Trailrunning News 2009 #9 - Sept
Coming Events
DELXC 6HR Trail Run - Sun 27 Sep
Bribie Beach Bash - 11 Oct - 8-45k
Straddie Salute – 11 Oct - 8k
Lamington National Classic - 24/25 Oct - 22k x 2
DELXC 6HR Trail Run – This Sunday 27 Sept
Looking for something different? Then you've come to the right place. Try an exciting new race, with 6hrs of awesome trail running, either as a team of up to 4 people or do a solo. Run on the sweet 6.5km single-track loop, winding around the hillside of Raleigh Park. Whoever can do the most laps in 6hrs wins. Lots of categories to choose from. $10, 000 cash plus prizes up for grabs.
Where: Raleigh Park, 377 Charleys Gully Rd, Freestone Qld 4370 Directions: From Brisbane head towards Warwick on Cunningham HWY. From Aratula, drive 46km. Turn left into Freestone Rd. Drive 3.3km and turn left into Charleys Gully Rd. Drive 3.8km to enter property. Follow parking signs.
Entry closes midnight, this Thursday 24th September 2009 Entry at: http://www.delxc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=8 Bribie Beach Bash – Saturday 11 Oct
The date is now fixed for 11th October 2009. A great beach run at low tide, and it supports the Endeavour Foundation. Start from North Street Worrim, Bribie Island (Surf Side). 42.2k, 21.1k, 15k, 10k, 6k, 3k. Website: http://geoffsruns.com/?p=75
TRAQ Membership
Anyone joining from September will be credited as a member throughout 2010. Cost is $30, for which you get a 10% discount on event, plus the satisfaction of supporting the organisation which organises your favourite trails races. We do approach members to help at one event a year, and try to find a task and time that suits you.
Regular Trail Runs
Mt Cotton: Brisbane Bayside Runners do a Trail run out at Mt Cotton most Sunday mornings. If interested send an email Mgilla (Coolrunning name) at [email protected].
City Run: An informal lunchtime Botanic Gardens loop-run is being offered on the first Tuesday of each month. It includes 5 gentle hills in about 10 minutes, so you can do as many loops as you like on nice soft grass in your lunchbreak. 12.10pm start inside the Albert Street Gates, contact [email protected]
Bunyaville: contact Grant Cooper for midweek evening runs at [email protected]
Glasshouse Mountains: contact Alun Davies at [email protected]
Women's Group Run Southside: contact Tamyka Bell at [email protected]
Women's Group Run Northside: contact Lynn Davies at [email protected]
Glasshouse 100 – 20th Anniversary
So, the 20th year of Glasshouse Trail runs is behind us. Each event this year has generated record numbers of competitors and finishers which culminated in the Glasshouse 100 event over September 12th/13th being no exception.
A day at the races ... 12 km
The top order in the supposed ‘shorter’ events this year has gained a familiar feel to it with Andrew Handyside, David Topp, Warren Young and teenager Keny Arcangeli featuring regularly. It was no different this time around with Warren holding off what has become a good field and going under fifty minutes for the distance, with Keny coming in second. Naomi Dalmau took out the female race.
These events have drawn over 100 starters at each meet this year and have exposed a wealth of talent that can only be good for trail running. 30 km - This race again produced some good performances with the usual suspects at the head of the field. The race was won by Antony Boyd with Heidi Denton winning the females race. The evergreen Adrian Pearce was still up there in the mix keeping them honest!
50 km - With late course changes and a revised start time, the 50 km course proved to be a tough one with some experienced Glasshouse runners finding it hard going on the day. This served to highlight just how good some of these athletes are with Jeff Rudd finishing in 4:53 which clinched the overall series win and the Ian Javes Trophy with Mandy-Lee Scott taking out her first race and first ultra, with an excellent 5:36 to back up solid performances in May (2nd, 30km) and July (2nd, 24km)
100 km - With record numbers in the 100 mile event, the 100 km race didn’t seem to be drawing much attention but that was before Deb Nicholl took it by the scruff. Hot favourite before the event, she took off with intent and was 20 metres clear of the field before they’d left the car park. That set the tone for the day with Deb finishing in 10:10, a full hour ahead of her nearest competitor, Arnstein Prytz who won the men’s race. Despite missing Flinders due to injury, this was enough for Deb to take the overall series win and claim the June Canavan Trophy (in memory of June who was among those who lost their lives in the PNG airplane accident this year).
