Tips on how to make Bogong to Hotham cut off

From AURA

If I can complete this event in 9 hours, then a lot of much better runners than me should be able to.

It is very tough and I would not try to play down the difficulties, but there are probably plenty of people who could do it yet shy away because of the reputation. Here I am referring to competitive cross-country skiers as well as bushwalkers, who do a lot of hill running to stay fit, and rogainers. (I attempted a 24 hr rogaine once only, with one of Australia's best, but only lasted 18 hrs and that was at a fast walk the whole way... I rate it as the hardest endurance sport).

I think people have the notion that one needs to be able to run the whole way to Hotham, whereas virtually everyone walks the big hills. A very fast walk up the hills still leaves time to make the cutoff. I noticed that some good runners are poor on the rough downhills; I noticed that others were running out of energy - sports drinks and the odd tube of synthetic goo are not enough.

I guess what I am saying is that the terrain & distance evens things out for everyone and the right strategy and "bush sense" will help get you through. If you have done skiing, bushwalking etc you will also know how to keep up the energy levels.

Of course you need to do the training, but again people have the notion that 160 km a week is needed for months on end. I don't think so, and I don't think all the finishers do those distances. Rogainers, skiers etc already run in the hills so are part way there with their endurance base. With days off, I average 47k/1300 m ascent a week and compete regularly in mountain running events and cross-country ski. I increased to 70k/2000m ascent starting 8 weeks before and for this race did a max of 120k/3000m two weeks before, which is the most ever. And one must be able to comfortably run 35k.

So, the seemingly impossible is perhaps within the abilities of many more healthy individuals.

The organisation of the event was superb - there must have been 3 marshalls and helpers for each runner !

Ian Wright Canberra, Australia