22 replies to this topic

[johnnyboyrun]

Just interested to know how everyone found conditions up there on the various trails and what not they ran after the 6ft cancellation?

Cheers
John

[Campbell]

I'm an out of toner so can't comment what they are usually like, but ran with a group along Narrow Neck, down into Megalong valley and some fire trails there - none on actual 6ft course - and they all looked pretty good to me, with just a few wet and boggy patches that I would expect anyway.

[Nova]

I earnt the right to wear my t-shirt by running the track in reverse.  I was going to stop at Pulvi and return to Caves House but it was such a good day I just kept on going.

Colin made the right decision to cancel.  There was a 20 meter patch of grey mud that I sunk up to my ankle.  The rest of the track was fine for running.  It is my third trip to the mountains to run this year and it was the driest on the day.

All the creeks were right up and moving fast and the Cox's river was fast and high.  another week and we could have raced.

I am counting the days until next year.

[thomo]

johnnyboyrun, on 10 March 2012 - 02:18 PM, said:

Just interested to know how everyone found conditions up there on the various trails and what not they ran after the 6ft cancellation?

Cheers
John

Whatever the condition of the track was, it wouldn't change the decison.

A safe, sound decision was made based on observation and experience.

Nova, thanks for the update anyway. Glad you had an enjoyable up in the mountains. Heard from a few others who enjoyed being out up there, just not on either SFT or full SFT.

BTW, my feet stayed dry on my road cicuit today.

[otisr]

Can confirm that the decision to cancel was the right one.

Plenty of water over the trail on the way to Coxs.  Many boggy patches and lots of water running down the single track section to the river.  All creeks were up, the two at Alum were quite fast and knee deep. Coxs only crossing by bridge.

Even if a crossing situation was found, the trail to the river was in poor state, so much so that I doubt any records would have been broken.

All of the trail from Coxs was same as any other year, except a large bog on Black Range that was passable by going around in the bushes,  but not so for vehicles - my cruiser with muddies would struggle getting through.

Saw plenty of runners out there going parts - all, some sections, some started at Caves and ran back to Coxs.  

Good call to cancel.  One person on the trail was ok , 800 - no chance.

[Lyndal]

A friend and I had an awesome run today.  We ran the Mt Solitary circuit from Kedumba and it was a stunning trail.  The creek crossings were fine but it was quite boggy around Echo point and Leura Falls. We saw quite a few 6 foot 'lost souls' out there today. I hope that you all had a good run!

[johnnyboyrun]

thomo, on 10 March 2012 - 06:21 PM, said:

johnnyboyrun, on 10 March 2012 - 02:18 PM, said:

Just interested to know how everyone found conditions up there on the various trails and what not they ran after the 6ft cancellation?

Cheers
John

Whatever the condition of the track was, it wouldn't change the decison.

A safe, sound decision was made based on observation and experience.

Nova, thanks for the update anyway. Glad you had an enjoyable up in the mountains. Heard from a few others who enjoyed being out up there, just not on either SFT or full SFT.

BTW, my feet stayed dry on my road cicuit today.

FYI- i didnt start this thread because i was in any doubt about Colin's decision. I started it to find out if I made the right decision by staying in Sydney and not going up there today and see how everybody else went.

cheers
J

[runhard]

johnnyboyrun, on 10 March 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

FYI- i didnt start this thread because i was in any doubt about Colin's decision. I started it to find out if I made the right decision by staying in Sydney and not going up there today and see how everybody else went.

cheers
J

I think you made the wrong decision!  It was awesome up there today on Narrowneck!  Many runners were out and it was sensational up there today!

Colin, however, made the right decision.

RH

Edited by runhard, 10 March 2012 - 08:34 PM.

[johnnyboyrun]

runhard, on 10 March 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

johnnyboyrun, on 10 March 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

FYI- i didnt start this thread because i was in any doubt about Colin's decision. I started it to find out if I made the right decision by staying in Sydney and not going up there today and see how everybody else went.

cheers
J

I think you made the wrong decision!  It was awesome up there today on Narrowneck!  Many runners were out and it was sensational up there today!

Colin, however, made the right decision.

RH

Damn!! My 45km in Surburbia wasnt quite the same

[WollemiLL2]

Many lost souls today i really missed my dose of 6ft 2day so in keeping with the weather cranked out 3km in the pool instead, the tracks going nowhere it will dry out and we shall run it again.

[howcanhegosofast]

Also Kedumba to Mt Solitary, past some big groups of bush walkers and a few running wilders on the way down to scenic world and leura falls. Awesome views and great trail on solitary and past ruined castle. Then on to the old Lindeman track which was very hard going indeed, a quick exit up to leura golf course via roberts pass and the old ladder.  A very hard 4+ hrs from leura falls to the golf course on lindeman  and roberts but well worth the effort with great views. That track is fairly overgrown with many fallen trees, mostly not very runable. Not a walk in the park but a good navigation challenge. All up 10 hrs tableland rd to leura station.

Hope others enjoyed their day and burned off all those carbs and more.

[arrtgrrl]

had an awesome time did a circuit from the aquatic center ,narrowneck , taros, dunphys and up nellies glen.. beautiful day for running.. and so many six footers out and about!!

[Toffy]

My running buddy Janelle and I decided to do a "SFT Requiem Run" today incorporating the Oaks Fire Trail [Woodford to Glenbrook] and then on to Penrith, but alas, we only got about 5Km's into it when she severely rolled her ankle and we had to turn around and be "rescued" by her hubby [who had just got back home after dropping us up there some 40 min's earlier!] so it seems that running today was just not meant to happen??

She'll be right - we'll effect our revenge next year!!!