100 mile - It seems everyone wants to run 100 miles these days, well 35 of us anyway. This year’s race so many familiar faces with many taking a first outing at the distance. With absentees such as four time winner David Waugh, Philip Murphy, Roger Guard and Michael Lovric absent, the field was considered wide open and those at the pointy end didn’t disappoint.
Rolf Collette looked to be a contender with Nigel Waddington, Martin Schott, Wayne Gregory and Malcolm Gamble always likely to be in contention. Among others to watch would be Lisa Spink and Peggy MacQueen. In the end there was the usual rate of attrition with 20% of the field unable to finish. Despite conditions being apparently ‘easier than usual’, the first 100 km of the course took it’s usual toll and was a good introduction to 100 mile trail running for many who were new to the field. Of the 28 finishers, thirteen came home inside 24 hours with five of those under 20 hours.
Martin Schott took out the men’s race for his second Glasshouse 100 win in 18:58 with Peggy MacQueen only five minutes behind winning the female race.
Further News ... We have been desperately trying to find the time to devote to a special Glasshouse newsletter this year but it hasn't been able to be done. With the series now over for the year, I will be looking to issue one in coming weeks with a wrap of the year's events, feel free to drop me a line here if you’d like to receive a copy.
If you have any race reports that you would like included for publication here on the website or in the newsletter, please let me know. In the meantime, train safely and see you out on the trails (Hares & Hounds will be on before you know it!)
P.S. Finishers in the 100 mile and 100 km events can order a commemorative polo shirt if they wish. Orders can be made using the order form, here, or shortly on-line. The order will be placed on October 5th, so you have until October 2nd to mail the form. A link will be added on the Glasshouse site and advised to entrant via email.
Cheers, Alun Davies, TRAQ
Final results: http://www.runtrails.org/GH/Results/2009/04%20GH100/GH100-Results- 2009.html
Tamborine Trek (13th Sept) Cancellation
The Gold Coast Runners Club Committee announced they decided to cancel this years Tamborine Trek as the dates allowed by the EPA clashed with several other events, in particular the World Triathlon and the Glass House Trails.
Lamington Classic Full – Waitlist Info
If you missed out you can email [email protected] to join the waitlist. Its up to eight already, but we expect a few drop-outs and also there are gaps on Sunday due to one-day runners, so you still have a chance. Replacements will be notified by email in order of joining the waitlist.
Feature Article: Queensland Women on the Trails
The last few years have seen a number of Queensland women stepping up to ultras and performing extremely well. Here are just a few of those:.
Rachel Waugh: First Australian women to run sub 24hr in 100 mile trail run at Glasshouse, has a best time of around 20 hr 38min.
Tamsin Barnes: Has finished Glasshouse 100 mile trail run for the last three years, twice under 24hrs, best of 22:46. Also finished GNW 100 mile trail run.
Tamyka Bell: Has finished Glasshouse 100 mile and also Western States ( USA ) 100 Miles (twice ) in the last three years.
Deb Nicholl: Yet to do 100 mile but beat the men in the Glasshouse 50 mile trail run in May 2009 in a time of 7:27 ( second only to David Waugh for that distance. Has run 50k on trail in sub 4:30. First woman in New Zealand's Classic Southern Crossing of the Tararuas, 2009.
Lisa Spink: Burst onto the scene in 2008 with first female in 50k at Hares and Hounds ( 5:26 ) and followed with first female in 50 mile ( 8:47) and 100 mile ( 21:48 ) at Glasshouse. Also finished Coast to Kosciusko in 2009.
Susannah Harvey-Jamieson: Twice finished 100 mile at Glasshouse with a best of 24:04 ( should have broken 24hr but did about 10k extra ). Also finished numerous runs over 50 miles/km at Glasshouse in the last few years. Ran the second best distance ever by an Australian woman ( 209km ) in a 24 hr track run an was in a Australian team for World 100km Championships in Europe. Will be running in Commonwealth 24hr Track Championships in September. Narelle Coutts: Ran 9:04 for 50 mile trail run at Glasshouse in May, 2009 and also ran the 50k in 5:06 at the Flinders Tour.
