Hell Run Lorne
Saturday 24th September 2016
10km,
21km, 42km, 63km (with relay option)
Surf Coast Hell
Run is the newest mountain trail run on the Trailsplus calendar. Aptly named
for the burning sensation your quad muscles will experience during the
1st, 2nd or 3rd descent depending on your chosen event. The course is
set in the majestic mountains at the back of the Seaside coastal town of Lorne
along the Great Ocean Road. It offers incredibly beautiful scenic mountain
trails with challenging ascents for the first half on the easy to navigate
teardrop shape course. Then the fun and fire begin as the speed increases and
the breaking effects of the quad muscles start to glow red hot. Of course you
could take the easy option and cruise on down but why not attack the long
downhill section having endured the initial half of climbing to get there. The
race will consist of a 10km, a 21km, a 42km and a 63km event. Access to the
start area will be via shuttle bus as parking will be managed away from the
race start finish location.
Pre-race -
As mentioned in
previous posts, I really enjoy Trailsplus events especially You Yangs. The
events are usually small, friendly and interesting. On a whim, I decided to
enter The Hell Run and asked two friends – Chris and Bec – to join me for the
team option. I was interested in Surfcoast Hell Run for a few reasons; I needed
work on hills, I love Lorne and it was something different.
The week before
the event, the Great Ocean Rd was affected by wild weather and
landslides. Trailsplus Race Director (RD) – Brett – emailed updates on road
closures and potential threats to the event. Two days before race day, we received
notification the run would go ahead. Phew! I had trained consistently on local
hills for a month and I was keen to race! I avoided hills for a long time
because of hip issues but after the last few weeks, I could feel my legs were
stronger. And I liked the challenge!
The day before
the event, I drove to Lorne (with Bec) and we arrived at the Mantra with plenty
of time to source a good dinner location. We walked along the main strip of
Lorne and I silently reminisced about previous trips to Lorne.
One in particular… years ago, my dad was on a cancer
retreat at The Cumberland, Lorne. It was on my mind because it was only
three days before the anniversary of his death (which also marked exactly half
of my life without him). I was a little emotional (and hormonal) but OK.
Eventually, Bec
and I arrived at Lorne pub and decided to stay for dinner. The view was
beautiful. As we were waiting for Chris (and his wife), we realised the Trailsplus
crew were there for dinner too. We joined the group for a meal and pre-race
chatter. After dinner, we strolled back to the hotel and organised ourselves
for the early morning departure. I chose long tights, Two Bays singlet, long-sleeve
top, waterproof jacket, beanie, gloves and Injinji socks. I wore my Kathmandu vest,
which I filled with Nuun electrolytes and I also packed 3 gels. I ran in my Brooks
Glycerin, despite being advised to wear trail runners. I trusted my Glycerin. I
converted from Asics Nimbus to Brooks Glycerin after The Tan. Glycerin made all
the difference to my left leg niggles.
Bec and I
talked, listened to music and I ate way too many brownies. Note to self: Bec is an awesome team member and supplies tasty treats!
We set an alarm for 5am and went to sleep.
Race day -
In the morning,
I woke a few minutes before the alarm (typical on race day), dressed and had a
cup of tea. We grabbed our packs, bags with fresh clothes and headed to the bus
pick up point. The bus trip was relatively short. We arrived at Sheoaks Picnic
Ground with plenty of time to register and listen to the race briefing. I had
read the notes… but having never been to Sheaoks Picnic Ground before, most of
the instructions went straight through to the keeper. Brett gave his race
briefing (and before he finished), I
dashed to the toilet one last time (my digestion wasn't great due to PMS). We had decided on our order; 1st
runner – Me, 2nd runner – Bec and 3rd runner – Chris. I
was cold and quite happy to run first.
The run started
in an open area, went around the back of the toilet block and out onto a fire
trail. I deliberately started slow, expecting a tough first half of the race. It
didn’t take long to warm up and I ditched my long sleeve top. Lorne suffered a
downpour of rain in the week prior but surprisingly the ground wasn’t too
boggy. The rain softened the ground and although it was slightly slippery in
sections, it was much better than expected.
The first three
or four kilometres were easier than anticipated and my splits were 7:10, 6:20,
5:38 and 5:59min/km pace. There were some ups and downs. The surroundings were
beautiful; green and bright. The trail was covered in debris and random
branches sticking out of the ground. There were some unstable rocks but overall
it was OK. Around the 5-6km mark… the uphill sections became steeper! As the
elevation increased (127-metre gain) my pace decreased (9:04min/km). The next
few kilometres were 8:16, 8:58… I lost satellites for about 600 metres… 5:46,
7:11 and 6:16min/km pace. During the uphill, I managed to overtake a few
runners… (I should say that they were 63km runners). Even so, I was feeling fairly
comfortable.
