Training not for the Light Hearted

Nearly 12 months has passed since I tortured myself through the blue mountains in a 100km slog. Once again I have signed up, but this time the glory of winning a silver belt buckle has become an impossible challenge. Last year a finishing time of 18 hours or under won the commendation, but in 2009 I need to shave 1 hour and 5 minutes off my personal best time in order once again hold my head high.

My head held high. Note the sunlight streaming through the curtains...

With a goal in mind I have visited many of the peaks of Inner Norh Canberra over the last ten weeks including Mt Ainslie, Black Mountain, Mt Majura, Mt Painter, and Mt Stromlo. However, this year I decided I needed something special and so I looked at google maps and decided to do them all - in one go.

Me at the top Ainslie, one of my favourite destinations. Note how I decided not to wear the jumper...

Fenner Hall to Mt Majura

Slinging on my (heavy) backpack filled with goodies I braved the outside world, and surprised by the warmth of the bleak sun I quickly removed my jumper - 'I won't be needing this'. I set off at a steady pace charging up and down hills with reckless enthusiasm, passing many families out for a Sunday walk through the local nature reserves. Without too much trouble I completed the 280m climb. I paused to restock my pockets with food and spent a few seconds marveling the vista of surburban Canberra and admiring the glorious blue skies.

7.54 km, 280m climb, 48 mins, 9.43 km/hr

The view from Mt Majura with blue skies and fluffy clouds - so peaceful ... so serene.

Mt Majura to Mt Ainslie

Short but tough, I navigated the treacherous downhill with some difficulty only to be fronted by the steep uphill presented near the end.

A trecherous downhill - its very exciting.

An groin injury that has harangued me this year started to rear its ugly head but persistance pushed it down. At times the wind flared between the trees in an attempt to dislodge my hat during my journey, but it wasn't long before I broke free of the sheltering trees to be greeted by a shocking sight - Canberra smothered by encroaching clouds, a chilling wind, and a smattering of rain. Was this a sign of evil to come?

Where did all this fog come from? Why is water falling from the sky?

5.03 km (12.57km), 140m gain, 39mins (1hr 27 mins), 7.7 km/hr (8.58km/hr)

Mt Ainslie to Black Mountain

Doffing my hat before I lost it to the wind I quickly set off directly down Ainslie, heading west towards Telstra Tower. I surged past Fenner Hall and soon found my sore self hidden amongst the foliage of Black Mountain Nature Reserve slogging my way up the steepest hill I would have to climb today.

Looking from Ainslie to Black Mountain - its not too far -is it?

Once again the tendon in my left groin complained but I decided I would either get over it or become crippled for a few weeks. If I can't complete this training there was no reason for me to travel to the Blue Mountainsin three weeks. I finally reached the summit and found that the wind had died down, the rain had stopped and so I prepared myself for a huge push to my next destination - Mt Painter.

6.71km (19.27km), 200m gain, 47 mins (2hrs 14mins), 8.39km/hr (8.51km/hr).

Through these trees you can just see the peak of Mt Painter - oh and bright blue sky of course.

Black Mountain to Mt Painter

I decided early this would be a fast leg. Lots of downhill and flats with only a brief uphill at the end. I started fast and pushed myself through the surrounding trees. Before I knew it was in the open running west into a slight headwind. It was with relief that I finally turned south to start the climb up my fourth and second last peak. However I can tell you now that when I go there it was not a relief. Looking back from whence I had came I saw Telstra Tower haloed by sunny skies,

Looking back towards Black Mountain from Mt Painter. Why is the blue sky always where I'm looking and not where I am?

but the view towards my fifth and final summit looked ominous, with dark clouds massing readying for the final showdown with one lone runner.

5.67km(24.93km), 120m gain, 36 mins (2hr 50mins), 9.45km/hr (8.74km/hr)

Mt Painter to Mt Stromlo

I took a beeline for Stromlo down the side of Painter, and once again turned west as I followed William Hovell Drive. A lack of trees from here to Stromlo left me exposed to that huge headwind, forcing my legs to work harder then otherwise necessary until I was able to turn south up Coppins Crossing Road. I hoped for a bit of relief from the winds, but unfortunately the weather has a sick sense of humour.

