The Guzzler has always been a favorite event on the racing calendar for me, since it's first installment I have found myself toeing the line at this increasingly successful event.
I had spend Saturday taking in the event as a spectator as I cheered my wife around the 50km course as she tackled her first ultra, a perspective I had not had the pleasure of viewing in the past, to experience the emotions and atmosphere that I would otherwise not be aware of when I'm racing. However what I was aware of was the grit and determination it takes to cross that finish line so to be able to stand at the finish and clap and cheer my wife over the line of her first ultra is a memory I will always hold dear.
The usual feeling of race day nerves was hard to escape as I woke on Sunday morning, gathering my gear and making my way to Mount Coot-Tha, where we were to be picked up by bus and transported to the start line of The Big Sipper. It was a surreal (but oh so cool) feeling to be essentially dumped on the side of a mountain road, following a trail through the morning darkness into the middle of the bush, before a dimly lit arch came into view marking the start line.
Participants continue to arrive and the tunes began to pump, cutting through the mornings silence. I ran through my race plan in my head, calming my nerves, I knew I had put in the work and knew I was ready even with such a short turn around from my hit out at Brisbane Trail Ultra. My eyes were on the prize, I had set my goal... To go under the current course record and knew that's what it would take.
Then.... It was Go Time.
I took the first 5km of the rolling downhill start in my stride, knowing in 21km there is not much time to find your feet and I watched as the top three runners disappearing out of sight. I made my way along an out and back section leading into the one and only checkpoint of the race, receiving positive praise from my coach and race leader Ben Duffus as he passed by on his way around the reservoir. At this point I knew I was in fourth place and with still 16 km ahead of me I felt confident I could make up the ground needed to find my way on to the podium as my strengths lay in the mid to later sections of the course.
As the halfway mark approached, a runner became visible in front of me, as I closed in the decision was made with 10km to go it was time to put the foot down, there was one major climb to come in the closing stages, but I was confident I could keep the intensity to the end. Making the climb up from the reservoir on to South Boundary I pushed the pace, checking my shoulder as I made my way onto Boscombe Road Trail towards Gap Creek.
Passing through Gap Creek with plenty of fresh air behind me I knew all I had to do was just hold on, although grew curious about how far the next runner was ahead. It was now just down to the final climb, the climb that is Kokoda.... as I reached the top cramp began to find its way into my calves, with just over 3km to go I had no intention of letting this effect my race, I had created the time and took advantage of a few seconds to stretch each calf against a near by tree. The pain subsided and it was time to get it done. The final couple of kilometres everything just felt good, I knew I had run a near perfect race, I had secured myself a podium and had achieved my goal of getting under the previous course record. Crossing the finish line in third place, being greeted by my family and my coach.
Thank you to my Family/Crew, my coach Ben Duffus, my Physio Mat Britton and my BTR family (with special mention to Ben Bergan and Noelis Rheault) , my family at MAW Brothers, TrailBrew Nutrition, Chris Adams and the team from Injinji Performance Products. The support from all of you makes this journey so much easier and fun along the way.
Anthony Gordon
No comments:
Post a Comment