Six Foot Track - 18th in 3:48:36

Well, the day started in a panic. I completely misjudged timing to arrive at Katoomba High School with 20 mins spare, only to find a queue of 500 people waiting for minibuses. Jumped to the front after hearing an official shouting; "any Wave 1's?  No?  Any Wave 2's?" and arrived with a few mins to spare.  A few quick hellos, lined up next to Tucks, Quentin, Taffy James and Banksy and we're off.  It's the usual mad scramble down the steep, rocky descent.  Probably the most dangerous start to a race on the calendar.  Quentin leaps ahead, I see Muz just in front, then down the steps of Nellies Glen a familiar voice calls my name 2 places behind and it's Mad Robbie Neal.  Held a conversation with him most of the way down before seeing him cruise ahead on the flatter section of Megalong Valley, off to finish a brilliant 5th place in 3:34.

Along Megalong I chat to Banksy before he lets me pull ahead saying "I'll see you at the finish".  I replied; "more likely along Black Range", not realising how portentous this would prove.  My calves are very tight and sore at the bottom of Nellies and I was getting seriously worried.  I've still got 40km to go, there's no way they're going to survive?  Tucks then catches and we run together with Jim Perrett, overtaking quite a few people at this stage.  Great to see Kirst cheering on shortly before the winery, shame the kids couldn't be arsed to get out of bed.  Kirst said Marty Dent was very chipper and chatted to her as she cheered him on. However, this was about 400m before he took a wrong turn.  Apparently he wasn't so cheerful after that.

The technical section down to Cox's is one of my worst sections.  I can just never run this quick.  It's worse this year trying not to aggravate the calves.  Tucks and Jim put in about a minute on me over this 3km section.  3 or 4 others politely asked to come past me here, including Hanny Alston who went on to have a stormer.  But eventually I crossed Cox's with Tongey in 68:20 - about 30s quicker than my previous PB in 2011.

Then the hills of Mini Mini start.  The steep hills seem to help my calves in stretching them out, but the bottom of my left hammy starts to tighten.  Notwithstanding this tedious self analysis, I'm actually feeling pretty good and full of energy.  I decide I'm going to run all the hills at this point, even if it's a shuffle.  As a result I start to catch a few, including Hanny, towards the top of Mini Mini.  Also go past Muz at this stage who is already in trouble, saying he's not cut out for this sort of crap!  The downhill to Alum Creek is painful, legs starting to seize up now.  I then start the shuffle up Pluvi and suddenly this bloke comes flying past - Alex Matthews!  What the hell has he been doing?!

Well, I crest Pluvi in 2:12:30ish (64:11 KOM split - not far behind even Fats) but the legs are now seriously buggered.  From then on, I just drag my ass to the finish.  Banksy comes past just after Caves Rd but I don't care, I just want this thing done with.  Overtook a couple of poor souls in even worse condition than me - Jim Perrett and Campbell Maffett - when you blow on this course you really blow.   Then the long downhill to Caves House starts.  This is just agony.  My quads are screaming.  No more, surely.  Then the crowds.  Then the finish.  I'm ecstatic.  I've done it.  Not sure anyone cares, but I do.  Putting yourself through this pain makes you feel a little but better about yourself.

Run of the day was definitely James Matthews.  I thought sub 4 was a stretch goal but he smashes it looking super strong with a 3:53.  But honourable mentions to Tucks going sub 3:40, Worswick going sub4 (with a Pluvi to finish split in the top 15!) and Banksy with a 31minute PB.

Looking at the splits, and like most things in life, I am Mr Average.  21st quickest to Cox's, 20th quickest KOM, 20th quickest Pluvi to Finish.  But most time can be made up from Pluvi to Finish.  Worswick and Taffy Jim smashed me on this section.

Will I be back?  Not sure.  I still can't walk properly 3 days later.  But there's something about this event.

500m to go:

..and about to cramp:

Me, in front of Tucks, oh yes:

Crossing Cox's, with Tongey:

I did it!