Great Ocean Walk 100s 2009, October 10-11, 2009 Options

[RMC]

Any word on Seris and is Horrie in or out ?

Horrie is out. Seris was going well last time I saw her at around 55k.

There was 2 dnf's up to around 60k (a girl in the 100k - can't remember the name though and Horrie in the 100+mile), all others got past 60k.

[pastyboy]

Just back from running the Aire River checkpoint this morning with Chris....

Everyone came through looking good.

Horrie was definitely a DNF at Aire River (46km on most peoples Garmin, though listed as 38km) - he came in looking really bad and had chucked previously. After an hour, a cup of tea and lots of chair-time, he still looked like death and sensibly pulled out. Looked like a stomach bug of some sort.

Lisa Lucas was a DNF earlier in the day with a rolled ankle. Hope you recover LL.

Windy day out there. Freezing cold this morning, windy, warming up, then sprinkles of rain. Good to see MrG, Tim, Spud, and the regulars out there. Plenty of koalas everywhere - had to get out of the car to shoo them off the road.

Well done to all the organisers - very well run event (that I saw) and fun to hang out and see everyone come through.

[Guest_Carmen_*]

Runbare and Bloodnut are past the last checkpoint and out somewhere between it and the 12 apostles, and (I assume) the finish! YAY! Am home alone clapping at laptop like a mad woman. Go you good things!

And Psychochicken must be SO close now to the 100k finish. Come on chicken!! I have cleaned kitchen and sewn a hole in Jackson's jeans. About to resort to doing tax return as I await news of your finish!

[buzzlightyear]

Way to go Spud, Gareth and Dan for acing 100km.

Quite a finish for these 100kers. Between Gareth and Dan, it seems like they were only 5 mintues apart,...
No sprint finish?

According to Kim (Darrel's wife) (2 hrs Ago) Darrel look very fresh and well..BlueDog was at elast 90 minutes ahead.
Awesome stuff!!

Its awesome weather here in melbourne

Going to get warm tom morning fr those doing the M marathon. For the Ultras, its a cool Melbourne night but least its not wet!!

This post has been edited by buzzlightyear: Oct 10 2009, 10:59 PM

[spoonman]

Runbare and Bloodnut are past the last checkpoint and out somewhere between it and the 12 apostles, and (I assume) the finish! YAY! Am home alone clapping at laptop like a mad woman. Go you good things!

sorry to dissapoint, meant pulled out

[Billy]

It all sounds so much more fun than being at work.

[Mick]

So much for SlowManiac taking it easy in this one and smelling the roses, 2nd !!!

Ourimbah powering in the 100m, well deserved after some very solid training of late.

Well done everyone, sounds like it is great fun down there.

I see the updates are still coming at 3am in the morning, excellent.

[undercover broth...]

you owe me a dollar greenhill!

[EverReadyBunny]

Blue dog still looking good by the sounds of it. Hope his detours were not too bad. You don't want to add anything extra on to a 100 miler let alone this one which already has the extra added on. Go Blue Dog.

Brick might be closing in on Darrel at 30 mins behind but I think Darrel has it in him to keep it going.

Looks like Hermie and Seris are running together too and running well.

[Guest_Carmen_*]

sorry to dissapoint, meant pulled out

oh sorry to hear that for runbare and bloodnut. They got pretty far along too

Well done Psychochicken on a 100k finish!!!!

[EverReadyBunny]

Well done Psychochicken too.
I couldn't work out who had dropped.
Pleased to hear you made your 1st 100km. Woohoo !!

[EverReadyBunny]

Blanket Bay for Dog. Way to go, less than a 1/2 marathon left !!

I assume Dan is Ourimbah still in 2nd and looks like the same lead on Brick.

Go everyone, counting down now.

[loubee]

Well done Chook, you are a ACE!

Run Blue Dog run!

Congratulations GOW runners.

[Beaver]

Well done to Spud, Gareth and Dan in the 100km.

Gareth and Dan the hard training is really starting to pay off.