Peggy MacQueen: Finished second ( 4:47 ) only a few minutes behind Jeff Rudd in 50k at the Flinders Tour, 2009. Has also finished at GNW trail run in NSW.
Glenda Banagan: 3rd in Dayboro to Mt Mee and in 3rd team to finish Kokoda Challenge, 2009. It was an all female team and was the first team to have all four members finish.
Nikky Carroll: Has run 50k ( 4:35 in 1994 )and 50mile ( 7:52 in 1991 ) at Glasshouse trail runs in the past and been part of the Nike/Hammer team which won the Kokoda Challenge. I recall her beating the first male in a 35 km trail run at Glasshouse by 20 minutes in 1996.
Maree Stephenson: Won this year's Pomona Queen of the Mountain title from a tough field, as well as first women on the Mount Glorious Mountain Trails 2009.
Hube Wichers will be competing in Europe this September, starting with the World Mountain Running Champs (8km up and down) in Italy 6 Sept, and then to England for the first Commonwealth Champs (18 Sept 8km: 900 up to Skiddaw and 20 Sept 8km:500-600 up and down (to Latrigg and back). The C’wealth champs are held at Keswick, right in the heart of the fell running scene.
"We are very proud of our Ashgrove Rangers club president, Hubertien Wichers, who is currently in Italy competing in the World Mountain Running Champs on the 6th September. After competing in the world champs, Hube will spend time with her parents and family in Holland before heading to England for the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships on the 18th and 20th September. The world champs open women category will be a tough one with approximately 80 runners in the field. Hube is the second oldest competitor, so lets hope she can show the young ones how its done on the 550m up and down and 8.5km in length! The commonwealth race in England is about 900m up over about 8km, also a very tough one!
Hubertien has had a few injury setbacks this year and only just got the ‘all clear’ from her physio a few days before the King of the Mountain in Pomona. After competing at Pomona she tested her short burst capacity at the Sydney Tower run up. That went well, doing a PB, and coming fourth in a better quality field than what you find at the Empire State Building run up!" (source: Ashgrove Rangers website)
Clare Geraghty: Queensland's Clare Geraghty took out the Australian cross country championships on the 29 August in unseasonably warm weather at Willandra, just west of Nowra. The women's race saw Clare and junior Tamara Carvolth establish a lead on the first lap, before the diminuitive Geraghty pulled away on the second lap. However, the race was not fully decided at that point, with NSWs Angela Leadbeatter catching up to Geraghty.
"I felt Angela on me and I thought that second would still be fantastic," said Geraghty. "But then, I don't know where it came from, I just sprinted that last bit and I think I broke her." Geraghty crossed the line in 30:15 for a four second win from Leadbetter, with Victoria's Fiona Nash finishing third in 30:22. Source: http://www.insideathletics.com.au/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=1120:perrett-and-geraghty-win-maiden-cross-country- titles&catid=1:news&Itemid=2
Bunyaville State Forest 7km
We are planning to offer a couple more of these short informal Saturday afternoon runs over the summer. More information in the next newsletter. Link to the Bunyaville course map follows, definitely one of the most accessible trails in Brisbane: http://runtrails.org/articles/wp- content/uploads/2009/09/bunyaville.jpg
The Bunya Mountains
We've had a few trips to the Bunya Mountains to check them out, and are thinking of an informal weekend early next year. At 900m elevation its a great place to run in summer, beautiful singletrack trails and outlooks to the great western expanse. This will be a self-help affair, where you can book your own accommodation. Group runs will be offered, but it won't be a race. There are a number of shorter options close to the Parks HQ of 5-8km, among the most untouched forest, and a longer out- and-back option on the west of about 25km. See "pics of the week" below...
