So, November 16th finally came around and BW@N was run and ran! As ever, despite the best preparation, activity in the days leading up to an event are feverish at best and last weekend was no different. We get to a point where everyone’s there, they’re ready to start and you just have to manage the event. Our biggest worry through the week was the weather. Incredibly, after lightning storms each day of the week from Tuesday night, we were blessed with an accurate weather forecast that threatened a possible storm at worst and possible showers at best (depending on which day you tuned in). As it turned out, despite horrific weather within 50km’s to the north, east and south during the event, we had perfectly clear skies with a near full moon and perfect running conditions. A small crowd the 50km starters lined up at 4:00pm and, as is typical of many ultras, they took off in a businesslike fashion. The crew and runners from other events that had already gathered ensured that atmosphere was starting to build, so there was plenty of support to send them off and so they did with cowbells and applause ringing in their ears. Between the start of the 50km and the main field (6:00pm), there was plenty to do. Crew to be ferried to checkpoints, water to be ported and the ever present ‘things that crop up’ list to attend to. In no time at all it seemed, we were gathered at the start once more with 200 excited, nervous … scared maybe … runners and walkers waiting to get off. We had anticipated that we wouldn’t see a 50km runner before the second wave but we underestimated the talent at hand. Thankfully we’d made provision for them to get past and the race briefing had a steady interruption of 50km runners coming through. Cameron Munro set the tone of the race, looking strong with the rest of the top five behind him. They pretty much stayed that way until the finish. In the ladies race, Jodie Oborne never looked like being beaten despite a steady run from Lisa Hussey who’s spend much of the year injured and is coming back to fitness. Anyway, off the 10, 20 and 30km runners went in a clamour of cheers, applause and, yes … cowbells As we approached 6:00, the atmosphere took over the event. 10Km A 10k road race is over before you know it. It’s a different story on the trail and this course includes one of the more challenging 3.3 km’s of trail in the Glasshouse Mountains. ‘The Dungeon’ - so christened by Glen Hendry during the 2009 50km at the GH100 meet who, incidentally, took part in this event with his son Josh - seems already to have set itself as the signature of the event. The 50km guys do it twice! But, it’s only 3km and I’ve yet to see anyone come out of there not feeling pleased with themselves. It didn’t curb the enthusiasm or performance of those taking part and some pretty impressive times came in with the top three coming in under 60 minutes, impressive stuff indeed. However, the stand out impression I have of the event is this comment from Cherri Deutsschmann: “I am so privileged to be able to go out into the bush and walk around the forests, with someone to keep an eye on me, and organise the comfort bits, including the fabulous bells and hearty welcome home. The moon was just gorgeous, the sunset on the clouds, the night sounds as dark progressed - it was all fabulous - the dungeon was quite unexpected and quite hard, but added to the fun of it all. I saw a nice lizardy thing, but best of all I saw a snake on the wide straight road …” Cherri came home in a little over two hours and epitomised the mood of the event. 32 34 54 106 102 35 Laura Mary Emma Tim Beau Donald Moran Mather Skirving Franklin Davis Mackay 5 1st F 7 2nd F 10 3rd F 1 2 3 01:06:51.23 01:10:47.66 01:12:12.50 00:55:22.00 00:56:18.94 00:58:18.19 Your hosts! 20km The 20km along with the 30km, traversed the same start as the 10km. Once out of The Dungeon, they made the most of the open running to be had and set a blistering pace up front. Yes, the course has some pinches and is rarely flat, but we weren’t expecting the performances that some turned in. Tim Coles, the winner, would finished in the middle of the 10km field such was his time and the rest of the podium wasn’t far behind him. Most of our team/family entries were in the 20km. It was a pleasure to here Geoff (manning the 20/30km turn off) relay how they were going. Families and mates, all having a blast. 227 210 211 228 245 259 Monique Kathleen Naomi Tim Jim Ash Pitman Donaghey Tutticci Coles Heaslop Thorpe 6 1st F 7 2nd F 9 3rd F 1 2 3 02:01:49.67 02:04:51.27 02:10:58.12 01:36:08.87 01:44:03.98 01:55:37.26 30km The 30km runners had the best of both worlds. They got to experience every step of the course without putting themselves through the 50km … smart cookies! Some fantastic runs, as with the other events, from both male and female runners with the winners setting a pace that suggests we should have made the course a little more difficult … no? Of worthy note is Matt Montague. One minute standing there behind the LED Lenser stand, next minute bringing in 2nd place male in well under three hours. He came in less than two minutes ahead of Marc Barallon (must be Welsh) who, in turn, came in ahead of 1st female Liz Quade by only two seconds! 332 305 319 323 334 306 Liz Kerrie Kathryn Brendon Matt Marc Quade Williamson Bell Woodward Montague Barallon 4 1st F 5 2nd F 14 3rd F 1 2 3 02:48:53.16 02:52:21.20 03:37:54.03 02:35:54.71 02:47:03.50 02:48:51.23 50km Once into the realms of ultra-marathon distance, it’s a whole different ball game. The best runners can be made to look like complete novices and those who are dipping their toes in the water for the first time, can somehow pull of amazing feats against all expectations. We had such a performance as the latter on the 16th. While Cameron Munro and Michael Rayner stuck it to the field from the start, and while Jodie Oborne made it clear she owned the event for the evening in a small field, what a pleasure it was to see Julius Kieser. Julius ran his first ultra back in 2010 at the inaugural Wild Horse Criterium 50km. A baptism of fire if ever there was one. On that day, he was fortunate enough to fall under the wing of one Keith Sullivan. Keith, along with Tammy Cobb, was your host at the 20/40km checkpoint and is as stalwart of the national ultra scene. Glasshouse 100, Coast to Kosciusko, you name it. Either way, I think Julius would credit his finish that day to Keith. BW@N was a different story, however. He made up the top three from very nearly the start and held it until the finish. At which, he was as ever, nothing but gracious. A nicer bloke you wouldn’t want to meet. Last mention has to be for Steve Lewis. We’ve made it clear that we’re not too strict about the cut-off. If you look like you’re ok to finish and it’s not too late, then we won’t ruin your day and pull you out. Steve e-mailed me during the week prior and ‘warned’ me. However, he needn’t have. From the first lap it was clear he wasn’t going to make it before midnight but his pace, remained constant from start to finish. After the 20/30km checkpoint shut down, Geoff was in the care with me and we followed his progress from point to point. When he reached the last checkpoint we estimated a finish of around 12:30am and he didn’t let us down. He maintained the pace he had kept all evening and came in at 12:28 and was as happy as the winner. Great job Steve. 511 519 518 507 506 527 Jodie Lisa Lauren Cameron Michael Julius Oborne Hussey Hill Munro Rayner Kieser 8 1st F 14 2nd F 19 3rd F 1 2 3 05:31:58.07 06:25:38.06 08:18:12.05 05:08:20.38 05:12:36.04 05:13:46.68 The Wr@p What a night. WH@N was nothing to be sneezed at and was an overwhelming success for us but to be truthful, was a safe bet on a known course. A known entity. BW@N was our first foray into anything big. A new course that hadn’t been used. Some trail that Brett and I had been itching to get people on since we first came up with Run Queensland. With the dust settled and analysis complete, we couldn’t have hoped for a better result. We’ve had some fantastic feedback of a nature that That suggests we’re on the right track (or should that be trail). The team has put a lot of effort in, but we have to thank our sponsors, supporters and service providers. They make such a difference to our events as a whole: