Flashduck's entry to the 25k, so we might swap with each other or she might opt out.  Just thought you might like to know there may be a change.

[Ultraphil]

Good luck to all next weekend! Unfortunately work beckons else where in the country and I wont be there to catch up with anyone!

[Mister G]

Steve M, on Jul 21 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

Entry list on the website now. Field is pretty small for the 60k could be a long lonely day at my pace.

Still getting pretty excited now. The hard work is done, now just have to enjoy a great day on the trails.

I've finally put my entry in. Will catch you tomorrow, Steve.....

[Steve M]

I am starting to get excited now. Some doubts are entering the head though about how far 60k's is and whether I can do it. Only a short ultra for most of the rest of the field, but presents a fair challenge for me.

Training has gone well though, so I just keep trying to tell myself that it's all in the bank waiting for tomorrow.

[Barefoot]

Thanks team it was a fun day and a great finish.

Allrounder, Nice when I stop and Aki, keep me in mind for next year, would love to run in your team again.


The organisers did a great job to have so many events on the day and waiting for us all to cross the line.

Paul finished the 60km run and we made it back in time to get some sleep before tomorrows "Cities". I now have about 9 hours for my calfs to heal? A couple more bananas before bed the just hope.

[allrounder]

Bush Marathon Relay report...

it was a lovely day with brilliant sunshine & no early morning fog...a bit of a breeze but a generally great day for running in our nation's capital...

NiceWhenIStop (NWIS) & i made it down to the start about 10mins before kickoff...met Tuggeranong Don for the first time and also saw several other CRs floating around...i quickly introduced Barefoot to Aki & NWIS before we got in position to watch the start...temperature-wise, it was a cool 1.7 at the start but climbed to 12.6 by the time we finished...

Aki was our first runner and got us off to a pretty strong start with 57:XX for her leg (~11.2k) & at the first change we were in 2nd out of 5 teams...

NWIS's leg ended up being slightly longer than was stated (5.8k v 6.4k) & she came in around 40:XX...

meanwhile Corinna Tong ran the 2nd leg for her team with her weimaraner (!), passing NWIS & putting about 500m or so on her...

my leg (the only out 'n' back leg) involved some 10 gates to climb through and i was pretty pleased to push hard all the way (1:17:46 for 15.18k)...i got into a good rhythm early & made steady ground on the marathoners, passing about a dozen or so all up...Trevor Jacobs was manning the drink station just after crossing into Mulligans Flat while Emma Murray was on duty at the turnaround point...i made the changeover to an (injured*) Barefoot, about 8mins behind the 2nd placed team...

*  Barefoot had done his calf in the 5k and when he arrived at the change over spot he hobbled out of the car...NWIS was concerned & thought she might have to tell me to keep running!...however, he said he'd be fine & was aiming for an hour to do his 10.2k leg...mind you i only found all this out after we tagged!

unbeknown to us, Barefoot had analysed the 2nd placed team's final runner's pace as being about 1min/k slower than his own & figured he should be able to catch him around the 8k mark &, as all good plans do, that's pretty much what happened...he even ran past cunningly obscuring the fact he was a relay runner!

we, however, were very surprised to see Barefoot powering home in around 52:XX in second place (just behind the first female marathoner)...i think our total time was 3:48:XX...

Barefoot collected our coffee cups & massage vouchers before we all gathered for a team photo...it was a fantastic team effort & it was really cool to make up a team via the CR forums...

thanks must also go to our two cheersquads:
- Mrs Barefoot & little Barefoot who supported Barefoot in the 5k, drove him to the relay changeover @ Goorooyaroo & then followed us back to the finish to see his astounding finish; &
- my parents who came to the changeover @ Goorooyaroo, staying nearly 2 hours to see both changeovers out there...

Postscript: i must say as Barefoot cooled down he got stiffer & limped more...but he was still considering running in the "Cities" marathon

full report, complete with photos can be found at my blog (see my sig)...

Edited by allrounder, 31 July 2006 - 10:16 AM.

[Steve M]

What a great event. My wife and I were very nervous on the way down her first marathon and my longest run ever with the 60k. Paul Every was decidedly less nervous than us in the car, and I think his calmness helped settle things down a bit for us which was great.

At the start my car said the start temp was about -1 degree but the sky was perfectly clear and it looked like perfect weather for the day. The organisation was great and we headed off right on time. The first 15k seemed pretty tough with the biggest climb and then a series of short steep hills to the road. Great scenery though. At 5k my wife and I were close to dead last but still inside our goal pace, I had to reassure my wife that this was all part of the plan and that we weren't "racing" anyway. We settled in well and I was starting to suspect that she was doing a lot better than me. At the turnaround point (24.5k) as I left her I was very confident that she was in good form and had a strong finish in the bag for her first mara, although I wasn't nearly so confident for my 60k. I started to feel better though for the next 18k. At about 45k mentally I was struggling, just tried to keep running the flats and downhills and walking the ups. The big hill after about the 50k mark saw me thinking that my time was going to blow out, but I recovered on the downhill to finish pretty strong, feeling okay. Got back to find out that my wife had finished inside four hours and placed second. She got such a kick out of it for her first marathon. Sure to mean she will be keen to have another go at the distance.

The course is very scenic and 98% off road. Well placed aid station, clear course marking, and a lot of k markers on the way out. It would have been nice to have a few more k markings on the way back, but I can't really fault what was a great event.

Nice to meet CR's Paul Every and Barefoot. Would have loved to stick around more at the end but people had already been waiting for me for quite a while so I had to leave. Big Thanks to John Harding.

Edited by Steve M, 31 July 2006 - 10:36 AM.

[Paul Every]

It was a pleasure to support a race that directly benefits some of our top, but poorly funded, runners. Thanks must go to John Harding for having the initiative and organisational skills for staging a day that truely caters for everyone. Long runs, short runs, relays, all on a well marked and well supported course.

Personally, I had a crap race. Felt flat and just made up the numbers, but still managed to enjoy logging some miles on a perfect Canberra winter's day.

Good to touch base with some serial offenders of the Canberra ultrarunning/rogaining fraternity (Phibes, Trevor Jacobs, Adrian Shepherd, Dave Baldwin, Julie Quinn, etc). Would love to spend more time running and chatting with these people.

From the social perspective it was first class. Met Steve M and his wife Annabel, who both put in solid runs over their debuts at the 60km and marathon respectively. And I managed to have a chat to almost the entire field as runners passed me as I faded to the back of the field.

Good to discover Barefoot's secret identity and chinwag with him, Mrs Barefoot and the Little Baretoe on the return to Sydney. I owe you guys one. Let me know when you're next at my work.

Next year, I'll run faster and arrive before the finishline cheesecakes disappear and do more socialising then.

[allrounder]

well done Steve M, glad you enjoyed the day and what a fantastic run by your wife....hope you have both pulled up OK...

i can't imagine running a marathon let alone an ultra on what was a pretty tough course...!