Yurrebilla Trail 56km Ultra - 27th Sept
This course, which started life as an informal run, has firmed up as a formal event after the attractive course attracted many entries. Some excerpts from the Coolrunning forum are provided below to give the flavour of the event: http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php? showtopic=22632&pid=494352&st=100&#entry494352
"Well done, Wida, for setting up a new thread for the 2009 Yurrebilla Trail 56km Ultra. As a member of the organizing committee I will try and keep people updated about the event over the next seven months as well as answer any questions people have. Also please use this thread to make any suggestions for making the event even better…"
Question: Did I hear a rumour out on one of the training runs that there will also be a "Mini"billa this year that will start half way along the trail? I just had a look on the website and can't see any reference to it. I plan on doing the whole lot but I'm sure some runners will like the short option.
Answer: We have decided not to run any "mini-billas" in 2009. It is a big step up for us to run the event this year as a race. Getting marshals to cover the whole distance for the length of time that people will be out on the trail, marking parts of the trail etc are all a really big jump from the two group runs of the previous years.
We also want to make sure that in turning the event into a race we don’t lose any of the spirit and fun of the previous two years. With this in mind we intend to begin with staggered group starts at half hour intervals with the faster runners starting last. This means that everyone gets a chance to see everyone else and cheer each other on. I remember last year running in the middle ‘B’ Group heading down the windy creek of Horsnell Gully and catching up to Mama and Papa Treason from ‘C’ group and then being overtaken myself minutes later by Treason and Andrew M who were leading the ‘A’ group.
Question: I would really love to do the Yurrebilla this year but it will come down to a combination of things ( how I do in my first ultra at the end of May, how the newborn is going and airfare cost I guess ). Will have to wait and see but it looks like a great event.
Answer: Would be great to have you on board for Yurrebilla this year – last year we had Kathy M from Alice Springs and Chilliman from Victoria as our only two interstaters – so you would be our first Western Australian! We are hoping though for lots more interstaters in 2009 with Yurrebilla being included on the AURA calendar.
Yurrebilla is a great event for people new to ultramarathons because most of us involved in running and organizing the event are just that. Most of us have done marathons before but prior to Yurrebilla had never ventured any further. There have been runners in both previous years who had previously only completed half marathons. It appears that people can get through the distance OK if they have a solid running base, take it easy all day, walk the hills, and make sure they keep their fluids and food intake up throughout the day. It is for this reason that we have no entry criteria for the event. We feel that we can do this safely because it is such a well supported event with support stops every 5kms, as you come out of one park and enter another. All this, never far from the city of Adelaide, and most of the run on bush trails… what more could you ask for in a run!
2010 Australian Rogaining Champs – Snowy Mountains
The 2010 Australian Championships will be held on 27-28 March (the weekend before Easter) in the beautiful Snowy Mountains, a 2 hour drive from Canberra. The course will be set by national rogaining champions, David Baldwin and Julie Quinn, and will provide excellent navigational challenges in a beautiful environment.
Terrain will vary from alpine ash forests, through snow gum woodlands and granite boulderfields, to open plains. Autumn in Kosciuszko typically provides superb clear days with cool evenings. The Hash House will offer ideal camping and there is caravan park and lodge accommodation within 5 minutes drive. Numbers will be strictly limited to a 550 maximum. Driving times to the Hash House: 2 hours from Canberra, 5 hours from Sydney, and 7 hours from Melbourne. Other activities to plan your holiday around: Australian 3-days Orienteering Carnival around the ACT region, the National Folk Festival in Canberra
Website: http://act.rogaine.asn.au/arc2010/
Marco Olmo DVD "The Runner" Out
Hi everyone, I’m one of the authors of the movie "The Runner", with Marco Olmo. Just writing to say that the movie is finally out! The movie is fully subtitled in english. You can see the official trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvGM6r3pIk and the official website here: http://www.unpassodopolaltro.it
Bye, Paolo
Editor’s note: Marco is a two time winner of the Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc Link to runtrails article: http://runtrails.org/articles/?p=754 Ulmo video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvGM6r3pIk
Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc 2009 – Coolrunning Reports
I've just witnessed the start. Wow, what a sight as 2,300 runners snaked their way out of town to the cheers of thousands more. Music was blaring through the streets and it was impossible not to get caught up in the emotion of it all.
