Defining Moments

'the razorback track' from mt feathertop to mt hotham - victorian alps.

there are those defining moments in ones (running) life that literally make time stand still.
sitting at my computer tuesday night there was a suggestion from the alpine 100 RD that the race could be put back a week.
they had only 3 entries - with me it would be 4 the following weekend.
i hardly slept that night.
the race has since been confirmed for 5-6th april.
and i have entered.

paul asthons 2006 report via here: http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=17032&st=0&p=285347&#entry285347
jan hermanns report for yahoo groups people here: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ozfatass/message/2356

i read pauls report at work on the weekend and it sent shivers down my spine.
paul and tim exhausted and in darkness took a wrong turn several kms from mt bogong and decided to shelter in an emergency hut and walk out in the morning.
jan and lawrence got lost on the ascent to mt bogong in thigh deep snow and white-out before turning around, sheltering and walking out to a road in the morning.
the furthest anyone got was 80kms!
80kms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

of course the ultrarunner in me has spend countless hours figuring out how to overcome potential difficulties.
a compulsory race 'stop' at cleve cole hut for the night (before mt bogong ascent) will be a huge safety factor.
the commas are because i am not stopping my watch :)
i have the gps waypoints for all the major huts and summits and turns which will be a huge help.
...and i am exploring buying snowshoes and small crampons on the net.
sounds a bit extravagant but i do not want to arrive down there to find out there has been a huge snow dump and i have to hire a 2kg pair.
no-one in brissie knows what snowshoes are - even the ski stores think they are 'just big boots' :)
http://www.northernlites.com/eliteracer.php

and i am still not sleeping.