Dave Hosking's race report - 1st in the 63 km

Yes, news does travel fast - local runner, David Hosking achieved a 1st placing in the Bush Capital 63 km run over the weekend.  Congratulations to you!

Here is his race report:

Bush Capital Ultra 63km

A while ago I decided I should try something a bit longer....and have been looking for a race to target up to 100km in length.  I have tentatively entered the Surf Coast Century (an off road event down off and around the Great Ocean Road).  So the Bush Capital Ultra was a bit of a test and long training run.

The course was actually an out and back half marathon in the Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve north of Gungahlin in Canberra.  If you were brave enough to do the marathon, you did the course twice and if you were mad enough to do the Ultra, three times.  My goal was to survive the race and be in shape to bounce back into training the week after.

I started off what I thought was quite conservatively chatting with Martin Fryer (World 48 hour Champion) and well know Australian Ultra Runner.  He and I ran the first half marathon together in just over 1:37.  There was one chap in front of us who had come down from Sydney - and he was about 3 minutes ahead after 21km.  Martin dropped back soon after - he was still recovering from a 6 day race!  I continued on at the same pace and received reports along the way that the leader was now 4 minutes ahead.  It was really quite difficult to see far ahead as the course wound along rough undulating fire trails so the next time I saw him was at the half way point where we turned and he was just under 3 minutes in the lead.  At about 38km I heard I was gaining on him (less than 1 minute behind).  Finally I was able to see the guy and as we finished the marathon in 3:16 I passed him.  I kept pushing on to try and put on a bit of a gap and at 53km (turnaround point) I was just over 4 minutes ahead and was able to back off the pace about during the last 10 km.

Finished the race in just over 5 hours and 2 minutes - over 4 minutes up on 2nd and 6 minutes up on 3rd place.  Very happy with the time on a pretty rough course and obviously thrilled to win.  Better still I can work reasonably normally today (Monday) so that is a good sign....!

Cheers
David