I caught up with (aussies) Spud and Jan before the start and they were both relaxed and looking forward to their journey. There are two other Aussies whom we couldn't track down amongst the many thousands. Patrick Hodgens of the Sydney Striders appears to have started and his number is 2149. It looks as though Richard Mountstephens hasn't started as the registration area has him listed as "yet to pay" - Kevin Cassidy on Coolrunning Don't forget the fifth Australian - Jim Villiers. He is currently living in Switzerland but is very much Australian, and is in 19th position at the moment. He was in the top 20 last year but had to withdraw fairly late in the race. I think he's pretty well known to a lot of the Striders and ran an impressive MdS in 2008. RMC
I am at the finish are now and it is 9:45am. The place really is buzzing as many of the 98km competitors are still coming in. The 166km event is now 15 1/2 hours old. With my limited knowledge of the French language, I was able to work out that a recent announcement was that the 166km winner was due in about 21 hours. KevinCassidy
I got to see Jim Villiers finish [and snap several pics]. He was greeted by his wife and children at the finish in somewhat of an emotional occasion. Yes Sean, he is a nice guy and very very unassuming. He doesn't even consider himself to be an ultrarunner!!!! Also, he was as fresh as a daisy at the finish and happily walking around. He was 13th overall and managed to avoid having to run into the second night which is the aim for most of the faster runners. His time was approx 25:30
Scott Jurek [who cleans up in all the US big ones] was well off the leading pace in 5th during the early hours and I believe he has succumbed to a badly twisted ankle...which is hardly surprising given the nature of the terrain!!! I'm off to bed now with about 29 hours on the clock.
I spent 5 hours walking some of the course today [and managed to fall and cut my knees]. Let me tell you that it is incredibly tough. If you are heading to the US in search of the toughest 100 milers, then you may well be flying over the wrong ocean. The general consensus is that this event is at least the equal of Hardrock Kevin Cassidy
Kilian Jornet (Salomon) has held his rank as super-favourite by winning the 7th edition of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). Holding onto the title, the 21-year-old Catalan has done the double, after 21H33 of effort. "This second success has a different flavour from last year’s" Kilian explained at the Finish. "This night has been very tough, with rain, wind and cold around the French-Swiss border". Capricious weather certainly handicapped the Spaniard in his quest for a victory inside 20 hours.
He joins UTMB legend, his "senior" Marco Olmo, with two consecutive victories around Mont- Blanc. Frenchman Sébastien Chaigneau (The North Face) clocked in about one hour behind, with the Japanese Kaburaki (The North Face), already 4th last year, on his heels. Scott Jurek and Julien Chorier (Lafuma) had for a long time been attempting to keep up with this leading trio, but eventually were no longer able to maintain the frenetic pace and dropped gently down in the Top 10.
By nightfall, yesterday evening, several outsiders had been forced to lower their flag. The first were Marco Olmo (ITA) and Dawa Sherpa (NEP). The latter gave in his race number at La Balme. "I did not have any strength left, neither in my arms, nor my legs, I was emptied, and it would not have been of any use for me to continue in such conditions", explained the Nepalese, who was showing the initial symptoms of anaemia.
Source: http://nieveyalgomas.blogspot.com/2009/08/kilian-jornet-wins-ultra-trail-du-mont.html Background on the race: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Trail_du_Mont-Blanc Coolrunning 2009 forum: Coolrunning forum: http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php? showtopic=22617&pid=496357&st=0&#entry496357
Stage Races
The following excerpts are from the heavilly hyped European Transalpine Run, sponsored by the American company Gore-Tex. While an event over so many days is best suited to pro teams, the thought of a stage event is exciting. It made me wonder where we could hold such an event in South East Queensland. We simply don't have those European mountain villages which act as bases for this event. And though we do have a terrific section of the Main Range bounding Quensland to the south, the track network is spotty and not maintained west of Lamington National Park. Still, maybe one day. Or perhaps Mt Cootha to Mt Mee along Brisbane Forest Park....
Anyway, back to the stages offered in the Transalpine. The first stage led the 250 teams of two over 35.03 kilometres and 2,543 metres of elevation gain from Oberstdorf (GER) to Lech am Arlberg (AUT).
