Description

Since the subsidence of the track after the 2021 rain event, Narrowneck is now a 25km return trip. NPWS have kindly put in good steps from the Narrowneck lookout and BMCC have unkindly made the local parking 2 hours max, with only a few spots untimed.

This trip did the return trip four times in a single day. There were frequent side trips to Castle Head, as well as side trips along the level sections of track towards Redledge Pass and Carlon Head.

Leaving the car (aid station) at the car park, it was good to be able to return to a cool esky every 25km.

Starting before dawn at 5AM, the weather was good all day, with only a very light sprinkle late afternoon.

The 4th trip out at around the 70km mark was hard to make happen. Finished at around 11:30PM after doing the final 7km on the fairly level bits of the local roads.

100km Lessons Learned

There was lots of time to think about what was going well or badly.

• Stretch legs frequently. Knees, quads, hips, glutes, calves get accustomed to the walk/run movement & often refuse to flex in different ways to accomodate steps or hills
• Lube prior to starting - it’s too hard to get a hand inside T8s to apply later. The alternative is to strip off mid race!
• there will be highs & lows - lows usually coincide with lack of nutrition
• nausea is usually caused by lack of nutrition
• slowness, lethargy is usually caused by lack of nutrition
• it’s hard to get food down when you’re dehydrated
• rehydrate little & often, with big intakes at aid stations
• after eating it takes less than 15 minutes to shake off the effects of lack of nutrition
• rehydrate 10 minutes before taking on food
• after 30km lower body starts to hurt - but it (mostly) doesn’t get any worse for the remainder
• coke tastes good for much of the run - keep flask of it handy & have small sips as required
• it’s easier to take on nutrition if it’s handy - keep an hours worth close at hand
• real food (sandwiches) work well - leave crust on, but don’t necessarily try to eat it
• have a variety of nutrition options - tastes will vary every hour
• lollies & sugar are OK towards the end of the run
• a hit of sugar before a big climb sometimes works - do it 5 minutes before
• if tired take climbs slow & steady to avoid nausea or stopping
• gels work when you suddenly feel hungry - always have one within arms reach
• the instant you feel hungry its almost too late - take on food immediately & back off the pace a little. If you ignore your body the energy deficit will rapidly get worse
• after 30km it becomes a mental game. The body can take the punishment, but the brain needs to convince itself that it is prepared to withstand it for the next N hours. If you think you can do it then there’s no reason not to try - boredom, lack of interest, minor niggles, minor aches & pains are not sufficient reasons
• investing N hours in getting to a pain point should be sufficient motivation to make it to the end
• changing sweaty tops/buffs/hats from drop bags can help prevent chafing
• cut toenails prior or expect black toenails post
• you’ll experience pain where there’s never been pain before - this is normal. Different muscles are compensating for tired ones
• later you’ll experience weariness - nutrition helps
• failing to walk in a straight line is either a sign of forgetting to turn on your headtorch or lack of nutrition. Don’t do it near the steep bits
• don’t stay at aid stations for too long (10 mins max) and be busy eating, restocking or changing at all times. If you’re not doing something essential then it’s time to leave. You body will start to stiffen and restarting will be more painful giving your brain an extra excuse to stop
• deal with issues you can control asap, quick action can prevent a hot spot from being a blister and shortly afterwards a show-stopper
• deal with issues you can’t control by avoiding them or distracting yourself - music, conversation, positive self talk

Stats

Nineteen and half hours in total
Distance 100km
Ascent 2600m