How Heartbreak Half Marathon nearly broke my heart…..

(The photos with this blog are from a previous run.. just to show you the territory )

How easy could this be? Running the Half marathon over the ‘Mt Marlow Track’ and the ‘Under the Radar’ track? The week before I flew at the ‘Rolling Thunder Run’, and I had run most of the distance before, right? I knew I was kidding myself.  This was not gonna be the typical marathon. Doing 6km ‘Mt Marlow’ is not for the faint hearted, add to that the 12km ‘Under the Radar’, 2km ‘Graveyard track’ THEN a couple of 100m of beach… 

I arrived early, as I do. I learned there were 75 other competitors. I was hoping not to many (fast) runners in my age group, maybe I might get a place….  Surely not to many people my age would be stupid enough to get up early to do this run?  I was thinking how to tackle this… should I go on steady at Mt Marlow and faster at ‘Under the Radar’? Problem with that is, that you get stuck behind some ‘slow pokes’ as it is hard to pass between the rocks..   So I decided to go pretty fast at the flat to the Mt Marlow track, stay as much as possible in ‘my place’; don’t pass anyone, and no one passes me. Then see how I’d go on ‘Under the Radar.’….My aim was to do the run under 2 ½ hours, but definitely under 3hrs.

The race started at about 7am and at that time it was already quite warm and muggy

Not running, climbing

So that is what I did. First km I did 4.38 min, which is pretty well flat out for me. When I started climbing I listened to the footsteps behind me and made sure they stayed the same distance… However, I couldn’t keep that up for long. There was a whole train of faster runners behind me, my heartrate went to about 170-175, I didn’t notice until I started breathing very fast. So I stopped at different safe places and let a few pass (really to catch my breath), then tried to keep up with those runners… When these disappeared amongst the rocks I let another few pass, and tried to keep up with these. I had to slow down eventually, bec I started to stumble over the rocks and sliding of the path. The sweat was pouring of me; sweat streaks over my glasses, hard to see where to go.

Downhill to Bald Rock car park was not easy either. I stopped at the drink stop drank my water and refilled. I should have filled it with Gatorade instead of water, but hey you always see clearer in hindsight, then through sweat smeared glasses at the time. They offered to spray me with the hose, but I refused. Did not want to get al sloppy and wet while running on a dusty track.

Start of 'Under the Radar Trail'

I checked my HR still about 170. “Slow down Tony, you’ll never make it with that HR”, I said to myself. I set off on a slower pace, but soon my legs got in the rhythm (about 5min/km) and my heart rate stayed... when I reached ‘Under the Radar’ I seriously took it steady, I had a check every so often, but my HR was never far away from 170.. I passed a few ‘walkers’ -runners that had given up- by then and still felt ok. Struggling but not too bad. I followed another runner ahead of me (he also didn’t go to fast) I looked at the pace.. I ran about 6-6.30min/km and I thought "if I keep this up", I should be able to make a reasonable time. 

At the water stop in the middle of ‘Under the Radar’ I had my gel. I felt stuffed, but I wasn’t dead yet. I was still jogging, but slowly and had passed a few more ‘walkers’. the man at the water stop said “only 5km left.” Liar! 5km of ‘Under the Radar’ would have been more accurate. “Nearly finished....” or so I thought.  I had a good drink and filled up my bottle again.

beaut country to run in !

The man in front of me didn’t stop for a drink so I sped up to catch up.. When he started walking, I passed him and felt great that I passed another person. I had experience, I had run Under the Radar before, I can do this!  The guy had a ‘snake-lolly’, when he finished chewing he jogged passed me.  I stuck behind him, then he walked again and I passed him. This was repeated 5 or 6 times. I just kept plotting along, but it was getting frustrating and demoralizing.. so after the 5th or 6^th time, I started walking when he walked, jogging when he jogged.  Never, never, never walk in a run, because it is nearly impossible to start running again. As you all know. Eventually that ‘walk/jog –guy’ was somewhere behind me, so at least  I had beaten another ‘walker’.

the beach.... very difficult after the long run

My legs started to stiffen up, my will power was nearly broken... I walked a fair bit up the hill of ‘The Graveyard loop.’ When I heard the sounds of the finish line I forced myself in a faster pace. It wasn’t a jog anymore, more of a fast shuffle.  I hit the beach and saw the white sign in the distance, I trotted a km further (I thought) and the white board didn’t seem to be any closer. After a life time of beach trotting I made it to the turn of . . . after a long stretch of loose sand (actually about 5m)  I made it to the bitumen...