In the 100 mile Loz and I are willing Darrel home from the loungeroom. He has trained hard since Glasshouse and it's great to see that paying off.

Nice work Bluedog.

[Mick]

Go Ourimbah Go !!!

He has smashed his race plan.

I'd say you could cut both his legs off at this stage and he would still finish.

[spoonman]

cant be long now

[Beaver]

C'mon Poppy!

[Mick]

C'mon Poppy!

"All I want is more than a walk" ...

[Mick]

Congrats to Dog and Ourimbah.

Looking forward to hearing all about it on your return.

[Beaver]

Very impressive performances guys. Well done.

[Sportsman]

Well done Spud and Dog.
Consistency is rewarded.

[Eagle]

I just spoke to Seris who is still powering on with 6k or so to go .She alone now. She was lost for a while but she is back on track. Go girl!!! You are one tough ultra Goddess.

Big congratulations to Blue Dog and all the other finishers in each event.

This post has been edited by Eagle: Oct 11 2009, 05:53 PM

[Long Arms]

Well done Blue Dog. You are one tough doggie. I will leave a bowl of PAL outside the fire station

[Bernie G]

Love your work Blue Dog (and you)

[balri]

Congrats to Seris who just finished inside the cut-off!!!!!

[littleblackpug]

Way to go seris!

[Eagle]

Jane CONGRATULATIONS.

I have been glued to the computer watching the updates and am sooooooooooo pleased you made it under the cut off. Have a few beers and celebrate as the Ultra Goddess Grand Slam is still alive.

[Timbo76]

Uploaded a few photo's from Saturday and Sunday Morning here

[flyingemu]

Uploaded a few photo's from Saturday and Sunday Morning here

Thanks Timbo, beautiful scenery. How'd you go???

[EverReadyBunny]

Hooray Seris.

What a nail biting finale !

[EXE]

Congratulations to all that finished the 100M. True grit... and for Seris, Hermie and Milov a great sense of timing.

EXE

This post has been edited by EXE: Oct 12 2009, 05:52 AM

[buzzlightyear]

Sms from Orimbah - " Hey Keith, finsihed in 31hr 28mins, all good a bit tired now"

A BIT TIRED? Just a bit?

You should be completely exhausted now..!Awesome effort Darrel! Its unbelieveable effort

And Jane - You are ON FIRE!

[Billy]

Well done to everyone, Jane you have to be singled out as a real trooper.

[djbleakman]

Wow, Jane fantastic effort... that's some real guts out there to slog it out for that long. You deserve all the plaudits for such an amazing effort. Darrel too, it got quite close at the end there. I presume looking at some of the splits that some people got a bit lost out there in the dark too.

Big thumbs up to Whippet, Brett, Paul and the rest of the team for such a fantastic event. The course is probably the best out there in terms of scenary, and such a wonderful way to spend a day. A lot more sand that I was expecting, but after the MDS this year, I kind of felt at home with it all. Another high point was being able to make it to the twelve apostles before dark set in too. Well run Spud and Gareth, and all the rest of the guys and girls out there.

Full race report to follow, but this race has big potential.

[sook54]

Can anyone tell me what happened to Tim2? I see from the results that he DNF'd but what went wrong?

[Bandanna]

Just got back from Melbourne, going through all the posts now. Congratulations to all who finished and back luck to those who didn't, there is always another race around the corner to look forward to.

If the weather in Melbourne was anything to go by, you all would have had perfect conditions.

Awesome effort Seris!!

And well done to Psychochicken on her first 100km, wow, fantastic time too.

[knoddie]

Huge congrats to psychochicken, massive effort!

[rachinaus]

Well done to all finishers esp Blue Dog and Seris - just awesome!

[pipi]

Great to see the Dog win. A bit overdue.

[HillsAths1]

Well done Brick, great effort to have two 100 milers in a month.

[DuckGirl]

What an absolutely amazing but tough run.

Bluedog, Hermie, Seris, Milov, Brick.......watching you guys finish was so inspirational, you are all amazing.

