The first leaf in the goal tree falls

This is just a repeat of my coolrunning report, put here for the sake of my own records.

I've had a long time to dream about this race, and now I've finally "been there, done that" I can honestly say that it exceeded all my expectations (including about how much it would hurt... ). This time last year I watched the finish from the 'comfort' of a chair, being unable to be vertical for more than a minute or two and having been told by an eminent sports physician that my running days were over. This time this year, I'm sitting in the comfort of my chair because my legs lock up every time I stand!

My intention was just to take it easy and not break a leg getting to the stairs at Nellies, but somehow I found myself there a little earlier than expected and I also had the opportunity to pass a few people going down so by the time we reached the bottom it was all clear running. Even though I spent most of the day passing people, I don't remember getting held up once and we made it to the river in 1:29. So far so good.

The only time I'd been on the track previously was to run from Caves Rd to the bottom of Pluvi and back, so everything up to there was new. The scenery around Lemon Tree Yards was lovely, and I got a surprise at how quickly we got to the bottom of Pluvi, and even more of a surprise at how quickly we got to the top (2:56)! I wasn't pushing it - just nice and steady - so it must have been that the race-day vibe chopped out a couple of km.

So many have said that to run a good race means to run the Black Range strongly, and so I set out to do just that. Up ahead I could see MissZ and set my sights on keeping her in view. Apart from 3(!) stops to empty rocks from my shoes (note to self - stop once and do a proper job next time), Black Range went really well and I started to think the unthinkable - a sub 5 hour debut. Sadly, as we worked those obscene hills through the deviation I caught my training partner Overthehill who had been attacked viciously by the Cramp Bear. He is such a strong runner that he sure didn't deserve to be back there with us (next year Brian, next year).

The crowds at Caves Rd crossing were a real lift and I had a grin from ear to ear knowing that I just had a little(!!) downhill to go, and downhill is my speciality isn't it... Alas, just as I passed the big 'Jenolan Caves Wildlife Reserve' sign I felt like someone had hit me with a brick. Knowing that I only had 6k or so to go I pushed on, still overtaking people as the opportunity arose, but my upper body started to lock up and shake so that before long all I could manage was a stiff-armed robot shuffle. MissZ was an absolute god-send though this section, encouraging me even though I think she was in a fair bit of pain herself. All I can remember of that ugly half hour was that I have never hurt like that, I have never been as utterly uncoordinated as that and I was so transfixed by the minutes ebbing away that I never thought once of stopping. How stupid is that!

All through the long training, whenever I started to get tired I'd think about the hand rail on the steps at Caves house and how good it would be to reach out and touch it. Somehow, when I finally reached that hand rail my body stopped shaking and my arms relaxed and I was able to stretch out a bit for those last few hundred metres. The shout from my beloved tiger angel told me that I was home, and the clock told me 4:58. All that remained was to sob uncontrollably on tiger angel's shoulder for a minute or two, then gather myself together and try to learn to walk again...

I know this has been longer than an Oscar's speech, but there are a few people who I really want to thank profusely. Without Jim Moody's 6ft training group I would never have put in the volume or quality of training that I did. Thanks Jim and thanks team. MissZ was magic and thoroughly deserves her Womens' Team 1st place award. Overthehill is one of those blokes who just keeps giving of himself - thanks for your encouragement and conversation over all those km. Seeing the tears in Redback's eyes as he crossed the line reassured me that I'm not the only obsessive romantic out there. Most of all, thanks to my beautiful tiger angel who loves me in spite of me; finishing six foot would have meant nothing without you at the end.