Mt Painter looking towards Mt Stromlo. If you squint you can just make out some white building on the summit. That's my destination.

Gale-like gusts threatened to blow me onto the road and needlelike rain attacked like angry wasps, stinging even through the clothes I wore. Worst of all was the horizontally blown rain that was been driven agonizingly into my right eye (west side of my head) distorting my vision. I found temporary shelter beside a small rock formation and donned my jumper, gloves, and with my hat pulled low to protect my eyes. My numbed fingers ensured this process was painstakingly long. I took off again at a slow jog, only to have the wind and rain stop as suddenly as it appeared. Before I knew it my body temperature started to reach uncomfortable levels and I was forced to remove the clothing I had just put on. Upon reahing the base of Stromlo I was sore, tired, and dispirited but I started the 3.7km trek up the east side with vigour knowing that the sooner I got to the top the sooner I could head home - but surprises were still to come. The dirt roads had turned muddy and the slush clung tenacioulsy to my shoes adding a few kilos to each step. Unfortunately I was also hidden away on the leeward side of the mountain and so I was woefully underprepared for the storm that I encountered at the top.

Mt Stromlo looking towards Black Mountain. I'm not even going to pretend you can see Telstra tower.

The wind's high pitched howl as it blew through the sorrounding mountains greeted me - once again blowing the rain like darts into my body. I was exposed to the elements for the final 400m, this time left eye receiving the firehose like treatment from the rain. I found shelter at the top in a ruin left over from the bush fires and again I clawed into my bag for my jumper, gloves, and beanie. An image of my waterproof/windproof jacket I had consciously disregarded flashed through my mind.

10.64km (35.58km), 260m gain, 1hr 24mins (4hr 14mins), 7.6km/hr (8.17km/hr)

The stormclouds as they race from the Brindabellas to me.

Mt Stromlo to Fenner

The sixth, final, and longest leg of my journey was before me, but the end was not in sight - it was hidden in a haze was fog. A quick glance at the encroaching clouds spurred me on to quickly leave, and the short period of exposure was as devasting heading down as it was coming up, the right side of my face covered by my beanie to protect my sensitive eyes.

Fenner is in the dark gray bit, not the bright blue bit.

Things calmed as Mt Stromlo sheltered me from the worst of the wind and rain, and my fatigued legs took my weather ravaged body east towards the Tuggeranong Parkway. My plan was to follow the mess of tracks to Lady Denman Drive and from there follow the bike paths home. Unfortunately much like the rest of the trip not everything was going to plan. Guestimating my way to Uriarra Road was more difficult than expected and once I reached there I stopped briefly to (once again) lose my gloves and beanie and to utilise the map I had so carefully packed. I searched three times with no luck -it had fallen out at the top of Stromlo (the last time I had seen it), and given the winds it could be anywhere. With a bellow at the foul gods who cursed me I shouldered my pack and took the path closest to me. I followed trails that twisted towards Black Mountain until I came across an old man walking his dog whose dress sense reminded me of the villian from I Know What You Did Last Summer. Some vague directions from him led me to the river crossing I did not want to miss and from there I found a path under the Parkway that I hoped headed towards the zoo. I smelt this checkpoint before I reached it and this was the first time a glimmer of hope entered my mind. Despite my tired, sore, and cold body my afore mentioned injuries had disappeared, the terrain was flat and very soon I would once again be surrounded by the protective cover of trees. I followed the bike path around the lake, beside ANU and finally through Haig Park. The twin towers came into sight, the prisonlike veneer never looking so beautiful. Gratefully I collapsed at the entrance much to the horror of a passing first year.

17.6km, 0 gain, 2hr 17mins, 7.9km/hr

Total: 53.18km, 6hr 27mins, 8.18km/hr (Gain was approx 900m over major hills)