Hopefully I will get to a full race report at some stage. But briefly,

The weather was perfect the whole day, the sunset as we reached Moonlight Bay (the final checkpoint) was simply breathtaking.

The scenery throughout the whole trail was worth every tired painful step.

EE and I had the pleasure of running briefly with Firefly and then watching her sail away into the distance - a fantastic effort.

We also enjoyed the company of Psychochicken for a while, what a truly great effort for her first 100k.

Mr G, provided us with some very nice company for a long part of the day......and I was glad to hear him mutter some expletives (although nicer than my own) at one stage when we were faced by yet another dirty great hill.

Cameron also joined us briefly before heading off into the distance for a great finish in his first 100K.

And of course my EE, who chose a very tough event for his first 100, and despite being plagued by ITB problems for probably over 60k......never complained and still managed to get me organised and in and out of checkpoints fully stocked with food and water....and also reminded me constantly to drink, eat and lift my feet You are the best.

And the tally for the day was:-

2 snakes
1 blue tongue lizard
1 echnida
2 kangaroos

And 4 falls (I think I might have won the falls contest - last time I saw Firefly she had only fallen 3 times )

To the organisers of this amazing event....YOU GUYS ROCK.

All the time, sleepless nights, countless emails etc.......I can't even begin to imagine how tired you must all be....but you managed to put on a truly spectacular event and I can't wait to come back next year.

To all the volunteers at the checkpoints........Thankyou just doesn't seem enough, but THANK YOU.

[RMC]

Great effort by everyone involved to get the race going this year. I hope to give it a crack next time. Well done bluedog on the win and spud in the 100k soft option.

So from the results it looks something like ..

- 190k+ out and back
Wayne - 31.06
Darrel - 31.28
Kevin - 34.16
Rod - 37.43
Jane - 37.55
Milov - ?
all others dnf?

- 100k option
Spud - time?

[EatEm]

I think Spud's time was a sub 14 hrs ... I think !!

[djbleakman]

Great effort by everyone involved to get the race going this year. I hope to give it a crack next time. Well done bluedog on the win and spud in the 100k soft option.

So from the results it looks something like ..

- 190k+ out and back
Wayne - 31.06
Darrel - 31.28
Kevin - 34.16
Rod - 37.43
Jane - 37.55
Milov - ?
all others dnf?

- 100k option
Spud - time?

Spud was 14:08 I think

*Edit, I gave him an extra hour! 13:07 ish... according to the Maggot...

This post has been edited by djbleakman: Oct 12 2009, 05:47 PM

[firefly]

i do agree duck girl, what a tough race.

that was the longest 10km of my life; from milenesia beach to moonlight head. everytime i thought the CP was around the corner i was wrong and had another long stretch of hills before again being deflated by thinking i was almost there! that stage was heart breaking for me. was it just me or was there way more up hills than downs?????

yes Duck Girl you beat me in the fall stakes. only three times; two falls with an audience, including one great fall which landed me between two lots of cow dung and not in it, my lucky day! Simon had the pleasure of witnessing my very feminine fall for that one.

great effort from duck girl and eat em who was obviously hurting, it was great to run with you guys for some of the run. and also a great effort to tim who i over took coming into moonlight head, who had trouble with a knee injury.

i only managed to get lost twice (ok three times but one wasnt too bad). i ended up going straight ahead at the turn at about 95km. i figured i didnt want to take the turn down to the beach so i went ahead on the existing trail, which soon had me on my hands and knees crawling though bushes trying to convince myself that the track was just temporarily more over grown than it should be. turns out i was imaging things and had to double back and take the beach option. amazingly i found there had been at least three of us that i know of who also ended up scrambling through the bush like me so i wasnt as loopy as i first thought.

and congrats to eat em and phyx and everyone who completed or attempted there first 100km, it definately wasnt the easist of runs.

sounds like most people had a wrong turn and added some extra km's to there run. was there anyone out there who did the whole thing without a wrong turn? i would be impressed.

and you 100 milers are an inspiration. having to turn around and do it all again when i was happily finishing. seris, you are amazing, that was one tough run and every time i saw you, you were happy and cheery.

and wow, a big congratulations to the organisers and volunteers. you guys are truly amazing and all those hours that you put into the event certainly made it what it was.