[Timinerko]

Perfect conditions out there, 4 of us run it and it was great, the only part that i saw was a problem was the Cox's River  

[BondiMarc]

Having travelled down from Brissi we felt it was remiss of us not to go out and do something. So a run out to Mt Solitary from Echo Point fit the bill. What stunning countryside you folks have down here, we just have nothing like that up our way. Was one of the best runs I have done. A lot of water lying around so I can only imagine the damage 900 pairs of feet would have caused to the 6ft track....Was fun running past all the other 'lost souls' as they have been described

[trimonkey]

Lyndal, on 10 March 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

A friend and I had an awesome run today.  We ran the Mt Solitary circuit from Kedumba and it was a stunning trail.  The creek crossings were fine but it was quite boggy around Echo point and Leura Falls. We saw quite a few 6 foot 'lost souls' out there today. I hope that you all had a good run!

Hi Lyndal. Hope you & your friend enjoyed the rest of your run.  I was one of those 6ft 'lost souls"..... We stopped for a chat between Mt Solitary & Katoomba somewhere...I was trying out my new hiking boots instead
It was nice to see so many others out there still having a great day by themselves or with others...think a few of us earnt that awesome t-shirt in the end

Another trail session today...managed to get lost...never assume you are only going out for a short time! always be prepared (today I wasnt ). A moment of panic...home safe & sound now.

[moondog]

ran megalong rd to coxs return yesterday morning.  and as above, the cox's crossing was not passable without swimming and braving the current (no one i saw had tried it, all reasonably stuck with the bridge).

by the way, those cattle grates can be quite dangerous when the balance isn't what it should be post too many vodka's  the night before - vhungover after 6ft commisseration drinks fri night

[SMC42K]

We had a great weekend at the mountains, although Caves House was unusally quiet. Much quieter than it usually is this time of the year. BTW Colin, what DID happen at the deviation deviaton today? Cheers mate.

[Animal]

I tagged along with the Narrow Neck group from 7am. Was awesome I have to say with Alex M(former winner), Brendan D, Campbell, Beth, Shona & many other excellent trail runners. Unfortunately didn't feel great at the start and my pack was too heavy but the run out on Narrow Neck was awesome, one of the best trail training runs i've ever done and those that didn't bother coming up made a big mistake as conditions were perfect. Had not experienced this run before so it was a pleasure seeing a different part of the blue mtns and gave me a lot more appreciation for the hard yards it takes to complete TNF100.

The last 5k struggled hard after a sugar low or something (too many beers the night before ), going up Nellies is a bit of hell but glad it was over to be honest. The views at the start of the run were amazing, a training run well worth doing if doing TNF or planning on other ultras.

Calling off the main race was a massive shame & no dount it had to be done. The mud going up Nellies was a shocker & runners would have stacked it all over the place & the steps were slippery as ever, no way any records would have been broken & for the average person to get a pb would have been a massive achievement. Onwards until next blue mtns trip!

[JustinHD]

Animal, on 12 March 2012 - 10:14 AM, said:

I tagged along with the Narrow Neck group from 7am. Was awesome I have to say with Alex M(former winner), Brendan D, Campbell, Beth, Shona & many other excellent trail runners. Unfortunately didn't feel great at the start and my pack was too heavy but the run out on Narrow Neck was awesome, one of the best trail training runs i've ever done and those that didn't bother coming up made a big mistake as conditions were perfect. Had not experienced this run before so it was a pleasure seeing a different part of the blue mtns and gave me a lot more appreciation for the hard yards it takes to complete TNF100.

The last 5k struggled hard after a sugar low or something (too many beers the night before ), going up Nellies is a bit of hell but glad it was over to be honest. The views at the start of the run were amazing, a training run well worth doing if doing TNF or planning on other ultras.

Calling off the main race was a massive shame & no dount it had to be done. The mud going up Nellies was a shocker & runners would have stacked it all over the place & the steps were slippery as ever, no way any records would have been broken & for the average person to get a pb would have been a massive achievement. Onwards until next blue mtns trip!

Is there a map of the Narrow Neck route that you took?  I have been out to the end of the ridge and back, but not down into the valley.  Would like to try it some time.

[halfwaydown]

JustinHD, on 12 March 2012 - 12:05 PM, said:

Is there a map of the Narrow Neck route that you took?  I have been out to the end of the ridge and back, but not down into the valley.  Would like to try it some time.

TNF100 web site has maps and separate course description:
Leg 2 to Leg4 BUT from Leg3 Dunphy's Swamp at 38k mark you go direct north  on megalong valley rd to 47k mark and onwards as Ironpot ridge  area is private land with access only on race day.

[Colin]

Was at Caves House over weekend, hard in itself watching the finish area. Quite a few people did the full monty and everybody I spoke to said that the river was impassable, except 'knowing about' four people who swam over with difficulty. The BIllies Bushies took the bridge too, inc Max
The bog near forestry (32km) was impassable to vehicles and the landslip after Little River was braved by a few 4WD- quite a risk.

Spent a great time there otherwise, starting with beers with the mountains contingent in Katoomba and witnessing a surprise marriage proposal by friends on the finish line - was supposed to happen at race finish, but ammended to a training run. A great couple who will spend many years together.

A few beers too with the pink singleted 'howgoodisthis' team from Melbourne (the 4 that made it up) and I am now aparently an honorary member.

[Mick]

JustinHD, on 12 March 2012 - 12:05 PM, said:

TNF100 web site has maps and separate course description:
Leg 2 to Leg4 BUT from Leg3 Dunphy's Swamp at 38k mark you go direct north  on megalong valley rd to 47k mark and onwards as Ironpot ridge  area is private land with access only on race day.

Ewan decided that 42km wasn't going to be enough and had us sail past the Dunphy's turn off and continue to the locked gate and back so it would become a nice little 52km adventure ... MrD is accepting no responsibility ...