The Sprightly Dugong: TNF2009 - Faster, Stronger, Better

I shaped up to this years North Face 100 with a goal similar to last year - earn the Silver Belt Buckle. This year the feat required the 100km course to be completed in under 14 hrs, an hour quicker than my previous best.

Only 100km to go!

I fronted up once again, sporting new top of the range equipment - $230 shoes (plus a pair of backup runners), $170 9L bag, and a $130 torch (this was really bought for Inward Bound).

The Camelbak M.U.L.E and my new trailrunning shoes
I was also not alone - I met two fellow ANU and IB runners at the registration - Andrew Williams (or AJ) from Bruce Hall, and Elliott Wise from John XXIII College. We stuck together till the first checkpoint talking shop (mostly IB related), I also met a delightful fellow named Matt from Brisbane, a young bloke who won the under 25 category called James, and much to my surprise Beth, a gorgeous girl I met last year.

A crowd of people all ready to hit the road

Just like last year I was stoked to see my mother at the 56km checkpoint where I could top up on supplies (there was also a mandatory equipment check and they asked for an emergency info sheet I didn't have. However never underestimate the guile of an IB coach when it comes to compulsory equipment - we know all the tricks).

Isn't it cute - he's trying to smile (66km checkpoint)

This year I wanted to push myself early and see how long I could keep it up, a tactic that worked admirably - here is a comparison of my times this year and last year.

2008

Split	Race Time	Split Time	Overall Pos
13k Narrow Neck	02:08:00	02:08:00
36k Dunphys	04:41:00	02:33:00
52k Old Ford Reserve-Out	07:11:00	02:30:00
66k Katoomba falls Oval	09:25:00	02:14:00
86k Queen Vic Hospital	13:00:00	03:35:00
100k Fairmount	15:05:00	02:05:00	37

2009

Split	Race Time	Split Time	Overall Pos
17k Narrow Neck	02:11:24	02:11:24	53
38k Dunphys	04:30:26	02:19:02	42
54k Old Ford Reserve-In	06:34:23	02:03:57	32
67k Katoomba falls Oval	08:15:50	01:41:27	25
89k Queen Vic Hospital	11:20:32	03:04:42	22
100k Fairmount	13:02:36	01:42:04	21

The course was modified slightly, hence the discrepencies in distance between the checkpoints. Also our positions weren't recorded at each checkpoint in 2008.

I was keen to finish in under 13 hrs and by the last checkpoint it seemed possible. All I will say is I won't die wondering - I ran my little heart out, overtaking one other solo runner and numerous team runners (two people who run 50km each).

Yes - there is actually a running trail in there

Just under a kilometer from the end a lost the ability to navigate stairs and I was relegate to slowly slogging out the hills.

I had to get to the top of that cliff and it is as high as it looks.

Suddenly I stumbled across the green glowsticks that mark the end and I paced the last few steps to fall into the waiting arms of my Mother and her friends for a time of 13hours 2mins - 2 hours faster than last year and once again earning my silver belt buckle.