I was suprised to see the event got a plug in the melbourne herald sun last week. does that mean its going to be even bigger and better than next year and that registrations will be hotly contested??

Firefly

[Horrie]

Just back from an action packed weekend down in a beautiful part of the country. Unfortunately, my race went to $h!+ the night before when something I ate on Friday wanted to completely empty anything I had in my system. Because of the time and money spent on entering the race, I decided to start and see how far I could get. So off I set running within myself because any sort of effort would set the stomach off. Was happy to have the company of Ultra Goddess Seris until Checkpoint 1 at Blanket Bay before I sat down to take some medication to try and settle things down. Still wasn't game enough to eat until 5 hours in and my energy levels dragging. This perked me up for a short while and I was able to catch back up to Seris. Then trying to keep up with her power walking a hill, I felt my stomach go so I eased up. It was too late however and whatever I had eaten had to come out so stopped and emptied. I then had a 5-10 minute death march into Aire River checkpoint (43km on garmins) and decided I did not have it in me to continue. My first decision to ever consider DNFing wasn't as hard as I thought it would be because nothing could convince me that I could keep going for another 150+kms. So whilst disappointed, I am happy GNW is only 5 weeks away and after only running for a bit over 6 hours, the legs are as fresh as daisies so will be able to get straight back into training.

I would like to thank Spoonman, Whippet Man, Brettsrun, Maggot and Psycho Chicken for getting this event off the ground in such a short timeframe. You promised us a great event and it certainly lived up to that promise.

Awesome performances out there by everybody competing but for the 6 runners who managed to finish including 4 of the other Grand Slam contestants, you achieved something very special out there on the weekend. These 6 are top shelf runners and the solo female pioneer Seris. Your status has gone through the roof on seeing what you were able to achieve. I don't think Ultra Goddess is enough but I need some time to think up a new name for you.

See you all in 5 weeks time.

[Maggot]

I think Spud's time was a sub 14 hrs ... I think !!

Spud 13hrs 7mins for the 100km. A great time on that course. It has proven to be a brutal course with many short up and downs ~ the sneaky kind that don't appear on a course profile, but (to quote Dougal Dog ) 'take a cumulative toll'.
The sand apparently has also come up in conversation.
V tired after sweeping Saturday late arvo / overnight / & to mid morning, and having a 4am drive back for work today. Don't try this at home kids!
A great race by Firefly to take out the female 100k. What a year you're having. Must be the gun crew support ...
UCB: another solid finish in the 100k backing up from Glasshouse.
Eat'Em & Duckgirl: just for future reference, you're not meant to be in such great moods and enjoy yourself at checkpoints during a 1ook ultra . Didn't you read the manual?
It was great spending time with some quality people. Sharene and Scott who had been moving so solidly, unfortunately left with no choice but to bail out at Moonlight Head with injury flare-ups. A real pity, mentally you were both strong.
Lynda took an unfortunate wrong turn and subsequently lost time forcing Spoonie's hand w the cut-off. A shame, as you were similarly moving consistently and in great spirits.

The 100milers: Dog, looked solid all day night race and in great shape. He had his race-face on and had clearly turned up meaning business.
Darrel: behind the joviality and humour, a serious runner lies within. Well, the inner rat came out to play on this one. Awesome.
Brick: I feel so great for you mate. This is the one you have deserved all year. All up from here so you can bring it home for the remainder.
Milov: pure class. You had some genuine troubles out there, yet were poised enough to play the patience game and get back on the saddle and make history as an inaugural finisher. I will never doubt you're ticker: it must surely be as big as those barges you call shoes.
Hermie: I bet kissing a rusting anchor never felt so good he he. Well done.
Seris: As the sweeper back to Joanna Beach on the return leg, I was trying to catch up to you and Belinda. Each headland, I could see the headlights on the next hill. Well, I never managed to catch up. In fact, the pair of you pulled away and the next time I saw you was as you finished, and you still looked just as strong. Awesome job.

