Time travels so fast and before you realize it your first run event for the year is here. Hares and Hounds 52k trail run, It was also my first for 2015 finishing 3rd female. I had an awesome start and an amazing finish last year. So it makes it hard to set goals. How much more is there to achieve? EVERYTHING regardless of the outcome.
This training week has been tough. We started off with rain followed by an extremely long hot humid week. It is amazing how you can mentally deal with each situation. Monday I hit the road in pouring rain with our local Rookie Road Runner’s. Followed by our Deep Water Run, ‘Well since we were saturated and wet already’. These guys so keep me honest in my training. I love their passion to run and achieving goals. For the remainder of the week, regardless of the time of day the humidity was cruel. As I hit the roads and walking tracks with nearly no one in sight, sweat drips into my shoes and runs down my face. The air is thick to breath, you dare not look at your watch as you know there is more time left or another hill to tackle. How do I do it..I think of all those Posts on Facebook and blogs I have read. The people I know who only wish they could be doing what I was doing right then. Their written or verbal words inspire me to find that energy and passion to finish that run session.
The one thing my coach has taught me over the last year is not to get too caught up in a training session outcome. (Thank you Greg Rowsell) We can not change the conditions we train in only what we learn from them.
So the car is packed, my clothes may not match. But the check list is done. One of many long road trips for 2016 begins. With my USB stick downloaded with company to listen to for my first but not my last solo roadie for the year.
With a 3am gun start on Sunday morning at Woodford for the 10th 52K Hares and Hounds Trail run, it will be a big weekend. Regardless of what it brings it will be with a smile.
Love My Running 🙂
First I would like to thank everyone for their words of support & encouragement throughout the entire event. As well as all the messages once I crossed the finishing line. I was overwhelmed as my amazing crew Sharon Kearney & husband Phil kept me informed of all your kind messages. You all became part of my epic journey.
With a 55% of DNF’s no more words are needed to describe the extreme toughness of this challenge. Not just due to elevation (7300m) or the extreme changes of temperatures (warm in valleys & cool on the mountain tops) but the ongoing & endless roughness of the terrain for the entire 160km’s. The beautiful Victorian Alp’s soon became my ongoing enemy. Making me dig deep to find every ounce of energy & mental toughness to tackle the next climb or decent over each peak. It was without doubt a mind game.
Mount Bogong the first was amazing. On reaching the summit at only 35k in, I suddenly get a true perspective of the terrain around me and what I was about to come up against. The terrain was unforgiving underfoot and at times the trail became an obstacle course of crossing rivers and climbing over & under fallen trees.
As we headed back to pole 333 after checking in at another checkpoint. It was here when we were informed of the overnight DNF’s & we were traveling in the top 10 finishes.The highlands knocked us all around. It had been over 8 hours since we had seen our crew & even with each other’s company we all were desperate to see them. On greeting them into the next day it was very emotional. We knew we had to keep moving & our stop had to be brief. We were all desperate to hit the final leg to that finish line. Along with the realization that I was now traveling in as 1st female. I had survived the night & now just needed to keep it together & keep my pace.
I crossed the line with Mat taking out 1st female. I HAD DEFEATED the 100 mile Alpine challenge. 6 major climbs in just under 35 hours.
Katherine Stark
Kathryn's Running Tales 