I ran my first ever 100km on Saturday – the Surf Coast
Century (www.surfcoastcentury.com.au/). This is a
fabulous race set around Anglesea in Southern Victoria – just off the Great
Ocean Road. I finished in 9:43 and placed third! Met all of my objectives
(finishing, getting the sub 13 hour 1 litre beer mug and going under 10 hours)
so very very happy!
For a while I had been wondering about going longer. My
longest races had been Six Foot Track, Brindabella Classic and Deep Space
Marathon, so nothing over 60km. We have wanted to take the family down to the
great Ocean Road for a while so when I saw the inaugural Surf Coast Century (a
relatively easy 100km) on during school holidays I realised this would be the
perfect opportunity.
So, fast forward to race weekend….
Leg 1 is run along the beach from Anglesea to Torquay (an
easy 21km) passing the famous Bells Beach at 15km. This was almost entirely
along the beaches under the towering cliffs. Fortunately it was low tide so the
sand was mostly hard packed. The only tricky bits were rock hopping around some
of the headlands on the exposed reef and rock pools. Talk about a beautiful
run. Weather was perfect cool and sunny with only a light breeze. I set out
easy and let the front runners take off into the distance. I was terribly slow
on the rock hopping parts not wanting to damage an ankle or take too much out of
my legs. I completed the 21 km for Leg 1 in 1:46. Sue and the kids met me at
the aid station where I had a quick change of socks/shoes, refuelled and took
off. I had no idea what place I was in and didn’t really care.
Leg 2 was a more undulating 28km across the cliff tops back
from Torquay to Anglesea. It was part of the Surf Coastal Walk and started with
fairly wide gravelly paths but got into some sweet single track as we got to the
Ironbark Basin area. At about 40 km I ran with Steve Johnson (who was
2nd at the Bush Capital 63 km) for a bit. We had a chuckle at our
slow marathon time. Steve was feeling the heat and not having a good time so I
left him and continued on the four wheel drive tracks that then joined back up
with the Surf Coast Walk. At the latter stages of this leg I was walking any
uphills and deliberately keeping my pace down. I finished the leg in 2:33 –
entering the halfway point (well 49km) in 4:21. Still no idea what place – Sue
knew I was in third position but did not share (for fear I may overdo the next
leg).
Leg 3 took us inland into the Cape Otway National Park. It
started with a scramble under a bridge – literally crawling on my stomach and
headed away from Anglesea into the bush on a large four wheel drive track. It
was quite hot and exposed and I was glad Sue had insisted on sunblocking my neck
and ears. Over the first 10km of this leg there several climbs up to the top of
Mt Ingoldsby and the “Heartbreak Hill” – neither of which were that high but
reasonably steep so I walked most of the climbs. Entering a singletrack
surrounded by wildflowers the track then took us to a Trig Point at an elevation
of about 250m at the 67 km point. I ran short of water at this point and was
happy to reach an aid station at 70km. There I refilled and was very surprised
when I was told that I was in third position amongst the solo competitors. The
next 7 km were quite slow as I walk / ran up another couple of climbs and was
very happy to reach my support crew at the Moggs Creek Aid station. That 28 km
took me 2:56 to complete. I was completely in unknown territory now. My
support team looked after me well at that aid station – forcing food into me and
got me ready for the last 23 km.
Leg 4 started with more climbs and single track which opened
out into an amazing view over Aireys Inlet and the lighthouse there. We had
climbed to the top of it the day before while doing a bit of a reccie of the
course. I felt a whole lot better during this leg though kept looking over my
shoulder to see if I could see another solo runner. I was passed by a team of 2
competitor who offered to pace me to the finish at 5:30 pace which I told him I
could not match so he gradually disappeared ahead. Another scramble under a
bridge – not easy after 85km on your legs and I was at the final aid station and
received cheery support from my wife and kids. I ran most of the way to the
lighthouse at 86km and then onto the Surf Coast Walk again which headed back to
Anglesea and the race finish. Hitting 90km I began to count the kms down.
There was a 3.5km stretch along a beach just short of Anglesea – this time not
at low tide which was a bit tough on the legs. It seemed to go on forever but I
finally reached the end and joined the Surf Coast walk again. I had a minor
panic with 2km to go where I was confused by course markings but was very
relieved to see the Anglesea SLSC and hit the beach for the final time. Ellen
and Anna ran with me for the final 400m and I crossed the line in 9 hours and 43
minutes in third position! First was Rowan Walker in a super quick 8:25.
Jonathan Worswick was second in 9:10. Steve Johnson came in fourth in
9:59.
Big thanks to Sue, Jono, Ellen and Anna for cheering me on
and supporting me so well. The course was amazing, well marked, provisioned
and the whole race extremely well organised - I would thoroughly recommend it
for next year. Not sure what I will do next yet but now one is out of the way I
am sure I will try another 100km (+) sometime in the future.
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