18 replies to this topic

[rawmountainrunner]

A mate of mine and I are planning to run the 6FT course this week. Temperature mid-20's.  How much water is needed to carry versus accessible on the track by flowing creeks etc....

I'm a strong runner and I can run 1k elev gain and down again over two hours without need for water, so i'm conditioned to run on very little. but i'm mindful the track will take 4 hours and more without race intensity,

I'm planning on just take 1L and refilling along the way.  or should I just head out with 2L to be safe?  is there also any place on the track accessible via 2WD to drop off water.

I read Cox river is polluted but there should still be some inflow creeks running ok and safe to drink?

Thanks in advance

[Paul Every]

BLY and I ran the track yesterday.

The water tanks at Coxs River (16km) and Black Range campground (35km) currently have plenty of drinkable water.

Carrying only one litre would be pushing it, especially if the day warmed up. Although it is "only" about a 20km stretch between the tanks, it includes the climbs of Mini Mini and Pluvi, which add considerable time no matter how strong one may be on the hills. You don't want to find yourself plodding along Black Range in dehydrated state.

I wouldn't be drinking from the Alum and Little River crossings between Mini Mini and the base of Pluvi. Plenty of cattle around there and I can't imagine that they would be much cleaner than the Coxs.

There isn't really anywhere suitably accessable for you to do a water drop by 2WD. There is a big clay bog on Black Range at about 33km from memory. While 4WDs were negotiating it yesterday, you wouldn't want to attempt it in a 2WD car.

Edited by Paul Every, 02 April 2012 - 10:08 AM.

[rawmountainrunner]

Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed reply Paul.  That's all the info I was looking for. I'll take extra water capacity for the 20km stretch just to be safe.

Cheers!

[RunningKiwi]

A mate and I are also planning a fatass 6ft in July.

Just wondering how you guys handle the transport situtation? Do you simply leave one car at explorers trre then drive to Jenolan start and then drive back to pick that car up after you finish again - or is there a better way to do this?

[Brick]

RunningKiwi, on 28 May 2012 - 08:04 AM, said:

A mate and I are also planning a fatass 6ft in July.

Just wondering how you guys handle the transport situtation? Do you simply leave one car at explorers trre then drive to Jenolan start and then drive back to pick that car up after you finish again - or is there a better way to do this?

Just do 12' Track.(6' Track return)

[Running Angel]

RunningKiwi, on 28 May 2012 - 08:04 AM, said:

A mate and I are also planning a fatass 6ft in July.

Just wondering how you guys handle the transport situtation? Do you simply leave one car at explorers trre then drive to Jenolan start and then drive back to pick that car up after you finish again - or is there a better way to do this?

There is a bus which runs back from Jenolan to Katoomba in the afternoon, around 3pm from memory. You do need to book in advance. Not sure of the company but I am sure a google search will bring up the info

[RunningKiwi]

thanks guys, i think the bus looks more appealing than the 12ft option!!

[Brick]

RunningKiwi, on 28 May 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

thanks guys, i think the bus looks more appealing than the 12ft option!!

Maybe in August you can join in on the annual 12' Track run.
It is lots of fun, honest.

[Nova]

Brick, on 28 May 2012 - 08:32 AM, said:

Maybe in August you can join in on the annual 12' Track run.
It is lots of fun, honest.

Out of curiosity if I could run the SFT in 5 hours and providing I had done the right training and was injury free how long would the 12' track run take?  11 hours?

[RunMikeyRun]

out of curiousity, the year i ran the 6ft in 5.09 i also ran the 12ft in 6.15 to the caves and return in just over 15 hours.  it was dark and we did get lost take a minor detour but it was a long way home.  Luckily I had company.

[RunningKiwi]

also, does the water from the water tanks need any purification or its good to go as is? Presuming it is rain water..

[Paul Every]

Nova, on 28 May 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

Out of curiosity if I could run the SFT in 5 hours and providing I had done the right training and was injury free how long would the 12' track run take?  11 hours?

Nova, Buzz and I ran it fairly comfortably in 13:50 in April. I'm not certain how Buzz would have ranked his fitness, but I'd guess I was in about 5 hour 6 Foot shape at the time.

It depends on how hard you wish to push it, what sort of shape you want to be at the finish, and how well you convert your times from the shorter distances to 90km of trails.

RunningKiwi, on 28 May 2012 - 05:29 PM, said:

also, does the water from the water tanks need any purification or its good to go as is? Presuming it is rain water..

I have never had a problem with the tank water, nor have I heard stories of other runners having complaints.

[Brick]

Nova, on 28 May 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

Brick, on 28 May 2012 - 08:32 AM, said:

Maybe in August you can join in on the annual 12' Track run.
It is lots of fun, honest.

Out of curiosity if I could run the SFT in 5 hours and providing I had done the right training and was injury free how long would the 12' track run take?  11 hours?

I am around a 5hr 6' runner maybe a bit quicker on a cool day.
And I took 12:20 last year.

[runhard]

Nova, on 28 May 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

Brick, on 28 May 2012 - 08:32 AM, said:

Maybe in August you can join in on the annual 12' Track run.
It is lots of fun, honest.

Out of curiosity if I could run the SFT in 5 hours and providing I had done the right training and was injury free how long would the 12' track run take?  11 hours?

Not sure what level you are at, but a couple of people quoting here are Ultra-running legends! doing 12ft would be no easy feet. coming up nellies to finish must be torcher!  I would allow a couple of extra hours. I reckon a good 14hours would be pretty easy depending on your training. I havent done it though. Maybe one day!  

As Paul says, depends on how hard you want to go.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[RunningKiwi]

Does anyone know if either of the tanks have water at the moment? All going to plan doing fatass 6ft this week so just need to plan fluids.

Cheers

[coureur]

Ran the track on saturday. Water aplenty in both tanks. River neck deep on me - I'm about 1.8m. Deepest on the far bank (in the direction of the race).

[RunningKiwi]

Thanks Coureur...

[Kaos]

sorry for the late reply, we ran 6ft on the weekend and didn't have any problems with the water tanks, but please don't drink from the creeks- everyone I know who has done so has come down with gastro. I started with about 2l, didn't drink much and didn't fill up at Cox's, had about a litre before the Deviation. Only filled up at 34km because I thought I should. Sure enough I still had most of it left when arriving at Caves House. This is abnormal for me, I'd normally go through 3-3.5l on a trip like this.

We crossed at the bridge, others in our group went via the river and got drenched. A couple of guys slipped and fell in, and the vertically challenged ones were almost completely submerged, and it was a bitterly cold day out of the sun.

There is one bus per day at 3pm from Cave's House to Katoomba, it is run by Trolley Tours and costs $40. Book here

http://www.trolleyto...com.au/bookings

The bus driver will probably let you out at Explorers Tree (done it for us twice) saving you from heaving your slightly smashed body those extra 2km back to the car. I hope this info helps

[RunningKiwi]

Thanks Kaos, we ran the track on the weekend and had no problem drinking from the tanks, although same as you I only had to top up at the last campsite tank. We also used the bridge for the crossing, didn't fancy getting freezing cold!

Really enjoyed my first 6ft track outing, looking forward to doing it again soon....