To Brettsrun, Whippet & Spoonie ~ well, the dream has been realised. There are possibly only other race directors such as Mr G who can appreciate the amount of drive & passion and hard work and time commitment that goes into staging an event such as this.
But to hear exhausted runners talking post-race with their last remaining morsel of energy about the sheer beauty of the rugged coastline and the stunning scenery, it must surely be worth it. We thank you.

[RobHall]

Being Milov's beatch was an interesting experience. Always being polite, I was waiting for angry trailwalker Milov but he was pleasant and if I asked him to pull my finger he oblige without thought of the repercussions.

It was great seeing most of the field and all of the 190km guys at some stage. I was well aware of how tough the course would be from years of surfing down that way, just getting from the car park to the water is hard enough. So my hat is off to you all, primarily because Hermie knocked mine off

I had 3 books to read and didn't touch them because the Checkpoint guys were all great to hang out with.

Extra congrats to Blue Dog. Your effort looked consistent and strong and deserving of a the result you got.

[Timbo76]

Thanks Timbo, beautiful scenery. How'd you go???

The scenery was even more stunning on the run, but I didn't take my camera with me on the trail (my wife took the photo's we posted).

A huge thanks to the organizers for putting on a great event. It was obvious how much work had gone in to getting this thing up and running, and for it to go so successfully first time round is a credit to you guys, (and token female, of course). Thanks also to the volunteers, I don't think I was very good at my thank you's during the race, but all your support was appreciated.

I can really call myself a runner now, not because I have completed my first ultra, but due to the fact I got ITBS for the first time (at around the 45km mark I think, just before Aire River). Up until then the day had been going great, running first with Darrel, then Rob, me, Tim and Paul (don't know Rob's and Paul's cool running i.d.s) formed a good group that seemed to be going along just a little bit to quick for me, so I was dropping the pace a little and then my knee got sore. From then on I pretty much just walked the whole way,finally making it the the 12 Apostles after around 17 hrs 15mins (I can't remember the exact time).

Even with the sore knee, I had a blast and really enjoyed meeting up with a great bunch of runners. Looking forward to the next challenge, hopefully see some of you at another ultra in the future.


P.S. The missus had a great time too, seems like those at the checkpoints had more fun than the runners.

[cameron]

What an awesome run!! I am so happy that I picked this run as my first 100km. The scenery is world class, the track is excellent and well marked (I only took 1 wrong turn).

Thanks to Whippet, Brett and Paul for the huge amount of time and effort that obviously went into putting it on. Also thanks to the amazing volunteers who manned the check points and gave up their time to support the run . I am inspired and will be reciprocating in the future.

My longest run up will this point was the Bogong - Hotham, and this had run pretty much trashed me last time I did it. I was worried about my ability to last the distance over 100km. My preparation over the past month has been effected by jet lag, gastro and the flu, and I worried about the effects of all of this.

Going into the run, despite warnings that it was going to be tough I was still pretty much convinced that it would be mostly flat with a couple of (hard) bumps.

The run was mostly either bush walking track or 4WD track. Surprisingly even the 4WD was pleasant to run along through some nice forest. The beach section was not too long (although . Only one creek crossing got our feet wet (thanks to Brett's kids for building a sand bridge over one of the creeks )

It was awesome to run with such amazing people Kathy, Duck Girl, Eat Em, MR G, Anne and others for short stints.

Awesome work to everyone who did the 190km.

I think that next year I will take trekking poles, even if I am the only one and I look like a tool. When running with Kathy she was powering up the hills and I could not keep up until I found some random sticks to help push me up the hill. I think that there are enough nasty little hills in the middle sections that I could make up time with poles... but maybe thats just me.

The biggest problem that I have now is.... do I do the 100km again next year and try to take 2 hours off my time or do the 190km? I am keen for both !!!! Ready to sign up now

I wish I had the penmanship to do the run justice. I would (and will) recommend this run to anyone, and I cant wait to go back and have another crack.

Cant wait to see the results and the photos posted!!