At the top of
the hill, I saw George manning the aid station. He helped me by grabbing a gel
from the back of my hydration vest and told me to keep running to the left, out
and back, and not to go to the tower. I walked a little and inhaled my gel. I resumed
running, feeling refreshed from the break. I ran about 2km over small rolling
hills until I reached a closed gate. I saw the tower to the left and an arrow
on the ground. The turn-around point… (or so I thought!) I turned around
and ran back towards George. I smiled at a few runners coming the other way. Reaching
the downhill section, gave me a chance to appreciate the new environment. It was
calm and peaceful.
Somewhere
around 10km, I came across the aid station again and continued straight downhill.
I was comfortably sitting on sub 5min/km pace until another runner caught up to
me… A runner who I assumed would have been in front of me?! He asked me if I remembered
the out and back loop and I said yes. But something wasn’t right. I asked what
his GPS said and realised mine was about 2km less… I knew I lost satelittes
around 7km… I wasn’t sure how much distance I was missing…
Was it 2km?
Maybe?
No! No way…
Oh no! What have I done? Was there a second out and back
loop that I missed? I stopped and considered my options. Or should I say… I
stopped and began to panic.
What had I
done? What had I missed? I was so confused. I thought there must have been a
second out and back loop that I missed. I decided to turn around and make up
the missing 2km by running in the opposite direction (even though I wasn’t sure
I was actually missing 2km due to losing satellites earlier on…) I was
stressing out. I was running much slower than necessary and lost the advantage
of the downhill stretch. My pace slowed to 6min/km pace. I was overwhelmed.
Here I was, in the middle of a beautiful forest, running an “easy-to-navigate”
trail and I had stuffed up! How?!
I continued
running in the wrong direction, passed a few runners and asked if there was a
second out and back… I was trying to work out where I’d gone wrong. I think I
just confused other runners (not my intention).
I lost all
connection to my calm and peaceful place…
I ran about
1.5km and recognised a runner from earlier in the race (I knew I'd been ahead of
him earlier in the race). I decided to turn around with him and head to the finish line. We and he reassured me that I’d made up more than enough distance and I'd definitely been ahead of him. He was a 63km runner and had two more laps to go, however
I stayed with him until the end of his first lap (my one and only lap). The
last few kilometres were 5:31, 4:55, 4:44, 5:23 and 5:54min/km splits. The last
kilometre went onto a single-track and over a small, wooden bridge. It was
really pretty, but I couldn’t take it in. As soon as I crossed the finish, I
tagged Bec and told Brett (RD) that I had stuffed up somehow. But how?!
We talked it
through and realised I turned around too early. The arrow at the gate was
telling me to go around the gate and to the right (away from the tower). The
turn around marker was approximately another kilometre along the path. Which
would be explain why I was 2km short on my Garmin. As it turned out, I ran an
extra 600 metres. But I was still so frustrated and disappointed. I was running
strong uphill and looking forward to the downhill. I crossed the finish line feeling
like I’d barely run (because I held back so much in the second half).
After Bec began
running, I saw Chris and immediately apologised. I get lost and distracted
easily but I had a responsibility to my team members to pay attention. And I
knew that our team should be disqualified for not following the course
correctly (there was nothing I could do.
I couldn’t fix my mistake).
I found my bag
and changed into clean clothes. I replenished some fluids and chatted to a few
runners. I discovered I wasn’t the only one who turned around at the gate, but I
was still feeling pretty flat (and anti-social). I offered to take some photos
for Trailsplus, which was a welcome distraction. The weather was perfect, the
surroundings were beautiful and there were some amazing runners on course
(running up to 63km). I really enjoyed capturing their inspiring moments on
camera.
About four
hours later, our team finished. Bec and Chris both ran a great race (Chris
smashed the course by finishing in 1:50). I believe we finished about fifty
minutes ahead of the second team but I didn’t feel right about it. And I didn’t
want anyone thinking I deliberately took a shortcut. I asked Brett to give the
trophy to the other team. Bec and Chris were really supportive and forgiving.
Post race -
After
presentations, we rode the bus back to the heart of Lorne. We ate lunch at an
awesome little burger joint (best mushroom burger ever)! After lunch my digestion really started playing up and I had bad pains. Luckily, Bec offered to drive us home in my car.
Overall I
enjoyed the course, even with the hills and my navigational malfunction. I’m
grateful for my awesome team mates – Chris and Bec. Brett (RD) was supportive
and reminded me it was all about having fun (I
needed the reminder)! The weather was perfect and surroundings were
beautiful.
It sounds melodramatic but I took awhile to get over
this event. The disappointment of turning around early was mixed with the
emotion of the anniversary of my dad (and my hormones making me feel awful both physically and emotionally). I knew I was being irrational. But there is a valuable lesson to learn
from it all.
Lessons -
1. Listen to
the race briefing, read the instructions and pay attention on the day!
2. Find my calm
and peaceful place, and stay there! Even if something goes wrong, it will be
OK. Getting lost is not the end of the world!
3. See no.1 and
2.
Race
feedback and will there be a next time -
Clearly, I have
a score to settle… Yes there will be a next time and I’m going to follow
directions and fly downhill!
Score: 9/10