Stage 2: The race participants should find some relief with just 2,014 m vertical to be tackled. While the stage will seem like a relatively short jaunt of just 24,63 km distance, two-thirds of the day will be in the high alpine above 2,000m in elevation. Several trail less stretches and many trail sections should stretch out the field a bit more. A running highlight undoubtedly will be the Valluga Arête (2,750 m), the fourth highest elevation to take this year.
Stage 3: En route to Galtür the teams will take on a cumulative vertical ascent of 2,437 meters along a whooping distance of 32.97 kilometers. Two tough climbs followed by two equally challenging descents will tax most racers to the max. Luckily we’re expecting excellent weather since much of the stage will be well above tree line.
Stage 4: The runners face a distance of 39.92 km and two punishing ascents with a cumulative vertical of 2,339 m across the impressive Silvretta Range. The race will cross into Switzerland with what we expect to be perfect weather. The participants should be looking forward to the soothing thermal spa facilities Scuol is renowned for.
Stage 5: The uphill sprint to Motta Naluns (2,130 m asl) over a distance of 6.19 km and a vertical gain of 936 m will demand not just endurance and strength but also a lot of technique. The steep ascent over different surfaces will be short but extremely taxing – not exactly what one would ordinarily consider a rest day! Stage 6: Only 1,332 m of vertical gain but still will be a lengthy affair with its 37.02 kilometers. A highlight will be d’Unina Canyon with a gallery trail blasted high up sheer rock walls – nothing for the faint of heart although well secured with fixed steel cables. By crossing Schlinigpass (2261m) and Plantapatsch (2,108m) superb panorama views can be enjoyed before dropping into the cool forests of Val Venosta. Yet, the descent will be tedious as it is continuous and stretches out over nearly half of the stage distance. Yikes!
Stage 7: On the penultimate day, the racers will be facing the highest elevation of the race, the Rappenscharte (3,012 m), a high alpine pass on either sides of which tough trail-less terrain has to be negotiated. The overall distance of 34.51 kilometers and a vertical gain of 2,004 meters will tire out even the top runners this far into the race. The stage will be merciless with an unrelenting, brutal descent but it will have several redeeming qualities – one being the exceptional panoramic views of the glaciated High Divide that also forms the border between Austria and Italy, another being the lush fruit orchards and fragrant oak/chestnut groves at lower elevation around Schlanders.
Stage 8: Another 28.62 kilometers and a vertical gain of 1,817 meters before taking off their worn running shoes for good tomorrow. The highlight of the stage is the Göflaner Scharte, a scenic pass in the Ortler Range that affords stunning views over 270 degrees. On the descent via Kreuzjöchl, the racers will run much steep single-track before reaching the vineyards along the valley bottom just before Latsch.
Race refunds - its easy now
Our online entry provider, RegisterNow, has made it very easy to process refunds - IF you let us know before the closing date for entries. The general rule is to refund in full less $5 processing fee - you don't have to be injured, if you need to make a change its fine. After the closing date we have to double-sign a check and post it out, which we prefer not to do since race organising is busy enough already. So please if you need a refund email or phone early. This also means if you're worried about missing out on a race when it fills up, something we'll see more of each year, you can enter early and only pay a small $5 penalty if your plans change.
Plus - that last minute change to your race plan...
While we're talking about refunds, race organisers always face a run of last minute inquiries in the busiest days just before a run. Try not to call them up, just make a sensible decision and let the registration desk know on the day. We are pretty flexible, and happy for you to substitute a friend when injured, or shorten your course option. Do try to get there in plenty of time though, so any changes to race numbers etc can be made.
Unsubscribing to the Newsletter
If you would like to stop receiving emails from the Trail Running Association of Queensland, reply to [email protected] with Unsubscribe in the subject line. Similarly if you wish to change the email we send to, for example from work to home, email to info@runtrails with EmailChange in the subject line.
Pictures of the Week - Bunya Mountains
this last pic looks out from one of the distinctive grassy "balds" which are sprinkled among the forested areas, remnants of an earlier and colder climate period in Australia