I heard people clap, “well done”, but it was all in a daze. That walk/jog -guy passed me on the beach and I was aiming to pass him, my shuffle went a bit faster and had a look of a slow jog..I never did pass him.  I crossed the finish line, I stared at the lady taking the times etc.. I said “51” and she said “all done”

I stopped my Garmin: 2:39:33. Done. I felt too exhausted to care.

I was in a daze, looking for food and water and a seat. Grabbed half a banana, and a filled a cup of water, I was so weak, I spilled most of it. When I sat down, a cramp came from my knee to my groin. I wanted to get up to stretch my leg, but couldn’t. OUCH!  I writhed on my seat and the guy next to me asked if I was alright. MY face turned to him, and with my eyes shut I said ‘fine fine, just cramp’. 

I remembered I had water with salts etc in my car. So I started to ‘walk’ to my car. I couldn’t find it at first.. my brain still not working. I found it eventually, got the waterbottle from the car and had problems closing the door. My fine motor skills weren’t too good still.

I walked back somehow, had watermelon and banana and this 750ml drink.. I had more water and waited for the announcements.. I spoke to someone that was in my age group and his time was 2.15. So I knew that I most likely would not have a place.  

After the announcements I went home. As I sat in the car, the cramp in my right leg came back… OUCH… I massaged it and squeezed my eyes until it subsided… I got home safely, found my bed and fell asleep, sweaty and all. I woke at 1pm and was starving!

PS my placing:

3. Heart Break Half Marathon - Male 50 +

Place		Name	Time
1		John Hoggan	2:18:38
2		Robert Smythe	2:34:09
3		Antony Daamen	2:39:29
4		Stuart Corbett	2:58:10
5		Ross Johnston	3:49:38

Rolling Thunder Mayhem

The Rolling Thunder run (Paluma to Hidden Valley Cabins)

This year is my third run in the Rolling thunder. I remember well when I run the first time. I was nearly delirious when I arrived, and was looking for the ‘timer’ so I could stop running!  There wasn’t anyone taking the time, so I ran around asking who timed me and where to go,  until someone stopped me and gave me some water. I sat down . . .  and was very stiff when I got up!

The second time, I ran with Cameron. He flew ahead like always, but every so often he would go in the bushes to relieve himself and –like the hare and the turtle- I passed him at that time !! I was so stuffed that I could not eat my Steak and salad. BTW My time was 2hrs, 8 min and a bit.

This year would be different. I felt it. My goal was to 1) get under 2hrs or 2) be faster than last year.

My plan was the same as last year: Run the 22km in 5km lots. Run to the next water stop. When we set off and we came to the first couple of hills, I was amazed how easy it was to get on top.. last year I was always struggling with the first 8km (of hills).  Now I could even sprint up a little. On the long stretches I saw Cameron and the other ‘greyhounds’ ahead of me; however they were not disappearing in the distance. Every time I saw them I was still the same distance away from them.   

At the 5km waterstop I had a quick rinse-and-sip. I felt great and did not want to lose my ‘place’.

The ten km waterstop arrived quickly and I checked for my time travelled. It was slightly under one hour: 55 min!  I thought: If I keep this up, I might do this race under 2 hours!  I felt great, not tired, no ‘wall’ and stayed the same distance with the runner in front of me

At the 15km waterstop I took a gel, to prepare for the last stretch.. At the 17-18km mark I met Cameron. His backpack was poking him, and his legs were hurting ! I felt great (that I passed him) and that I was close to finishing.

By that time the guy I followed had disappeared in the distance…

At the 20km waterstop I knew I was close and did not have a drink, instead tried to speed up a little, I had about 10 min left to make it under 2hrs!  It is hard to run sub 5min/km on a dirt road after 20km!  Lucky the road wasn’t too corrugated!  Again I saw someone in front of me and I was gaining on him! I went faster to catch up, but he speeded up too, I really wanted to pass him, but I did not have the legs for the last little hill to the gate..  anyhow: time 1hr 59min 51 seconds!!!!! Under 2hrs and I was third.. the guy I was chasing was a ‘walker’ that started the run at 2pm !

Great run -most of it downhill- and through one of the most beautiful areas in this region. The shower and rest around the pool was well earned.. the beer tasted fantastic (Stella Artois)! The food was very good and reasonable priced. At about 7.30pm me and Cameron took the bus back to the car.. On the way we saw a red looking ‘possum’. The driver did not recognize the animal, and asked us if he could drive back to get the camera and some books. We were as excited as him to see this animal in the trees, so we didn’t mind. However another car came past and gave us a lift to our car instead.

When we arrived in Paluma it was covered in mist!  A bit of a hairy ride in the beginning down the hill, but soon we were under the clouds and we came home safely. 

A great night out, and I look forward to next year!